1
|
Li X, Li Y, Shen H, Li S, Zhao Z, Xiao J, Zhang R, Shi H, Zuo H, Danjia T, Chen G, Zhou X, Dong S. Different responses of individuals, functional groups and plant communities in CSR strategies to nitrogen deposition in high-altitude grasslands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176051. [PMID: 39241877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176051] [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: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The Competitor, Stress Tolerator, and Ruderal (CSR) theory delineates the ecological strategies of plant species. Nevertheless, how these ecological strategies shift at the levels of individuals, functional groups and plant communities to cope with increasing nitrogen deposition remains unclear. In this study, simulated nitrogen deposition experiments were performed in high-altitude grasslands of alpine meadows and alpine steppe on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) by employing the strategy and functional type framework (StrateFy) methodology to evaluate plant CSR strategies. Our results indicated that the dominant ecological strategy of the high-altitude grassland on the QTP were predominantly aligned with the R-strategy. In both alpine meadow and alpine steppe grasslands, the community-weighted mean (CWM) of C scores were increased with nitrogen addition, while CWM of R and S scores were not significantly correlated with nitrogen addition. Remarkably, the increase in C scores due to nitrogen enrichment was observed solely in non-legumes, suggesting an enhanced competitive capability of non-legumes in anticipation of future nitrogen deposition. Leymus secalinus was dominated in both alpine meadow and alpine steppe grasslands across all levels of nitrogen deposition, with increasing C scores along the nitrogen gradients. Furthermore, the sensitivity of C scores of individual plant, functional group and plant community to nitrogen deposition rates was more pronounced in alpine steppe grassland than in alpine meadow grassland. These findings furnish novel insights into the alterations of ecological strategies in high-altitude alpine grasslands on the QTP and similar regions worldwide in cope with escalating nitrogen deposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueqi Li
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Li
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Resource and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030031, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Jiannan Xiao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hang Shi
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hui Zuo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Tu Danjia
- Grassland Improvement Experimental Station of Qinghai Province, Gonghe 813099, China
| | - Guoming Chen
- Grassland Improvement Experimental Station of Qinghai Province, Gonghe 813099, China
| | - Xueli Zhou
- Grassland Improvement Experimental Station of Qinghai Province, Gonghe 813099, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Debaba GH, Li K, Wang X, Wang Y, Bai W, Li G. Effect of Nitrogen Application Rate on the Relationships between Multidimensional Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Production in a Temperate Steppe. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:554. [PMID: 39194492 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition, as one of the global change drivers, can alter terrestrial plant diversity and ecosystem function. However, the response of the plant diversity-ecosystem function relationship to N deposition remains unclear. On one hand, in the previous studies, taxonomic diversity (i.e., species richness, SR) was solely considered the common metric of plant diversity, compared to other diversity metrics such as phylogenetic and functional diversity. On the other hand, most previous studies simulating N deposition only included two levels of control versus N enrichment. How various N deposition rates affect multidimensional plant diversity-ecosystem function relationships is poorly understood. Here, a field manipulative experiment with a N addition gradient (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 g N m-2 yr-1) was carried out to examine the effects of N addition rates on the relationships between plant diversity metrics (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity) and ecosystem production in a temperate steppe. Production initially increased and reached the maximum value at the N addition rate of 47 g m-2 yr-1, then decreased along the N-addition gradient in the steppe. SR, functional diversity calculated using plant height (FDis-Height) and leaf chlorophyll content (FDis-Chlorophyll), and phylogenetic diversity (net relatedness index, NRI) were reduced, whereas community-weighted means of plant height (CWMHeight) and leaf chlorophyll content (CWMChlorophyll) were enhanced by N addition. N addition did not affect the relationships of SR, NRI, and FDis-Height with production but significantly affected the strength of the correlation between FDis-Chlorophyll, CWMHeight, and CWMChlorophyll with biomass production across the eight levels of N addition. The findings indicate the robust relationships of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and production and the varying correlations between functional diversity and production under increased N deposition in the temperate steppe, highlighting the importance of a trait-based approach in studying the plant diversity-ecosystem function under global change scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gossaye Hailu Debaba
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Kunyu Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Wenming Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Guoyong Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu X, Arif M, Zheng J, Wu Y, Chen Y, Gao J, Liu J, Changxiao L. Assessing leaf physiological traits in response to flooding among dominant riparian herbs along the Three Gorges Dam in China. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11533. [PMID: 38911496 PMCID: PMC11192621 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dams worldwide have significantly altered the composition of riparian forests. However, research on the functional traits of dominant herbs experiencing flooding stress due to dam impoundment remains limited. Given the high plasticity of leaf traits and their susceptibility to environmental influences, this study focuses on riparian herbs along the Three Gorges Hydro-Fluctuation Zone (TGHFZ). Specifically, it investigates how six leaf physiological traits of leading herbs-carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and their stoichiometric ratios-adapt to periodic flooding in the TGHFZ using cluster analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparisons, Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). We categorized 25 dominant herb species into three plant functional types (PFTs), noting that species from the same family tended to fall into the same PFT. Notably, leaf carbon content (LCC) exhibited no significant differences across various PFTs or altitudes. Within riparian forests, different PFTs employ distinct adaptation strategies: PFT-I herbs invest in structural components to enhance stress resistance; PFT-II, mostly comprising gramineous plants, responds to prolonged flooding by rapid growth above the water; and PFT-III, encompassing nearly all Compositae and annual plants, responds to prolonged flooding with vigorous rhizome growth and seed production. Soil water content (SWC) emerges as the primary environmental factor influencing dominant herb growth in the TGHFZ. By studying the response of leaf physiological traits in dominant plants to artificial flooding, we intend to reveal the survival mechanisms of plants under adverse conditions and lay the foundation for vegetation restoration in the TGHFZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Muhammad Arif
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jie Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yangyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jie Gao
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Junchen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Li Changxiao
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ma Y, Zheng Q, Zhang Y, Ganjurjav H, Yue H, Wang X, Wu K, Liang K, Zeng H, Wu H. Short-term robust plant overcompensatory growth was observed in a degraded alpine meadow on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170607. [PMID: 38336057 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170607] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Plant overcompensatory growth (OCG) is an important mechanism by which plant communities adapt to environmental disturbance. However, it is not clear whether plant OCG can occur in degraded alpine meadows. Here, we conducted a mowing experiment in an alpine meadow at three degradation levels (i.e., severe degradation, SD; moderate degradation, MD; and light degradation, LD) on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2018 to 2020 to investigate plant OCG and its relationships with soil available nutrients, plant nutrient use efficiency (i.e., nitrogen use efficiency, NUE; and phosphorus use efficiency, PUE), and precipitation. The results showed that 1) the OCG of the plant community generally occurred across all degradation levels, and the OCG strength of the plant community decreased with mowing duration. Moreover, the OCG strength of the plant community in the SD treatment was significantly greater than that in the MD and LD treatments after two years of mowing (p < 0.05). 2) In LD and MD, the soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3-) and available phosphorus (AP) concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend (p < 0.05), while the soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) concentration did not change from 2018 to 2020 (p > 0.05). In the SD treatment, the soil NO3- concentration tended to decrease (p < 0.05), the NH4+ concentration tended to increase (p < 0.05), and the AP concentration exhibited an inverse parabolic trend (p < 0.05) from 2018 to 2020. 3) From 2018 to 2020, plant NUE and PUE exhibited decreasing trends at all degradation levels. 4) Plant nutrient use efficiency, which is regulated by complex plant-soil interactions, strongly controlled the OCG of the plant community along each degradation gradient. Moreover, precipitation not only directly promoted the OCG of the plant community but also indirectly affected it by regulating the structure of the plant community and plant nutrient use efficiency. These results suggest that the OCG of the plant community in degraded alpine meadows may benefit not only from the strong self-regulating capacity of the plant-soil system but also from humid climatic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yandan Ma
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qiuzhu Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
| | - Hasbagan Ganjurjav
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haitao Yue
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Kaiting Wu
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Kemin Liang
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Hao Zeng
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Huimin Wu
- National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, College of Wetlands, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shen H, Dong S, DiTommaso A, Westbrook AS, Li S, Zheng H, Zhi Y, Zuo H, Wang Q, Liu J. Physiological factors contribute to increased competitiveness of grass relative to sedge, forb and legume species under different N application levels. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167466. [PMID: 37788779 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167466] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
In alpine grasslands, increased N deposition is increasing the dominance of grasses relative to other functional types according to our previous study Shen et al. (2022). However, the mechanisms that drive this compositional change are not fully understood. We measured the effects of 4-6 years' N addition to simulate N deposition at rates of 0 (CK), 8 (N1), 24 (N2), 40 (N3), 56 (N4), and 72 (N5) kg N ha-1 year-1 on dominant representatives of four functional types, Leymus secalinus (grass), Carex capillifolia (sedge), Potentilla multifidi (non-leguminous forb), and Medicago ruthenica (legume), in the alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). In-situ experiment showed that N addition increased aboveground biomass in L. secalinus but had negative or neutral effects on aboveground biomass in the other species. Consistent with this finding, N addition increased net photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and rubisco activity in L. secalinus with less positive effects on the other species. Nitrogen addition increased leaf N content in L. secalinus and C. capillifolia and reduced leaf non-structural carbohydrate content in all four species. In L. secalinus, the highest N addition rate (N5) reduced MDA content, a marker of oxidative stress, by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity. Overall, our findings suggested that physiological factors can contribute to increased competitiveness of grass relative to sedge, forb and legume species under high N application levels. The rapid growth of this grass species reduces resource availability to non-grass species, increasing its dominance in the alpine meadow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
| | - Antonio DiTommaso
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Anna S Westbrook
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Resource and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Hanzhong Zheng
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, 6526 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yangliu Zhi
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hui Zuo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Qiyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Junxiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li S, Dong S, Fu Y, Zhou B, Liu S, Shen H, Xu Y, Gao X, Xiao J, Wu S, Li F. Air or soil temperature matters the responses of alpine plants in biomass accumulation to climate warming. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157141. [PMID: 35798113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157141] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has substantially affected plant phenology and growth on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), while it remains unclear how plant phenology and growth impact the plant biomass under climate change. We used long-term data (from 1997 to 2017) for four plants, Stipa purpurea, Artemisia scoparia, Kobresia humilis and Astragalus laxmannii in the alpine meadow to examine the relationships among multiple climate factors, vegetative growth, reproductive growth, intrinsic growth rate and biomass. The order of returning to green determines the growth strategies of different plants, the earliest plants to green (p < 0.05) (e.g., Stipa purpurea and Artemisia scoparia) would choose the strategy of vegetative growth (p < 0.05); the earlier plants (p < 0.05) (e.g., Kobresia humilis) would be regulated by both vegetative growth and reproductive growth (p < 0.05); while the latest plant to green (p < 0.05) such as Astragalus laxmannii, would choose intrinsic growth rate rather than growing season (P < 0.05). Temperature was the most important drivers for key phenological phases and growth patterns of four species, different factors play a role in different stages of the growth period, i.e., in the early and late stage is the soil temperature, while in the middle stage is the average temperature or the maximum temperature, and all the optimum thresholds were >30 day. These findings provide the in-situ evidences of long-term changes in phenology and its associated growth on the biomass of alpine plants on the QTP in the era of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Li
- College of Resource and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yongshuo Fu
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bingrong Zhou
- Qinghai Institute of Meteorology Sciences, Xining 810001, China
| | - Shiliang Liu
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yudan Xu
- College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jiannan Xiao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shengnan Wu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fu Li
- Qinghai Institute of Meteorology Sciences, Xining 810001, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Han L, Ganjurjav H, Hu G, Wu J, Yan Y, Danjiu L, He S, Xie W, Yan J, Gao Q. Nitrogen Addition Affects Ecosystem Carbon Exchange by Regulating Plant Community Assembly and Altering Soil Properties in an Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:900722. [PMID: 35769289 PMCID: PMC9234307 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.900722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition can affect the global ecosystem carbon balance. However, how plant community assembly regulates the ecosystem carbon exchange in response to the N deposition remains largely unclear, especially in alpine meadows. In this study, we conducted a manipulative experiment to examine the impacts of N (ammonium nitrate) addition on ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange by changing the plant community assembly and soil properties at an alpine meadow site on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2014 to 2018. The N-addition treatments were N0, N7, N20, and N40 (0, 7, 20, and 40 kg N ha-1year-1) during the plant growing season. The net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), and ecosystem respiration (ER) were measured by a static chamber method. Our results showed that the growing-season NEE, ER and GEP increased gradually over time with increasing N-addition rates. On average, the NEE increased significantly by 55.6 and 65.2% in N20 and N40, respectively (p < 0.05). Nitrogen addition also increased forage grass biomass (GB, including sedge and Gramineae) by 74.3 and 122.9% and forb biomass (FB) by 73.4 and 51.4% in N20 and N40, respectively (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations between CO2 fluxes (NEE and GEP) and GB (p < 0.01), and the ER was positively correlated with functional group biomass (GB and FB) and soil available N content (NO3 --N and NH4 +-N) (p < 0.01). The N-induced shift in the plant community assembly was primarily responsible for the increase in NEE. The increase in GB mainly contributed to the N stimulation of NEE, and FB and the soil available N content had positive effects on ER in response to N addition. Our results highlight that the plant community assembly is critical in regulating the ecosystem carbon exchange response to the N deposition in alpine ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Han
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hasbagan Ganjurjav
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
| | - Guozheng Hu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
| | - Jianshuang Wu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Yan
- China New Era Group Corporation, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | - Jun Yan
- Nagqu Grassland Station, Nagqu, China
| | - Qingzhu Gao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Effects of 5-Year Nitrogen Addition on Species Composition and Diversity of an Alpine Steppe Plant Community on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11070966. [PMID: 35406946 PMCID: PMC9002499 DOI: 10.3390/plants11070966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The N deposition rate is notably increased in China, especially in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). How plants respond to the projected N deposition on the alpine steppe is still in debate. In this study, to investigate the effects of N deposition on the plant community of the alpine steppe, we simulated N deposition at six different N addition rate levels (0, 8, 24, 40, 56, 72 kg N ha−1 y−1) from 2015 to 2019. Species composition and diversity were investigated as the assessment indices. The results showed that the importance value of grasses significantly increased with the increase of the N addition rate, while that of forbs significantly decreased. A high N addition rate (72 kg N ha−1 y−1) induced species composition change, making Leymus secalinus become the most dominant species within the entire plant community. Compared with the control (without N addition), species richness, Shannon–Weiner diversity, Simpson dominance and Pielou Evenness were significantly reduced under a high N addition rate. The changes of plant diversity in the alpine steppe were closely correlated with dynamics of soil nutrients, especially total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N). Our findings suggested that a high N deposition rate (72 kg N ha−1 y−1) could significantly change plant composition and reduce the diversity of the alpine steppe, though they were less affected by low N deposition rates at present. With the increase of the N deposition rate, plant composition and diversity of the alpine steppe may be negatively affected in the future. In addition, Leymus secalinus is more competitive than other species with an N deposition rate increase. Soil C, soil P and soil NH4-N variation induced by N deposition might play a key role in regulating changes in plant composition and diversity in the alpine steppe. In addition, longer term field investigation needs to be carried out to testify to this phenomenon with the increase of N deposition in the future.
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu H, Liu Q, Wang S, Yang G, Xue S. A global meta-analysis of the impacts of exotic plant species invasion on plant diversity and soil properties. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:152286. [PMID: 34902405 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant diversity and biogeochemical cycles are rapidly changing in response to exotic plant species invasion. However, there are conflicting conclusions regarding the quantification of such changes in the soil properties and plant diversity. Moreover, the relationships between soil properties and plant diversity are unclear. Here, a global meta-analysis was conducted on the impact of exotic species invasion on soil physicochemistry, microbial activity, and plant diversity using data from 123 published reports and 332 samples. Exotic species invasion significantly enhanced the soil pH, soil microbial activity, and soil nutrient content. The impact was more substantial for grass than for shrub and tree. Exotic species invasion did not significantly affect soil texture, but significantly reduced the plant diversity, richness, and evenness by 36.97%, 64.72%, and 47.21%, respectively. Soil pH, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen were significantly correlated with plant diversity reduction. The response ratio of plant richness and evenness gradually increased with precipitation. However, the response ratio of phosphatase, microbial biomass nitrogen, microbial biomass phosphorus, total nitrogen, and soil moisture gradually decreased with precipitation. Overall, exotic species invasion significantly increased the soil nutrient content and soil microbial activity, but significantly decreased plant diversity. These effects were influenced by exotic species types and precipitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
| | - Qiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Shaoyong Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Guisen Yang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Sha Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang S, Xiao Z, Huo J, Zhang H. Key factors influencing on vegetation restoration in the gullies of the Mollisols. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 299:113704. [PMID: 34523538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113704] [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: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural vegetation restoration (NVR) highly relates to the development of gully erosion, and is mainly determined by both the soil properties and species competition in the gullies. However, it is still not clear what are the key factors influencing on the vegetation restoration in the gullies with the poor soil properties (e.g. low soil organic matter and nutrients) under the special hydrological process (e.g. high runoff intensity and long flow duration). In this study, soil total organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), pH, soil moisture (SM) were investigated, and both regression and structural equation model analysis were used for detecting how soil properties and species competition influence the herbaceous plants restoration in the poor quality of Mollisols in gullies of Northeast China. The results show that, (1) influence of NH4+-N, AN, TN, pH on biomass was stronger in 0-10 cm than that in 10-20 cm soil depth, opposite was stronger in 10-20 cm than that in 0-10 cm soil depth for NO3--N, SOC and SM (P < 0.05). (2) NH4+-N, NO3--N, AN, TN, SOC, pH, C:N were all negative, while SM was positive to plant biodiversity in soil layers (P < 0.05). (3) SOM mainly mediates the TN and NH4+-N and then directly or indirectly influences on biodiversity and biomass, and P changed the species richness when AP >20 mg kg-1 in 10-20 cm soil depth. (4) Vegetation restoration was mainly determined by the dynamics of Elymus dahuricus Turcz. firstly, and then by Leymus chinensis(Trin.) Tzvel. at the early of vegetation restoration. Generally, the heterogeneity of SOC and SM in soil layers and AP in deep soil layer was the key factors determining NVR in the gullies of Mollisols watershed. At the end of paper, the NVR process in Moillosols in gullies was classified as four stages, and each stage was depicted in detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoliang Zhang
- Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Rd, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
| | - Ziliang Xiao
- Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Rd, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| | - Jiping Huo
- Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Rd, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| | - Haijun Zhang
- Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Rd, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Effect of Short-Term Low-Nitrogen Addition on Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus of Vegetation-Soil in Alpine Meadow. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010998. [PMID: 34682742 PMCID: PMC8536122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
As one of the nitrogen (N) limitation ecosystems, alpine meadows have significant effects on their structure and function. However, research on the response and linkage of vegetation-soil to short-term low-level N deposition with rhizosphere processes is scant. We conducted a four level N addition (0, 20, 40, and 80 kg N ha−1 y−1) field experiment in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) from July 2014 to August 2016. We analyzed the community characteristics, vegetation (shoots and roots), total carbon (TC), nutrients, soil (rhizosphere and bulk) properties, and the linkage between vegetation and soil under different N addition rates. Our results showed that (i) N addition significantly increased and decreased the concentration of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) and ammonium nitrogen, and the soil pH, respectively; (ii) there were significant correlations between soil (rhizosphere and bulk) NO3−-N and total nitrogen (TN), and root TN, and there was no strong correlation between plant and soil TC, TN and total phosphorus, and their stoichiometry under different N addition rates. The results suggest that short-term low-N addition affected the plant community, vegetation, and soil TC, TN, TP, and their stoichiometry insignificantly, and that the correlation between plant and soil TC, TN, and TP, and their stoichiometry were insignificant.
Collapse
|
12
|
Yuan C, Li F, Yuan Z, Li G, Liang X. Response of bacterial communities to mining activity in the alpine area of the Tianshan Mountain region, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:15806-15818. [PMID: 33241503 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11744-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities, such as mining, influence soil bacterial community composition and microbial distributions. In the current study, the patterns in microbial distribution and the environmental drivers shaping the soil bacterial community composition in the alpine mining area of the Tianshan Mountain region, China, were investigated, and the bacterial communities were analyzed using 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. The environmental factors and their relationships with the microbial community composition, structure, and diversity were also assessed. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration increased along the elevation gradient, with the highest concentration in the mining area, which increased microbial abundance and species richness. Some metals, like Ca, Cu, Pb, and Zn, accumulated significantly in the tailing area and were negatively correlated with the microbial community structure. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia were the dominant phyla; these dominant phyla were more abundant in the areas without mining than in the areas with mining at the same altitude. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia significantly increased along the elevation gradient, while that of Actinobacteria in the mining camp area was more than twice those in the other areas due to higher soil pH. Soil biomass was the highest in the valley. Collectively, these results elucidate the influence of anthropogenic mining activities on soil microbial communities in alpine mining soils and provide a basis for the future management of heavy metal-contaminated areas using the indigenous dominant bacterial phyla.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Yuan
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Tarim University, Xinjiang, 843300, China
| | - Fayong Li
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Tarim University, Xinjiang, 843300, China.
| | - Ziqiang Yuan
- Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Guoyu Li
- Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xinqiang Liang
- College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Shen H, Dong S, DiTommaso A, Li S, Xiao J, Yang M, Zhang J, Gao X, Xu Y, Zhi Y, Liu S, Dong Q, Wang W, Liu P, Xu J. Eco-physiological processes are more sensitive to simulated N deposition in leguminous forbs than non-leguminous forbs in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 744:140612. [PMID: 32711302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Increased nitrogen (N) deposition can affect ecosystem processes and thus influence plant eco-physiological processes in grasslands. However, how N deposition affects eco-physiological processes of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs in alpine grasslands is understudied. A long-term field experiment using a range of simulated N deposition rates (0, 8, 24, 40, 56, and 72 kg N ha-1 year-1) was established to examine the effects of N deposition on various eco-physiological parameters in leguminous and non-leguminous forbs in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that the responses of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs to simulated N deposition varied. Net photosynthetic rate of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs exhibited different response patterns, but chronic increases in simulated N deposition rates may lead to negative effects in both functional groups. Neither functional group responded differently in aboveground biomass under the highest N addition level (72 kg N ha-1 year-1) compared to the control. Differences in aboveground biomass of leguminous forbs were observed at intermediate N levels. Short-term simulated N deposition significantly promoted N uptake of both functional groups. In leguminous forbs, simulated N deposition affected net photosynthetic rates (PN) and aboveground biomass (AGB) mainly via stomatal conductance (gs), water use efficiency (WUE), and plant N uptake. In non-leguminous forbs, simulated N deposition affected PN and AGB mainly through WUE and plant N uptake. Our findings suggest that leguminous and non-leguminous forbs have differential response mechanisms to N deposition, and compared with non-leguminous forbs, leguminous forbs are more sensitive to continuing increased N deposition. The obvious decline trend in photosynthetic capacity in leguminous forbs is likely to exacerbate the already divergent ecological processes between leguminous and non-leguminous forbs. More importantly, these changes are likely to alter the future composition, function, and stability of alpine meadow ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shen
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; College of Grassland Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
| | - Antonio DiTommaso
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Shuai Li
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jiannan Xiao
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Mingyue Yang
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yudan Xu
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yangliu Zhi
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shiliang Liu
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Quanming Dong
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Qinghai University, Xining 810003, China
| | - Wenying Wang
- School of Life and Geographic Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Pan Liu
- School of Life and Geographic Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Jiyu Xu
- School of Life and Geographic Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Peng F, Xue X, Li C, Lai C, Sun J, Tsubo M, Tsunekawa A, Wang T. Plant community of alpine steppe shows stronger association with soil properties than alpine meadow alongside degradation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:139048. [PMID: 32446054 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between soil properties and plant community determines the efficacy to restore the degraded grassland via improving soil properties. We conducted a field survey to investigate the relationship between plant community composition and soil physical and chemical properties alongside different degradation stages of alpine grassland. Results showed that with the increasing severity of degradation, the dominant plants shifted from sedge and graminoid species, respectively, to forbs species in alpine meadow (AM) and alpine steppe (AS). Species richness and diversity indices were unchanged until the severely degraded stage in both AM and AS. Forward selection showed bulk density (BD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+) at 10-20 cm, pH and the ratio of soil organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N) at 0-10 cm were the four important variables being responsible for the species community variation alongside degradation of AS, which explained 18.7% of the total variance. Soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3-) and C/N at 20-30 cm, NH4+ at 10-20, and BD at 0-10 cm were the important variables in driving the community variance alongside degradation stages, which only explained 9.5% of the total variance of AM. The loss of dense root layer and the species community change induced change in BD, and difference in plant competition for available resources would lead to the stronger association between vegetation community and soil properties in AS than that in AM. Our results indicate that though improving soil nutrients and soil texture to restore the degraded AS may be more effective than to restore degraded AM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Beiluhe Observation and Research Station on Frozen Soil Engineering and Environment in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
| | - Xian Xue
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Beiluhe Observation and Research Station on Frozen Soil Engineering and Environment in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Chengyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chimin Lai
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Sun
- Synthesis Research Centre of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mitsuru Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | | | - Tao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| |
Collapse
|