Welcome to Chinese Journal of Ecology! Today is Share:

cje

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The dynamics of bare rock surface temperature, air temperature and relative humidity in karst rocky desertification area.

LI Sheng1,2, XUE Liang1,2, WANG Jia1,2, REN Hua-dong1,2*, YAO Xiao-hua1,2, LENG Xiu-hui1,2, WU Ze-yu1,2   

  1. (1Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang 311400, Zhejiang, China; 2Puding Karst Rocky Desertification Ecosystem Research Station, Puding 562100, Guizhou, China).
  • Online:2019-02-10 Published:2019-02-10

Abstract: Land surface regulates the distribution of water and energy fluxes and therefore plays a critical role in the climate system. A large number of rocks in the karst rocky desertification (KRD) area are exposed to the air, which deeply affects microclimate. To reveal the environmental effects of bare rocks, the dynamics of rock surface temperature (ST), air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) were examined by simulation experiment. The results showed intense solar radiation in the KRD area, with a parabolic shaped diurnal variation and peaked at 13:30-14:00. The duration and intensity of radiation varied with seasons, as summer > spring > autumn > winter. The total amount of solar radiation varied as follows: spring > summer > autumn > winter. The ST rose with the increases of solar radiation. Compared to the air, the rock surface was heated faster and cooled slower. There were significant differences between the ST and the AT (all P<0.05) at 2, 5, 10, and 20 cm above the rock surface, implying that the bare rocks had a heating effect. The diurnal distribution of RH showed a U-shape at 2, 5, 10, and 20 cm above the rock surface, with the minimum values at 16:30-17:00. The RH at 20 cm was the highest (P < 0.01), and was lower when closer to the rock surface. The seasonal dynamics of RH was summer > autumn > winter > spring. Fastgrowing plants are recommended in the early stage of vegetation restoration, which could shade the bare rocks, reduce the heating effect quickly, and improve the microclimate. Our findings are of significance for ecological restoration in KRD areas.

Key words: Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Mycoinsecticides, Imidacloprid, Microbial control