TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamics of soil properties and organic carbon pool in topsoil of zokor-made mounds at an alpine site of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
AU - Li, X.G.
AU - Zhang, M.L.
AU - Li, Z.T.
AU - Shi, X.M.
AU - Long, R.J.
AU - Ma, Qifu
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The population of burrowing plateau zokors (Myospalax baileyi) was markedly increased in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zokor foraging and mound-making disturbance on topsoil properties and organic C pools at an alpine site of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected from mounds with different ages (3 months and 3, 6, and 15 years) and from undisturbed grassland. Above- and below-ground plant biomasses were depleted by zokors in newly created mounds (3 months). Plant cover and root biomass gradually recovered thereafter, but were still lower in the 15-year-old mounds than in the undisturbed soils. Organic C contents of coarse (>2 mm), soil (
AB - The population of burrowing plateau zokors (Myospalax baileyi) was markedly increased in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zokor foraging and mound-making disturbance on topsoil properties and organic C pools at an alpine site of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected from mounds with different ages (3 months and 3, 6, and 15 years) and from undisturbed grassland. Above- and below-ground plant biomasses were depleted by zokors in newly created mounds (3 months). Plant cover and root biomass gradually recovered thereafter, but were still lower in the 15-year-old mounds than in the undisturbed soils. Organic C contents of coarse (>2 mm), soil (
U2 - 10.1007/s00374-009-0398-3
DO - 10.1007/s00374-009-0398-3
M3 - Article
SN - 0178-2762
VL - 45
SP - 865
EP - 872
JO - Biology and Fertility of Soils
JF - Biology and Fertility of Soils
IS - 8
ER -