Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Changes of alpine ecosystem along the ground temperature of permafrost in the source region of Datong River in the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Author(s):

Xiumin Zhang, Yu Sheng *, Jing Li, Jichun Wu, Ji Chen, Yuanbing Cao

Recieved Date: 2011-11-18, Accepted Date: 2012-01-03

Abstract:

The current study analyzes the effects of the thermal state of permafrost on the alpine ecosystem based on investigation data from 92 vegetation spots sampled in 2010 and permafrost temperatures from an equivalent-elevation model in the Datong River source region, in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China. The interactions among the permafrost temperature, vegetation (the species diversity indices and biomass), and soil properties (moisture, pH and nutrients) are discussed. The results showed that with the increase of permafrost temperature, the species diversity indices and plant biomass of alpine swamp meadow firstly ascended and then decreased, whereas the value of alpine meadow had an opposite trend. Soil moisture, soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen, and soil total phosphorus changed with the permafrost temperature and rose to the maximum at a certain temperature range. Subsequently, the contents began to descend. In contrast, soil total potassium content had an opposite regularity with the increase of the temperature. The values were higher in alpine swamp meadow than in alpine meadow, except the soil total phosphorus. Soil pH had a good positive correlation with the permafrost temperature, and the contents of soil pH were higher in alpine meadow than in alpine swamp meadow. 

Keywords:

 Biomass, species diversity indices, soil moisture, soil pH, soil nutrient, permafrost temperature

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 970-976

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