Grazing exclusion using fences is a key policy being applied by the Chinese government to rehabilitate degraded grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)and elsewhere.However,there is a limited understanding of the effect...Grazing exclusion using fences is a key policy being applied by the Chinese government to rehabilitate degraded grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)and elsewhere.However,there is a limited understanding of the effects of grazing exclusion on alpine ecosystem functions and services and its impacts on herders’livelihoods.Our meta-analyses and questionnaire-based surveys revealed that grazing exclusion with fences was effective in promoting aboveground vegetation growth for up to four years in degraded alpine meadows and for up to eight years in the alpine steppes of the TP.Longer-term fencing did not bring any ecological and economic benefits.We also found that fencing hindered wildlife movement,increased grazing pressure in unfenced areas,lowered the satisfaction of herders,and rendered substantial financial costs to both regional and national governments.We recommend that traditional free grazing should be encouraged if applicable,short-term fencing(for 4-8 years)should be adopted in severely degraded grasslands,and fencing should be avoided in key wildlife habitat areas,especially the protected large mammal species.展开更多
Remote sensing data from the Terra Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and geospatial data were used to estimate grass yield and livestock carrying capacity in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Go...Remote sensing data from the Terra Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and geospatial data were used to estimate grass yield and livestock carrying capacity in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, Qing-hai, China. The MODIS-derived normalized difference vegetation index (MODIS-NDVI) data were correlated with the aboveground green biomass (AGGB) data from the aboveground harvest method. Regional regression model between the MODIS-NDVI and the common logarithm (LOG10) of the AGGB was significant (r2 = 0.51, P < 0.001), it was, there-fore, used to calculate the maximum carrying capacity in sheep-unit year per hectare. The maximum livestock carrying capacity was then adjusted to the theoretical livestock carrying capacity by the reduction factors (slope, distance to water, and soil erosion). Results indicated that the grassland conditions became worse, with lower aboveground palatable grass yield, plant height, and cover compared with the results obtained in 1981. At the same time, although the actual livestock numbers decreased, they still exceeded the proper theoretical livestock carrying capacity, and overgrazing rates ranged from 27.27% in Darlag County to 293.99% in Baima County. Integrating remote sensing and geographical information system technologies, the spatial and temporal conditions of the alpine grassland, trend, and projected stocking rates could be forecasted for decision making.展开更多
Data scarcity is a major obstacle for high-resolution mapping of permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau(TP).This study produces a new permafrost stability distribution map for the 2010 s(2005–2015)derived from the predict...Data scarcity is a major obstacle for high-resolution mapping of permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau(TP).This study produces a new permafrost stability distribution map for the 2010 s(2005–2015)derived from the predicted mean annual ground temperature(MAGT)at a depth of zero annual amplitude(10–25 m)by integrating remotely sensed freezing degree-days and thawing degree-days,snow cover days,leaf area index,soil bulk density,high-accuracy soil moisture data,and in situ MAGT measurements from 237 boreholes on the TP by using an ensemble learning method that employs a support vector regression model based on distance-blocked resampled training data with 200 repetitions.Validation of the new permafrost map indicates that it is probably the most accurate of all currently available maps.This map shows that the total area of permafrost on the TP,excluding glaciers and lakes,is approximately 115.02(105.47–129.59)×10^4 km^2.The areas corresponding to the very stable,stable,semi-stable,transitional,and unstable types are 0.86×10^4,9.62×10^4,38.45×10^4,42.29×10^4,and 23.80×10^4 km^2,respectively.This new map is of fundamental importance for engineering planning and design,ecosystem management,and evaluation of the permafrost change in the future on the TP as a baseline.展开更多
Light absorbing particles（LAP, e.g., black carbon, brown carbon, and dust） influence water and energy budgets of the atmosphere and snowpack in multiple ways. In addition to their effects associated with atmospheric...Light absorbing particles（LAP, e.g., black carbon, brown carbon, and dust） influence water and energy budgets of the atmosphere and snowpack in multiple ways. In addition to their effects associated with atmospheric heating by absorption of solar radiation and interactions with clouds, LAP in snow on land and ice can reduce the surface reflectance（a.k.a., surface darkening）, which is likely to accelerate the snow aging process and further reduces snow albedo and increases the speed of snowpack melt. LAP in snow and ice（LAPSI） has been identified as one of major forcings affecting climate change, e.g.in the fourth and fifth assessment reports of IPCC. However, the uncertainty level in quantifying this effect remains very high. In this review paper, we document various technical methods of measuring LAPSI and review the progress made in measuring the LAPSI in Arctic, Tibetan Plateau and other mid-latitude regions. We also report the progress in modeling the mass concentrations, albedo reduction, radiative forcing, and climatic and hydrological impact of LAPSI at global and regional scales. Finally we identify some research needs for reducing the uncertainties in the impact of LAPSI on global and regional climate and the hydrological cycle.展开更多
In this study, we have used four methods to investigate the start of the growing season （SGS） on the Tibetan Plateau （TP） from 1982 to 2012, using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） data obtained from...In this study, we have used four methods to investigate the start of the growing season （SGS） on the Tibetan Plateau （TP） from 1982 to 2012, using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） data obtained from Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies （GIMSS, 1982-2006） and SPOT VEGETATION （SPOT-VGT, 1999-2012）. SGS values esti- mated using the four methods show similar spatial patterns along latitudinal or altitudinal gradients, but with significant variations in the SGS dates. The largest discrepancies are mainly found in the regions with the highest or the lowest vegetation coverage. Between 1982 and 1998, the SGS values derived from the four methods all display an advancing trend, however, according to the more recent SPOT VGT data （1999-2012）, there is no continu- ously advancing trend of SGS on the TP. Analysis of the correlation between the SGS values derived from GIMMS and SPOT between 1999 and 2006 demonstrates consistency in the tendency with regard both to the data sources and to the four analysis methods used. Com- pared with other methods, the greatest consistency between the in situ data and the SGS values retrieved is obtained with Method 3 （Threshold of NDVI ratio）. To avoid error, in a vast region with diverse vegetation types and physical environments, it is critical to know the seasonal change characteristics of the different vegetation types, particularly in areas with sparse grassland or evergreen forest.展开更多
The natural environment provides material essentials for human survival and development. The characteristics,processes, regional differentiation and forcing mechanisms of the elements of the natural environment(e.g. g...The natural environment provides material essentials for human survival and development. The characteristics,processes, regional differentiation and forcing mechanisms of the elements of the natural environment(e.g. geomorphology,climate, hydrology, soil, etc.) are the main objects of research in physical geography. China has a complex natural environment and huge regional differentiation and therefore it provides outstanding reserach opportunities in physical geography. This review summarizes the most important developments and the main contributions of research in the physical geography and human living environment in China during the past 70 years. The major topics addressed are the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of its cryosphere, the development of fluvial systems, the acidification of the vast arid region of the Asian interior, variations in the monsoon and westerly climate systems on multiple timescales, the development of lakes and wetlands, the watershed system model, soil erosion, past human-environment interactions, biogeography, and physical geographic zonality. After briefly introducing international research developments, we review the history of research in physical geography in China, focusing on the major achievements and major academic debates, and finally we summarize the status of current research and the future prospects. We propose that in the context of the national demand for the construction of an ecological civilization, we should make full use of the research findings of physical geography, and determine the patterns and mechanisms of natural environmental processes in order to continue to promote the continued contribution of physical geography to national development strategies, and to further contribute to the theory of physical geography from a global perspective.展开更多
Vegetation maps are important sources of information for biodiversity conservation,ecological studies,vegetation management and restoration,and national strategic decision making.The current Vegetation Map of China(1:...Vegetation maps are important sources of information for biodiversity conservation,ecological studies,vegetation management and restoration,and national strategic decision making.The current Vegetation Map of China(1:1000000)was generated by a team of more than 250 scientists in an effort that lasted over 20 years starting in the 1980s.However,the vegetation distribution of China has experienced drastic changes during the rapid development of China in the last three decades,and it urgently needs to be updated to better represent the distribution of current vegetation types.Here,we describe the process of updating the Vegetation Map of China(1:1000000)generated in the 1980s using a‘‘crowdsourcing-change detection-classification-expert knowledge"vegetation mapping strategy.A total of 203,024 field samples were collected,and 50 taxonomists were involved in the updating process.The resulting updated map has 12 vegetation type groups,55 vegetation types/subtypes,and 866 vegetation formation/sub-formation types.The overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of the updated map are 64.8%and 0.52 at the vegetation type group level,61%and 0.55 at the vegetation type/subtype level and 40%and 0.38 at the vegetation formation/sub-formation level.When compared to the original map,the updated map showed that 3.3 million km^2 of vegetated areas of China have changed their vegetation type group during the past three decades due to anthropogenic activities and climatic change.We expect this updated map to benefit the understanding and management of China’s terrestrial ecosystems.展开更多
We studied the uptake of ammonium, nitrate, and a variety of amino acids by alpine plant species in the Kobresia humil alpine meadow ecosystem in situ. We examined the extent of niche separation in uptake of N source ...We studied the uptake of ammonium, nitrate, and a variety of amino acids by alpine plant species in the Kobresia humil alpine meadow ecosystem in situ. We examined the extent of niche separation in uptake of N source by different plant species in alpine communities, and investigated the contribution of symbiotically fixed N to the total N in alpine meadow. The results are （1） δ15N natural abundance values of 13 plant species lie between -2.680‰ and 5.169‰, and the scope is 7.849‰. （2） Le- guminous plants, such as Trigonella ruthenica, Gueldenstaedtia diversiffolia, and Oxytyopis ochrocephala, and non-legumi- nous plant Gentiana straminea uptake low amounts of 15N labeled ammonium, nitrate, glycine or aspartate in soil. （3） As far as the plant uptake of organic N is concerned, Kobresia humilis, Poa pratensis, and Gentiuna spathutifolta can effectively uptake organic nitrogen, and about 37%-40% of the nitrogen of these species comes from soil organic nitrogen sources （such as glycine and aspartate）. Stipa aliena can effectively uptake nitrate, and 60% of its nitrogen comes from soil nitrate. Potentilla anserina, Poa pratensis, and Thalictrum alpinum can effectively absorb ammonium in comparason to other plant species in the meadow, and about 25%-27% of the nitrogen in these plants comes from soil ammonium. （4） The contribution of leguminous fixed N to total N is 7.48%-9.26% in Kobresia humilis alpine meadow. （5） These data show many plant species of alpine meadow may effectively utilize dissolved organic nitrogen such as amino acids, and these plants have diverse ways to uptake soil nitrogen in alpine meadows. Based on the results we can partly explain why there are abundant biodiversities and how plants at alpine habitat utilize the limited soil N sources.展开更多
Populus euphratica is a dominant tree species in riparian Tugai forests and forms a natural barrier that maintains the stability of local oases in arid inland river basins. Despite being critical information for local...Populus euphratica is a dominant tree species in riparian Tugai forests and forms a natural barrier that maintains the stability of local oases in arid inland river basins. Despite being critical information for local environmental protection and recovery, establishing the specific spatial distribution of P. euphratica has rarely been attempted via precise and reliable species distribution models in such areas. In this research, the potential geographic distribution of P. euphratica in the Heihe River Basin was simulated with MaxEnt software based on species occurrence data and 29 environmental variables. The result showed that in the Heihe River Basin, 820 km^2 of land primarily distributed along the banks of the lower reaches of the river is a suitable habitat for P. euphratica. We built other MaxEnt models based on different environmental variables and another eight models employing different mathematical algorithms based on the same 29 environmental variables to demonstrate the superiority of this method.MaxEnt based on 29 environmental variables performed the best among these models, as it precisely described the essential characteristics of the distribution of P. euphratica forest land. This study verified that MaxEnt can serve as an effective tool for species distribution in extremely arid regions with sufficient and reliable environmental variables. The results suggest that there may be a larger area of P. euphratica forest distribution in the study area and that ecological conservation and management of P.euphratica should prioritize suitable habitat. This research provides valuable insights for the conservation and management of degraded P. euphratica riparian forests.展开更多
Soil is heterogeneous and has different thermal and hydraulic properties, causing varied behavior in heat and mois- ture transport. Therefore, soil has an important effect on lanatmosphere interactions. In this study,...Soil is heterogeneous and has different thermal and hydraulic properties, causing varied behavior in heat and mois- ture transport. Therefore, soil has an important effect on lanatmosphere interactions. In this study, an improved soil parameterization scheme that considers gravel and organic matter in the soil was introduced into CLM4.5 （Com- munity Land Model）. By using data from the Zoige and Madoi sites on the Tibetan Plateau, the ability of the model to simultaneously simulate the duration of freeze-thaw periods, soil temperature, soil moisture, and surface energy during freeze-thaw processes, was validated. The results indicated that： （1） the new parameterization performed bet- ter in simulating the duration of the frozen, thawing, unfrozen, and freezing periods; （2） with the new scheme, the soil thermal conductivity values were decreased; （3） the new parameterization improved soil temperature simulation and effectively decreased cold biases; （4） the new parameterization scheme effectively decreased the dry biases of soil li- quid water content during the freezing, completely frozen, and thawing periods, but increased the wet biases during the completely thawed period; and （5） the net radiation, latent heat flux, and soil surface heat flux of the Zoige and Madoi sites were much improved by the new organic matter and thermal conductivity parameterization.展开更多
To date, little is still known about how alpine species occurring in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （QTP） responded to past climatic oscillations. Here, by using variations of the chloroplast trnT-L, we examined the ge...To date, little is still known about how alpine species occurring in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （QTP） responded to past climatic oscillations. Here, by using variations of the chloroplast trnT-L, we examined the genetic distribution pattern of 101 individuals of Potentilla glabra, comprising both the interior QTP and the plateau edge. Phylogenetic and network analyses of 31 recovered haplotypes identified three tentative clades （A, B and C）. Analysis of molecular variance （AMOVA） revealed that most of the genetic variability was found within populations （0.693）, while differentiations between populations were obviously distinct （Fst -- 0.307）. Two independent range expansions within clades A and B occurring at approximately 316 and 201 thousand years ago （kya） were recovered from the hierarchical mismatch analysis, and these two expansions were also confirmed by Fu＇s Fs values and ＇g＇ tests. However, distant distributions of clade C and private haplotypes from clades A and B suggest that they had survived the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） and previous glaciers in situ since their origins. Our findings based on available limited samples support that multiple refugia of a few cold-enduring species had been maintained in the QTP platform during LGM and/or previous glacial stages.展开更多
The identification of easily measured plant functional types (PFTs) that consistently predict grazing response would be a major advance.The responses to grazing of individual traits and PFTs were analyzed along a graz...The identification of easily measured plant functional types (PFTs) that consistently predict grazing response would be a major advance.The responses to grazing of individual traits and PFTs were analyzed along a grazing gradient in an alpine shrub meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.Three response types were identified;grazing increaser (GI),grazing decreaser (GD),and neutral (NE) for both traits and PFTs.Seven traits were measured:plant height,economic group,cotyledon type,plant inclination,growth form,life cycle,and vegetative structure.The first five were significantly affected by grazing.Ordinal regressions for grazing response of the seven traits showed that the best single predictors of response were growth form (including the attributes "Scattered","Bunched" or "Closely Bunched"),and plant inclination ("Rosette","Prostrate",or "Erect"),followed by economic group ("Shrub","Grass","Sedge","Legume","Forb",or "Harmful") and plant height ("Tall","Medium",or "Small").Within the four optimal traits,the summed dominance ratio (SDR) of small plants,forbs,rosette and bunched plants,invariably increased,while that of tall plants,shrubs,grasses,and erect plants decreased,when grazing pressure was enhanced.Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified eleven explanatory PFTs based on 195 defined PFTs,by combining the different attributes of the four optimal traits.Among explanatory PFTs,the most valuable in predicting the community response to grazing were Tall×Shrub×Erect×Scattered and Small×Forb×Rosette,as these have the closest connections with grazing disturbance and include fewer species.Species richness,diversity,and community evenness,did not differ among grazing treatments because turnover occurred in component species and their relative abundances along the grazing gradient.We have demonstrated that a minimum set of PFTs resulting from optimal individual traits can provide consistent prediction of community responses to grazing in this region.This approach provides a more accurate indicator of展开更多
Understanding the patterns of forage quantity and quality and investigating the factors influencing these patterns are essential for the development of animal husbandry.However,there is very little field evidence focu...Understanding the patterns of forage quantity and quality and investigating the factors influencing these patterns are essential for the development of animal husbandry.However,there is very little field evidence focused on these issues at a large spatial scale.In the current study,we analyzed forage quantity and quality at 177 sites distributed in all the major grassland types across China,and explored the relationship between forage quantity and quality based on consistent sampling protocols.We also investigated potential factors influencing forage quality patterns across China.Our study indicates the Tibetan grasslands had both higher quantity and quality forage than the Inner Mongolian grasslands,and alpine meadow had the best quantity and quality forage because of the meadow's high productivity and the crude protein and nitrogen free extract content of the meadow forage.For the main vegetation formations,Kobresia tibetica meadows and Achnatherum splendens steppes had the highest quantity,while Kobresia pygmaea meadows and Kobresia humilis meadows had the best quality.We also found that although environmental factors,such as temperature and soil fertility,could affect physiological processes and so influence forage quality,the large scale patterns of change were mainly a result of the differences in vegetation types.Finally,we reported a negative relationship between forage quantity and quality:higher forage quantity means more crude fiber but less ether extract and crude protein.These findings improve our understanding on the spatial patterns of forage quantity and quality,and provide solid evidence related to the future development of animal husbandry.展开更多
Evapotranspiration is the key driving factor of the earth’s water cycle, and an important component of surface water and energy balances. Therefore, it also reflects the geothermal regulation function of ecohydrologi...Evapotranspiration is the key driving factor of the earth’s water cycle, and an important component of surface water and energy balances. Therefore, it also reflects the geothermal regulation function of ecohydrological process. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the birthplace of important rivers such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. The regional water balance is of great significance to regional ecological security. In this study, ARTS, a dualsource remote sensing evapotranspiration model developed on a global scale, is used to evaluate the actual evapotranspiration(ET) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1982 to 2014, using meteorological data interpolated from observations, as well as FPAR and LAI data obtained by satellite remote sensing. The characteristics of seasonal. interannual and dynamic changes of evapotranspiration were analyzed. The rates at which meteorological factors contribute to evapotranspiration are calculated by sensitivity analysis and multiple linear regression analysis,and the dominant factors affecting the change of evapotranspiration in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are discussed.The results show that:(1) The estimated values can explain more than 80% of the seasonal variation of the observed values(R^2 = 0.80, P < 0.001), which indicates that the model has a high accuracy.(2) The evapotranspiration in the whole year, spring, summer and autumn show significant increasing trends in the past 30 years, but have significant regional differences. Whether in the whole year or in summer, the southern Tibetan Valley shows a significant decreasing trend(more than 20 mm per 10 years), while the Ali, Lhasa Valley and Haibei areas show increasing trends(more than 10 mm per 10 years).(3) Sensitivity analysis and multiple linear regression analysis show that the main factor driving the interannual change trend is climate warming, followed by the non-significant increase of precipitation. However, vegetation change also has a considerable impact, and together with climate factors, it can explain 56% 展开更多
To mitigate the impacts of grassland degradation on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau(QTP), in recent decades China has been implementing large-scale conservation programs and has invested about 42 billion CNY(7 billion US...To mitigate the impacts of grassland degradation on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau(QTP), in recent decades China has been implementing large-scale conservation programs and has invested about 42 billion CNY(7 billion USD). However, these programs are faced with major challenges involving trade-offs between ecological function, livestock production and income of pastoralists.Scientific assessments, as well as technical and policy issues, have not fully captured the complex ecological,social and economic dynamics of the challenges facing grassland management on the QTP. Pastoral livestock production on the QTP is characterized by imbalance in both quality and quantity between livestock seasonal nutrient requirements and herbage production, which forces pastoralists to keep larger numbers of livestock for longer periods, leading to overgrazing. To solve these problems, an integrated crop-livestock system is promoted to improve the efficiency of livestock production and conserve natural grassland as well for a sustainable system for the QTP.展开更多
To most people,the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a place full of mystery.It is also mysterious to many ecologists.The vast central Asian plateau lies at an average elevation>4000 m and covers about 370 million km2.Spa...To most people,the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a place full of mystery.It is also mysterious to many ecologists.The vast central Asian plateau lies at an average elevation>4000 m and covers about 370 million km2.Spanning the highest range of elevations of any ecosystem in the world makes the plateau unique even among alpine ecosystems due to the presence of extreme abiotic environments:the lowest atmospheric pressure and thus,the lowest partial pressures of CO_(2) and O_(2),low temperatures and high levels of radiation,including high ultraviolet radiation.展开更多
Knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grassland plants is crucial for understanding how these plants adapt to the environment. Tibetan alpine grasslands and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are two major grassland type...Knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grassland plants is crucial for understanding how these plants adapt to the environment. Tibetan alpine grasslands and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are two major grassland types in northern China. Tibetan alpine grasslands occur in high-altitude regions where the low temperatures limit plant growth. Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are found in arid regions where moisture is the limiting factor. Few comparative studies concerning the leaf anatomy of grassland plants of the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian Plateau have been conducted. We examined leaf characteristics at 71 sites and among 65 species, across the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and the temperate grasslands of the Inner Mongolian Plateau. We compared the leaf structures of plants with different life forms and taxonomies, and their adaptation to arid or cold environments. We explored relationships among leaf features and the effects of climatic factors (i.e., growing season temperature and precipitation) on leaf characteristics. Our results showed that (i) there were significant differences in leaf anatomy between Tibetan alpine and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for thickness of leaf tissue, surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger on the Tibetan Plateau than on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. (ii) Within the same family or genus, leaf anatomy showed significant differences between two regions, and trends were consistent with those of whole species. (iii) Leaf anatomy of woody and herbaceous plants also showed significant differences between the regions. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for the thickness of leaf tissue, and the surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger in herbaceous than in woody plants. (iv) Leaf anatomical traits changed accordingly. Total leaf thickness, thicknesses of lower and upper epidermal cells, and surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were positively corre展开更多
Delayed selfing could provide ovules with an opportunity to be fertilized as a means of ＂pollination assurance＂ before the flowers wilt. It could, thus, be regarded as an adaptation to unpredictable pollinator envir...Delayed selfing could provide ovules with an opportunity to be fertilized as a means of ＂pollination assurance＂ before the flowers wilt. It could, thus, be regarded as an adaptation to unpredictable pollinator environments. Within the alpine biennial Gentianopsis paludosa, the showy flowers and herkogamy at the early stage of a flower＇s life cycle may favor outcrossing. As the flower ages, anthers contact the central stigma due to the elongation of all filaments, resulting in autonomous selfing. Flower visitors are extremely rare in a high altitude population; and examination of the mating system indicates that G. paludosa is self-pollinated under natural conditions in this population. While at the lower altitude, the bumblebee visitation rate is relatively high but possibly unreliable. Stigma receptivity is the highest on the third day of anthesis, and decreases thereafter. Pollen viability is the highest when flowers open, and gradually decreases later. Self-pollination of G. paludosa occurs at the late stage of a flower＇s lifecycle when stigma receptivity and pollen viability have both decreased, suggesting delayed selfing and assurance of seed production. This delayed selfing could assure seed production under the constraints of pollinator scarcity, but ensure outcrossing when pollinators were available. Such a flexible pollination mechanism is highly adaptive in the alpine environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
Traditional compartmental models such as SIR(susceptible,infected,recovered)assume that the epidemic transmits in a homogeneous population,but the real contact patterns in epidemics are heterogeneous.Employing a more ...Traditional compartmental models such as SIR(susceptible,infected,recovered)assume that the epidemic transmits in a homogeneous population,but the real contact patterns in epidemics are heterogeneous.Employing a more realistic model that considers heterogeneous contact is consequently necessary.Here,we use a contact network to reconstruct unprotected,protected contact,and airborne spread to simulate the two-stages outbreak of COVID-19(coronavirus disease 2019)on the‘‘Diamond Princess"cruise ship.We employ Bayesian inference and Metropolis-Hastings sampling to estimate the model parameters and quantify the uncertainties by the ensemble simulation technique.During the early epidemic with intensive social contacts,the results reveal that the average transmissibility t was 0.026 and the basic reproductive number R0 was 6.94,triple that in the WHO report,indicating that all people would be infected in one month.The t and R0 decreased to 0.0007 and 0.2 when quarantine was implemented.The reconstruction suggests that diluting the airborne virus concentration in closed settings is useful in addition to isolation,and high-risk susceptible should follow rigorous prevention measures in case exposed.This study can provide useful implications for control and prevention measures for the other cruise ships and closed settings.展开更多
From 30 June to 24 September in 2003 ecosystem respiration （Re） in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau were measured using static chamber- and gas chromatography- （GC） based techniques. Simultaneously, plant...From 30 June to 24 September in 2003 ecosystem respiration （Re） in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau were measured using static chamber- and gas chromatography- （GC） based techniques. Simultaneously, plant removal treatments were set to partition Re into plant autotrophic respiration （Ra） and microbial heterotrophic respiration （Rh）. Results indicated that Re had clear diurnal and seasonal variation patterns in both of the meadows. The seasonal variability of Re at both meadow sites was caused mainly by changes in Ra, rather than Rh. Moreover, atthe Kobresia humilis meadow site （K_site）, Ra and Rh accounted for 54% and 46% of Re, respectively. While at the Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow （P_site）, the counterparts accounted for 61% and 39%, respectively. T test showed that there was significant difference in Re rates between the two meadows （t = 2.387, P = 0.022）. However, no significant difference was found in Rh rates, whereas a significant difference was observed in Ra rates between the two meadows. Thus, the difference in Re rate between the two meadows was mainly attributed to plant autotrophic respirations. During the growing season, the two meadows showed relatively low Q10 values, suggesting that Re, especially Rh was not sensitive to temperature variation in the growing season. Additionally, Re and Rh at the K_site, as well as Rh at the Psite was negatively correlated with soil moisture, indicating that soil moisture would also play an important role in respirations.展开更多
基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0405)the Science and Technology Service Network Initiative(KFJ-STS-QYZD060)+3 种基金the State Key Research Development Program of China(2016YFC0501802,2016YFC0501803 and 2016YFC0502002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41871040 and 41501057)the Innovative Research Team of the Ministry of Education of China(IRT_17R59)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Grazing exclusion using fences is a key policy being applied by the Chinese government to rehabilitate degraded grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)and elsewhere.However,there is a limited understanding of the effects of grazing exclusion on alpine ecosystem functions and services and its impacts on herders’livelihoods.Our meta-analyses and questionnaire-based surveys revealed that grazing exclusion with fences was effective in promoting aboveground vegetation growth for up to four years in degraded alpine meadows and for up to eight years in the alpine steppes of the TP.Longer-term fencing did not bring any ecological and economic benefits.We also found that fencing hindered wildlife movement,increased grazing pressure in unfenced areas,lowered the satisfaction of herders,and rendered substantial financial costs to both regional and national governments.We recommend that traditional free grazing should be encouraged if applicable,short-term fencing(for 4-8 years)should be adopted in severely degraded grasslands,and fencing should be avoided in key wildlife habitat areas,especially the protected large mammal species.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (Nos.2009CB421102 and 2005CB422005-01)the Second Scheme of CAS Action Plan for the Development of Western China (No.KZCX2-XB2-06-02)the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (No.2006BAC01A02-01)
文摘Remote sensing data from the Terra Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and geospatial data were used to estimate grass yield and livestock carrying capacity in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, Qing-hai, China. The MODIS-derived normalized difference vegetation index (MODIS-NDVI) data were correlated with the aboveground green biomass (AGGB) data from the aboveground harvest method. Regional regression model between the MODIS-NDVI and the common logarithm (LOG10) of the AGGB was significant (r2 = 0.51, P < 0.001), it was, there-fore, used to calculate the maximum carrying capacity in sheep-unit year per hectare. The maximum livestock carrying capacity was then adjusted to the theoretical livestock carrying capacity by the reduction factors (slope, distance to water, and soil erosion). Results indicated that the grassland conditions became worse, with lower aboveground palatable grass yield, plant height, and cover compared with the results obtained in 1981. At the same time, although the actual livestock numbers decreased, they still exceeded the proper theoretical livestock carrying capacity, and overgrazing rates ranged from 27.27% in Darlag County to 293.99% in Baima County. Integrating remote sensing and geographical information system technologies, the spatial and temporal conditions of the alpine grassland, trend, and projected stocking rates could be forecasted for decision making.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA19070204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42071421,41630856)。
文摘Data scarcity is a major obstacle for high-resolution mapping of permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau(TP).This study produces a new permafrost stability distribution map for the 2010 s(2005–2015)derived from the predicted mean annual ground temperature(MAGT)at a depth of zero annual amplitude(10–25 m)by integrating remotely sensed freezing degree-days and thawing degree-days,snow cover days,leaf area index,soil bulk density,high-accuracy soil moisture data,and in situ MAGT measurements from 237 boreholes on the TP by using an ensemble learning method that employs a support vector regression model based on distance-blocked resampled training data with 200 repetitions.Validation of the new permafrost map indicates that it is probably the most accurate of all currently available maps.This map shows that the total area of permafrost on the TP,excluding glaciers and lakes,is approximately 115.02(105.47–129.59)×10^4 km^2.The areas corresponding to the very stable,stable,semi-stable,transitional,and unstable types are 0.86×10^4,9.62×10^4,38.45×10^4,42.29×10^4,and 23.80×10^4 km^2,respectively.This new map is of fundamental importance for engineering planning and design,ecosystem management,and evaluation of the permafrost change in the future on the TP as a baseline.
基金supported by the U.S.Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research, as part of the Earth System Modeling ProgramThe NASA Modeling, Analysis, and Prediction (MAP) Program by the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters supported the work contributed by Teppei J.YASUNARI and William K.M.LAU+2 种基金The NASA GEOS-5 simulation was implemented in the system for NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS).M.G.Flanner was partially supported by NSF 1253154support from the China Scholarship FundThe Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated for DOE by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract DE-AC06-76RLO1830
文摘Light absorbing particles（LAP, e.g., black carbon, brown carbon, and dust） influence water and energy budgets of the atmosphere and snowpack in multiple ways. In addition to their effects associated with atmospheric heating by absorption of solar radiation and interactions with clouds, LAP in snow on land and ice can reduce the surface reflectance（a.k.a., surface darkening）, which is likely to accelerate the snow aging process and further reduces snow albedo and increases the speed of snowpack melt. LAP in snow and ice（LAPSI） has been identified as one of major forcings affecting climate change, e.g.in the fourth and fifth assessment reports of IPCC. However, the uncertainty level in quantifying this effect remains very high. In this review paper, we document various technical methods of measuring LAPSI and review the progress made in measuring the LAPSI in Arctic, Tibetan Plateau and other mid-latitude regions. We also report the progress in modeling the mass concentrations, albedo reduction, radiative forcing, and climatic and hydrological impact of LAPSI at global and regional scales. Finally we identify some research needs for reducing the uncertainties in the impact of LAPSI on global and regional climate and the hydrological cycle.
基金Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.XDB03030500 National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41201095+1 种基金 No.41171080 No.413711 20
文摘In this study, we have used four methods to investigate the start of the growing season （SGS） on the Tibetan Plateau （TP） from 1982 to 2012, using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） data obtained from Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies （GIMSS, 1982-2006） and SPOT VEGETATION （SPOT-VGT, 1999-2012）. SGS values esti- mated using the four methods show similar spatial patterns along latitudinal or altitudinal gradients, but with significant variations in the SGS dates. The largest discrepancies are mainly found in the regions with the highest or the lowest vegetation coverage. Between 1982 and 1998, the SGS values derived from the four methods all display an advancing trend, however, according to the more recent SPOT VGT data （1999-2012）, there is no continu- ously advancing trend of SGS on the TP. Analysis of the correlation between the SGS values derived from GIMMS and SPOT between 1999 and 2006 demonstrates consistency in the tendency with regard both to the data sources and to the four analysis methods used. Com- pared with other methods, the greatest consistency between the in situ data and the SGS values retrieved is obtained with Method 3 （Threshold of NDVI ratio）. To avoid error, in a vast region with diverse vegetation types and physical environments, it is critical to know the seasonal change characteristics of the different vegetation types, particularly in areas with sparse grassland or evergreen forest.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41842050)
文摘The natural environment provides material essentials for human survival and development. The characteristics,processes, regional differentiation and forcing mechanisms of the elements of the natural environment(e.g. geomorphology,climate, hydrology, soil, etc.) are the main objects of research in physical geography. China has a complex natural environment and huge regional differentiation and therefore it provides outstanding reserach opportunities in physical geography. This review summarizes the most important developments and the main contributions of research in the physical geography and human living environment in China during the past 70 years. The major topics addressed are the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of its cryosphere, the development of fluvial systems, the acidification of the vast arid region of the Asian interior, variations in the monsoon and westerly climate systems on multiple timescales, the development of lakes and wetlands, the watershed system model, soil erosion, past human-environment interactions, biogeography, and physical geographic zonality. After briefly introducing international research developments, we review the history of research in physical geography in China, focusing on the major achievements and major academic debates, and finally we summarize the status of current research and the future prospects. We propose that in the context of the national demand for the construction of an ecological civilization, we should make full use of the research findings of physical geography, and determine the patterns and mechanisms of natural environmental processes in order to continue to promote the continued contribution of physical geography to national development strategies, and to further contribute to the theory of physical geography from a global perspective.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19050401)Maps in this article were reviewed by Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China(GS(2020)1044)。
文摘Vegetation maps are important sources of information for biodiversity conservation,ecological studies,vegetation management and restoration,and national strategic decision making.The current Vegetation Map of China(1:1000000)was generated by a team of more than 250 scientists in an effort that lasted over 20 years starting in the 1980s.However,the vegetation distribution of China has experienced drastic changes during the rapid development of China in the last three decades,and it urgently needs to be updated to better represent the distribution of current vegetation types.Here,we describe the process of updating the Vegetation Map of China(1:1000000)generated in the 1980s using a‘‘crowdsourcing-change detection-classification-expert knowledge"vegetation mapping strategy.A total of 203,024 field samples were collected,and 50 taxonomists were involved in the updating process.The resulting updated map has 12 vegetation type groups,55 vegetation types/subtypes,and 866 vegetation formation/sub-formation types.The overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of the updated map are 64.8%and 0.52 at the vegetation type group level,61%and 0.55 at the vegetation type/subtype level and 40%and 0.38 at the vegetation formation/sub-formation level.When compared to the original map,the updated map showed that 3.3 million km^2 of vegetated areas of China have changed their vegetation type group during the past three decades due to anthropogenic activities and climatic change.We expect this updated map to benefit the understanding and management of China’s terrestrial ecosystems.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.30660120 and 41030105)National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2009CB421102)International Cooperation Program of Science and Technology Department of Qinghai Province (Grant No. 2010-H-809)
文摘We studied the uptake of ammonium, nitrate, and a variety of amino acids by alpine plant species in the Kobresia humil alpine meadow ecosystem in situ. We examined the extent of niche separation in uptake of N source by different plant species in alpine communities, and investigated the contribution of symbiotically fixed N to the total N in alpine meadow. The results are （1） δ15N natural abundance values of 13 plant species lie between -2.680‰ and 5.169‰, and the scope is 7.849‰. （2） Le- guminous plants, such as Trigonella ruthenica, Gueldenstaedtia diversiffolia, and Oxytyopis ochrocephala, and non-legumi- nous plant Gentiana straminea uptake low amounts of 15N labeled ammonium, nitrate, glycine or aspartate in soil. （3） As far as the plant uptake of organic N is concerned, Kobresia humilis, Poa pratensis, and Gentiuna spathutifolta can effectively uptake organic nitrogen, and about 37%-40% of the nitrogen of these species comes from soil organic nitrogen sources （such as glycine and aspartate）. Stipa aliena can effectively uptake nitrate, and 60% of its nitrogen comes from soil nitrate. Potentilla anserina, Poa pratensis, and Thalictrum alpinum can effectively absorb ammonium in comparason to other plant species in the meadow, and about 25%-27% of the nitrogen in these plants comes from soil ammonium. （4） The contribution of leguminous fixed N to total N is 7.48%-9.26% in Kobresia humilis alpine meadow. （5） These data show many plant species of alpine meadow may effectively utilize dissolved organic nitrogen such as amino acids, and these plants have diverse ways to uptake soil nitrogen in alpine meadows. Based on the results we can partly explain why there are abundant biodiversities and how plants at alpine habitat utilize the limited soil N sources.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91425303)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA20100104)the 13th Five-year Informatization Plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XXH13505-06)
文摘Populus euphratica is a dominant tree species in riparian Tugai forests and forms a natural barrier that maintains the stability of local oases in arid inland river basins. Despite being critical information for local environmental protection and recovery, establishing the specific spatial distribution of P. euphratica has rarely been attempted via precise and reliable species distribution models in such areas. In this research, the potential geographic distribution of P. euphratica in the Heihe River Basin was simulated with MaxEnt software based on species occurrence data and 29 environmental variables. The result showed that in the Heihe River Basin, 820 km^2 of land primarily distributed along the banks of the lower reaches of the river is a suitable habitat for P. euphratica. We built other MaxEnt models based on different environmental variables and another eight models employing different mathematical algorithms based on the same 29 environmental variables to demonstrate the superiority of this method.MaxEnt based on 29 environmental variables performed the best among these models, as it precisely described the essential characteristics of the distribution of P. euphratica forest land. This study verified that MaxEnt can serve as an effective tool for species distribution in extremely arid regions with sufficient and reliable environmental variables. The results suggest that there may be a larger area of P. euphratica forest distribution in the study area and that ecological conservation and management of P.euphratica should prioritize suitable habitat. This research provides valuable insights for the conservation and management of degraded P. euphratica riparian forests.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91537104,41375077,91537106,and 91537214)
文摘Soil is heterogeneous and has different thermal and hydraulic properties, causing varied behavior in heat and mois- ture transport. Therefore, soil has an important effect on lanatmosphere interactions. In this study, an improved soil parameterization scheme that considers gravel and organic matter in the soil was introduced into CLM4.5 （Com- munity Land Model）. By using data from the Zoige and Madoi sites on the Tibetan Plateau, the ability of the model to simultaneously simulate the duration of freeze-thaw periods, soil temperature, soil moisture, and surface energy during freeze-thaw processes, was validated. The results indicated that： （1） the new parameterization performed bet- ter in simulating the duration of the frozen, thawing, unfrozen, and freezing periods; （2） with the new scheme, the soil thermal conductivity values were decreased; （3） the new parameterization improved soil temperature simulation and effectively decreased cold biases; （4） the new parameterization scheme effectively decreased the dry biases of soil li- quid water content during the freezing, completely frozen, and thawing periods, but increased the wet biases during the completely thawed period; and （5） the net radiation, latent heat flux, and soil surface heat flux of the Zoige and Madoi sites were much improved by the new organic matter and thermal conductivity parameterization.
基金Supported by the Frontier Project of the Knowledge Innovation Program of Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,National Natural Science Foundation of China (30725004)the Programfor New Century Excellent Talents,Ministry of Education of China (NCET-05-0886)a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (A) from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology,Government of Japan(18255004)
文摘To date, little is still known about how alpine species occurring in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （QTP） responded to past climatic oscillations. Here, by using variations of the chloroplast trnT-L, we examined the genetic distribution pattern of 101 individuals of Potentilla glabra, comprising both the interior QTP and the plateau edge. Phylogenetic and network analyses of 31 recovered haplotypes identified three tentative clades （A, B and C）. Analysis of molecular variance （AMOVA） revealed that most of the genetic variability was found within populations （0.693）, while differentiations between populations were obviously distinct （Fst -- 0.307）. Two independent range expansions within clades A and B occurring at approximately 316 and 201 thousand years ago （kya） were recovered from the hierarchical mismatch analysis, and these two expansions were also confirmed by Fu＇s Fs values and ＇g＇ tests. However, distant distributions of clade C and private haplotypes from clades A and B suggest that they had survived the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） and previous glaciers in situ since their origins. Our findings based on available limited samples support that multiple refugia of a few cold-enduring species had been maintained in the QTP platform during LGM and/or previous glacial stages.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30671490, and 31070382)
文摘The identification of easily measured plant functional types (PFTs) that consistently predict grazing response would be a major advance.The responses to grazing of individual traits and PFTs were analyzed along a grazing gradient in an alpine shrub meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.Three response types were identified;grazing increaser (GI),grazing decreaser (GD),and neutral (NE) for both traits and PFTs.Seven traits were measured:plant height,economic group,cotyledon type,plant inclination,growth form,life cycle,and vegetative structure.The first five were significantly affected by grazing.Ordinal regressions for grazing response of the seven traits showed that the best single predictors of response were growth form (including the attributes "Scattered","Bunched" or "Closely Bunched"),and plant inclination ("Rosette","Prostrate",or "Erect"),followed by economic group ("Shrub","Grass","Sedge","Legume","Forb",or "Harmful") and plant height ("Tall","Medium",or "Small").Within the four optimal traits,the summed dominance ratio (SDR) of small plants,forbs,rosette and bunched plants,invariably increased,while that of tall plants,shrubs,grasses,and erect plants decreased,when grazing pressure was enhanced.Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified eleven explanatory PFTs based on 195 defined PFTs,by combining the different attributes of the four optimal traits.Among explanatory PFTs,the most valuable in predicting the community response to grazing were Tall×Shrub×Erect×Scattered and Small×Forb×Rosette,as these have the closest connections with grazing disturbance and include fewer species.Species richness,diversity,and community evenness,did not differ among grazing treatments because turnover occurred in component species and their relative abundances along the grazing gradient.We have demonstrated that a minimum set of PFTs resulting from optimal individual traits can provide consistent prediction of community responses to grazing in this region.This approach provides a more accurate indicator of
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31025005 and 31021001)the Program of "One Hundred Talented People" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-YW-Z-0806)
文摘Understanding the patterns of forage quantity and quality and investigating the factors influencing these patterns are essential for the development of animal husbandry.However,there is very little field evidence focused on these issues at a large spatial scale.In the current study,we analyzed forage quantity and quality at 177 sites distributed in all the major grassland types across China,and explored the relationship between forage quantity and quality based on consistent sampling protocols.We also investigated potential factors influencing forage quality patterns across China.Our study indicates the Tibetan grasslands had both higher quantity and quality forage than the Inner Mongolian grasslands,and alpine meadow had the best quantity and quality forage because of the meadow's high productivity and the crude protein and nitrogen free extract content of the meadow forage.For the main vegetation formations,Kobresia tibetica meadows and Achnatherum splendens steppes had the highest quantity,while Kobresia pygmaea meadows and Kobresia humilis meadows had the best quality.We also found that although environmental factors,such as temperature and soil fertility,could affect physiological processes and so influence forage quality,the large scale patterns of change were mainly a result of the differences in vegetation types.Finally,we reported a negative relationship between forage quantity and quality:higher forage quantity means more crude fiber but less ether extract and crude protein.These findings improve our understanding on the spatial patterns of forage quantity and quality,and provide solid evidence related to the future development of animal husbandry.
基金National Key Basic Research and Development Program(2017YFC0503803)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31861143015)Qinghai Province S&T Program(2018-ZJ-T09)
文摘Evapotranspiration is the key driving factor of the earth’s water cycle, and an important component of surface water and energy balances. Therefore, it also reflects the geothermal regulation function of ecohydrological process. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the birthplace of important rivers such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. The regional water balance is of great significance to regional ecological security. In this study, ARTS, a dualsource remote sensing evapotranspiration model developed on a global scale, is used to evaluate the actual evapotranspiration(ET) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1982 to 2014, using meteorological data interpolated from observations, as well as FPAR and LAI data obtained by satellite remote sensing. The characteristics of seasonal. interannual and dynamic changes of evapotranspiration were analyzed. The rates at which meteorological factors contribute to evapotranspiration are calculated by sensitivity analysis and multiple linear regression analysis,and the dominant factors affecting the change of evapotranspiration in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are discussed.The results show that:(1) The estimated values can explain more than 80% of the seasonal variation of the observed values(R^2 = 0.80, P < 0.001), which indicates that the model has a high accuracy.(2) The evapotranspiration in the whole year, spring, summer and autumn show significant increasing trends in the past 30 years, but have significant regional differences. Whether in the whole year or in summer, the southern Tibetan Valley shows a significant decreasing trend(more than 20 mm per 10 years), while the Ali, Lhasa Valley and Haibei areas show increasing trends(more than 10 mm per 10 years).(3) Sensitivity analysis and multiple linear regression analysis show that the main factor driving the interannual change trend is climate warming, followed by the non-significant increase of precipitation. However, vegetation change also has a considerable impact, and together with climate factors, it can explain 56%
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC0501905)the Science and Technology Service Network Initiative of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KFJ-STS-ZDTP-013)
文摘To mitigate the impacts of grassland degradation on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau(QTP), in recent decades China has been implementing large-scale conservation programs and has invested about 42 billion CNY(7 billion USD). However, these programs are faced with major challenges involving trade-offs between ecological function, livestock production and income of pastoralists.Scientific assessments, as well as technical and policy issues, have not fully captured the complex ecological,social and economic dynamics of the challenges facing grassland management on the QTP. Pastoral livestock production on the QTP is characterized by imbalance in both quality and quantity between livestock seasonal nutrient requirements and herbage production, which forces pastoralists to keep larger numbers of livestock for longer periods, leading to overgrazing. To solve these problems, an integrated crop-livestock system is promoted to improve the efficiency of livestock production and conserve natural grassland as well for a sustainable system for the QTP.
文摘To most people,the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a place full of mystery.It is also mysterious to many ecologists.The vast central Asian plateau lies at an average elevation>4000 m and covers about 370 million km2.Spanning the highest range of elevations of any ecosystem in the world makes the plateau unique even among alpine ecosystems due to the presence of extreme abiotic environments:the lowest atmospheric pressure and thus,the lowest partial pressures of CO_(2) and O_(2),low temperatures and high levels of radiation,including high ultraviolet radiation.
基金supported by the Funds for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31021001)the Funds of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for Key Topics in Innovation Engineering (Grant No. KSCX2-YW-Z-0806)
文摘Knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grassland plants is crucial for understanding how these plants adapt to the environment. Tibetan alpine grasslands and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are two major grassland types in northern China. Tibetan alpine grasslands occur in high-altitude regions where the low temperatures limit plant growth. Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are found in arid regions where moisture is the limiting factor. Few comparative studies concerning the leaf anatomy of grassland plants of the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian Plateau have been conducted. We examined leaf characteristics at 71 sites and among 65 species, across the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and the temperate grasslands of the Inner Mongolian Plateau. We compared the leaf structures of plants with different life forms and taxonomies, and their adaptation to arid or cold environments. We explored relationships among leaf features and the effects of climatic factors (i.e., growing season temperature and precipitation) on leaf characteristics. Our results showed that (i) there were significant differences in leaf anatomy between Tibetan alpine and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for thickness of leaf tissue, surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger on the Tibetan Plateau than on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. (ii) Within the same family or genus, leaf anatomy showed significant differences between two regions, and trends were consistent with those of whole species. (iii) Leaf anatomy of woody and herbaceous plants also showed significant differences between the regions. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for the thickness of leaf tissue, and the surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger in herbaceous than in woody plants. (iv) Leaf anatomical traits changed accordingly. Total leaf thickness, thicknesses of lower and upper epidermal cells, and surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were positively corre
基金support by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Key Innovation Plan KSCX-SW2-106 and the Special Fund for Outstanding PhD Dissertations to Jian-Quan Liu)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30270253and 30700096)
文摘Delayed selfing could provide ovules with an opportunity to be fertilized as a means of ＂pollination assurance＂ before the flowers wilt. It could, thus, be regarded as an adaptation to unpredictable pollinator environments. Within the alpine biennial Gentianopsis paludosa, the showy flowers and herkogamy at the early stage of a flower＇s life cycle may favor outcrossing. As the flower ages, anthers contact the central stigma due to the elongation of all filaments, resulting in autonomous selfing. Flower visitors are extremely rare in a high altitude population; and examination of the mating system indicates that G. paludosa is self-pollinated under natural conditions in this population. While at the lower altitude, the bumblebee visitation rate is relatively high but possibly unreliable. Stigma receptivity is the highest on the third day of anthesis, and decreases thereafter. Pollen viability is the highest when flowers open, and gradually decreases later. Self-pollination of G. paludosa occurs at the late stage of a flower＇s lifecycle when stigma receptivity and pollen viability have both decreased, suggesting delayed selfing and assurance of seed production. This delayed selfing could assure seed production under the constraints of pollinator scarcity, but ensure outcrossing when pollinators were available. Such a flexible pollination mechanism is highly adaptive in the alpine environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA19070104)13th Five-year Informatization Plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XXH13505-06)+1 种基金Foundation for Excellent Youth Scholars of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y851D41)National Natural Science Foundation of China (41801270)。
文摘Traditional compartmental models such as SIR(susceptible,infected,recovered)assume that the epidemic transmits in a homogeneous population,but the real contact patterns in epidemics are heterogeneous.Employing a more realistic model that considers heterogeneous contact is consequently necessary.Here,we use a contact network to reconstruct unprotected,protected contact,and airborne spread to simulate the two-stages outbreak of COVID-19(coronavirus disease 2019)on the‘‘Diamond Princess"cruise ship.We employ Bayesian inference and Metropolis-Hastings sampling to estimate the model parameters and quantify the uncertainties by the ensemble simulation technique.During the early epidemic with intensive social contacts,the results reveal that the average transmissibility t was 0.026 and the basic reproductive number R0 was 6.94,triple that in the WHO report,indicating that all people would be infected in one month.The t and R0 decreased to 0.0007 and 0.2 when quarantine was implemented.The reconstruction suggests that diluting the airborne virus concentration in closed settings is useful in addition to isolation,and high-risk susceptible should follow rigorous prevention measures in case exposed.This study can provide useful implications for control and prevention measures for the other cruise ships and closed settings.
基金Field Station Foundation In the Domain of Resource and Environment, CAS and GEF program (052456 and CHA-GS-Y-4)
文摘From 30 June to 24 September in 2003 ecosystem respiration （Re） in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau were measured using static chamber- and gas chromatography- （GC） based techniques. Simultaneously, plant removal treatments were set to partition Re into plant autotrophic respiration （Ra） and microbial heterotrophic respiration （Rh）. Results indicated that Re had clear diurnal and seasonal variation patterns in both of the meadows. The seasonal variability of Re at both meadow sites was caused mainly by changes in Ra, rather than Rh. Moreover, atthe Kobresia humilis meadow site （K_site）, Ra and Rh accounted for 54% and 46% of Re, respectively. While at the Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow （P_site）, the counterparts accounted for 61% and 39%, respectively. T test showed that there was significant difference in Re rates between the two meadows （t = 2.387, P = 0.022）. However, no significant difference was found in Rh rates, whereas a significant difference was observed in Ra rates between the two meadows. Thus, the difference in Re rate between the two meadows was mainly attributed to plant autotrophic respirations. During the growing season, the two meadows showed relatively low Q10 values, suggesting that Re, especially Rh was not sensitive to temperature variation in the growing season. Additionally, Re and Rh at the K_site, as well as Rh at the Psite was negatively correlated with soil moisture, indicating that soil moisture would also play an important role in respirations.
