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Zheng J, Arif M, Li L, He X, Wu Y, Cao W, Yan P, Li C. Dam inundation reduces ecosystem multifunctionality following riparian afforestation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121188. [PMID: 38759556 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121188] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Afforestation is an acknowledged method for rehabilitating deteriorated riparian ecosystems, presenting multiple functions to alleviate the repercussions of river damming and climate change. However, how ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) responds to inundation in riparian afforestation ecosystems remains relatively unexplored. Thus, this article aimed to disclose how EMF alters with varying inundation intensities and to elucidate the key drivers of this variation based on riparian reforestation experiments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region in China. Our EMF analysis encompassed wood production, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, decomposition, and water regulation under different inundation intensities. We examined their correlation with soil properties and microbial diversity. The results indicated a substantial reduction in EMF with heightened inundation intensity, which was primarily due to the decline in most individual functions. Notably, soil bacterial diversity (23.02%), soil properties such as oxidation-reduction potential (ORP, 11.75%), and temperature (5.85%) emerged as pivotal variables elucidating EMF changes under varying inundation intensities. Soil bacterial diversity and ORP declined as inundation intensified but were positively associated with EMF. In contrast, soil temperature rose with increased inundation intensity and exhibited a negative correlation with EMF. Further insights gleaned from structural equation modeling revealed that inundation reduced EMF directly and indirectly by reducing soil ORP and bacterial diversity and increasing soil temperature. This work underscores the adverse effects of dam inundation on riparian EMF and the crucial role soil characteristics and microbial diversity play in mediating EMF in response to inundation. These insights are pivotal for the conservation of biodiversity and functioning following afforestation in dam-induced riparian habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Muhammad Arif
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Lijuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Xinrui He
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wenqiu Cao
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Peixuan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Changxiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Liu X, Arif M, Zheng J, Wu Y, Chen Y, Gao J, Liu J, Changxiao L. Assessing leaf physiological traits in response to flooding among dominant riparian herbs along the Three Gorges Dam in China. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11533. [PMID: 38911496 PMCID: PMC11192621 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dams worldwide have significantly altered the composition of riparian forests. However, research on the functional traits of dominant herbs experiencing flooding stress due to dam impoundment remains limited. Given the high plasticity of leaf traits and their susceptibility to environmental influences, this study focuses on riparian herbs along the Three Gorges Hydro-Fluctuation Zone (TGHFZ). Specifically, it investigates how six leaf physiological traits of leading herbs-carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and their stoichiometric ratios-adapt to periodic flooding in the TGHFZ using cluster analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparisons, Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). We categorized 25 dominant herb species into three plant functional types (PFTs), noting that species from the same family tended to fall into the same PFT. Notably, leaf carbon content (LCC) exhibited no significant differences across various PFTs or altitudes. Within riparian forests, different PFTs employ distinct adaptation strategies: PFT-I herbs invest in structural components to enhance stress resistance; PFT-II, mostly comprising gramineous plants, responds to prolonged flooding by rapid growth above the water; and PFT-III, encompassing nearly all Compositae and annual plants, responds to prolonged flooding with vigorous rhizome growth and seed production. Soil water content (SWC) emerges as the primary environmental factor influencing dominant herb growth in the TGHFZ. By studying the response of leaf physiological traits in dominant plants to artificial flooding, we intend to reveal the survival mechanisms of plants under adverse conditions and lay the foundation for vegetation restoration in the TGHFZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Muhammad Arif
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jie Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yangyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jie Gao
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Junchen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Li Changxiao
- Key Laboratory of Eco‐Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education)College of Life Sciences, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary StudiesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
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Wang L, Arif M, Zheng J, Li C. Patterns and drivers of plant carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry in a novel riparian ecosystem. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1354222. [PMID: 38654903 PMCID: PMC11036011 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1354222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry serve as valuable indices for plant nutrient utilization and biogeochemical cycling within ecosystems. However, the allocation of these nutrients among different plant organs and the underlying drivers in dynamic riparian ecosystems remain inadequately understood. In this study, we gathered plant samples from diverse life forms (annuals and perennials) and organs (leaves, stems, and roots) in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (TGRR) in China-a novel ecosystem subject to winter flooding. We used random forest analysis and structural equation modeling to find out how flooding, life forms, plant communities, and soil variables affect organs C, N, and P levels. Results showed that the mean concentrations of plant C, N, and P in the riparian zone of the TGRR were 386.65, 19.31, and 5.27 mg/g for leaves respectively, 404.02, 11.23, and 4.81 mg/g for stems respectively, and 388.22, 9.32, and 3.27 mg/g for roots respectively. The C:N, C:P and N:P ratios were 16.15, 191.7 and 5.56 for leaves respectively; 26.98, 273.72 and 4.6 for stems respectively; and 16.63, 223.06 and 4.77 for roots respectively. Riparian plants exhibited nitrogen limitation, with weak carbon sequestration, low nutrient utilization efficiency, and a high capacity for nutrient uptake. Plant C:N:P stoichiometry was significantly different across life forms and organs, with higher N and P concentrations in leaves than stems and roots, and higher in annuals than perennials. While flooding stress triggered distinct responses in the C, N, and P concentrations among annual and perennial plants, they maintained similar stoichiometric ratios along flooding gradients. Furthermore, our investigation identified soil properties and life forms as more influential factors than plant communities in shaping variations in C:N:P stoichiometry in organs. Flooding indirectly impacts plant C:N:P stoichiometry primarily through alterations in plant community composition and soil factors. This study underscores the potential for hydrologic changes to influence plant community composition and soil nutrient dynamics, and further alter plant ecological strategies and biogeochemical cycling in riparian ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Muhammad Arif
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Changxiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Deng N, Caixia L, Ma F, Song Q, Tian Y. Understory vegetation diversity patterns of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus elliottii communities in Central and Southern China. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220791. [PMID: 38152580 PMCID: PMC10752000 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As a vital component of arbor forests, understory vegetation serves as an essential buffer zone for storing carbon due to its strong capacity for community regeneration. This study aimed to identify the diversity pattern and construction mechanism of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus elliottii understory vegetation based on large-scale sample surveys. The Bayesian Information Criterion value of species abundance distribution (SAD) indicated that the Zipf and Zipf-Mandelbrot models were the best-fitting models. The SAD and gambin fitting results suggested that the Pi. elliottii community had a more balanced structure, with most species being relatively abundant. The multiple regression tree model detected four and six indicator species in P. orientalis and Pi. elliottii communities, respectively. The α-diversity index increased with a rise in altitude and showed a wavy curve with latitude. Linear regression between the β diversity and environmental and geographic distance indicated that the P. orientalis and Pi. elliottii understory communities tended to be dominated by different ecological processes. The partition of β diversity indicated that both communities were dominated by turnover processes, which were caused by environmental classification or spatial constraints. This study helped to understand the diversity maintenance in the P. orientalis and Pi. elliottii understory vegetation communities, and will benefit for diversity restoration and conservation of pure conifer forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Deng
- Hunan Academy of Forestry, No. 658 Shaoshan Road, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
- Hunan Cili Forest Ecosystem State Research Station, Cili, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Liu Caixia
- Hunan Academy of Forestry, No. 658 Shaoshan Road, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
- Hunan Cili Forest Ecosystem State Research Station, Cili, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Fengfeng Ma
- Hunan Academy of Forestry, No. 658 Shaoshan Road, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
- Hunan Cili Forest Ecosystem State Research Station, Cili, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Qingan Song
- Hunan Academy of Forestry, No. 658 Shaoshan Road, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
- Hunan Cili Forest Ecosystem State Research Station, Cili, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Yuxin Tian
- Hunan Academy of Forestry, No. 658 Shaoshan Road, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
- Hunan Cili Forest Ecosystem State Research Station, Cili, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
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Jiang W, Pan H, Yang N, Xiao H. Dam inundation duration as a dominant constraint on riparian vegetation recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166427. [PMID: 37619724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The identification of limiting factors is essential for the ecological restoration of riparian ecosystems degraded by the damming of rivers, but remains unclear. Here, we quantitatively assessed the relative importance of environmental factors and revealed the main limiting factors for riparian vegetation restoration and their influencing mechanisms, using riparian plant and environmental data of seven large reservoirs in southwest China. We found that inundation duration had a significantly greater effect on riparian vegetation distribution, cover and diversity than environmental factors such as inundation depth, rainfall, humidity, temperature, sunshine hours, aspect, slope, surface relief, soil pH, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK); vegetation cover, species richness, complexity and dominance were highly significantly negatively correlated with inundation duration (p < 0.01); inundation for 5 months is close to the tolerance limit of most plants and poses a significant limiting effect on the vegetation restoration in the reservoir riparian. Therefore, the inundation duration should be highlighted in riparian vegetation restoration. Meanwhile, incorporating the riparian inundation into the river ecological scheduling objectives to shorten the inundation duration and thus radically alleviate the limitation is a new opportunity for vegetation restoration in the reservoir riparian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Jiang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Health Intelligent Perception and Ecological Restoration of River and Lake, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huimin Pan
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Nan Yang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Henglin Xiao
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Health Intelligent Perception and Ecological Restoration of River and Lake, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
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