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Li Y, Xin Z, Yao B, Duan R, Dong X, Bao Y, Li X, Ma Y, Huang Y, Luo F, Li X, Wei X, Jiang ZR, Lozada-Gobilard S, Zhu J. Density affects plant size in the Gobi Desert. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169401. [PMID: 38114032 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant size is a crucial functional trait with substantial implications in agronomy and forestry. Understanding the factors influencing plant size is essential for ecosystem management and restoration efforts. Various environmental factors and plant density play significant roles in plant size. However, how plant size responds to mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT), and density in the arid areas remains incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted comprehensive vegetation surveys in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China with a MAP below 250 mm. We also collected climate data to disentangle the respective influences of climate and density on the community-weighted plant height, crown length, and crown width. Our observations revealed that the community-weighted mean plant height, crown length, and width demonstrated a positive association with MAT but negative relationships with both MAP and density. These patterns can be attributed to the predominance of shrubs over herbs in arid regions, as shrubs tend to be larger in size. The proportion of shrubs increases with MAT, while it decreases with MAP and density, resulting in higher plant height and larger crown dimensions. Although both MAP and MAT affect plant size in the Gobi Desert, our findings highlight the stronger role of plant density in regulating plant size, indicating that the surrounding plant community and competition among individuals are crucial drivers of plant size patterns. Our findings provide valuable guidance for nature-based solutions for vegetation restoration and ecosystem management, highlighting the importance of considering plant density as a key factor when designing and implementing restoration strategies in arid areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Li
- Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Gansu Dunhuang Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China; Kumtag Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China
| | - Zhiming Xin
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Bin Yao
- Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Gansu Dunhuang Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China; Kumtag Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China
| | - Ruibing Duan
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Xue Dong
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Yanfeng Bao
- Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Gansu Dunhuang Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China; Kumtag Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China
| | - Xinle Li
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Yaru Huang
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Fengmin Luo
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Xing Li
- Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia 015200, China; Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, China
| | - Xu Wei
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Zi-Ru Jiang
- Laboratory of Forest Protection, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4648601, Japan
| | | | - Jinlei Zhu
- Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Gansu Dunhuang Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China; Kumtag Desert Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, China.
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Zhu J, Hrušková K, Pánková H, Münzbergová Z. Quantifying patch-specific seed dispersal and local population dynamics to estimate population spread of an endangered plant species. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14070-14078. [PMID: 34707840 PMCID: PMC8525078 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Habitat loss and fragmentation impose high extinction risk upon endangered plant species globally. For many endangered plant species, as the remnant habitats become smaller and more fragmented, it is vital to estimate the population spread rate of small patches in order to effectively manage and preserve them for potential future range expansion. However, population spread rate has rarely been quantified at the patch level to inform conservation strategies and management decisions. To close this gap, we quantify the patch-specific seed dispersal and local population dynamics of Minuartia smejkalii, which is a critically endangered plant species endemic in the Czech Republic and is of urgent conservation concern. LOCATION Želivka and Hrnčíře, Czechia. METHODS We conducted demographic analyses using population projection matrices with long-term demographic data and used an analytic mechanistic dispersal model to simulate seed dispersal. We then used information on local population dynamics and seed dispersal to estimate the population spread rate and compared the relative contributions of seed dispersal and population growth rate to the population spread rate. RESULTS We found that although both seed dispersal and population growth rate in M. smejkalii were critically limited, the population spread rate depended more strongly on the maximal dispersal distance than on the population growth rate. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We recommend conservationists to largely increase the dispersal distance of M. smejkalii. Generally, efforts made to increase seed dispersal ability could largely raise efficiency and effectiveness of conservation actions for critically endangered plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlei Zhu
- Institute of BotanyCzech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
- Institute of Landscape and Plant EcologyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Karolína Hrušková
- Institute of BotanyCzech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
- Department of BotanyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Hana Pánková
- Institute of BotanyCzech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Institute of BotanyCzech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
- Department of BotanyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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Huang JCC, Hsieh YC, Lu SS, Yeh WC, Liang JY, Lin CJ, Tung GS. Flower-visiting insects of genus Melastoma (Myrtales: Melastomataceae) at the Fushan Botanical Garden, Taiwan. Biodivers Data J 2021; 9:e60315. [PMID: 33551654 PMCID: PMC7854558 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.9.e60315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We investigated the diversity and behaviour of insects that visit flowers of four native Melastoma (Family Melastomataceae) species of Taiwan and a horticultural hybrid Melastoma species at the Fushan Botanical Garden, Taiwan biweekly from May to August 2020. Visits of flower-visiting insects were classified into seven behavioural categories, based on the insects' behaviour and positions on the flower. The data are further assigned into four insect-flower interactions, namely pollination, herbivory, commensalism and neutralism. Our goal is to provide baseline data of insect-plant interactions of Melastoma, which is a common, but understudied plant genus in the country. New information A total of 1,289 visits to flowers were recorded by at least 63 insect morphospecies belonging to seven orders. The number of insect species recorded per Melastoma species ranged from 9 to 39. Visiting, sonication and passing were the three most frequently recorded types of behaviour, collectively accounting for 90.2% (n = 1,240) of the total observations. Pollination was the most dominant insect-flower interaction, accounting for 70.2% of the total observations, followed by neutralism (20.0%), herbivory (6.3%) and commensalism (3.5%). Sweat bees of the genera Lasioglossum and Maculonomia (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) are considered key pollinators to Melastoma species in Fushan Botanical Garden, based on their high number of visits and sonication behaviour. Our study provides the first list of insects that visit the flowers of all Taiwan's known Melastoma species and description of their interactions with the plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Chun Chia Huang
- Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
| | - Yun Chen Hsieh
- Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
| | - Sheng Shan Lu
- Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan.,Fushan Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Yuan Shan Township, Taiwan Fushan Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Yuan Shan Township Taiwan
| | - Wen Chi Yeh
- Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
| | - Jia Yuan Liang
- Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
| | - Chien Jung Lin
- Fushan Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Yuan Shan Township, Taiwan Fushan Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Yuan Shan Township Taiwan
| | - Gene Sheng Tung
- Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Botanical Garden Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
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