Ecological responses of Stipa steppe in Inner Mongolia to experimentally increased temperature and precipitation. 1: Background and experimental design
Zhiqiang Wan A B , Guozheng Hu B C , Yali Chen A B , Colmvn Chao A and Qingzhu Gao B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 010021, China.
B Key Laboratory for Agro-Environment and Climate Change of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China.
C Corresponding author. Email: huguozheng@caas.cn
The Rangeland Journal 40(2) 143-146 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ16081
Submitted: 21 August 2016 Accepted: 11 January 2018 Published: 13 March 2018
Abstract
Both temperature and precipitation are predicted to increase in the region of the Stipa steppe of Inner Mongolia. We conducted an experiment to simulate both the individual and combined effects of warming and increased precipitation on community structure (biomass and diversity) and ecological processes (soil respiration and ecosystem carbon exchange). Open-topped chambers were used to simulate climatic warming, and irrigation was applied to simulate a 20% increase in precipitation. Open-topped chambers were effective in producing significant increases in mean air temperature in each year of the experiment (2011–2015), with the average increase ranging from 2.5°C to 3°C in the final 3 years of the study. Mean soil temperature was significantly increased in 2 of the 5 years of observation. Irrigation significantly increased soil moisture. The experimental treatments thus produced environmental changes consistent with those expected in the region by mid-century and provide a basis for examining the likely effects of climate change on the grassland ecosystem as reported in companion papers.
Additional keywords: biodiversity, carbon exchange, climate change, typical steppe.
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