Haibei alpine meadow ecosystem research station, as a field station of Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has been in operation since 1976. The station was qualified as a open filed research station of CAS in 1989 and became one of the leading stations of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) in 1992. Working on the ecosystem structure and function, global warming, biodiversity, long term ecosystem monitoring as well as sustainable pastoral animal production, the station has become a research, demonstration and extension center.
Geographic location
The research station is located at northeast of Tibet, in a large valley oriented NW-SE surrounded on all sides by the Qilian mountains with N latitude 37° 29´ ~37° 45´ and E longitude 101° 12´ ~101° 23´ . The average altitude of mountain area is 4000 meters above sea level and 2900 - 3500 meters for valley area. The Datong River passes south side the area. The landscape is characterised by large mountain ranges with steep valleys and gorges interspersed with relatively level and wide inter-mountain grassland basins.
Natural Condition
Climate
The climate of Haibei research station was dominated by Southeast monsoon and high pressure of Siberia. It has a continental monsoon type climate, with severe and long winters and short cool summers. The average air temperature is -1.7ºC with extremely maximum 23.7ºC and minimal -37.1ºC. During winter months, the average temperature can drop to -15~-20ºC in highland areas; during summer, the temperature in the warmest month (July) average 14~22ºC in the valleys and 4-10ºC in the mountains. Average annual rainfall ranges from 426 to 860 mm, with 80% of which falling in the short summer growing season from May to September. The annual average sunlight is 2462.7 hours with 60.1% of total available sunshine. The total annual radiation is 585.5 kJ/cm2.
The soil types of Haibei research station are dominated by alpine shrub soil and alpine meadow soil in three rich elements as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They are characterized by high organic matter, under development, thin soil layer. For nutritional substance exists in organic state with weak process of mineralization, the available elements are low, especially a lack of available nitrogen and phosphorus, the soil condition can not meet the needs of plant growing.
There are two main vegetation types, alpine meadow and alpine shrub, in the region of the research station. The plant community is composed of dominant species of cool-meso and perennial herbs. Alpine meadow is mainly distributed in valley and south of hill whereas alpine shrub is mainly distributed in river valley, foot of mountain and north of hill. Both types of vegetation are characterized by dense plant community structure, short growing period and a low productivity.
History
Established in 1976
FacilitiesThe station consists of four buildings and is kept open throughout the year. The 28 workrooms and laboratories cover a total area of 784 m2, including soil laboratory, plant physiology laboratory, microbiological laboratory, respiration chamber, nutritive analyze laboratory, greenhouse, metabolic cages. Rooms with balances, drying ovens and combustion oven are also available. A well equipped automatic climate station was established in 1997. There are three experimental plots with a total area about 200 hectares. The station has 370 m2 of building with 25 living rooms.
- Heibei Research Station of Alpine Meadow Ecosystem
- Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Xining, Qinghai, 810008
- People's Republic of China.
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