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1.
The largest population of the Argentinean Pampas deer Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer is found in the semiarid grasslands of the San Luis province. Despite relatively high deer numbers in the region, there has been concern that expansion of farming practices could displace the species. Since the 1990’s, cattle breeding has intensified especially as a result of the replacement of natural grassland with South African digit grass (Digitaria eriantha) and African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). In this study, we studied how deer in “El Centenario” ranch used available habitat types, especially to assess whether it preferentially used natural over exotic pastures. We employed 8 fixed line transects to record deer numbers and habitat use during the dry season, early rainy and late rainy seasons. We estimated a mean population size of 731 ± 121 individuals, a density of 1.95 ± 0.25 deer/km2. Our results also showed that deer did not appear to select natural pastures over exotic ones, though D. eriantha grasslands with cattle were used less during the late rainy season. Grazed pastures with D. eriantha without cattle were used significantly more during all time periods. Our results therefore suggest that Pampas deer are not shifted by exotic pastures but we caution that it is important to manage these habitats sustainably (e.g. cattle load adjusted to grassland nutritional supply, rotational crops with parcel rest period), to ensure the conservation of the species within agricultural areas.  相似文献   

2.
We studied in Opuntia tomentosa the effect of plant shade (orientation and distance), and the place where the seeds remained before germination. Seeds were collected in 1998 and a) sown immediately on soil (non-buried seeds), b) stored in the laboratory and sown on soil during the 1999 rainy season (control) or c) buried after collection (under the shade of a tree, a rock and in an open space), exhumed 7 months later and sown in 1999 (exhumed seeds). Seeds were sown under or outside the shade of several trees; or on the northern, eastern and western sides of a 14-m-tall tree. In 1999, germination was high in all samples, but the control seeds had delayed germination. After two rainy seasons, non-buried seeds had the lowest germination rate. Germination was not affected by the distance from the tree. Outside of the plant's shade, germination was low. Germination was affected more by the environmental heterogeneity than by the individual plant shade. Germination probabilities were the highest at 16–19 °C; field germination was zero at 20.6 °C. Seed polymorphism and microenvironmental heterogeneity spread germination across two rainy seasons creating a permanent seed bank.  相似文献   

3.
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4.
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different crop sequences on water use, growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiate (L) Wilezek) during 1992–93 and 1993–94 under rainfed upland condition in Indo-Gangetic plains of West Bengal. Green gram sown in the month of March as pre-rainy (summer) season crop, as and when the winter crops vacated the land, produced highest dry matter of 372 gm-2 which was significantly highest in black gram-yellow sarson sequence. The results of the field experimentation revealed that green gram gave highest grain yield to the extent of 10.80 q/ha when sown after black gram (rainy season) followed by yellow sarson (winter season) while the crop produced 10.63 q/ha under sesame-yellow sarson sequence. Highest water use of 267 mm was achieved in green gram under black gram-yellow sarson sequence and the crop gave water use efficiency of 4.07 kg ha-1mm-1 under black gram-yellow sarson sequences.  相似文献   

5.
Present-day Sahelian vegetation in a highly anthropized semi-arid region is assessed from local to regional scales, through the joint analysis of MODIS LAI (1 km2 and 8-day resolutions), daily rainfall, morphopedological and land cover datasets covering the period 2000–2008. The study area is located in northwest Senegal and consists of the “Niayes” and the northwestern “Peanut Basin” eco-regions, characterized by market gardening and rain-fed cultivated crops, respectively. The objectives are i) to analyse at pixel scale LAI time series and their relation to vegetation and soil types, ii) the estimation of phenological metrics (start of season SOS, end of season EOS, growing season length GSL) and their inter-annual variability, iii) to recognize the vegetation responses to rainfall trends (mean annual precipitation, MAP; frequency of rainy events, K; combination of MAP and K, called F).Pixel-scale analyses show that LAI time series 1) describe the actual phenology (agreeing with ground-truth AGHRYMET data), and thus can be used as a proxy for Sahelian vegetation dynamics, 2) are strongly dependent on soil types. Median maps of SOS and EOS suggest an increase of the GSL from Saint-Louis to Dakar, in agreement with both the North-South rainfall gradient and the intensification of agricultural practices around Dakar. Significant correlations (R: 0.64) between annual variation coefficient of LAI and MAP for both herbaceous crops and natural vegetation are highlighted; this correlation is reinforced (R: 0.7) using the rainfall distribution factors K and F. Rainfall thresholds allowing the SOS can be defined for each type of vegetation. These thresholds are estimated at 0–5 mm, 20 mm and 40 mm for natural herbs, herbaceous crops and shrublands, respectively.If previous works revealed the close link between the MAP and the SOS, our results highlight that LAI dynamics are also controlled by rainfall distribution during the Monsoon season. In this study, climatic indicators are proposed for estimating vegetation dynamics and monitoring SOS. Coupling Earth Observation data, such as MODIS LAI, with rainfall data, vegetation and soil information is found to be a reliable method for vegetation monitoring and for assessing the impact of human pressure on vegetation degradation.  相似文献   

6.
The giant cactus Isolatocereus dumortieri is a dominant species of the semiarid scrub of central Mexico. Its reproductive period is during the dry season, and it produces essential resources (pollen, nectar and fruits) for a great variety of animal species. We related the production of reproductive structures with water variables in the soil–plant system. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of a change in rainfall pattern on the phenology of I. dumortieri. We watered some plants in the dry season to simulate heavy rain events, and to test the hypothesis that water availability during the reproductive season has a negative effect on fruiting and a positive effect on vegetative growth. The seasonality of rain events caused variations in soil water potential and plant osmotic potential, and we found that both variables influenced fruit production. The regression models relating the number of fruits with soil water potential, rainfall and osmotic potential were significant for all three study periods. The highest production of reproductive structures occurred in the driest year (2009), during which there was an ENSO event. Watering did not have a significant effect on osmotic potential or growth in the cacti. However, the watering × time interaction had a negative effect on the number of immature fruits. That is, at the end of the experiment, the plants that received the most water showed a decrease in the number of fruits. Plant growth during the rainy period was significantly greater than during the dry period. The results support the hypothesis that a change in rainfall pattern during the dry season has an effect on fruit production. Vegetative growth, however, occurred only during the wet season.  相似文献   

7.
In hot, arid environments, non-burrowing mammals are at risk of overheating and dehydration, so human-induced reduction in thermal cover may constitute a threat for their survival. We studied the daytime activity rhythm, habitat use, and space use of the beira (Dorcatragus megalotis), a threatened antelope living in arid hills of the Horn of Africa, where tree cover is shrinking because of logging, and overgrazing by livestock. During the cool season (Nov.–Mar.; mean midday temperature: 28.5 °C), beira did not particularly seek shade, and alternated in the course of the day between short phases of activity and rest (median duration in Dec.–Feb.: 57.5 and 42.5 min, respectively). In contrast, during the hot season (May–Sep.; mean midday temperature: 39.1 °C), beira often foraged in a hill's shade, and midday resting phases were especially long (median duration in May–Jul.: 280 min) and spent in the shade of trees, or of rock shelters when available in the home range. Because of reduced diurnal movements when temperature was high, beira home ranges were smaller during the hot than during the cool season (mean ± SE: 0.25 ± 0.05 km2 in May–Jul. vs 0.42 ± 0.10 km2 in Dec.–Feb.). Whatever the season, beira mainly used areas supporting trees. The obtained results suggest that the decrease of tree cover in the areas inhabited by the beira constitutes a threat for the species survival.  相似文献   

8.
Throughout the western United States, the invasive annual grass, medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae L. Nevski), is rapidly invading grasslands once dominated by native perennial grasses, such as bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A). It is also invading grasslands dominated by less undesirable invasive annual grasses, especially cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.). Understanding medusahead growth dynamics relative to native perennial grasses and cheatgrass is central to predicting and managing medusahead invasion. We hypothesized that medusahead would have a higher relative growth rate (RGR), a longer period of growth, and as a consequence, more total biomass at the end of the growing season than the native perennial grass and cheatgrass. In 2008 (dry conditions), 250 seeds and in 2009 (wet conditions), 250 and 100 seeds of each species were sown in 1 m2 plots with 5 replicates. Shoots were harvested on 3-25 day intervals throughout the growing season. The native perennial grass had more biomass and higher RGR than medusahead in the dry year, but the relationship was reversed in the wet year. Precipitation in 2008 was well-below average and this level of drought is very infrequent based on historical weather data. Medusahead had a longer period of growth and more total biomass than cheatgrass for both years. We expect that medusahead will continue to invade both native perennial and less undesirable invasive annual grasslands because of its higher RGR and extended period of growth.  相似文献   

9.
The relationship between monthly vegetation cover anomalies and climate in the Hulunbei'er steppe were studied through analyzing the relationship between regional normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and climatic variables, and NDVI and tree-ring width during the growing season (May–October). The local moisture (dry/wet) and temperature (cold/warm) variations largely affected the vegetation cover and the radial growth of Mongolian pines (Pinus sylvestiris Linnaeus var. mongolica Litvinov) in the steppe. Monthly precipitation and Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) data from the previous to the current growing seasons were positively correlated to regional vegetation cover and radial growth of Mongolian pines; however, negative correlations were found between temperature and vegetation variables. A reconstruction of monthly vegetation cover dynamics for the growing season was created and spans 116 years (from 1891 to 2006). The results show that the total numbers of anomalies for dense and sparse seasonal vegetation cover is 22 years over the 116 year record; about 5–7 relatively dense or sparse periods; and ∼2–8 years significant periodicities (p < 0.05). Linkages to the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean regimes were also detected.  相似文献   

10.
Botanical composition of cattle seasonal diets (faecal sampling with microhistological analysis) was determined in a four-pasture, one-herd grazing system during a 3-year period. Diets were classified using cluster analysis. Three diet groups were identified: beginning of rainy season (spring), peak of rainy season (summer) and dry season (fall and winter). Contribution of grasses and woody species to these diet groups was significantly different (p< 0·001). Grasses were the most important component of cattle diets throughout the rainy season, while shrubs and trees were important in the dry season. The major shifts in diets occurred in response to changes in grass phenology.  相似文献   

11.
Several Prosopis species have been introduced into South Africa in the last century and many of them have become invasive. This study investigates the water relations, effects of clearing, and the seasonal dynamics of groundwater use by invasive Prosopis trees. The trees were growing on deep sandy soils in the floodplain of an episodic river in the arid Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected on tree water uptake, evapotranspiration and water table depth over different seasons. Effects of tree clearing on groundwater were quantified by comparing data from a Prosopis invaded and an adjacent cleared area. Transpiration rates were less than 1.0 mm/d throughout the year and the trees showed structural and physiological adaptations to the combined low rainfall and low water holding capacity of the soils by developing very narrow sapwood areas and by closing their stomata. The trees abstracted groundwater as evidenced by the decline in borehole water levels in the Prosopis stand before the rainy season. Groundwater savings of up to 70 m3/month could be achieved in spring for each hectare of Prosopis cleared. The study suggests that clearing of invasive Prosopis would conserve groundwater in the arid parts of South Africa.  相似文献   

12.
The sediments from Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana contain a unique record of fine-scale (mm to sub-mm) laminations, which will provide a valuable annual chronometer for reconstructing paleoenvironmental changes in West Africa covering much of the last 1 Ma. Comparisons of laminae counts to independent 210Pb dates and the rise in anthropogenic “bomb” radiocarbon support the interpretation of the laminations in the uppermost sediments as registering annual events. Radiocarbon dates on in-situ fish-bone collagen are in agreement with varve counts, further supporting the annual nature of our varve chronology. Over the instrumental period (1925–1999), dark-varve thickness measurements are correlated with local rainfall (r = 0.54) and appear able to resolve decadal-scale changes in precipitation. The relationship between varve thickness and rainfall provides support for our interpretation that dark-colored varve thickness records catchment runoff during the rainy season rather than dust flux during the dry season. Dark laminae alternate with organic and carbonate-rich light laminae formed during the fall period of enhanced productivity. Downcore, varves undergo significant microstratigraphic and geochemical variations, but retain the same pattern of alternating clastic and organic-rich laminae, providing support that the laminae may represent annual time markers for reconstructions of the deeper part of the record.  相似文献   

13.
Here we examined the response mechanisms and the strategies adopted to cope with drought stress in Jatropha curcas L. Response mechanisms to water stress were explored in three different accessions (from Brazil, Tanzania and Suriname) of J. curcas in terms of water and osmotic relations, gas exchange, PSII photochemistry, and growth performances. Plants were exposed to 18 days of water stress (irrigation was kept at 20% of water holding capacity) followed by 13 days of relief from stress. J. curcas withstands drought stress with a drought-avoidance mechanism through a water saving strategy. These responses include selective abscission of leaves, and marked decreases in net photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency. This allows plants to maintain an “above-lethal” water potential during stress, and to recover net assimilation rate promptly when water availability to the roots is resumed. The Suriname accession displayed greater reductions in net photosynthesis, maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), total leaf area and plant dry weight, as compared with both Tanzania and, particularly, the Brazil accession, during drought stress. Impairment of PSII photochemistry was also observed in the Suriname accession at the end of the relief period. Water-stressed J. curcas, irrespective of seed source, was capable to recover net photosynthesis to the level of the well watered counterparts by the end of the relief period. Our data allow to conclude that J. curcas may survive to drought spells of moderate intensities but, at the same time pose serious concerns for its profitable cultivation in arid/semi-arid regions worldwide.  相似文献   

14.
The Caatinga (dryland) biome of Brazil is experiencing accentuated desertification due to deforestation and inappropriate uses of its natural resources. Studies examining the diversity of filamentous fungi in Caatinga soils are still scarce and the present work was designed to isolate and identify the soil fungi of this biome in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Soil samples were taken at five random sites during the dry and rainy seasons from the soil surface and at depths of 20 cm. A total of 85 species of filamentous fungi were identified, including species of anamorphic fungi (71 species), Zygomycota (8) and Ascomycota (6). The most abundant genera were Aspergillus (28) and Penicillium (18). No significant differences were observed in the numbers of colony forming units in samples taken during either the rainy or dry seasons, or from surface or subsurface soils. Most of the fungi species isolated from caatinga soils were classified as rare. Our results indicate that anamorphic fungi dominate the soil mycobiota in the Brazilian semiarid region, with species of Aspergillus and Penicillium being most common.  相似文献   

15.
Monitoring cattle inflows and outflows over time is a good indicator of herd productivity. In this study, ninety households were monitored for a year to determine the effect of season, rangeland type and herd size on births, purchases, sales, deaths, off-take, cattle production potential (CPP) and cattle production efficiency (CPE) in the sweet and sour rangelands of South Africa. Most births were recorded in large herds in the sour rangelands during the hot-wet season (P < 0.05). Farmers with large herd sizes purchased significantly more cattle compared to those with small herd sizes. Cattle sales were significantly high in the large herds in the cool-dry season. Mortality was significantly high in the hot-wet season in the sour rangeland and was mainly caused by gall-sickness (24%) and redwater (20%). The highest mortalities were observed in cows (45%). Households owning small herds in the sweet rangeland had the lowest CPP in the cool-dry season (P < 0.05). The CPE was significantly high in the households owning large herds in the sweet rangeland. It was concluded that, although the CPP was low in the sweet rangeland, households in these areas had higher CPE compared to those in the sour rangelands.  相似文献   

16.
The abundance of black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) can fluctuate dramatically. We used data from the Chihuahuan Desert to test the relative strength of top-down (predation) or bottom-up (food availability) limiting forces. Predictions for the top-down hypothesis were, 1) a positive relationship between coyote (Canis latrans) and jackrabbit abundance (numerical response) and 2) a positive relationship between percent occurrence of jackrabbits in coyote scats and jackrabbit abundance (functional response). Predictions for the bottom-up hypothesis were, 1) plant productivity is directly related to precipitation, 2) jackrabbit abundance is positively related to precipitation and plant productivity, and 3) changes in abundance of jackrabbits over the reproductive season will be directly related to precipitation and plant productivity. We found a limited numerical response but no functional response of coyotes to jackrabbit abundance. Forb productivity was significantly related to annual precipitation levels (r2 = 0.69, p = 0.002). Grass productivity was related to annual precipitation (r2 = 0.34, p = 0.028). Jackrabbit abundance (r2 = 0.38, p = 0.002) and changes in abundance (r2 = 0.73, p < 0.001) were significantly related to precipitation and forb and grass productivity. We conclude that precipitation levels and plant productivity affect jackrabbit abundance more than predation levels.  相似文献   

17.
To determine the effects of and the interactions between salinity and temperature, and alkalinity and temperature, we conducted three germination tests of Medicago ruthenica (L.) Sojak cv. ‘Zhilixing’ seeds in growth chambers. In experiment 1, the seeds were placed at a range of temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 °C), and in experiments 2 and 3, we varied the salinity (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 mM NaCl) and alkalinity (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 mM Na2CO3), respectively, within three ranges of alternating temperatures (10–20, 15–25, and 20–30 °C). The seeds of M. ruthenica (L.) Sojak cv. ‘Zhilixing’ showed high percentage germination at all temperatures, except for 5 °C. Seeds germinated well at low NaCl and Na2CO3 concentrations under all three alternating temperature regimes. Approximately half the seeds germinated at high salinity and alkalinity at 15–25 °C, whereas the ungerminated seeds germinated when the high-saline and alkaline stresses were removed. These results suggest that M. ruthenica (L.) Sojak cv. ‘Zhilixing’ has potential utility as a forage legume in saline and alkaline environments.  相似文献   

18.
Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) forests play an important role in regulating the regional water balance of the Qilian Mountains in northwestern China. The objective of this study was to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) of the Qinghai spruce forest in the middle section of the Qilian Mountains. A modified Penman-Monteith equation was used to simulate two sub-components of ET: canopy transpiration (Et) and soil evaporation (Es). The third sub-component of ET, canopy interception evaporation (Ei), was directly measured. The results show that the total ET of the Qinghai spruce forest was 313.6 mm during the 2008 growing season (from May 1 to September 30). Ei, Et, and Es were 100.9 mm, 160.8 mm and 51.9 mm, and accounted for 32.2%, 51.3% and 16.5% of the total ET, respectively. The total modeled ET during the 2008 growing season is acceptably consistent with the directly measured ET (298.2 mm) by eddy covariance system. The consistency implies that the modified Penman-Monteith equation is an effective method to estimate ET using conventional meteorological data with additional measurements of net radiation, and the method can thus be applied to similar situations where reliable direct measurements are not practical.  相似文献   

19.
The soil dilution plate method was used to examine spatiotemporal changes in microfungal communities inhabiting the playa and interdune areas in the western Negev Desert, Israel. Soil samples were collected from the 0–50 cm depth at 10 cm intervals at both habitats during the wet and dry seasons of 2010. Forty-six species belonging to 31 genera were identified, 14 and 12 species were common to both habitats during the wet and dry seasons. The colony-forming units (CFUs) ranged from 75 to 4875 and from 500 to 6925 CFU g−1 dry soil at the playa and interdune, respectively. More diverse species and higher microfungal density were recorded during the wet season compared to the dry season at both habitats, and the microfungal communities inhabiting the playa were characterized by lower species diversity and CFU compared with the interdune regardless of soil depth and sampling season. With the increase in soil depth, decreasing trends were found in both species diversity and CFU throughout the study period, especially in the playa soils. Generally, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Ulocladium atrum, and Fusarium spp. were widespread at the playa with high relative abundance, as were Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. at both habitats.  相似文献   

20.
Using geomorphological knowledge, spatial data and GIS methods, one can obtain phytogeomorphological site variables describing interactions between landforms and vegetation. We used 15 site variables derived from maps to explain forest site productivity in southern and central Finland expressed as dominant height of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) with ages of 30–110 years. These site variables were grouped into two: Group 1 with seven variables describing geographical conditions of sites including climate, and Group 2 with eight variables describing local morphometric and soil properties. We calculated slope and aspect from a 25 × 25 m DEM. The catchment area, calcium content in soil, length of the growing season, radiation index, sea index, lake index, past highest shoreline and total annual temperature sum with threshold + 5 °C were also obtained. Then we classified the landforms of 688 sample plots into four major types and 15 sub-types. We applied regression analysis to explain the tree height as a function of the tree age and the phytogeomorphological site variables. When the tree height was explained with the tree age and the Group 1 variables, the remaining standard error of the model was 16.6–17.9%. When the Group 2 variables were added to the analysis, the standard error decreased slightly. The most significant variables were the temperature sum, latitude coordinate and length of the growing season. Other significant variables were elevation, slope and aspect. The major landform types, sub-types and watershed area did not explain the tree height. Furthermore, if the forest site types determined in the field were included, the remaining standard error decreased by ca. 2%, showing the importance of field information.  相似文献   

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