1
|
Shi H, Zhou Q, Liu X, Xie F, Li T, Zhang Q, Dang H. Variations in carbon source-sink relationships in subalpine fir across elevational gradients. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2019; 21:64-70. [PMID: 30218502 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cold-adapted trees display acclimation in both carbon source and carbon sink capacity to low-temperature stress at their upper elevational range limits. Hence a balanced carbon source-sink capacity might be required for their persistence and survival at the elevational tree limits. The present study examined the spatial dynamics of carbon source-sink relationship in subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) trees along elevational gradients in the northern slope of the temperate region and in the southern slope of the subtropics in terms of climate in the Qinling Mountain range, north-central China. The results showed that non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in both the source and sink tissues increased with the increase in elevation. The ratio of carbon source-sink displayed a consistent decreasing trend with the increase in elevation and during growing season, showing that it was lowest at a ratio of 2.93 in the northern slope and at a ratio of 2.61 in the southern slope at the upper distribution elevations in the late growing season. Such variations of carbon source-sink ratio might be attributable to the balance between carbon source and sink activities, which changed seasonally across the elevational distribution range. We concluded that a ratio of carbon source-sink of at least 2.6 might be essential for subalpine fir trees to persist at their upper range limits. Therefore, a sufficient source-sink ratio and a balanced source-sink relationship might be required for subalpine fir trees to survive and develop at their upper elevational distribution limits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Q Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - X Liu
- Administration of Foping National Nature Reserve, Foping, China
| | - F Xie
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - T Li
- Administration of Foping National Nature Reserve, Foping, China
| | - Q Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - H Dang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li MH, Jiang Y, Wang A, Li X, Zhu W, Yan CF, Du Z, Shi Z, Lei J, Schönbeck L, He P, Yu FH, Wang X. Active summer carbon storage for winter persistence in trees at the cold alpine treeline. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 38:1345-1355. [PMID: 29538773 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpy020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The low-temperature limited alpine treeline is one of the most obvious boundaries in mountain landscapes. The question of whether resource limitation is the physiological mechanism for the formation of the alpine treeline is still waiting for conclusive evidence and answers. We therefore examined non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and nitrogen (N) in treeline trees (TATs) and low-elevation trees (LETs) in both summer and winter in 11 alpine treeline cases ranging from subtropical monsoon to temperate continental climates across Eurasia. We found that tissue N concentration did not decrease with increasing elevation at the individual treeline level, but the mean root N concentration was lower in TATs than in LETs across treelines in summer. The TATs did not have lower tissue NSC concentrations than LETs in summer. However, the present study with multiple tree species across a large geographical scale, for the first time, revealed a common phenomenon that TATs had significantly lower NSC concentration in roots but not in the aboveground tissues than LETs in winter. Compared with LETs, TATs exhibited both a passive NSC storage in aboveground tissues in excess of carbon demand and an active starch storage in roots at the expense of growth reduction during the growing season. This starch accumulation disappeared in winter. Our results highlight some important aspects of the N and carbon physiology in relation to season in trees at their upper limits. Whether or to what extent the disadvantages of winter root NSC and summer root N level of TATs affect the growth of treeline trees and the alpine treeline formation needs to be further studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mai-He Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
- Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ao Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
- Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Xiaobin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanze Zhu
- Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Cai-Feng Yan
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong Du
- College of Land and Resources, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Zheng Shi
- Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Jingpin Lei
- Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Co-innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Leonie Schönbeck
- Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Peng He
- Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Fei-Hai Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
- Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang A, Wang X, Tognetti R, Lei JP, Pan HL, Liu XL, Jiang Y, Wang XY, He P, Yu FH, Li MH. Elevation alters carbon and nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry in Quercus aquifolioides in southwestern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 622-623:1463-1475. [PMID: 29890611 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Elevation is a complex environmental factor altering temperature, light, moisture and soil nutrient availability, and thus may affect plant growth and physiology. Such effects of elevation may also depend on seasons. Along an elevational gradient of the Balang Mountain, southwestern China, we sampled soil and 2-year old leaves, 2-year old shoots, stem sapwood and fine roots (diameter<5mm) of Quercus aquifolioides at 2843, 2978, 3159, 3327, 3441 and 3589m a.s.l. in both summer and winter. In summer, the concentrations of tissue non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) did not decrease with increasing elevation, suggesting that the carbon supply is sufficient for plant growth at high altitude in the growing season. The concentration of NSC in fine roots decreased with elevation in winter, and the mean concentration of NSC across tissues in a whole plant showed no significant difference between the two sampling seasons, suggesting that the direction of NSC reallocation among plant tissues changed with season. During the growing season, NSC transferred from leaves to other tissues, and in winter NSC stored in roots transferred from roots to aboveground tissues. Available soil N increased with elevation, but total N concentrations in plant tissues did not show any clear elevational pattern. Both available soil P and total P concentrations in all plant tissues decreased with increasing elevation. Thus, tissue N:P ratio increased with elevation, suggesting that P may become a limiting element for plant growth at high elevation. The present study suggests that the upper limit of Q. aquifolioides on Balang Mountain may be co-determined by winter root NSC storage and P availability. Our results contribute to better understanding of the mechanisms for plants' upper limit formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ao Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Xue Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Tognetti
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università del Molise, 86090 Campobasso, Italy - European Forest Institute (EFI) Project Centre on Mountain Forests (MOUNTFOR), 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Jing-Pin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Li Pan
- Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu 610081, China
| | | | - Yong Jiang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Peng He
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Fei-Hai Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China.
| | - Mai-He Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China; Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sullivan PF, Ellison SBZ, McNown RW, Brownlee AH, Sveinbjörnsson B. Evidence of soil nutrient availability as the proximate constraint on growth of treeline trees in northwest Alaska. Ecology 2015; 96:716-27. [DOI: 10.1890/14-0626.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
5
|
|
6
|
Voelker SL, Noirot-Cosson PE, Stambaugh MC, McMurry ER, Meinzer FC, Lachenbruch B, Guyette RP. Spring temperature responses of oaks are synchronous with North Atlantic conditions during the last deglaciation. ECOL MONOGR 2012. [DOI: 10.1890/11-0848.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
7
|
Wolken JM, Hollingsworth TN, Rupp TS, Chapin FS, Trainor SF, Barrett TM, Sullivan PF, McGuire AD, Euskirchen ES, Hennon PE, Beever EA, Conn JS, Crone LK, D'Amore DV, Fresco N, Hanley TA, Kielland K, Kruse JJ, Patterson T, Schuur EAG, Verbyla DL, Yarie J. Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems. Ecosphere 2011. [DOI: 10.1890/es11-00288.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
|