干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): Freeze-thaw desertification of alpine meadow in Qilian Mountains and the implications for alpine ecosystem management

Arid

DOI	10.1016/j.catena.2023.107471
	Freeze-thaw desertification of alpine meadow in Qilian Mountains and the implications for alpine ecosystem management
	Wei, Lemin; Zhao, Wenzhi; Feng, Xiangyan; Han, Chuntan; Li, Tao; Qi, Jinxian; Li, Yongyuan
通讯作者	Zhao, WZ
来源期刊	CATENA
ISSN	0341-8162
EISSN	1872-6887
出版年	2023
卷号	232
英文摘要	Freeze-thaw desertification (FTD) as a specific land degeneration form in high elevations is intensifying in alpine meadows due to climate change and human activities. It causes the formation of desertified patches (DPs), and further aggravating alpine meadow patchiness and impairing ecosystem functions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity maintenance. However, the impacts of FTD on the patch pattern, soil properties, and vegetation succession of alpine meadows and the elevation differences of these impacts still lack a comprehensive understanding. Here, we analyzed the patch patterns, soil and vegetation characteristics in typical FTD regions in the Qilian Mountains using aerial photography and field investigations along an elevation gradient. Our results indicated that, as elevation increases, the fragmentation of alpine meadows caused by FTD intensified, which was related to the elevational differentiation of freeze-thaw cycles and soil water holding capacity. DPs not only led to a decrease in soil water holding capacity and an increase in bulk density, but also caused surface soil sandification. Among them, the weakening of soil water holding capacity by DPs was particularly serious in high elevations. Additionally, the degradation of the original vegetation species com-munities in DPs caused the significant loss of vegetation cover, biomass and soil organic carbon, and made DPs exhibit certain alpine desert steppe characteristics, whereas the vegetation diversity of DPs had an increase at low elevations. Our findings highlight the significant impacts of FTD on the water conservation function and vegetation diversity of alpine meadows, and it is necessary to apply ecological protection measures to control DPs expansion such as fenced grazing, biological control and land cover (crop, vegetation, degradable plastic mulch, etc.).
英文关键词	Freeze-thaw desertification Alpine meadows Patch pattern Elevation gradient Soil properties Vegetation diversity
类型	Article
语种	英语
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:001066409500001
WOS关键词	SOIL-WATER ; PERMAFROST DEGRADATION ; HYDRAULIC-PROPERTIES ; PREFERENTIAL FLOW ; TIBETAN PLATEAU ; RIVER-BASIN ; INDEXES ; NITROGEN ; REGION ; AGROECOSYSTEMS
WOS类目	Geosciences, Multidisciplinary ; Soil Science ; Water Resources
WOS研究方向	Geology ; Agriculture ; Water Resources
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/395710
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Wei, Lemin,Zhao, Wenzhi,Feng, Xiangyan,et al. Freeze-thaw desertification of alpine meadow in Qilian Mountains and the implications for alpine ecosystem management[J],2023,232.
APA	Wei, Lemin.,Zhao, Wenzhi.,Feng, Xiangyan.,Han, Chuntan.,Li, Tao.,...&Li, Yongyuan.(2023).Freeze-thaw desertification of alpine meadow in Qilian Mountains and the implications for alpine ecosystem management.CATENA,232.
MLA	Wei, Lemin,et al."Freeze-thaw desertification of alpine meadow in Qilian Mountains and the implications for alpine ecosystem management".CATENA 232(2023).