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Yang Y, Wang S, Zhao C, Jiang X, Gao D. Responses of non-structural carbohydrates and biomass in plant to heavy metal treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168559. [PMID: 37979880 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168559] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of heavy metals profoundly impacts plant metabolic processes and various physiological indicators, such as non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). However, a comprehensive understanding of how NSC in plants respond to heavy metal treatment and how different experimental setting and plant types affect the response of plant NSC is still lacking. Here, we compiled data of 2084 observations of NSC from 85 published studies and conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the responses of soluble sugars, starch, the ratio of soluble sugar to starch, and total non-structural carbohydrates (TNSC) to heavy metal treatment. Our results showed that, under heavy metal treatment, foliar soluble sugars, foliar TNSC, and the ratio of soluble sugars to starch in both foliage and root increased significantly by 21.6 %, 11.6 %, 55.9 %, and 65.1 %, respectively; and foliar starch, root starch, and root TNSC decreased significantly by 10 %, 23.3 %, and 11 %, respectively; while root soluble sugars remained unchanged. The treatment of heavy metals significantly diminished the biomass of foliage, above-ground, and root by 12.3 %, 29.5 %, and 34.3 %, respectively. The responses of foliar NSC to heavy metal treatment were strongly dependent on leaf habit, the duration and concentration of heavy metal treatment, and soil pH value. The magnitude of the response of NSC to heavy metals increased with the duration and concentration of heavy metal treatment. Furthermore, the types of heavy metals modulated the magnitude of the response of foliar NSC to heavy metal treatment. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the responses of plant NSC to heavy metal stress and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of this crucial aspect of plant physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security of Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chunhong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security of Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiangyu Jiang
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Decai Gao
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security of Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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2
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Gong P, Wang X, Xue Y, Zhang L, Wang Y. Foliar uptake of persistent organic pollutants at alpine treeline. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131388. [PMID: 37058936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131388] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies highlighted the role of temperature on the foliar uptake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) based on their physicochemical properties. However, few studies have focused on the indirect impacts of low temperature on the foliar uptake of POPs due to the changed physiology of leaves. We measured the concentrations and temporal variations of foliar POPs at the treeline on the Tibetan Plateau, the highest-altitudinal treeline on Earth. The leaves at the treeline showed high uptake efficiencies and reservoir capacity of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), which were two times to one order of magnitude higher than those in forests worldwide. Enhanced surface adsorption due to the increased thickness of the wax layer in a colder climate was found to be the primary contributor (>60 %) to the high uptake of DDTs at the treeline, and slow penetration controlled by temperature contributed 13 %-40 %. The relative humidity, related negatively to temperature, also influenced the uptake rates of DDTs by foliage at the treeline (contribution: <10 %). The uptake rates of small molecular-weight POPs (hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorocyclohexanes) by foliage at the treeline were quite lower than those of DDTs, relating probably with the weak penetration of these compounds into leaves and/or low-temperature-induced precipitation washout from leaf surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yonggang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yongjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; South-East Tibetan Plateau Station for Integrated Observation and Research of Alpine Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nyingchi 860000, China
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3
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Long RW, Adams HD. The osmotic balancing act: When sugars matter for more than metabolism in woody plants. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1684-1687. [PMID: 36545769 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Sugars and other non-structural carbohydrates are known to serve as currency in plants, to either fuel metabolic activities or as storage for later use. They can also serve non-metabolic purposes of osmoregulation and cryoprotection, especially in perennial woody plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall W Long
- Biology Department, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Henry D Adams
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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4
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Martin MR, Kumar P, Sonnentag O, Marsh P. Thermodynamic basis for the demarcation of Arctic and alpine treelines. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12565. [PMID: 35869102 PMCID: PMC9307831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16462-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAt the edge of alpine and Arctic ecosystems all over the world, a transition zone exists beyond which it is either infeasible or unfavorable for trees to exist, colloquially identified as the treeline. We explore the possibility of a thermodynamic basis behind this demarcation in vegetation by considering ecosystems as open systems driven by thermodynamic advantage—defined by vegetation’s ability to dissipate heat from the earth’s surface to the air above the canopy. To deduce whether forests would be more thermodynamically advantageous than existing ecosystems beyond treelines, we construct and examine counterfactual scenarios in which trees exist beyond a treeline instead of the existing alpine meadow or Arctic tundra. Meteorological data from the Italian Alps, United States Rocky Mountains, and Western Canadian Taiga-Tundra are used as forcing for model computation of ecosystem work and temperature gradients at sites on both sides of each treeline with and without trees. Model results indicate that the alpine sites do not support trees beyond the treeline, as their presence would result in excessive CO$$_2$$
2
loss and extended periods of snowpack due to temperature inversions (i.e., positive temperature gradient from the earth surface to the atmosphere). Further, both Arctic and alpine sites exhibit negative work resulting in positive feedback between vegetation heat dissipation and temperature gradient, thereby extending the duration of temperature inversions. These conditions demonstrate thermodynamic infeasibility associated with the counterfactual scenario of trees existing beyond a treeline. Thus, we conclude that, in addition to resource constraints, a treeline is an outcome of an ecosystem’s ability to self-organize towards the most advantageous vegetation structure facilitated by thermodynamic feasibility.
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Jiang C, Sun XR, Feng J, Zhu SF, Shui W. Metagenomic analysis reveals the different characteristics of microbial communities inside and outside the karst tiankeng. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:115. [PMID: 35473500 PMCID: PMC9040234 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02513-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Karst tiankengs serve as a reservoir of biodiversity in the degraded karst landscape areas. However, the microbial diversity of karst tiankengs is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the composition and function of the microbial community in a karst tiankeng. Results We found that habitat differences inside and outside the karst tiankeng changed the composition and structure of the soil microbial communities, and the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria. The Shannon–Wiener diversity of microbial communities inside and outside the tiankeng was significantly different, and it was higher inside the tiankeng (IT). Venn and LEfSe analysis found that the soil microbial communities inside the tiankeng had 640 more endemic species and 39 more biomarker microbial clades than those identified outside of the tiankeng (OT)..Functional prediction indicated that soil microorganisms in outside the tiankeng had a high potential for carbohydrate metabolism, translation and amino acid metabolism. There were biomarker pathways associated with several of human diseases at both IT and OT sites. Except for auxiliary activities (AA), other CAZy classes had higher abundance at IT sites, which can readily convert litter and fix carbon and nitrogen, thereby supporting the development of underground forests. The differences in microbial communities were mainly related to the soil water content and soil total nitrogen. Conclusions Our results provide a metagenomic overview of the karst tiankeng system and provide new insights into habitat conservation and biodiversity restoration in the area. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02513-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Jiang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiao-Rui Sun
- College of Environment Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Jie Feng
- College of Environment Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Su-Feng Zhu
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Wei Shui
- College of Environment Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China.
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Influence of Colder Temperature on the Axial and Radial Parenchyma Fraction of Quercus ciliaris C.C.Huang & Y.T.Chang Wood and Its Relationship with Carbohydrate Reserve (NSC). FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Parenchyma in the secondary xylem comprises the main tissue for the storage of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in woody plants. Across species, the amount of parenchyma depends on the general environment of the distribution area and determines to a large extent the NSC storage. However, little information is available on the relationship between parenchyma fractions, NSC storage, and the environmental influences within individual species. This information is crucial to assessing the adaptive capacities of tree populations in the context of increasing the frequency and severity of stress-inducing events. In this study, parenchyma fractions and NSC concentrations of the secondary xylem in trunks of a subtropical evergreen oak (Quercus ciliaris C.C.Huang & Y.T.Chang) were quantified along an elevational gradient from 700 m to 1200 m a.s.l. in eastern China. Air temperatures within the distribution area correlated with altitude were recorded. The results showed that the total parenchyma fractions did not covary with the colder temperatures. However, axial parenchyma fractions were lower with a colder climate, while the fractions of multiseriate rays and total ray parenchyma were higher. Higher concentrations of starch and NSC were significantly associated with larger axial parenchyma fractions. The sugar concentration displayed no significant relationship with parenchyma fractions. These findings suggest that the total parenchyma fractions in secondary xylem do not increase in response to a colder climate, while colder temperatures drive changes in the composition of parenchyma for Q. ciliaris.
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7
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Tang L, Morris WK, Zhang M, Shi F, Vesk PA. Exploring how functional traits modulate species distributions along topographic gradients in Baxian Mountain, North China. Sci Rep 2022; 12:994. [PMID: 35046442 PMCID: PMC8770611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The associations between functional traits and species distributions across environments have attracted increasing interest from ecologists and can enhance knowledge about how plants respond to the environments. Here, we applied a hierarchical generalized linear model to quantifying the role of functional traits in plant occurrence across topographic gradients. Functional trait data, including specific leaf area, maximum height, seed mass and stem wood density, together with elevation, aspect and slope, were used in the model. In our results, species responses to elevation and aspect were modulated by maximum height and seed mass. Generally, shorter tree species showed positive responses to incremental elevation, while this trend became negative as the maximum height exceeded 22 m. Most trees with heavy seeds (> 1 mg) preferred more southerly aspects where the soil was drier, and those light-seed trees were opposite. In this study, the roles of maximum height and seed mass in determining species distribution along elevation and aspect gradients were highlighted where plants are confronted with low-temperature and soil moisture deficit conditions. This work contributes to the understanding of how traits may be associated with species occurrence along mesoscale environmental gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - William K Morris
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mei Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fuchen Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Peter A Vesk
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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8
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Furze ME, Wainwright DK, Huggett BA, Knipfer T, McElrone AJ, Brodersen CR. Ecologically driven selection of nonstructural carbohydrate storage in oak trees. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:567-578. [PMID: 34235751 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Leaf habit is a major axis of plant diversity that has consequences for carbon balance since the leaf is the primary site of photosynthesis. Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) produced by photosynthesis can be allocated to storage and serve as a resiliency mechanism to future abiotic and biotic stress. However, how leaf habit affects NSC storage in an evolutionary context has not been shown. Using a comparative physiological framework and an analysis of evolutionary model fitting, we examined if variation in NSC storage is explained by leaf habit. We measured sugar and starch concentrations in 51 oak species (Quercus spp.) growing in a common garden and representing multiple evolutions of three different leaf habits (deciduous, brevideciduous and evergreen). The best fitting evolutionary models indicated that deciduous oak species are evolving towards higher NSC concentrations than their brevideciduous and evergreen relatives. Notably, this was observed for starch (the primary storage molecule) in the stem (a long-term C storage organ). Overall, our work provides insight into the evolutionary drivers of NSC storage and suggests that a deciduous strategy may confer an advantage against stress associated with a changing world. Future work should examine additional clades to further corroborate this idea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Furze
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Dylan K Wainwright
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Brett A Huggett
- Department of Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 04240, USA
| | - Thorsten Knipfer
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Andrew J McElrone
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- US Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit, Davis, CA, 95618, USA
| | - Craig R Brodersen
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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9
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Rodriguez-Caton M, Andreu-Hayles L, Morales MS, Daux V, Christie DA, Coopman RE, Alvarez C, Rao MP, Aliste D, Flores F, Villalba R. Different climate sensitivity for radial growth, but uniform for tree-ring stable isotopes along an aridity gradient in Polylepis tarapacana, the world's highest elevation tree species. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 41:1353-1371. [PMID: 33601406 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tree growth is generally considered to be temperature limited at upper elevation treelines, yet climate factors controlling tree growth at semiarid treelines are poorly understood. We explored the influence of climate on stem growth and stable isotopes for Polylepis tarapacana Philipi, the world's highest elevation tree species, which is found only in the South American Altiplano. We developed tree-ring width index (RWI), oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) chronologies for the last 60 years at four P. tarapacana stands located above 4400 m in elevation, along a 500 km latitude aridity gradient. Total annual precipitation decreased from 300 to 200 mm from the northern to the southern sites. We used RWI as a proxy of wood formation (carbon sink) and isotopic tree-ring signatures as proxies of leaf-level gas exchange processes (carbon source). We found distinct climatic conditions regulating carbon sink processes along the gradient. Current growing-season temperature regulated RWI at northern-wetter sites, while prior growing-season precipitation determined RWI at arid southern sites. This suggests that the relative importance of temperature to precipitation in regulating tree growth is driven by site water availability. By contrast, warm and dry growing seasons resulted in enriched tree-ring δ13C and δ18O at all study sites, suggesting that similar climate conditions control carbon-source processes along the gradient. Site-level δ13C and δ18O chronologies were significantly and positively related at all sites, with the strongest relationships among the southern drier stands. This indicates an overall regulation of intercellular carbon dioxide via stomatal conductance for the entire P. tarapacana network, with greater stomatal control when aridity increases. This manuscript also highlights a coupling (decoupling) between physiological processes at leaf level and wood formation as a function of similarities (differences) in their climatic sensitivity. This study contributes to a better understanding and prediction of the response of high-elevation Polylepis woodlands to rapid climate changes and projected drying in the Altiplano.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laia Andreu-Hayles
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariano S Morales
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), CONICET, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Mendoza 5500, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Dendrocronología, Universidad Continental, Av. San Carlos 1980, Huancayo 12003, Perú
| | - Valérie Daux
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA/CNRS/UVSQ/IPSL, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Duncan A Christie
- Laboratorio de Dendrocronología y Cambio Global, Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5110566, Los Ríos, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research, (CR)2, Blanco Encalada 2002, Santiago 8370415, Chile
| | - Rafael E Coopman
- Ecophysiology Laboratory for Forest Conservation, Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Independencia 631, Valdivia 5110566, Los Ríos, Chile
| | - Claudio Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Dendrocronología y Cambio Global, Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5110566, Los Ríos, Chile
| | - Mukund Palat Rao
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, 5th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Diego Aliste
- Laboratorio de Dendrocronología y Cambio Global, Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5110566, Los Ríos, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research, (CR)2, Blanco Encalada 2002, Santiago 8370415, Chile
| | - Felipe Flores
- Laboratorio de Dendrocronología y Cambio Global, Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5110566, Los Ríos, Chile
| | - Ricardo Villalba
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), CONICET, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Mendoza 5500, Argentina
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10
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Zhou Q, Shi H, He R, Liu H, Zhu W, Yu D, Zhang Q, Dang H. Prioritized carbon allocation to storage of different functional types of species at the upper range limits is driven by different environmental drivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:145581. [PMID: 33582346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The upper elevational range limit of tree species (including treeline and non-treeline species) is generally considered to result from either carbon limitation or sink limitation. Some evidence also suggests that tree line might reflect preferential carbon allocation to NSC storage at the expense of growth. How might the importance of these potential mechanisms be determined? We used an elevational gradient to examine light-saturated photosynthesis (Asat) and NSC concentrations in plant tissues of three different functional types of tree species. We also examined the effects of consecutive 4 years of in situ defoliation on growth and NSCs at the upper elevational range limit. Declining temperature with increasing elevation did not reduce Asat in any of the species. We found NSC increased with elevation in major storage tissues (e.g., roots and twigs) but not in leaves. The defoliation showed that C storage took priority over growth. Such preferential carbon allocation, directly caused by growth decline, always existed in the deciduous tree species. In the evergreen tree species, however, growth decline resulted from preferential carbon allocation to storage was only detected in 2017 and then disappeared as the intensity of defoliation increased. Our results showed that trees prioritized sustaining stores of C more highly than allocation of growth, regardless of the trees' C or sink limitations. At the cold range limits, the prioritized carbon allocation to storage in deciduous tree species was in response to low temperature stress, while in evergreen tree species, the prioritization of carbon allocation was only a transient physiological response to defoliation disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Hang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Rui He
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Haikun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Wenting Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; College of Science, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, PR China
| | - Dongyue Yu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Quanfa Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Haishan Dang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
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11
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Yang Y, Sun H, Körner C. Explaining the exceptional 4270 m high elevation limit of an evergreen oak in the south-eastern Himalayas. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 40:1327-1342. [PMID: 32483630 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Unlike the well-understood alpine treeline, the upper range limits of tree taxa that do not reach the alpine treeline are largely unexplained. In this study, we explored the causes of the exceptionally high elevation (4270 m) occurrence of broad-leaved evergreen oaks (Quercus pannosa) in the south-eastern Himalayas. We assessed the course of freezing resistance of buds and leaves from winter to summer at the upper elevational limit of this oak species. Linked to leaf phenology, we analyzed freezing resistance and assessed minimum crown temperature for the past 65 years. We also examined potential carbon limitation at the range limit of this species. Last season buds and leaves operated at a safety margin of 5.5 and 11 K in mid-winter. Once fully dehardened early in July, last season foliage is damaged at -5.9 and new foliage at -4.6 °C. Bud break is timed for late June to early July when low temperature extremes historically were never below -3.0 °C. The monsoon regime ensures a long remaining season (149 days), thus compensating for the late onset of shoot growth. Compared with a site at 3450 m, specific leaf area is reduced, foliar non-structural carbohydrate concentrations are similar and the δ13C signal is higher, jointly suggesting that carbon limitation is unlikely at the range limit of this species. We also show that these oaks enter the growing season with fully intact (not embolized) xylem. We conclude that the interaction between phenology and freezing tolerance results in safe flushing, while still facilitating shoot maturation before winter. These factors jointly determine the upper range limit of this oak species. Our study illuminates an exceptional case of broad-leaved evergreen tree performance near the treeline, and by exploring a suite of traits, we can underpin the central role of flushing phenology in such a stressful environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanhei Road 132, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, PR China
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanhei Road 132, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, PR China
| | - Christian Körner
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, Basel 4056, Switzerland
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Zhang XJ, Song K, Pan YJ, Gao ZW, Pu FG, Lu JH, Shang KK, Da LJ, Cieraad E. Responses of leaf traits to low temperature in an evergreen oak at its upper limit. Ecol Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Jin Zhang
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Kun Song
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming Shanghai China
| | - Ying Ji Pan
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Zhi Wen Gao
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Fa Guang Pu
- Anhui Dabie Mountain Forest Ecosystem National Observation Station Jinzhai China
| | - Jia Hui Lu
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Kan Kan Shang
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming Shanghai China
- Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, The Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden Shanghai China
| | - Liang Jun Da
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco‐Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
- Institute of Eco‐Chongming Shanghai China
| | - Ellen Cieraad
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
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Han H, He H, Wu Z, Cong Y, Zong S, He J, Fu Y, Liu K, Sun H, Li Y, Yu C, Xu J. Non-Structural Carbohydrate Storage Strategy Explains the Spatial Distribution of Treeline Species. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9030384. [PMID: 32244958 PMCID: PMC7154803 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Environmental factors that drive carbon storage are often used as an explanation for alpine treeline formation. However, different tree species respond differently to environmental changes, which challenges our understanding of treeline formation and shifts. Therefore, we selected Picea jezoensis and Betula ermanii, the two treeline species naturally occurring in Changbai Mountain in China, and measured the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), soluble sugars and starch in one-year-old leaves, shoots, stems and fine roots at different elevations. We found that compared with P. jezoensis, the NSC and soluble sugars concentrations of leaves and shoots of B. ermanii were higher than those of P. jezoensis, while the starch concentration of all the tissues were lower. Moreover, the concentration of NSC, soluble sugars and starch in the leaves of B. ermanii decreased with elevation. In addition, the starch concentration of B. ermanii shoots, stems and fine roots remained at a high level regardless of whether the soluble sugars concentration decreased. Whereas the concentrations of soluble sugars and starch in one-year-old leaves, shoots and stems of P. jezoensis responded similarly changes with elevation. These findings demonstrate that compared with P. jezoensis, B. ermanii has a higher soluble sugars/starch ratio, and its shoots, stems and fine roots actively store NSC to adapt to the harsh environment, which is one of the reasons that B. ermanii can be distributed at higher altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudong Han
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Hongshi He
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: (H.H.); (Z.W.); Tel.: +1-573-882-7717 (H.H.); +86-0431-8509-9244 (Z.W.)
| | - Zhengfang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
- Correspondence: (H.H.); (Z.W.); Tel.: +1-573-882-7717 (H.H.); +86-0431-8509-9244 (Z.W.)
| | - Yu Cong
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
| | - Shengwei Zong
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Jianan He
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Yuanyuan Fu
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Kai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (H.H.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Changbao Yu
- Changbai Mountain Nature Conservation Management Center, Erdaobaihe 133613, China
| | - Jindan Xu
- Changbai Mountain Nature Conservation Management Center, Erdaobaihe 133613, China
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15
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Bhandari J, Zhang Y. Effect of altitude and soil properties on biomass and plant richness in the grasslands of Tibet, China, and Manang District, Nepal. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Bhandari
- Lhasa Plateau Ecosystem Research Station Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 China
| | - Yangjian Zhang
- Lhasa Plateau Ecosystem Research Station Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 China
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16
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Microsite Effects on Physiological Performance of Betula ermanii at and Beyond an Alpine Treeline Site on Changbai Mountain in Northeast China. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10050400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The alpine treeline demarcates the temperature-limited upper elevational boundary of the tree life form. However, this treeline does not always occur exclusively as a sharp “line”, outposts of tree groups (OTG) with a height of at least 3 m are often observed in microsites up to several hundred meters beyond the line of continuous forest on some mountains. This suggests that other factors such as microenvironment may play a significant role in compensating for the alpine tree facing growth-limiting low temperature conditions. To test the microenvironment effects, this study compared the differences in growing conditions (climate and soil properties) and ecophysiological performance of Erman’s birch (Betula ermanii Cham.) trees growing in a continuous treeline site (CTL, ~1950 m above sea level, a.s.l.) and OTGs (~2050 m a.s.l.) on Changbai Mountain in northeastern China. The results show the average 2-m air temperature for OTG was slightly lower in the non-growing season than which at the CTL (−10.2 °C < −8.4 °C), there was no difference in growing season air temperature and soil temperature at 10 cm depth between CTL and OTG. The contents of focal soil nutrients in CTL and OTG were similar. Difference in K and Mn contents between sites were detected in leaves, difference in K, Mn, and Zn in shoots. However, comparing similarity of ecophysiological performances at an individual level, trees at CTL and OTG show no significant difference. Our study reveals that mature trees at the CTL and OTG experience generally similar environmental conditions (climate and soil properties) and exhibit similar overall ecophysiological performance (reflected in carbon reserves and nutrients). This might provide insight into how mature trees might be able to survive in areas higher than the continuous treeline, as well as the importance of microclimatic amelioration provided by protective microsites and the trees themselves.
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Dolezal J, Kopecky M, Dvorsky M, Macek M, Rehakova K, Capkova K, Borovec J, Schweingruber F, Liancourt P, Altman J. Sink limitation of plant growth determines tree line in the arid Himalayas. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Dolezal
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Tree Ring Research University of Arizona Tucson Arizona
| | - Martin Kopecky
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Dvorsky
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Martin Macek
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Klara Rehakova
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Capkova
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Borovec
- Biology Centre The Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | | | - Pierre Liancourt
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Jan Altman
- Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Xie D, Wu Z, Chen HYH, Wang Z, Wang Q, Yu D. Carbon Gain Limitation Is the Primary Mechanism for the Elevational Distribution Limit of Myriophyllum in the High-Altitude Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1129. [PMID: 30116255 PMCID: PMC6083828 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Temperature comprises a major driver for species distribution and physiological processes in alpine plants. For all terrestrial plant species tested to date, elevation associated decreases in temperature have been observed to influence the balance between carbon acquisition and usage; restricting the upper limit of most alpine trees (i.e., treeline). However, such a carbon source-sink balance has not been tested in any alpine aquatic plants, which is an important component of the alpine aquatic ecosystem. The Myriophyllum species inhabits a broad range of habitats across the high-altitude plateau. Three Myriophyllum species (Myriophyllum spicatum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, and Myriophyllum sibiricum) from 12 water bodies at elevational gradients between 2766 and 5111 m were collected in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The late growing seasonal concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in the leaves were measured to find how high-altitude conditions influence the carbon balance in aquatic plants. Regression tree analysis separated the 12 water bodies into two groups according to water turbidity (seven water bodies with high turbidity and five water bodies with low turbidity). Overall, leaf NSC concentrations (primarily starch) decreased significantly with increasing elevation in widely distributed M. spicatum and M. verticillatum. Regression tree analysis indicated that water turbidity (i.e., shady environment) was a strong determinant of leaf NSC. In the low turbidity group (<3.5 NTU), leaf NSC concentrations decreased with increasing elevation; however, in the high turbidity group (>3.5 NTU), leaf NSC concentrations were low and had no association with elevation. Unlike most recent studies in tree species, which show low temperatures limited growth at high-elevations, our results demonstrated that carbon gain limitation is the primary mechanism for the elevational distribution limit of Myriophyllum species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, water turbidity moderated the effects of low temperature by masking the expected carbon limitation trend. Therefore, at least two environmental factors (i.e., temperature and light availability) induced photosynthesis decreases might explain the NSC responses for aquatic plants in response to elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Xie
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem in Liangzi Lake, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhigang Wu
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem in Liangzi Lake, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Han Y. H. Chen
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Zhong Wang
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem in Liangzi Lake, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem in Liangzi Lake, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Yu
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem in Liangzi Lake, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Liu N, Nan H. Carbon stocks of three secondary coniferous forests along an altitudinal gradient on Loess Plateau in inland China. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196927. [PMID: 29723254 PMCID: PMC5933742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural forests in inland China are generally distributed in montane area and secondary due to a semi-arid climate and past anthropogenic disturbances. However, quantification of carbon (C) stock in these forests and the role of altitude in determining C storage and its partition among ecosystem components are unclear. We sampled 54 stands of three secondary coniferous forests (Larix principis-rupprechtii (LP) forest, Picea meyerii (PM) forest and Pinus tabulaeformis (PT) forest) on Loess Plateau in an altitudinal range of 1200-2700m a.s.l. C stocks of tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer, coarse wood debris, forest floor and soil were estimated. We found these forests had relatively high total C stocks. Driven by both higher vegetation and soil C stocks, total C stocks of LP and PM forests in the high altitudinal range were 375.0 and 368.4 t C ha-1 respectively, significantly higher than that of PT forest in the low altitudinal range (230.2 t C ha-1). In addition, understory shrubs accounted for about 20% of total biomass in PT forest. The proportions of vegetation to total C stock were similar among in the three forests (below 45%), so were the proportions of soil C stock (over 54%). Necromass C stocks were also similar among these forests, but their proportions to total C stock were significantly lower in LP and PM forests (1.4% and 1.6%) than in PT forest (3.0%). Across forest types, vegetation biomass and soil C stock simultaneously increased with increasing altitude, causing fairly unchanged C partitioning among ecosystem components along the altitudinal gradient. Soil C stock also increased with altitude in LP and PT forests. Forest floor necromass decreased with increasing altitude across the three forests. Our results suggest the important role of the altitudinal gradient in C sequestration and floor necromass of these three forests in terms of alleviated water conditions and in soil C storage of LP and PM forests in terms of temperature change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Liu
- School of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
| | - Hongwei Nan
- School of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, P. R. China
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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.
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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.
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Du H, Liu J, Li MH, Büntgen U, Yang Y, Wang L, Wu Z, He HS. Warming-induced upward migration of the alpine treeline in the Changbai Mountains, northeast China. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:1256-1266. [PMID: 29080270 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Treeline responses to environmental changes describe an important phenomenon in global change research. Often conflicting results and generally too short observations are, however, still challenging our understanding of climate-induced treeline dynamics. Here, we use a state-of-the-art dendroecological approach to reconstruct long-term changes in the position of the alpine treeline in relation to air temperature at two sides in the Changbai Mountains in northeast China. Over the past 160 years, the treeline increased by around 80 m, a process that can be divided into three phases of different rates and drives. The first phase was mainly influenced by vegetation recovery after an eruption of the Tianchi volcano in 1702. The slowly upward shift in the second phase was consistent with the slowly increasing temperature. The last phase coincided with rapid warming since 1985, and shows with 33 m per 1°C, the most intense upward shift. The spatial distribution and age structure of trees beyond the current treeline confirm the latest, warming-induced upward shift. Our results suggest that the alpine treeline will continue to rise, and that the alpine tundra may disappear if temperatures will increase further. This study not only enhances mechanistic understanding of long-term treeline dynamics, but also highlights the effects of rising temperatures on high-elevation vegetation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Du
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Mai-He Li
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ulf Büntgen
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Geography, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yue Yang
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengfang Wu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hong S He
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Cansler CA, McKenzie D, Halpern CB. Fire enhances the complexity of forest structure in alpine treeline ecotones. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C. Alina Cansler
- Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program USDA Forest Service Missoula Montana 59808 USA
| | - Donald McKenzie
- Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab USDA Forest Service Seattle Washington 98103 USA
| | - Charles B. Halpern
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA
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Population Spatial Dynamics of Larix potaninii in Alpine Treeline Ecotone in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau, China. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8100356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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26
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Bobrowski M, Gerlitz L, Schickhoff U. Modelling the potential distribution of Betula utilis in the Himalaya. Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Li X, Liang E, Gričar J, Rossi S, Čufar K, Ellison AM. Critical minimum temperature limits xylogenesis and maintains treelines on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2017; 62:804-812. [PMID: 36659277 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Physiological and ecological mechanisms that define treelines are still debated. It has been suggested that the absence of trees above the treeline is caused by low temperatures that limit growth. Thus, we hypothesized that there is a critical minimum temperature (CTmin) preventing xylogenesis at treeline. We tested this hypothesis by examining weekly xylogenesis across three and four growing seasons in two natural Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii) treeline sites on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Despite differences in the timing of cell differentiation among years, minimum air temperature was the dominant climatic variable associated with xylem growth; the critical minimum temperature (CTmin) for the onset and end of xylogenesis occurred at 0.7±0.4°C. A process-based modelling chronology of tree-ring formation using this CTmin was consistent with actual tree-ring data. This extremely low CTmin permits Smith fir growing at treeline to complete annual xylem production and maturation and provides both support and a mechanism for treeline formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Eryuan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Jozica Gričar
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Department of Yield and Silviculture, Vecna pot 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sergio Rossi
- University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, Département des Sciences Fondamentales, 555, Boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi (QC) G7H2B1, Canada; Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Katarina Čufar
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Wood Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aaron M Ellison
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, 324 North Main St., Petersham, MA 01366, USA
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Loranger H, Zotz G, Bader MY. Competitor or facilitator? The ambiguous role of alpine grassland for the early establishment of tree seedlings at treeline. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Loranger
- Functional Ecology of Plants, Inst. of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Oldenburg; Oldenburg Germany
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Functional Ecology of Plants, Inst. of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Oldenburg; Oldenburg Germany
| | - Maaike Y. Bader
- Ecological Plant Geography, Faculty of Geography, Univ. of Marburg; Deutschhausstraße 10, DE-35032 Marburg Germany
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The Coupling of Treeline Elevation and Temperature is Mediated by Non-Thermal Factors on the Tibetan Plateau. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8040109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Shoot growth and seasonal changes of nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations at the upper and lower distribution limits of three conifers. LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-016-0294-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Sullivan PF. Evidence of soil nutrient availability as the proximate constraint on growth of treeline trees in northwest Alaska: reply. Ecology 2016; 97:803-8. [DOI: 10.1890/15-1734.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick F. Sullivan
- Environment and Natural Resources Institute University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage AK 99508 USA
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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]
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Dang HS, Zhang KR, Zhang QF, Xu YM. Temporal variations of mobile carbohydrates in Abies fargesii at the upper tree limits. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2015; 17:106-113. [PMID: 24954386 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Low temperatures are associated high-altitude treelines, but the functional mechanism of treeline formation remains controversial. The relative contributions of carbon limitation (source activity) and growth limitation (sink activity) require more tests across taxa and regions. We examined temporal variations of mobile carbon supply in different tissues of Abies fargesii across treeline ecotones on north- and south-facing slopes of the Qinling Mountains, China. Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in tissues along the altitudinal gradient on both slopes changed significantly in the early and late growing season, but not in the mid-growing season, indicating the season-dependent carbon supply status. Late in the growing season on both slopes, trees at the upper limits had the highest NSC concentrations and total soluble sugars and lowest starch concentrations compared to trees at the lower elevations. NSC concentrations tended to increase in needles and branches throughout the growing season with increasing elevation on both slopes, but declined in roots and stems. NSC concentrations across sampling dates also indicated increases in needles and branches, and decreases in roots and stem with increasing elevation. Overall altitudinal trends of NSC in A. fargesii revealed no depletion of mobile carbon reserves at upper elevation limits, suggesting limitation of sink activity dominates tree life across treeline ecotones in both north- and south-facing slopes. Carbon reserves in storage tissues (especially roots) in the late growing season might also play an important role in winter survival and early growth in spring at upper elevations on both slopes, which define the uppermost limit of A. fargesii.
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Affiliation(s)
- H S Dang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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Fajardo A, Piper FI. An experimental approach to explain the southern Andes elevational treeline. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2014; 101:788-795. [PMID: 24812110 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1400166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY The growth limitation hypothesis (GLH) is the most accepted mechanistic explanation for treeline formation, although it is still uncertain whether it applies across taxa. The successful establishment of Pinus contorta--an exotic conifer species in the southern hemisphere--above the Nothofagus treeline in New Zealand may suggest a different mechanism. We tested the GLH in Nothofagus pumilio and Pinus contorta by comparing seedling performance and carbon (C) balance in response to low temperatures.• METHODS At a southern Chilean treeline, we grew seedlings of both species 2 m above ground level, to simulate coupling between temperatures at the meristem and in the air (colder), and at ground level, i.e., decoupling air temperature (relatively milder). We recorded soil and air temperatures as well. After 3 yr, we measured seedling survival and biomass (as a surrogate of growth) and determined nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC).• KEY RESULTS Nothofagus and Pinus did not differ in survival, which, as a whole, was higher at ground level than at the 2-m height. The root-zone temperature for the growing season was 6.6°C. While biomass and NSC decreased significantly for Nothofagus at the 2-m height compared with ground level (C limitation), these trends were not significant for Pinus• CONCLUSIONS The treeline for Nothofagus pumilio is located at an isotherm that fully matches global patterns; however, its physiological responses to low temperatures differed from those of other treeline species. Support for C limitation in N. pumilio but not in P. contorta indicates that the physiological mechanism explaining their survival and growth at treeline may be taxon-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fajardo
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) CONICYT-Regional R10C1003, Universidad Austral de Chile, Camino Baguales s/n, Coyhaique 5951601, Chile
| | - Frida I Piper
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) CONICYT-Regional R10C1003, Universidad Austral de Chile, Camino Baguales s/n, Coyhaique 5951601, Chile
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35
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Thébault A, Clément JC, Ibanez S, Roy J, Geremia RA, Pérez CA, Buttler A, Estienne Y, Lavorel S. Nitrogen limitation and microbial diversity at the treeline. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00860.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wingler A. Comparison of signaling interactions determining annual and perennial plant growth in response to low temperature. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:794. [PMID: 25628637 PMCID: PMC4290479 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/20/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Low temperature inhibits plant growth despite the fact that considerable rates of photosynthetic activity can be maintained. Instead of lower rates of photosynthesis, active inhibition of cell division and expansion is primarily responsible for reduced growth. This results in sink limitation and enables plants to accumulate carbohydrates that act as compatible solutes or are stored throughout the winter to enable re-growth in spring. Regulation of growth in response to temperature therefore requires coordination with carbon metabolism, e.g., via the signaling metabolite trehalose-6-phosphate. The phytohormones gibberellin (GA) and jasmonate (JA) play an important role in regulating growth in response to temperature. Growth restriction at low temperature is mainly mediated by DELLA proteins, whose degradation is promoted by GA. For annual plants, it has been shown that the GA/DELLA pathway interacts with JA signaling and C-repeat binding factor dependent cold acclimation, but these interactions have not been explored in detail for perennials. Growth regulation in response to seasonal factors is, however, particularly important in perennials, especially at high latitudes. In autumn, growth cessation in trees is caused by shortening of the daylength in interaction with phytohormone signaling. In perennial grasses seasonal differences in the sensitivity to GA may enable enhanced growth in spring. This review provides an overview of the signaling interactions that determine plant growth at low temperature and highlights gaps in our knowledge, especially concerning the seasonality of signaling responses in perennial plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Wingler
- *Correspondence: Astrid Wingler, Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK e-mail:
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Tognetti
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86090 Pesche, Italy
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Charrier G, Cochard H, Améglio T. Evaluation of the impact of frost resistances on potential altitudinal limit of trees. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 33:891-902. [PMID: 24052567 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpt062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Winter physiology of woody plants is a key issue in temperate biomes. Here, we investigated different frost resistance mechanisms on 1-year-old branches of 11 European tree species from November until budburst: (i) frost hardiness of living cells (by electrolyte leakage method), (ii) winter embolism sensitivity (by percentage loss of conductivity: PLC) and (iii) phenological variation of budburst (by thermal time to budburst). These ecophysiological traits were analyzed according to the potential altitudinal limit, which is highly related to frost exposure. Seasonal frost hardiness and PLC changes are relatively different across species. Maximal PLC observed in winter (PLCMax) was the factor most closely related to potential altitudinal limit. Moreover, PLCMax was related to the mean hydraulic diameter of vessels (indicating embolism sensitivity) and to osmotic compounds (indicating ability of living cells to refill xylem conducting elements). Winter embolism formation seems to be counterbalanced by active refilling from living cells. These results enabled us to model potential altitudinal limit according to three of the physiological/anatomical parameters studied. Monitoring different frost resistance strategies brings new insights to our understanding of the altitudinal limits of trees.
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Fajardo A, Piper FI, Hoch G. Similar variation in carbon storage between deciduous and evergreen treeline species across elevational gradients. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2013; 112:623-31. [PMID: 23788748 PMCID: PMC3718216 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mct127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The most plausible explanation for treeline formation so far is provided by the growth limitation hypothesis (GLH), which proposes that carbon sinks are more restricted by low temperatures than by carbon sources. Evidence supporting the GLH has been strong in evergreen, but less and weaker in deciduous treeline species. Here a test is made of the GLH in deciduous-evergreen mixed species forests across elevational gradients, with the hypothesis that deciduous treeline species show a different carbon storage trend from that shown by evergreen species across elevations. METHODS Tree growth and concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in foliage, branch sapwood and stem sapwood tissues were measured at four elevations in six deciduous-evergreen treeline ecotones (including treeline) in the southern Andes of Chile (40°S, Nothofagus pumilio and Nothofagus betuloides; 46°S, Nothofagus pumilio and Pinus sylvestris) and in the Swiss Alps (46°N, Larix decidua and Pinus cembra). KEY RESULTS Tree growth (basal area increment) decreased with elevation for all species. Regardless of foliar habit, NSCs did not deplete across elevations, indicating no shortage of carbon storage in any of the investigated tissues. Rather, NSCs increased significantly with elevation in leaves (P < 0·001) and branch sapwood (P = 0·012) tissues. Deciduous species showed significantly higher NSCs than evergreens for all tissues; on average, the former had 11 % (leaves), 158 % (branch) and 103 % (sapwood) significantly (P < 0·001) higher NSCs than the latter. Finally, deciduous species had higher NSC (particularly starch) increases with elevation than evergreens for stem sapwood, but the opposite was true for leaves and branch sapwood. CONCLUSIONS Considering the observed decrease in tree growth and increase in NSCs with elevation, it is concluded that both deciduous and evergreen treeline species are sink limited when faced with decreasing temperatures. Despite the overall higher requirements of deciduous tree species for carbon storage, no indication was found of carbon limitation in deciduous species in the alpine treeline ecotone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fajardo
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) Conicyt-Regional R10C1003, Universidad Austral de Chile, Ignacio Serrano 509, Coyhaique, Chile.
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Lei JP, Xiao W, Liu JF, Xiong D, Wang P, Pan L, Jiang Y, Li MH. Responses of nutrients and mobile carbohydrates in Quercus variabilis seedlings to environmental variations using in situ and ex situ experiments. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61192. [PMID: 23593429 PMCID: PMC3620538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest tree species distributed across a wide range of geographical areas are subjected to differential climatic and edaphic conditions and long-term selection, leading to genotypes with morphological and physiological adaptation to the local environment. To test the ability of species to cope with changing environmental conditions, we studied the ecophysiological features of Quercus variabilis using seedlings grown in geographically widely isolated populations (Exp. I, in situ) and in a common garden (Exp. II, ex situ) using seedlings originating from those populations. We found that Q. variabilis plants grown in different locations along a south-north gradient had different levels of nutrients (N, P, K) and carbon-physiological performance (photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrates, such as soluble sugars and starch), and that these physiological differences were not correlated with local soil properties. These geographic variations of plant physiology disappeared when plants from different locations were grown in the same environment. Our results indicate that the physiological performance of Q. variabilis plants is mainly determined by the climatic variations across latitude rather than by their soils or by genetic differentiation. The adaptive ability of Q. variabilis found in the present study suggests that this species has the potential to cope, at least to some extent, with changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Pin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Li MH, Cherubini P, Dobbertin M, Arend M, Xiao WF, Rigling A. Responses of leaf nitrogen and mobile carbohydrates in different Quercus species/provenances to moderate climate changes. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2013; 15 Suppl 1:177-84. [PMID: 22583546 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00579.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Global warming and shortage of water have been evidenced in the recent past and are predicted for the future. Climate change will inevitably have considerable impact on plant physiology, growth, productivity and forest ecosystem functions. The present study determined the effects of simulated daytime air warming (+1 to 1.5 °C during the growing season), drought (-40% and -57% of mean precipitation of 728 mm during the 2007 and 2008 growing season, respectively) and their combination, on leaf nitrogen (N) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) of two Quercus species (Q. robur and Q. petraea) and provenances (two provenances for each species) grown in two soil types in Switzerland across two treatment years, to test the hypothesis that leaf N and NSC in the more water-sensitive species (Q. robur) and provenances (originating from water-rich locations) will more strongly respond to global warming and water deficit, compared to those in the more drought-tolerant species (Q. petraea) or provenances. No species- and provenance-specific responses in leaf N and NSC to the climate treatment were found, indicating that the results failed to support our hypothesis. The between-species variation of leaf N and NSC concentrations mainly reflected differences in biology of the two species, and the between-provenance variation of N and NSC concentrations apparently mirrored the climate of their origins. Hence, we conclude that (i) the two Quercus species studied are somewhat insensitive, due to their distribution covering a wide geographical and climate range, to moderate climate change within Switzerland, and (ii) a moderate global warming of B1 scenario (IPCC 2007) will not, or at least less, negatively affect the N and carbon physiology in Q. robur and Q. petraea.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-H Li
- Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
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Sundqvist MK, Wardle DA, Olofsson E, Giesler R, Gundale MJ. Chemical properties of plant litter in response to elevation: subarctic vegetation challenges phenolic allocation theories. Funct Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.02034.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maja K. Sundqvist
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Umeå; SE-901 83; Sweden
| | - David A. Wardle
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Umeå; SE-901 83; Sweden
| | - Elin Olofsson
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Umeå; SE-901 83; Sweden
| | - Reiner Giesler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science; Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University; Abisko; SE-981 07; Sweden
| | - Michael J. Gundale
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Umeå; SE-901 83; Sweden
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Fajardo A, Piper FI, Pfund L, Körner C, Hoch G. Variation of mobile carbon reserves in trees at the alpine treeline ecotone is under environmental control. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2012; 195:794-802. [PMID: 22765223 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04214.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In low temperature-adapted plants, including treeline trees, light-saturated photosynthesis is considerably less sensitive to temperature than growth. As a consequence, all plants tested so far show increased nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) tissue concentrations when exposed to low temperatures. Reduced carbon supply is thus an unlikely cause for low temperature range limits of plants. For altitudinal treeline trees there is, however, a possibility that high NSC genotypes have been selected. Here, we explored this possibility using afforestations with single-provenance conifers along elevational gradients in the Southern Chilean Andes and the Swiss Alps. Tree growth was measured at each of four approximately equidistant elevations at and below the treeline. Additionally, at the same elevations, needle, branch and stem sapwood tissues were collected to determine NSC concentrations. Overall, growth decreased and NSC concentrations increased with elevation. Along with previous empirical and experimental studies, the findings of this study provide no indication of NSC reduction at the treeline; NSC increased in most species (each represented by one common population) towards their upper climatic limit. The disparity between carbon acquisition and structural carbon investment at low temperature (accumulation of NSC) thus does occur even among genotypes not adapted to treeline environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fajardo
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) Conicyt-Regional R10C1003, Universidad Austral de Chile, Ignacio Serrano 509, Coyhaique, Chile
| | - Frida I Piper
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) Conicyt-Regional R10C1003, Universidad Austral de Chile, Ignacio Serrano 509, Coyhaique, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
| | - Laura Pfund
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Körner
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Günter Hoch
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Wiley E, Helliker B. A re-evaluation of carbon storage in trees lends greater support for carbon limitation to growth. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2012; 195:285-289. [PMID: 22568553 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04180.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Wiley
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- (Author for correspondence: tel +1 215 898 8608; email )
| | - Brent Helliker
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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Wittich B, Horna V, Homeier J, Leuschner C. Altitudinal Change in the Photosynthetic Capacity of Tropical Trees: A Case Study from Ecuador and a Pantropical Literature Analysis. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-012-9556-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Zhu WZ, Cao M, Wang SG, Xiao WF, Li MH. Seasonal dynamics of mobile carbon supply in Quercus aquifolioides at the upper elevational limit. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34213. [PMID: 22479567 PMCID: PMC3316670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have tried to explain the physiological mechanisms of the alpine treeline phenomenon, but the debate on the alpine treeline formation remains controversial due to opposite results from different studies. The present study explored the carbon-physiology of an alpine shrub species (Quercus aquifolioides) grown at its upper elevational limit compared to lower elevations, to test whether the elevational limit of alpine shrubs (<3 m in height) are determined by carbon limitation or growth limitation. We studied the seasonal variations in non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and its pool size in Q. aquifolioides grown at 3000 m, 3500 m, and at its elevational limit of 3950 m above sea level (a.s.l.) on Zheduo Mt., SW China. The tissue NSC concentrations along the elevational gradient varied significantly with season, reflecting the season-dependent carbon balance. The NSC levels in tissues were lowest at the beginning of the growing season, indicating that plants used the winter reserve storage for re-growth in the early spring. During the growing season, plants grown at the elevational limit did not show lower NSC concentrations compared to plants at lower elevations, but during the winter season, storage tissues, especially roots, had significantly lower NSC concentrations in plants at the elevational limit compared to lower elevations. The present results suggest the significance of winter reserve in storage tissues, which may determine the winter survival and early-spring re-growth of Q. aquifolioides shrubs at high elevation, leading to the formation of the uppermost distribution limit. This result is consistent with a recent hypothesis for the alpine treeline formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ze Zhu
- Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station of Gongga Mountain, Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Cao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, China
| | - San-Gen Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Fan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, State Forestry Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Mai-He Li
- Tree Physiology Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
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CHEN J, YANG Y, SUN H. Advances in the Studies of Responses of Alpine Plants to Global Warming*. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1145.2011.00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Kollas C, Vitasse Y, Randin CF, Hoch G, Körner C. Unrestricted quality of seeds in European broad-leaved tree species growing at the cold boundary of their distribution. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2012; 109:473-480. [PMID: 22156401 PMCID: PMC3268544 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcr299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The low-temperature range limit of tree species may be determined by their ability to produce and disperse viable seeds. Biological processes such as flowering, pollen transfer, pollen tube growth, fertilization, embryogenesis and seed maturation are expected to be affected by cold temperatures. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of seeds of nine broad-leaved tree species close to their elevational limit. METHODS We studied nine, mostly widely distributed, European broad-leaved tree species in the genera Acer, Fagus, Fraxinus, Ilex, Laburnum, Quercus, Sorbus and Tilia. For each species, seeds were collected from stands close to optimal growth conditions (low elevation) and from marginal stands (highest elevation), replicated in two regions in the Swiss Alps. Measurements included seed weight, seed size, storage tissue quality, seed viability and germination success. KEY RESULTS All species examined produced a lot of viable seeds at their current high-elevation range limit during a summer ranked 'normal' by long-term temperature records. Low- and high-elevation seed sources showed hardly any trait differences. The concentration of non-structural carbohydrates tended to be higher at high elevation. Additionally, in one species, Sorbus aucuparia, all measured traits showed significantly higher seed quality in high-elevation seed sources. CONCLUSIONS For the broad-leaved tree taxa studied, the results are not in agreement with the hypothesis of reduced quality of seeds in trees at their high-elevation range limits. Under the current climatic conditions, seed quality does not constitute a serious constraint in the reproduction of these broad-leaved tree species at their high-elevation limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Kollas
- Institute of Botany, Universtiy of Basel, Switzerland.
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Liang E, Wang Y, Eckstein D, Luo T. Little change in the fir tree-line position on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau after 200 years of warming. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2011; 190:760-769. [PMID: 21288245 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03623.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
• As one of the world's highest natural tree lines, the Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii) tree line on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau is expected to vary as a function of climate warming. However, the spatial patterns and dynamics of the Smith fir tree line are not yet well understood. • Three rectangular plots (30 m × 150 m) were established in the natural alpine tree-line ecotone on two north-facing (Plot N1, 4390 m asl; Plot N2, 4380 m asl) and one east-facing (Plot E1, 4360 m asl) slope. Dendroecological methods were used to monitor the tree-line patterns and dynamics over a 50-yr interval. • The three study plots showed a similar pattern of regeneration dynamics, characterized by increased recruitment after the 1950s and an abrupt increase in the 1970s. Smith fir recruitment was significantly positively correlated with both summer and winter temperatures. However, Smith fir tree lines do not show a significant upward movement, despite warming on the Tibetan Plateau. • The warming in the past 200 yr is already having a significant impact on the population density of the trees, but not on the position of the Smith fir tree line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eryuan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Gruber A, Pirkebner D, Oberhuber W, Wieser G. Spatial and seasonal variations in mobile carbohydrates in Pinus cembra in the timberline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH 2011; 130:173-179. [PMID: 22003357 PMCID: PMC3191523 DOI: 10.1007/s10342-010-0419-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
To test whether the altitudinal limit of tree growth is determined by carbons shortage or by a limitation in growth we investigated non structural carbohydrates and their components starch and total soluble sugars in Pinus cembra trees along an elevational gradient in the timberline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps. NSC contents in needles, branches, stems, and coarse roots were measured throughout an entire growing season. At the tissue level NSC contents were not significantly more abundant in treeline trees as compared to trees at lower elevations. Along our 425 m elevational transect from the closed forest to the treeline we failed to find a stable elevational trend in the total NSC pool of entire trees and observed within season increases in the tree's NSC pool that can be attributed to an altitudinal increase in leaf mass as needles contained the largest NSC fraction of the whole tree NSC pool. Furthermore, whole tree NSC contents were positively correlated with net photosynthetic capacity. Although our observed NSC characteristics do not support the hypothesis that tree life at their upper elevational limit is determined by an insufficient carbon balance we found no consistent confirmation for the sink limitation hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Gruber
- Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, A- 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - D. Pirkebner
- Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, A- 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - W. Oberhuber
- Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, A- 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - G. Wieser
- Dept. of Alpine Timberline Ecophysiology, Federal Research and Trainings Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape. Rennweg 1, A - 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- corresponding author: ; Tel: ++43 512 573933 5120, Fax: ++43 512 573933 5250
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