Knowledge Management System of Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS
Status and dynamics of Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau | |
Miehe, Georg ; Mlehe, Sabine ; Kaiser, Knut ; Liu Jianquan ; Zhao, Xinquan | |
2008-06-01 | |
发表期刊 | AMBIO
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摘要 | This paper provides information about the distribution, structure, and ecology of the world's largest alpine ecosystem, the Kobresia pygmaea pastures in the southeastern Tibetan plateau. The environmental importance of these Cyperaceae mats derives from the extremely firm turf, which protects large surfaces against erosion, including the headwaters of the Huang He, Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, and Brahmaputra. The emphasis of the present article is on the climate-driven evolution and recent dynamics of these mats under the grazing impact of small mammals and livestock. Considering pedological analyses, radiocarbon datings, and results from exclosure experiments, we hypothesize that the majority of K. pygmaea mats are human-induced and replace forests, scrub, and taller grasslands. At present, the carrying capacity is increasingly exceeded, and reinforced settlement of nomads threatens this ecosystem especially in its drier part, where small mammals become strong competitors with livestock and the removal of the turf is irreversible. Examples of rehabilitation measures are given.; This paper provides information about the distribution, structure, and ecology of the world's largest alpine ecosystem, the Kobresia pygmaea pastures in the southeastern Tibetan plateau. The environmental importance of these Cyperaceae mats derives from the extremely firm turf, which protects large surfaces against erosion, including the headwaters of the Huang He, Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, and Brahmaputra. The emphasis of the present article is on the climate-driven evolution and recent dynamics of these mats under the grazing impact of small mammals and livestock. Considering pedological analyses, radiocarbon datings, and results from exclosure experiments, we hypothesize that the majority of K. pygmaea mats are human-induced and replace forests, scrub, and taller grasslands. At present, the carrying capacity is increasingly exceeded, and reinforced settlement of nomads threatens this ecosystem especially in its drier part, where small mammals become strong competitors with livestock and the removal of the turf is irreversible. Examples of rehabilitation measures are given. |
文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
条目标识符 | http://210.75.249.4/handle/363003/15041 |
专题 | 中国科学院西北高原生物研究所 |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Miehe, Georg,Mlehe, Sabine,Kaiser, Knut,et al. Status and dynamics of Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau[J]. AMBIO, Miehe Georg,Mlehe Sabine,Kaiser Knut,Liu Jianquan,Zhao Xinquan.Status and dynamics of Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau.AMBIO,2008,37(4):272-279,2008. |
APA | Miehe, Georg,Mlehe, Sabine,Kaiser, Knut,Liu Jianquan,&Zhao, Xinquan.(2008).Status and dynamics of Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau.AMBIO. |
MLA | Miehe, Georg,et al."Status and dynamics of Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau".AMBIO (2008). |
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