A plant community is an assemblage of plant populations that live in certain area, and interact with and adapt to one another in the context of long-term environmental changes. Plant communities maintain global ecosystem functions, and provide food and habitats for animals and other organisms. Plant communities also provide primary resources for human survival and development, and are therefore indispensable to human societies. China is among the countries with the most diverse plant communities in the world. However, no systematic national inventory has been conducted for Chinese plant communities. This fact obstructs exploitation and protection of China’s plant resources, and also hampers the development of the fields of Chinese ecology and geography. There is an urgent need to survey Chinese plant communities using consis-tent methods and protocols. In this paper, we review major concepts in plant community ecology, and pro-pose a framework for developing plant community inventories based on recent progress in community ecol-ogy and our own experience with long-term field surveys. Our framework provides protocols for site selec-tion and plot design, items to be measured in a plot, and measurements of functional traits of dominant spe-cies. We also review protocols for field surveys of large, long-term plots. The protocols proposed in this pa-per are expected to be a base for standardizing methodology for inventory of Chinese plant communities.

植物群落是不同植物在长期环境变化中相互作用、相互适应而形成的组合。它提供着人类赖以生存的主要物质资源, 维系着地球生态系统的健康和功能, 也为各种动物和其他生物提供食物来源和栖息地, 是人类生存和发展不可或缺的物质基础, 具有不可替代的作用。我国植物群落类型多样, 在世界上首屈一指, 但我国至今尚没有一次全面和系统的植物群落清查, 不仅影响了人们对我国植物资源的了解、利用和保护, 也不利于我国生态学、环境科学和地理学等相关学科的发展。采用统一的方法体系和技术规范开展我国植物群落的清查工作势在必行, 并具有紧迫性。本文基于作者长期的野外工作实践和国内外的群落调查方法, 首先简要定义了与植物群落清查有关的重要概念, 在此基础上, 论述了调查样地的设置原则和体系、群落清查的技术指标和方法、主要优势种生态属性的测定方法和规范, 并介绍了大样地调查的主要步骤。通过本文的介绍、归纳和总结, 试图为制定我国植物群落清查的技术规范提供基础材料和技术储备。

百里香(Thymus mongolicus)草原是以唇形科小半灌木百里香为建群种的草原类型。该文以编写《中国植被志》为契机, 结合2015-2017年生长季野外调查数据和文献资料, 对中国百里香草原的分布、生态特征、群落特征和分类等进行了总结。结果表明: (1)百里香草原主要分布于辽河上游西拉木伦河流域的黄土丘陵、河北西北部坝上高原、阴山山脉两翼低山丘陵、鄂尔多斯高原东部和黄土高原北部, 常分布在水蚀风蚀强烈的黄土丘陵和砾石质化基质的坡地。(2)根据91个样地记录统计, 百里香草原组成物种较丰富, 有种子植物167种, 隶属于34科101属, 以菊科、豆科和禾本科为主; 其中有8种半灌木和小半灌木, 112种多年生杂类草; 水分生态类型以典型旱生植物(58种)和中旱生植物(45种)为主; 区系地理成分以东古北极成分(70种)和东亚成分(46种)为主。(3)根据生活型和优势度, 百里香草原可以划分为百里香、半灌木/小半灌木群丛组, 百里香群丛组, 百里香、丛生禾草群丛组, 百里香、根茎禾草群丛组, 百里香、薹草群丛组, 百里香、杂类草群丛组, 共计6个群丛组28个群丛。

The principles and scheme of vegetation classification system of China (China-VCS) were first proposed by Hou in China’s Vegetation in 1960. An improved hierarchy framework and criteria of China-VCS were published in Vegetation of China in 1980. China-VCS was revised in Vegetation of China and Its Geographic Pattern — Illustration of the Vegetation Map of the People’s Republic of China (1:1 000 000) in 2007 and in Flora and Vegetation Geography of China in 2014. Song proposed a new scheme in the text book Vegetation Ecology in 2017. To facilitate Chinese vegetation study and the compilation of the book series on the vegetation of China (Vegegraphy of China), this paper provides a revised scheme of China-VCS. The scheme adopts the principles, units and hierarchy structure in the Vegetation of China that was considered as a milestone in the development of Chinese vegetation science. Based on the phytocoenological-ecological principles, plant community features and its ecological conditions are considered as the key criteria for vegetation classification. There are three levels including eight units in the hierarchy framework of China-VCS: upper level (Vegetation Formation Group, Vegetation Formation, and Vegetation Subformation), middle level (Alliance Group, Alliance, Suballiance), and lower level (Association Group, Association). Nine Vegetation Formation Groups are defined as Forest, Shrubland, Herbaceous Vegetation (Grassland), Desert, Alpine Tundra and Sparse Vegetation, Swamp and Aquatic Vegetation (Wetlands), Agricultural Vegetation, Urban Vegetation, and Non-vegetated Area. Forty-eight Vegetation Formations (30 for natural and semi-natural vegetation, 12 for agricultural vegetation, 5 for urban vegetation, and one for Non-vegetated Area) are defined, including 81 Vegetation Subformations from 23 natural and semi-natural vegetation formations. These vegetation formation groups and 30 natural and semi-natural vegetation formations were described briefly. Some issues on China-VCS, especially on the framework, criterion identifying mixed-forest, and the role of soil in vegetation classification, are discussed.

为了推动《中国植被志》研编工作, 该文回顾了中国植被分类系统的发展过程和主要阶段性成果, 提出了作为《中国植被志》研编技术框架组成部分的中国植被分类系统修订方案, 对各植被型组及各植被型进行了简单定义和描述, 并针对中国植被分类系统若干问题, 特别就中国植被分类系统总体框架、混交林的界定以及土壤在植被分类中的重要性等问题进行了讨论。1960年侯学煜在《中国的植被》中首次提出了中国植被分类的原则和系统, 1980年出版的《中国植被》制定了分类等级和划分依据等更加完善的系统, 之后《中国植被及其地理格局——中华人民共和国1:1 000 000植被图说明书》和《中国植物区系与植被地理》以及很多省区的植被专著对该系统进行过修订。2017年宋永昌在《植被生态学》中提出了一个分类等级单位调整的方案。本次提出的中国植被分类系统修订方案基本沿用《中国植被》的植被分类原则、分类单位及系统, 采用“植物群落学-生态学”分类原则, 主要以植物群落特征及其与环境的关系作为分类依据, 包含三级主要分类单位, 即植被型(高级单位)、群系(中级单位)和群丛(低级单位); 在三个主要分类单位之上分别增加辅助单位植被型组、群系组和群丛组, 在植被型和群系之下主要根据群落的生态差异和实际需要可再增加植被亚型或亚群系。修订方案包含了森林、灌丛、草本植被(草地)、荒漠、高山冻原与稀疏植被、沼泽与水生植被(湿地)、农业植被、城市植被和无植被地段9个植被型组, 划分为48个植被型(含30个自然植被型、12个农业植被型、5个城市植被型和无植被地段)。自然植被中有23个植被型进一步划分出了81个植被亚型。

长期受到生长环境影响而形成的遗传变异对植物生长发育有着显著的影响。叶片是植物对环境变化最敏感的器官, 了解叶片解剖结构在不同环境中产生的适应性变异是探索植物对环境适应的基础。同质园试验是研究遗传与环境因素对植物生长代谢等影响的一种有效方法, 该研究利用同质园试验排除了环境梯度的影响, 通过常规石蜡切片、多重比较、相关性分析、一般线性模型分析等方法, 对7个不同种源地的蒙古莸(Caryopteris mongholica)叶片解剖结构及其影响因素进行了定量比较。结果表明, 7个种源地的蒙古莸叶片均为等面叶, 无海绵组织分化, 其上表皮细胞较下表皮细胞厚, 上栅栏组织较下栅栏组织厚; 叶片各解剖结构参数间存在显著的自相关性, 不同种源叶片解剖结构存在显著差异: 随种源地年平均气温升高, 叶厚度、栅栏组织厚度呈增大趋势, 其中, 最西南部的阿左旗种源蒙古莸叶片的上下栅栏组织、叶厚度及叶片结构紧密度值均最大, 表现出明显的抗旱特征。种源地经纬度、气温、降水等对解剖结构指标有显著的影响, 其解释程度为34.09%-81.43%。同质园试验说明, 种源地气候差异驱动的遗传变异是引起不同种源叶片解剖结构差异的重要因素。

蒙古莸是半荒漠沙区的珍贵芳香植物之一, 不仅具有药用价值, 而且还可提取芳香油。本文从生态、生物学、水分生理等几个方面, 论证了它对沙区环境有较强的适应性, 适宜在人工固定、半固定的沙丘上生长, 可作为一个新的固沙植物种在生产中应用。

以小麦45S rDNA为探针，通过荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术，研究了45S rDNA在蒿属（Artemisia）5个物种染色体中的分布情况。结果发现，在根尖体细胞有丝分裂中期，中亚苦蒿（A. absinthum Linn.）有1对染色体出现杂交信号；大籽蒿（A. sieversiana Ehrhart ex Willd.）和黄花蒿（A. annua Linn.）各有两对染色体上出现信号；欧亚艾蒿（A. abrotanum Linn.）和牡蒿（A. japonica Thumb.）各有4对染色体出现杂交信号。信号位点除了分布在随体上，主要分布在非随体染色体的端部，而在欧亚艾蒿中发现1对信号位点分布在近端部，而且信号间的强弱也不尽相同。基于FISH技术的核型分析，不仅能够提供稳定、可靠的细胞学标记，而且进一步丰富了染色体分析的基础资料。

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石生针茅(Stipa tianschanica var. klemenzii)草原是中国荒漠草原最具代表性的植被类型。该文利用2010-2016年生长季的野外调查数据并结合已有文献资料, 对中国石生针茅草原的生态地理分布、群落学特征以及类型划分进行了全面系统的分析。结果表明: 中国石生针茅草原主要分布在内蒙古锡林郭勒高原西部和乌兰察布高原, 常分布在棕钙土基质的高平原上; 分布区气候干旱, 群落高度、盖度、生物量和物种丰富度较低; 根据80个样地的数据统计, 石生针茅草原共记录到种子植物165种, 隶属于29科85属, 其中以偶见种(存在度<20%)居多, 占87%, 常见种和恒有种较少, 存在度大于50%的物种有石生针茅、银灰旋花(Convolvulus ammannii)、无芒隐子草(Cleistogenes songorica)、细叶韭(Allium tenuissimum); 物种生活型以地面芽植物和一年生植物居多, 分别占55%和20%; 水分生态类型以典型旱生植物居多, 占47%, 其次为强旱生植物和中旱生植物; 区系地理成分以亚洲中部和东古北极成分为多, 分别占37%和26%; 根据生活型和物种的优势度, 石生针茅群系可划分为6个群丛组、29个群丛。

以一年生蒙古莸幼苗为对象,设置适宜水分、慢速干旱致死和快速干旱致死3个处理,研究不同干旱强度致死下蒙古莸幼苗各器官中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC,包括可溶性糖和淀粉)的含量变化及其分配规律.结果表明: 慢速干旱致死胁迫下各器官可溶性糖含量与适宜水分组无显著差异.随时间的推移,茎可溶性糖含量先增加后减少,淀粉和NSC含量增加;粗根可溶性糖含量减少,淀粉和NSC含量增加;叶可溶性糖含量增加,淀粉和NSC含量减少.致死时(80 d),叶、茎、粗根和细根的NSC含量分别为6.2%、7.8%、8.3%和7.4%.快速干旱致死胁迫下,各器官可溶性糖含量均高于适宜水分处理组,而淀粉和NSC含量均低于适宜水分组.随时间的推移,根可溶性糖含量下降,淀粉和NSC含量上升;茎可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均上升;叶可溶性糖含量上升,淀粉和NSC含量下降.致死时(30 d),叶、茎、粗根和细根的NSC含量分别为5.9%、6.6%、8.9%和7.7%.应对不同的干旱致死情况,蒙古莸幼苗各器官间非结构性碳水化合物呈现出不同的动态变化.在慢速干旱致死胁迫下,NSC优先为维持各器官生理代谢活动提供能量;而在快速干旱致死下,NSC主要以可溶性糖形式维持植物代谢,调节渗透势,促进吸水,应对急剧的干旱胁迫.

Aims To explore the factors controlling the spatial distribution, as well as the species diversity, of the Vitex negundo var. heterophylla shrublands in North China.Methods We investigated the species composition and environments for 370 shrubland plots of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla shrublands in North China. We calculated biodiversity indices (Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index and Pielou’s evenness index) and then applied multivariate regression trees (MRT), analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis to disentangle distribution of the Vitex negundo var. heterophylla community and patterns of species diversity along both horizontal and elevational gradients.Important findings The results showed that Vitex negundo var. heterophylla shrublands distributed in a large area stretching for more than 10° of both latitude and longitude, together with an elevational range of more than 1 000 m (117 m to 1 248 m). The Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index and Pielou’s evenness index were higher in the herbaceous layer than those in the shrub layers. The species diversity of shrub layer increased with latitude but decreased with elevation. In contrast, that of the herbaceous layer decreased with latitude but increased with elevation. The Shannon-Wiener indexes of both layers were significantly correlated with environmental factors. The results of Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the Shannon-Wiener indexes of shrub layer had a significantly negative relationship with its temperature and slope position, and a significantly positive relationship with its precipitation. However, that of herb layer showed opposite trends.

生境差异是影响植物群落及其物种多样性分布格局的重要因素。该研究基于370个荆条(Vitex negundo var. heterophylla)灌丛的野外调查样方, 结合多元回归树(MRT)、显著性分析、Pearson相关分析等技术手段, 分析了华北地区荆条灌丛及其物种多样性的空间分布格局。结果表明: 荆条灌丛的经纬度均跨越10°以上, 可分为高、中、低纬度分布区; 分布海拔则从117 m至1 248 m跨越了1 000 m以上, 也可分为高、中、低海拔分布区。所有分布区中荆条灌丛草本层的Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数和均匀度指数均高于灌木层。灌木层物种多样性随着纬度的降低而降低, 随着海拔的升高而降低; 草本层相反, 物种多样性随着纬度降低而升高, 随着海拔升高而升高。灌木层和草本层的物种丰富度(Shannon-Wiener指数)与水、热、地形等环境因子显著相关, 其中灌木层物种多样性随着气温、坡位升高而显著减少, 随着降水的增加而显著增加;草本层则相反。

Vegegraphy, a compound word of prefix “vege-” of “vegetation” and suffix of “-graphy” (description), is a series of monographs that describe species composition, structures, functions, distribution and environmental settings of a set of plant communities and/or their combinations. The Vegegraphy of China, which will be composed of 48 volumes and about 110 issues, is the first version to describe the medium-level units (Alliance Group, Alliance) and the lower-level units (Association Group, Association), and summarizes the higher-level units (Vegetation Formation Group, Vegetation Formation, Vegetation Subformation) in the Chinese Vegetation Classification System. The description of the higher-level units is highly generalized, mainly based on the data and evidences from the classification and description of the medium- and the lower-level classification units of the Chinese vegetation classification system, focusing on the geographic distribution, natural environment, community physiognomy, vegetation type and diversity, dominant species, values for biodiversity conservation, and the status of current vegetation resources at the scales of both worldwide and China. It is an important revision and expansion of the relevant content of Vegetation of China (1980) and will be the most authoritative and accurate description of the basic characteristics of Chinese vegetation. Alliance Group in each issue is briefly described on geographical distribution, natural environment, vegetation types, significance and conservation etc. Alliance as a key medium- level unit is to be described on several aspects, i.e., geographical distribution, natural environment, ecological characteristics, vegetation composition, vegetation structure, vegetation types and characteristics, biological characteristics of dominant species, biomass and productivity, vegetation dynamics and succession, and significance and conservation. As a core content of the above mentioned aspects, vegetation classification and description are conducted under the guidance of the “80 scheme” of Vegetation of China, using vegetation survey data as credentials to quantitatively differentiate vegetation types accordingly. Specifically, a vegetation classification scheme is determined based on supraterraneous stratification, and a set of diagnostic species while vegetation descriptions focus on physiognomy, community structure, species composition, including quantitative features of dominant species, companion species, constant species and accidental species, as well as their environmental preferences. In this study, we first put forward a code of vegetation nomenclature for the medium-level units (Alliance Group, Alliance) and the lower-level units (Association Group, Association) in the Chinese Vegetation Classification System. According to this vegetation nomenclature, the name of a vegetation type is composed of the name of a diagnostic species (may also be a dominant species) of each layer of the vegetation type and the name of the higher-level units (Vegetation Formation or Vegetation Formation Group) to which it belongs, which guarantees both scientific soundness and practical sense of the vegetation nomenclature. Contents and protocols for the research and editing of “Vegegraphy of China”, including vegetation survey and sample collection, literature compilation, climate, soil and topography data collection and compilation, vegetation classification, vegetation nomenclature, vegetation description outlines, are elaborated or exemplified in detail.

植被志是基于植被(或植物群落)调查资料, 全面记叙植被的外貌、物种组成、结构和功能, 以及地理分布和生境条件等特征, 并对同类植被进行归纳和总结的志书。《中国植被志》是第一部对中国植被进行全面记述的志书, 预计完成约48卷110册。在借鉴《中国植被》(1980)(简称“80方案”)植被分类基本原则的基础上,《中国植被志》将对中国植被分类系统的高级分类单位(植被型组、植被型和植被亚型)进行归纳和总结, 对中级和低级分类单位(群系组、群系、亚群系, 群丛组、群丛)进行详细描述。植被高级分类单位的描述具有概括性质, 是在中国植被分类系统中级和低级分类单位描述的基础上, 对其在全球和中国境内的地理分布、自然环境、群落外貌、植被类型及多样性、优势种或共优势种、生物多样性保育价值以及资源现状等进行概述, 并对“80方案”相关内容进行修订和拓展, 将提供对中国植被基本特征客观、准确的记述。在植被中级和低级分类单位中, 群系组描述的内容包括地理分布、自然环境、群落外貌、植被类型以及价值与保育等内容; 群系描述的主要内容包括地理分布、自然环境、生态特征、物种组成、群落结构、群丛组和群丛的分类与描述、优势种的生物学特性、生物量与生产力、植被动态与演替以及价值与保育等方面。作为植被志研编的核心内容, 群丛组和群丛的分类与描述主要基于植被调查资料, 采用数量分类方法, 根据群落结构和物种组成的差异划分出不同的植被类型, 并对其基本特征进行定量描述和归纳。其中, 群落的层片结构、特定植被分类单元的特征种或特征种组的筛选与甄别是植被类型划分的关键环节; 而群落外貌, 群落结构, 物种组成, 各类物种的生长习性、生境的偏适性等是群丛组和群丛描述与归纳的重点内容。该文提出了中国植被中级和低级分类单位的命名方案, 其特点在于植被类型的科学名称中同时体现了植被分类单元特征种或优势种的名称及其所属的高级植被分类单位(植被型组或植被型)的名称, 兼顾了植被名称的规范性与实用性。《中国植被志》的研编工作由文献整编、群落调查、数据分析与整理、文本撰写等环节组成。该文对植被样方的调查与收集, 文献收集与整编, 气候、土壤、地形等相关数据的来源及其整理方法, 植被分类方法, 植被命名, 植被分类单元描述的内容, 植被志章节编写大纲、体裁及撰写等多个规范进行了详细的阐述或示例。

Water use efficiency （WUE） is a key proxy for linking carbon and water exchange processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the spatial-temporal variations in WUE helps to evaluate the adaptability of vegetation to local environmental conditions. This study estimated the vegetation WUE in the Mu Us Desert during 2001-2016 using remote-sensing data and meteorological observations. Carbon sequestration （i.e.， net primary productivity， NPP） was estimated based on the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach （CASA） model， while water consumption （i.e.， evapotranspiration， ET） was obtained from the MODIS product. The spatial-temporal patterns of WUE and their responses to meteorological factors were investigated by trend analysis and correlation analysis， respectively. The results showed that： （1） the mean annual WUE across the Mu Us Desert was 0.62 gC·mm-1·m-2 with a trend of decrease from the east to the west， and among different vegetation types， the values of WUE ranked in the order of cultivated vegetation>shrub>meadow>steppe>desert； （2） WUE increased at the rate of 0.009 gC·mm-1·m-2·yr-1 during the study period， especially significantly in eastern， and the increase in WUE mainly attributed to the rapid rise in NPP； and （3） the relationships between WUE and meteorological factors followed a sequence of solar radiation， precipitation， wind speed， and air temperature from strong to weak， and there were relatively insignificant relationships between WUE and meteorological factors in the western part of the Mu Us Desert. The study highlight that the revegetation programs implemented in the Mu Us Desert have achieved good outputs that both NPP and WUE have increased since 2001， which contributed to the improvement of local ecological environment； however， in the central and western part of the Mu Us Desert with poor condition of water and heat， the mismatch between revegetation magnitude and water should be paid more attention.

水分利用效率（WUE）是衡量生态系统碳水循环耦合程度的重要指标，明晰其动态变化规律有助于判断区域植被生态建设是否与当地的自然条件相适应。利用基于CASA（Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach）模型得到的植被净初级生产力（NPP）数据和MODIS系列产品中的蒸散发（ET）数据，估算了2001—2016年毛乌素沙地植被的WUE，并探讨了其时空演变特征及与气象因子的关系。结果显示：（1）WUE的多年平均值为0.62 gC·mm^-1·m^-2，空间上自东向西递减，在不同植被类型间表现为栽培植物>灌丛>草甸>草原>荒漠；（2）WUE以0.009 gC·mm^-1·m^-2·a^-1的速率上升，东部地区变化尤为显著，NPP的快速增长是WUE呈增加趋势的主要原因；（3）WUE与各气象因子的相关程度由大至小依次为太阳辐射、降水量、风速和气温，分布在西部地区的荒漠植被WUE受气象因子影响最小。经过一系列生态建设工程的治理，毛乌素沙地大部分地区自2001年以来NPP和WUE均呈增加趋势，即生态系统在变“绿”的同时还实现了水分的高效利用，有利于当地生态环境的健康发展；但在水热条件较差的中西部地区，新建设的植被生长缓慢且导致蒸散发产生强烈变化，使WUE呈减少趋势，暴露出植被建设规模与水资源承载能力不匹配的问题，需引起格外重视。

戈壁针茅(Stipa tianschanica var. gobica)草原主要分布于荒漠草原区的石质丘陵或石质山坡, 向东可以分布在典型草原区的石质丘陵或山地, 向西也可以分布在荒漠区的石质山坡上。该研究调查了中国戈壁针茅草原的主要植被类型, 通过对115个样地的样方数据分析, 量化描述了这一草原类型的主要植物群落特征。结果表明, 中国戈壁针茅草原共有维管植物272种, 隶属于38科127属; 其中裸子植物3种, 隶属于1科1属; 被子植物269种, 隶属于37科126属, 物种数大于等于10种的科为: 菊科、禾本科、豆科、蔷薇科、百合科、藜科、石竹科; 戈壁针茅草原植物区系的生活型谱以地面芽植物为主, 共178种植物, 占总种数的65.44%; 水分生态类型以旱生植物为主, 共120种, 占总种数的44.12%; 植物区系地理成分上以东古北极分布种和亚洲中部分布种(含其变型)最多, 分别为82种和80种, 占总种数的30.14%和29.41%; 盖度等级划分上以0.1%-1.0%的盖度最多, 共174种, 占总种数的63.97%; 恒有度等级划分上以I级(0-20%)的物种数最多, 共258种植物, 占所有植物种数的94.85%。基于群落调查数据, 按照群落-外貌分类原则, 将戈壁针茅群系划分为8个群丛组106个群丛。