Tree mortality significantly influences forest structure and function,yet our understanding of its dynamic patterns among a range of tree sizes and among different plant functional types(PFTs)remains incomplete.This s...Tree mortality significantly influences forest structure and function,yet our understanding of its dynamic patterns among a range of tree sizes and among different plant functional types(PFTs)remains incomplete.This study analysed size-dependent tree mortality in a temperate forest,encompassing 46 tree species and 32,565 individuals across different PFTs(i.e.,evergreen conifer vs.deciduous broadleaf species,shade-tolerant vs.shade-intolerant species).By employing all-subset regression procedures and logistic generalized linear mixed-effects models,we identified distinct mortality patterns influenced by biotic and abiotic factors.Our results showed a stable mortality patte rn in eve rgreen conifer species,contrasted by a declining pattern in deciduous broadleaf and shadetolerant,as well as shade-intolerant species,across size classes.The contribution to tree mortality of evergreen conifer species shifted from abiotic to biotic factors with increasing size,while the mortality of deciduous broadleaf species was mainly influenced by biotic factors,such as initial diameter at breast height(DBH)and conspecific negative density.For shade-tolerant species,the mortality of small individuals was mainly determined by initial DBH and conspecific negative density dependence,whereas the mortality of large individuals was subjected to the combined effect of biotic(competition from neighbours)and abiotic factors(i.e.,convexity and pH).As for shade-intolerant species,competition from neighbours was found to be the main driver of tree mortality throughout their growth stages.Thus,these insights enhance our understanding of forest dynamics by revealing the size-dependent and PFT-specific tree mortality patterns,which may inform strategies for maintaining forest diversity and resilience in temperate forest ecosystems.展开更多
Considering the legacy of plant functional composition can help assess ecosystem functions and ecosystem services across different spatial scales under land cover changes.Woody plants likely respond to natural and ant...Considering the legacy of plant functional composition can help assess ecosystem functions and ecosystem services across different spatial scales under land cover changes.Woody plants likely respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations due to historical events(e.g.,agricultural development),thus contemporary plant functional composition may be explained by historical woodland change,a type of land cover change.We propose that historical woodland changes may have legacy effects on contemporary plant functional composition.Here,we used partial least squares regression and linear mixed model analyses to test this assumption by coupling data on community weighted means(CWM)and community weighted variance(CWV)of vegetation plots and calculating the time of woodland existence across different periods from AD 0 to 2017.We found that the legacy effects of historical land cover changes on CWM and CWV during the existence time of woodland,particularly from AD 0 to 900,were drivers of contemporary plant functional composition at large spatial scales.Furthermore,historical woodland changes can affect contemporary plant functional composition,depending on the biome type.Particularly,the CWM of plant height,seed mass,and seed length showed the strongest correlations with woodland changes from AD 1910 to 2010 in tropics with year-round rain,and the CWM of leaf traits correlated with woodland changes from AD 0 to 1700 in tropics with summer rain.Our study provides the effective evidence on the legacy of historical woodland changes and the effects on contemporary plant functional composition,which is crucial with respect to effective management of plant diversity and assessing ecosystem functions and services from local to global scales over time.展开更多
The ecological concept of Plant Functional Types（PFTs）, which refers to the assemblage of plants with certain functional traits, has been introduced for the study of plant responses to the environment change and hum...The ecological concept of Plant Functional Types（PFTs）, which refers to the assemblage of plants with certain functional traits, has been introduced for the study of plant responses to the environment change and human disturbance. Taking the alpine meadow community in the Zoigê Plateau as a study case, this paper classified PFTs in terms of plant nutrition traits. The sequential results are as follows.（1） The main herbages in the Zoigê Plateau included 16 species in 5 families. Among the five families, Cyperaceae vegetation accounted for 81.37%of herbage area in total, while the remaining 4families occupied less than 20%. As for the species,Kobresia setchwanensis Hand.-Maizz. was dominant,accounting for 48.74% of the total area; while the remaining 51.26% was comprised of Polygonum viviparum L., Anaphalis fiavescens Hand.-Mazz.,Stipa aliena Keng and other species.（2） By using the Principal Component Analysis（PCA）, the assessment of herbages nutrition was carried out based on the comprehensive multi-index evaluation model.Polygonum viviparum L. had the highest nutritional value score（1.43）, and Stipa aliena Keng had the lowest（-1.40）. Nutritional value of herbage species had a significantly positive correlation with altitude（P＆lt;0.01） in the Zoigê Plateau.（3） Based on the nutritional values, herbages in the Zoigê Plateau could be grouped into 3 nutrition PFTs（high, medium and low） by using the Natural Breaks（Jenks） method.展开更多
The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodivers...The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.展开更多
The retreating snowfields and glaciers of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, present alpine plants with changes in habitat and hydrology. The adjacent and relic periglacial patterned ground consists of solifluction ...The retreating snowfields and glaciers of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, present alpine plants with changes in habitat and hydrology. The adjacent and relic periglacial patterned ground consists of solifluction terraces of green, vegetation-rich stripes alternating with sparsely vegetated brown stripes. We established georeferenced transects on striped periglacial patterned ground for long-term monitoring and data collection on species distribution and plant functional traits at Siyeh Pass and at Piegan Pass at Glacier National Park. We documented species distribution and calculated the relative percent cover(RPC) of qualitative functional traits and used 16 S rRNA from soil samples to characterize microbial distribution on green and brown stripes. Plant species distribution varied significantly and there were key differences in microbial distribution between the green and brown stripes. The rare arctic-alpine plants Draba macounii, Papaver pygmaeum, and Sagina nivalis were restricted to brown stripes, where the RPC of xeromorphic taprooted species was significantly higher at the leading edge of the Siyeh Pass snowfield. Brown stripes had a higher percentage of the thermophilic bacteria Thermacetogenium and Thermoflavimicrobium. Green stripes were co-dominated by the adventitiously-rooted dwarf shrubs Salix arctica and the possibly N-fixing Dryas octopetala. Green stripes were inhabited by Krummholz and seedlings of Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus albicaulus. Prosthecobacter, a hydrophilic bacterial genus, was more abundant on the green stripes, which had 6,524 bacterial sequences in comparison to the 1,183 sequences from the brown stripes. While further research can determine which functional traits are critical for these plants, knowledge of the current distribution of plant species and their functional traits can be used in predictive models of the responses of alpine plants to disappearing snowfields and glaciers. This research is important in conservation of rare arctic-alpine species on periglacial patterned ground.展开更多
Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of th...Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of the plant functional composition on Rs is limited.We conducted a 2-year field warming experiment to explore Rs responses to different warming levels across three types of alpine grasslands:alpine steppe(AS)dominated by grasses,alpine meadow(AM)and alpine swamp meadow(ASM),both of the latter two dominated by sedges.Results Our findings revealed contrasting effects of warming on Rs across three alpine grassland types:minimal change in the AS,a significant 24%increase in the AM,and a 20%decrease in the ASM.Dominant plant functional groups in each grassland type play an important role in regulating the response of Rs to warming.Moreover,we found a negative correlation between plant height and Rs in the grass-dominated AS and sedge-dominated AM.However,there was no correlation between plant height and Rs in ASM.Furthermore,Rs was regulated by both soil moisture and soil temperature,while in ASM it was constrained by soil moisture levels.Conclusions Our results underscore the importance of incorporating plant functional composition mechanisms when assessing ecosystem C balance under climate warming.Future studies should consider the ecosystem-specific characteristics when investigating the connections between plant community structure,traits,and ecosystem function.展开更多
The stability mechanisms of ecosystem functions have been a hot topic in ecology. However, in wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect ecosystem stability in changing e...The stability mechanisms of ecosystem functions have been a hot topic in ecology. However, in wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect ecosystem stability in changing environments remain largely unclear. This study investigated the key factors and underlying mechanisms that regulate the spatial variability of wetland productivity by measuring community productivity, multiple components of biodiversity (i.e. species diversity, community functional composition and diversity) and environmental factors along a well-characterized gradient of wetland degradation in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The results showed that the spatial variability of productivity in wetlands increased with intensified degradation. The spatial variability of wetland productivity was not related to species richness but was mainly affected by changes in community functional composition and diversity. Furthermore, degradation-induced changes in soil nutrients drove the spatial variability of productivity to increase with shifts in functional composition towards more conservative traits (i.e. higher leaf dry matter content and root tissue density), and to decrease with higher functional trait diversity. These findings reveal the driving mechanism of spatial variability in wetland productivity under degradation, and suggest that reduced nutrient availability, by altering plant resource strategies, can affect the spatial reliability of key ecosystem functions in wetlands.展开更多
Stable carbon isotopes(δ^(13)C)are extensively utilized to study intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE)at the leaf-scale in terrestrial ecosystems,serving as a crucial metric for assessing plant adaptation to climate c...Stable carbon isotopes(δ^(13)C)are extensively utilized to study intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE)at the leaf-scale in terrestrial ecosystems,serving as a crucial metric for assessing plant adaptation to climate change.However,there is currently a lack of consensus regarding the leaf-scale iWUE variation characteristics among different functional types.In this study,we measured theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values of different functional plants(i.e.,life forms,leaf types,and mycorrhizal types)from 120 species across distinct habitat types(i.e.,hillside,nearpeak,and peak)in a subtropical forest on the western slope of Wuyi Mountains,southern China.The results showed that theδ^(13)Cleaf values of plants on the western slope of Wuyi Mountains ranged from-34.63‰to-30.04‰,and iWUE ranged from 5.93μmol mol^(-1)to 57.34μmol mol^(-1).Theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values differed significantly among plant life forms,following the order of herbs>vine plants>shrubs>trees.Theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values of ectomycorrhizal(ECM)species were greater than those of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)species despite there being no significant difference between plants with different leaf types(Simple leaves(SL)vs.Compound leaves(CL)).From the hillside to the peak,both at the community level and at the species level,theδ^(13)C values of leaves and iWUE values of plants exhibited an upward trend.The regression analysis revealed that leaf-scale iWUE was significantly negatively correlated with soil water content and significantly positively correlated with leaf phosphorus content.The findings indicated that leaf carbon isotope fractionation and corresponding iWUE can be influenced by life form,mycorrhizal type,and soil water availability.These insights provide a deeper understanding of the coupling mechanisms of carbon,water,and nutrients among different functional plant types in subtropical forests,and offer insights into predicting plant adaptability under climate change.展开更多
Grazing exerts a profound influence on both the plant diversity and productivity of grasslands,while simultaneously exerting a significant impact on regulating grassland soil carbon sequestration.Moreover,besides alte...Grazing exerts a profound influence on both the plant diversity and productivity of grasslands,while simultaneously exerting a significant impact on regulating grassland soil carbon sequestration.Moreover,besides altering the taxonomic diversity of plant communities,grazing can also affect their diversity of functional traits.However,we still poorly understand how grazing modifies the relationship between plant functional diversity(FD)and soil carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems.Here,we conducted a grazing manipulation experiment to investigate the effects of different grazing regimes(no grazing,sheep grazing(SG)and cattle grazing(CG))on the relationships between plant FD and soil carbon sequestration in meadow and desert steppe.Our findings showed that different livestock species changed the relationships between plant FD and soil organic carbon(SOC)in the meadow steppe.SG decoupled the originally positive relationship between FD and SOC,whereas CG changed the relationship from positive to negative.In the desert steppe,both SG and CG strengthened the positive relationship between FD and SOC.Our study illuminates the considerable impact of livestock species on the intricate mechanisms of soil carbon sequestration,primarily mediated through the modulation of various measures of functional trait diversity.In ungrazed meadows and grazed deserts,maintaining high plant FD is conducive to soil carbon sequestration,whereas in grazed meadows and ungrazed deserts,this relationship may disappear or even reverse.By measuring the traits and controlling the grazing activities,we can accurately predict the carbon sequestration potential in grassland ecosystems.展开更多
We conducted a systematic census of leaf N for 102 plant species at 112 research sites along the North-South Transect of Eastern China （NSTEC） following the same protocol, to explore how plant functional types （PFT...We conducted a systematic census of leaf N for 102 plant species at 112 research sites along the North-South Transect of Eastern China （NSTEC） following the same protocol, to explore how plant functional types （PFTs） and environmental factors affect the spatial pattern of leaf N. The results showed that mean leaf N was 17.7 mg g^-1 for all plant species. The highest and lowest leaf N were found in deciduous-broadleaf and evergreen-conifer species, respectively, and the ranking of leaf N from high to low was： deciduous 〉 evergreen species, broadleaf 〉 coniferous species, shrubs ≈ trees 〉 grasses. For all data pooled, leaf N showed a convex quadratic response to mean annual temperature （MAT）, and a negative linear relationship with mean annual precipitation （MAP）, but a positive linear relationship with soil nitrogen concentration （Nsoil）. These patterns were similar when PFTs were examined individually. Importantly, PFTs, climate and Nsoil, jointly explained 46.1% of the spatial variation in leaf N, of which the independent explanatory powers of PFTs, climate and Nsoil, were 15.6%, 2.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Our findings suggest that leaf N is regulated by climate and Nsoil, mainly via plant species composition. The wide scale empirical relationships developed here are useful for understanding and modeling of the effects of PFTs and environmental factors on leaf N.展开更多
Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant func...Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant functional traits at multiple biological levels and linking them to environmental variables across geographical ranges is important for forecasting range-shifts of broadly-distrib-uted species under climate change.We sampled leaves of five deciduous Quercus spp.covering approximately 20°of latitude(~21°N-41°N)and 20 longitude(~99°E-119°E)across China and measured 12 plant functional traits at different biological levels.The traits varied distinctively,either within each biological level or among different levels driven by climatic and edaphic variables.Traits at the organ level were significantly correlated with those at the cellular and tissue levels,while traits at the whole-plant level only correlated with those at the tissue level.The Quercus species responded to changing environments by regulating stomatal size,leaf thickness and the palisade mesophyll thickness to leaf thickness ratios with contrasting degree of effect to adjust the whole-plant functioning,i.e.,intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE),carbon supply and nitrogen availability.The results suggest that these deciduous Quercus spp.will maintain vigour by increasing iWUE when subjected to large temperature changes and insufficient moisture,and by accu-mulating leaf non-structural carbohydrates under drought conditions.The findings provide new insights into the inher-ent variation and trait coordination of widely distributed tree species in the context of climate change.展开更多
Land use projections are crucial for climate models to forecast the impacts of land use changes on the Earth’s system.However,the spatial resolution of existing global land use projections(e.g.,0.25°×0.25&#...Land use projections are crucial for climate models to forecast the impacts of land use changes on the Earth’s system.However,the spatial resolution of existing global land use projections(e.g.,0.25°×0.25°in the Land-Use Harmonization(LUH2)datasets)is still too coarse to drive regional climate models and assess mitigation effectiveness at regional and local scales.To generate a high-resolution land use product with the newest integrated scenarios of the shared socioeconomic pathways and the representative concentration pathways(SSPs-RCPs)for various regional climate studies in China,here we first conduct land use simulations with a newly developed Future Land Uses Simulation(FLUS)model based on the trajectories of land use demands extracted from the LUH2 datasets.On this basis,a new set of land use projections under the plant functional type(PFT)classification,with a temporal resolution of 5 years and a spatial resolution of 5 km,in eight SSP-RCP scenarios from 2015 to 2100 in China is produced.The results show that differences in land use dynamics under different SSP-RCP scenarios are jointly affected by global assumptions and national policies.Furthermore,with improved spatial resolution,the data produced in this study can sufficiently describe the details of land use distribution and better capture the spatial heterogeneity of different land use types at the regional scale.We highlight that these new land use projections at the PFT level have a strong potential for reducing uncertainty in the simulation of regional climate models with finer spatial resolutions.展开更多
Land surface models and dynamic global vegetation models typically represent vegetation through coarse plant functional type groupings based on leaf form, phenology, and bioclimatic limits. Although these groupings we...Land surface models and dynamic global vegetation models typically represent vegetation through coarse plant functional type groupings based on leaf form, phenology, and bioclimatic limits. Although these groupings were both feasible and functional for early model generations, in light of the pace at which our knowledge of functional ecology, ecosystem demographics, and vegetation-climate feedbacks has advanced and the ever growing demand for enhanced model performance, these groupings have become antiquated and are identified as a key source of model uncertainty. The newest wave of model development is centered on shifting the vegetation paradigm away from plant functional types(PFTs)and towards flexible trait-based representations. These models seek to improve errors in ecosystem fluxes that result from information loss due to over-aggregation of dissimilar species into the same functional class. We advocate the importance of the inclusion of plant hydraulic trait representation within the new paradigm through a framework of the whole-plant hydraulic strategy. Plant hydraulic strategy is known to play a critical role in the regulation of stomatal conductance and thus transpiration and latent heat flux. It is typical that coexisting plants employ opposing hydraulic strategies, and therefore have disparate patterns of water acquisition and use. Hydraulic traits are deterministic of drought resilience, response to disturbance, and other demographic processes. The addition of plant hydraulic properties in models may not only improve the simulation of carbon and water fluxes but also vegetation population distributions.展开更多
Abstract: The biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by the vegetation of a terrestrial ecosystem play a key role in both regional air quality and tropospheric chemistry. To describe the general emission pr...Abstract: The biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by the vegetation of a terrestrial ecosystem play a key role in both regional air quality and tropospheric chemistry. To describe the general emission properties of VOC of different plant functional groups (PFG) in a typical temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China, we randomly selected 175 plant species and measured the quantities of isoprene and monoterpene in situ. Results showed that most plants had low VOC emission potential at the species level, especially for some dominant plants, such as Leymus chinensis Tzvel., Stipa grandis Smirn., and Agropyron cristatum Gaertn. At the PFG level, the lowest VOC emission potential was found for perennial rhizome grasses, a major PFG in a typical temperate grassland ecosystem. The effects of overgrazing and subsequent vegetation succession on the emission of VOC by different plant life form functional groups (PLFG) were also discussed.展开更多
Aims Functional group composition of a plant community is mainly driven by environmental factors and is one of the main determinants of grassland biodiversity and productivity.Therefore,it is important to understand t...Aims Functional group composition of a plant community is mainly driven by environmental factors and is one of the main determinants of grassland biodiversity and productivity.Therefore,it is important to understand the role of plant functional groups(PFGs)in mediating the impact of environmental conditions on ecosystem functions and biodiversity.Methods We measured plant biomass and species richness(SR)of grasslands in 65 sites on the Mongolian Plateau and classified 157 perennial herbaceous plants into two main PFGs(namely grasses and forbs).Using the random forest model and ordinary least squares regression,we identified that environmental factors(i.e.aridity index,soil total nitrogen[STN]and pH)were significantly related to the SR and aboveground biomass(AGB)of PFGs.We then used structural equation modeling to explore the relationship between the identified environmental factors and community SR and biomass,and the role of PFGs in driving this relationship.Important Findings We found that aridity index had unimodal relationships with both AGB and SR of the PFGs and the whole community.All SR and biomass metrics were significantly related to STN and pH.The relationship between aridity index and community biomass was mediated by an increase in the AGB of grasses.The influence of STN and pH on community SR was mainly due to their regulation in the SR of forbs.Our results indicate that community composition and the identity of the PFGs play a key role in linking environmental factors to ecosystem functioning.展开更多
Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecos...Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecosystems under hyper-arid climatic conditions in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.In May 2022,30 quadrats measuring 1 m^(2) each were established at the base of Phoenix dactylifera,Leucaena leucocephala,and Tamarix aphylla,corresponding to the dominant tree species in each of three plantations.In each quadrat,the plant quantitative inventory was conducted to measure plant diversity and similarity among the studied plantations.Based on this,we assessed the plant functional traits and rarity/abundance status of the flora.The findings revealed a diverse flora associated with the studied plantations,comprising 29 plant species grouped into 27 genera and 12 families.Notably,Poaceae(accounting for 30.8% of the flora),Asteraceae(25.0%),and Zygophyllaceae(21.6%)were well-represented.With an overall density of approximately 555 individuals/m^(2),Zygophyllum album(120 individuals/m^(2))and Polypogon monspeliensis(87 individuals/m^(2))emerged as the most abundant species.Functional trait analysis underscored the pivotal role of therophytes(constituting over 50.0% of the flora)and anemochorous species(33.0%-62.5%).Phytogeographic analysis emphasized the prevalence of the Saharo-Arabic element(constituting over 31.0% of the flora)and the Mediterranean Saharo-Arabic element(9.5%-21.5%).The Cosmopolitan element thrived under disturbance factors,recording percentages from 13.0% to 20.0% of the plant community.The rarity/abundance status of the flora emphasized the significance of rare,common,and very common species in the studied plantations.These findings could provide fundamental data for the effective control and management of biodiversity in hot hyper-arid urban ecosystems.展开更多
Phyllosphere microorganisms are a crucial component of environmental microorganisms,highly influenced by host characteristics,and play a significant role in plant health and productivity.Nonetheless,the impact of host...Phyllosphere microorganisms are a crucial component of environmental microorganisms,highly influenced by host characteristics,and play a significant role in plant health and productivity.Nonetheless,the impact of host characteristics on shaping phyllosphere microbial communities of plants with different life forms remains ambiguous.Utilizing high-throughput sequencing technology,this study analyzed the diversity and community composition of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms(e.g.,bacteria and fungi)of various plant life forms in the hinterland of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwest China.Functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa(FAPROTAX)and fungi function guild(FUNGuild)were employed to assess the ecological functions of microorganisms and to investigate the role of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping phyllosphere microbial communities.Result showed a diverse array of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms in the desert plants,with Proteobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Actinobacteriota dominating bacterial community,while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were prevalent in fungal community.Comparison across different plant life forms highlighted distinct microbial communities,indicating strong filtering effects by plant characteristics.FAPROTAX prediction identified intracellular parasites(accounting for 27.44%of bacterial community abundance),chemoheterotrophy(10.12%),and phototrophy(17.41%)as the main functions of epiphytic bacteria on leaves of different life form plants.FUNGuild prediction indicated that phyllosphere epiphytic fungi primarily served as Saprotrophs(81.77%),Pathotrophs(17.41%),and Symbiotrophs(0.82%).Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a predominance of positive correlations among different microbial taxa.Raup-Crick dissimilarity index analysis revealed that deterministic processes predominantly influenced phyllosphere bacterial and fungal community assembly.Variance partitioning analysis and random forest modeling suggested that plant leaf functional traits significantly impacted both bacterial and fungal community composition,with fungal community composition showing a closer association with leaf nutrients and physiology compared with bacterial community composition.The distinct responses of bacterial and fungal communities to plant traits were attributed to the differing properties of bacteria and fungi,such as bacteria having higher potential dispersal rates and broader ecological niches than fungi.Overall,the results indicate that phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities undergo similar community assembly processes,with fungi being more influenced by plant characteristics than bacteria.These findings offer novel insights into the ecology of phyllosphere microbial communities of desert plants.展开更多
CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing,and it has been widely used in plant functional genomics research and crop genetic breeding(Chen et al.2019).The target specificity of CRISPR-Cas9 relies on ...CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing,and it has been widely used in plant functional genomics research and crop genetic breeding(Chen et al.2019).The target specificity of CRISPR-Cas9 relies on the 20-base-pair single guide RNA(sgRNA),which makes creating plant-specific mutant libraries through large-scale synthesis of sgRNAs targeting multiple genes or even the whole genome relatively quick and straightforward.展开更多
The differences in nitrogen/phosphorus(N/P)ratios of different functional groups in ecology are more helpful in explaining species competition and community dynamics.Based on the functional groups of plant growth type...The differences in nitrogen/phosphorus(N/P)ratios of different functional groups in ecology are more helpful in explaining species competition and community dynamics.Based on the functional groups of plant growth type,carbon metabolism pathway,root type and phylogenetic type,we analyzed characteristics of leaf N/P ratios of 77 species in Sanggendalai(typical grassland zone)of Zhenglan Banner,Inner Mongolia,China and 91 species in the Habahu National Nature Reserve(desertified grassland zone)in Yanchi County of Ningxia,China.The results show that the N/P ratio(16.91)of C3 plants in the desertified steppe was significantly larger than that(12.72)in the typical steppe,but there was no significant difference between the N/P ratios of C4 plants in the two zones.There was no significant difference in N/P ratios between C3 plants and C4 plants in the same zone.Similarly,the N/P ratio(16.60)of dicotyledons in desertified steppe were significantly higher than that(12.98)in typical steppe,while differences in N/P ratios between monocotyledonous plants of the two zones was not significant,and there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants in the same zone.The N/P ratio had significant difference between gramineous and non-gramineous plants in the typical steppe but not in the desertified steppe,but there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios among different root types of perennial herbaceous plants in the same type of steppe or between two types of steppe.Thus,different features on the N/P ratios of C3 plants and dicotyledonous plants between typical steppe and desertified steppe may lead to different growth status of plants,and the N/P ratio stoichiometric of the same plant functional group may be a foundation of the changes of a plant community.展开更多
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No.2023M733712)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31971491)。
文摘Tree mortality significantly influences forest structure and function,yet our understanding of its dynamic patterns among a range of tree sizes and among different plant functional types(PFTs)remains incomplete.This study analysed size-dependent tree mortality in a temperate forest,encompassing 46 tree species and 32,565 individuals across different PFTs(i.e.,evergreen conifer vs.deciduous broadleaf species,shade-tolerant vs.shade-intolerant species).By employing all-subset regression procedures and logistic generalized linear mixed-effects models,we identified distinct mortality patterns influenced by biotic and abiotic factors.Our results showed a stable mortality patte rn in eve rgreen conifer species,contrasted by a declining pattern in deciduous broadleaf and shadetolerant,as well as shade-intolerant species,across size classes.The contribution to tree mortality of evergreen conifer species shifted from abiotic to biotic factors with increasing size,while the mortality of deciduous broadleaf species was mainly influenced by biotic factors,such as initial diameter at breast height(DBH)and conspecific negative density.For shade-tolerant species,the mortality of small individuals was mainly determined by initial DBH and conspecific negative density dependence,whereas the mortality of large individuals was subjected to the combined effect of biotic(competition from neighbours)and abiotic factors(i.e.,convexity and pH).As for shade-intolerant species,competition from neighbours was found to be the main driver of tree mortality throughout their growth stages.Thus,these insights enhance our understanding of forest dynamics by revealing the size-dependent and PFT-specific tree mortality patterns,which may inform strategies for maintaining forest diversity and resilience in temperate forest ecosystems.
基金We acknowledge support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,32060385 and 31860668)the Project of Qinghai Science&Technology Department(2020-ZJ-733).
文摘Considering the legacy of plant functional composition can help assess ecosystem functions and ecosystem services across different spatial scales under land cover changes.Woody plants likely respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations due to historical events(e.g.,agricultural development),thus contemporary plant functional composition may be explained by historical woodland change,a type of land cover change.We propose that historical woodland changes may have legacy effects on contemporary plant functional composition.Here,we used partial least squares regression and linear mixed model analyses to test this assumption by coupling data on community weighted means(CWM)and community weighted variance(CWV)of vegetation plots and calculating the time of woodland existence across different periods from AD 0 to 2017.We found that the legacy effects of historical land cover changes on CWM and CWV during the existence time of woodland,particularly from AD 0 to 900,were drivers of contemporary plant functional composition at large spatial scales.Furthermore,historical woodland changes can affect contemporary plant functional composition,depending on the biome type.Particularly,the CWM of plant height,seed mass,and seed length showed the strongest correlations with woodland changes from AD 1910 to 2010 in tropics with year-round rain,and the CWM of leaf traits correlated with woodland changes from AD 0 to 1700 in tropics with summer rain.Our study provides the effective evidence on the legacy of historical woodland changes and the effects on contemporary plant functional composition,which is crucial with respect to effective management of plant diversity and assessing ecosystem functions and services from local to global scales over time.
基金supported by the sub topics of National Key Technology R&D Program (Grant No. 2015BAC05B05-01)
文摘The ecological concept of Plant Functional Types（PFTs）, which refers to the assemblage of plants with certain functional traits, has been introduced for the study of plant responses to the environment change and human disturbance. Taking the alpine meadow community in the Zoigê Plateau as a study case, this paper classified PFTs in terms of plant nutrition traits. The sequential results are as follows.（1） The main herbages in the Zoigê Plateau included 16 species in 5 families. Among the five families, Cyperaceae vegetation accounted for 81.37%of herbage area in total, while the remaining 4families occupied less than 20%. As for the species,Kobresia setchwanensis Hand.-Maizz. was dominant,accounting for 48.74% of the total area; while the remaining 51.26% was comprised of Polygonum viviparum L., Anaphalis fiavescens Hand.-Mazz.,Stipa aliena Keng and other species.（2） By using the Principal Component Analysis（PCA）, the assessment of herbages nutrition was carried out based on the comprehensive multi-index evaluation model.Polygonum viviparum L. had the highest nutritional value score（1.43）, and Stipa aliena Keng had the lowest（-1.40）. Nutritional value of herbage species had a significantly positive correlation with altitude（P＆lt;0.01） in the Zoigê Plateau.（3） Based on the nutritional values, herbages in the Zoigê Plateau could be grouped into 3 nutrition PFTs（high, medium and low） by using the Natural Breaks（Jenks） method.
文摘The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.
文摘The retreating snowfields and glaciers of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, present alpine plants with changes in habitat and hydrology. The adjacent and relic periglacial patterned ground consists of solifluction terraces of green, vegetation-rich stripes alternating with sparsely vegetated brown stripes. We established georeferenced transects on striped periglacial patterned ground for long-term monitoring and data collection on species distribution and plant functional traits at Siyeh Pass and at Piegan Pass at Glacier National Park. We documented species distribution and calculated the relative percent cover(RPC) of qualitative functional traits and used 16 S rRNA from soil samples to characterize microbial distribution on green and brown stripes. Plant species distribution varied significantly and there were key differences in microbial distribution between the green and brown stripes. The rare arctic-alpine plants Draba macounii, Papaver pygmaeum, and Sagina nivalis were restricted to brown stripes, where the RPC of xeromorphic taprooted species was significantly higher at the leading edge of the Siyeh Pass snowfield. Brown stripes had a higher percentage of the thermophilic bacteria Thermacetogenium and Thermoflavimicrobium. Green stripes were co-dominated by the adventitiously-rooted dwarf shrubs Salix arctica and the possibly N-fixing Dryas octopetala. Green stripes were inhabited by Krummholz and seedlings of Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus albicaulus. Prosthecobacter, a hydrophilic bacterial genus, was more abundant on the green stripes, which had 6,524 bacterial sequences in comparison to the 1,183 sequences from the brown stripes. While further research can determine which functional traits are critical for these plants, knowledge of the current distribution of plant species and their functional traits can be used in predictive models of the responses of alpine plants to disappearing snowfields and glaciers. This research is important in conservation of rare arctic-alpine species on periglacial patterned ground.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Joint Fund Project(U21A20186)the International Cooperation Project of Key Research and Development and Transformation in Qinghai Province(2024-HZ-810)+1 种基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0302)the project of“No-till replanting technology to promote the production and ecological function of heavily degraded alpine grasslands”(QLC2024TG14)
文摘Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of the plant functional composition on Rs is limited.We conducted a 2-year field warming experiment to explore Rs responses to different warming levels across three types of alpine grasslands:alpine steppe(AS)dominated by grasses,alpine meadow(AM)and alpine swamp meadow(ASM),both of the latter two dominated by sedges.Results Our findings revealed contrasting effects of warming on Rs across three alpine grassland types:minimal change in the AS,a significant 24%increase in the AM,and a 20%decrease in the ASM.Dominant plant functional groups in each grassland type play an important role in regulating the response of Rs to warming.Moreover,we found a negative correlation between plant height and Rs in the grass-dominated AS and sedge-dominated AM.However,there was no correlation between plant height and Rs in ASM.Furthermore,Rs was regulated by both soil moisture and soil temperature,while in ASM it was constrained by soil moisture levels.Conclusions Our results underscore the importance of incorporating plant functional composition mechanisms when assessing ecosystem C balance under climate warming.Future studies should consider the ecosystem-specific characteristics when investigating the connections between plant community structure,traits,and ecosystem function.
基金supported jointly by Henan Province Xixiayuan Water Conservancy Hub Water Supply and Irrigation District Engineering Research ProjectHenan Province Natural Resources Research Project(2023-382-4)+3 种基金Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2023ZYD0102)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023M743206)the Scientific Research Foundation for Academician of CAS Teamof Zhengzhou University (13432340370)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201517)。
文摘The stability mechanisms of ecosystem functions have been a hot topic in ecology. However, in wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect ecosystem stability in changing environments remain largely unclear. This study investigated the key factors and underlying mechanisms that regulate the spatial variability of wetland productivity by measuring community productivity, multiple components of biodiversity (i.e. species diversity, community functional composition and diversity) and environmental factors along a well-characterized gradient of wetland degradation in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The results showed that the spatial variability of productivity in wetlands increased with intensified degradation. The spatial variability of wetland productivity was not related to species richness but was mainly affected by changes in community functional composition and diversity. Furthermore, degradation-induced changes in soil nutrients drove the spatial variability of productivity to increase with shifts in functional composition towards more conservative traits (i.e. higher leaf dry matter content and root tissue density), and to decrease with higher functional trait diversity. These findings reveal the driving mechanism of spatial variability in wetland productivity under degradation, and suggest that reduced nutrient availability, by altering plant resource strategies, can affect the spatial reliability of key ecosystem functions in wetlands.
基金supported by the Open Research Fund of Jiangxi Provincial Academy of Water Resources Sciences(2022SKTR05&2022SKTR03)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42067049&42367049),the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation(20242BAB25350)+5 种基金the Research Project of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Forestry(CXZX(2025)14 and JXTG(2023)15)the Ganpo Juncai Plan(QN2023018)the Ganpo Yingcai Plan(gpyc20240038)the Double Thousand Plan of Jiangxi Province(jxsq2023102213 and jxsq2023102214)the Jiangxi Province“Science and Technology+Water Resources”Joint Plan Project(2023KSG01001)the Major Discipline Academic and Technical Leaders Training Program of Jiangxi Province(20243BCE51025).
文摘Stable carbon isotopes(δ^(13)C)are extensively utilized to study intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE)at the leaf-scale in terrestrial ecosystems,serving as a crucial metric for assessing plant adaptation to climate change.However,there is currently a lack of consensus regarding the leaf-scale iWUE variation characteristics among different functional types.In this study,we measured theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values of different functional plants(i.e.,life forms,leaf types,and mycorrhizal types)from 120 species across distinct habitat types(i.e.,hillside,nearpeak,and peak)in a subtropical forest on the western slope of Wuyi Mountains,southern China.The results showed that theδ^(13)Cleaf values of plants on the western slope of Wuyi Mountains ranged from-34.63‰to-30.04‰,and iWUE ranged from 5.93μmol mol^(-1)to 57.34μmol mol^(-1).Theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values differed significantly among plant life forms,following the order of herbs>vine plants>shrubs>trees.Theδ^(13)Cleaf and iWUE values of ectomycorrhizal(ECM)species were greater than those of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)species despite there being no significant difference between plants with different leaf types(Simple leaves(SL)vs.Compound leaves(CL)).From the hillside to the peak,both at the community level and at the species level,theδ^(13)C values of leaves and iWUE values of plants exhibited an upward trend.The regression analysis revealed that leaf-scale iWUE was significantly negatively correlated with soil water content and significantly positively correlated with leaf phosphorus content.The findings indicated that leaf carbon isotope fractionation and corresponding iWUE can be influenced by life form,mycorrhizal type,and soil water availability.These insights provide a deeper understanding of the coupling mechanisms of carbon,water,and nutrients among different functional plant types in subtropical forests,and offer insights into predicting plant adaptability under climate change.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31772652 and 31802113)China Scholarship Council(202006620065)。
文摘Grazing exerts a profound influence on both the plant diversity and productivity of grasslands,while simultaneously exerting a significant impact on regulating grassland soil carbon sequestration.Moreover,besides altering the taxonomic diversity of plant communities,grazing can also affect their diversity of functional traits.However,we still poorly understand how grazing modifies the relationship between plant functional diversity(FD)and soil carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems.Here,we conducted a grazing manipulation experiment to investigate the effects of different grazing regimes(no grazing,sheep grazing(SG)and cattle grazing(CG))on the relationships between plant FD and soil carbon sequestration in meadow and desert steppe.Our findings showed that different livestock species changed the relationships between plant FD and soil organic carbon(SOC)in the meadow steppe.SG decoupled the originally positive relationship between FD and SOC,whereas CG changed the relationship from positive to negative.In the desert steppe,both SG and CG strengthened the positive relationship between FD and SOC.Our study illuminates the considerable impact of livestock species on the intricate mechanisms of soil carbon sequestration,primarily mediated through the modulation of various measures of functional trait diversity.In ungrazed meadows and grazed deserts,maintaining high plant FD is conducive to soil carbon sequestration,whereas in grazed meadows and ungrazed deserts,this relationship may disappear or even reverse.By measuring the traits and controlling the grazing activities,we can accurately predict the carbon sequestration potential in grassland ecosystems.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (2010CB833504)the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program (XDA05050602)
文摘We conducted a systematic census of leaf N for 102 plant species at 112 research sites along the North-South Transect of Eastern China （NSTEC） following the same protocol, to explore how plant functional types （PFTs） and environmental factors affect the spatial pattern of leaf N. The results showed that mean leaf N was 17.7 mg g^-1 for all plant species. The highest and lowest leaf N were found in deciduous-broadleaf and evergreen-conifer species, respectively, and the ranking of leaf N from high to low was： deciduous 〉 evergreen species, broadleaf 〉 coniferous species, shrubs ≈ trees 〉 grasses. For all data pooled, leaf N showed a convex quadratic response to mean annual temperature （MAT）, and a negative linear relationship with mean annual precipitation （MAP）, but a positive linear relationship with soil nitrogen concentration （Nsoil）. These patterns were similar when PFTs were examined individually. Importantly, PFTs, climate and Nsoil, jointly explained 46.1% of the spatial variation in leaf N, of which the independent explanatory powers of PFTs, climate and Nsoil, were 15.6%, 2.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Our findings suggest that leaf N is regulated by climate and Nsoil, mainly via plant species composition. The wide scale empirical relationships developed here are useful for understanding and modeling of the effects of PFTs and environmental factors on leaf N.
基金supported by the Key Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(2022B1111230001)theScience and Technology Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region(Guike AD23026080)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Founda tion of China(No.42071065)Natural Science Foundation of US(No.2021898).
文摘Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant functional traits at multiple biological levels and linking them to environmental variables across geographical ranges is important for forecasting range-shifts of broadly-distrib-uted species under climate change.We sampled leaves of five deciduous Quercus spp.covering approximately 20°of latitude(~21°N-41°N)and 20 longitude(~99°E-119°E)across China and measured 12 plant functional traits at different biological levels.The traits varied distinctively,either within each biological level or among different levels driven by climatic and edaphic variables.Traits at the organ level were significantly correlated with those at the cellular and tissue levels,while traits at the whole-plant level only correlated with those at the tissue level.The Quercus species responded to changing environments by regulating stomatal size,leaf thickness and the palisade mesophyll thickness to leaf thickness ratios with contrasting degree of effect to adjust the whole-plant functioning,i.e.,intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE),carbon supply and nitrogen availability.The results suggest that these deciduous Quercus spp.will maintain vigour by increasing iWUE when subjected to large temperature changes and insufficient moisture,and by accu-mulating leaf non-structural carbohydrates under drought conditions.The findings provide new insights into the inher-ent variation and trait coordination of widely distributed tree species in the context of climate change.
基金the National Key Research&Development Program of China(2019YFA0607203,2017YFA0604404)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41901327,41671398,41871318)+2 种基金the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2019A1515010823)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(19lgpy41)Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China(GS(2020)2879)。
文摘Land use projections are crucial for climate models to forecast the impacts of land use changes on the Earth’s system.However,the spatial resolution of existing global land use projections(e.g.,0.25°×0.25°in the Land-Use Harmonization(LUH2)datasets)is still too coarse to drive regional climate models and assess mitigation effectiveness at regional and local scales.To generate a high-resolution land use product with the newest integrated scenarios of the shared socioeconomic pathways and the representative concentration pathways(SSPs-RCPs)for various regional climate studies in China,here we first conduct land use simulations with a newly developed Future Land Uses Simulation(FLUS)model based on the trajectories of land use demands extracted from the LUH2 datasets.On this basis,a new set of land use projections under the plant functional type(PFT)classification,with a temporal resolution of 5 years and a spatial resolution of 5 km,in eight SSP-RCP scenarios from 2015 to 2100 in China is produced.The results show that differences in land use dynamics under different SSP-RCP scenarios are jointly affected by global assumptions and national policies.Furthermore,with improved spatial resolution,the data produced in this study can sufficiently describe the details of land use distribution and better capture the spatial heterogeneity of different land use types at the regional scale.We highlight that these new land use projections at the PFT level have a strong potential for reducing uncertainty in the simulation of regional climate models with finer spatial resolutions.
基金Funding for this study was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation Hydrological Science grant 1521238the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science Office of Biological and Environmental Research,Terrestrial Ecosystem Sciences Program Award No. DE-SC0007041Ameriflux Management Project Core Site Agreement No. 7096915
文摘Land surface models and dynamic global vegetation models typically represent vegetation through coarse plant functional type groupings based on leaf form, phenology, and bioclimatic limits. Although these groupings were both feasible and functional for early model generations, in light of the pace at which our knowledge of functional ecology, ecosystem demographics, and vegetation-climate feedbacks has advanced and the ever growing demand for enhanced model performance, these groupings have become antiquated and are identified as a key source of model uncertainty. The newest wave of model development is centered on shifting the vegetation paradigm away from plant functional types(PFTs)and towards flexible trait-based representations. These models seek to improve errors in ecosystem fluxes that result from information loss due to over-aggregation of dissimilar species into the same functional class. We advocate the importance of the inclusion of plant hydraulic trait representation within the new paradigm through a framework of the whole-plant hydraulic strategy. Plant hydraulic strategy is known to play a critical role in the regulation of stomatal conductance and thus transpiration and latent heat flux. It is typical that coexisting plants employ opposing hydraulic strategies, and therefore have disparate patterns of water acquisition and use. Hydraulic traits are deterministic of drought resilience, response to disturbance, and other demographic processes. The addition of plant hydraulic properties in models may not only improve the simulation of carbon and water fluxes but also vegetation population distributions.
文摘Abstract: The biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by the vegetation of a terrestrial ecosystem play a key role in both regional air quality and tropospheric chemistry. To describe the general emission properties of VOC of different plant functional groups (PFG) in a typical temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China, we randomly selected 175 plant species and measured the quantities of isoprene and monoterpene in situ. Results showed that most plants had low VOC emission potential at the species level, especially for some dominant plants, such as Leymus chinensis Tzvel., Stipa grandis Smirn., and Agropyron cristatum Gaertn. At the PFG level, the lowest VOC emission potential was found for perennial rhizome grasses, a major PFG in a typical temperate grassland ecosystem. The effects of overgrazing and subsequent vegetation succession on the emission of VOC by different plant life form functional groups (PLFG) were also discussed.
基金This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC0500503 and 2016YFC0500501)by the Department of Science and Technology of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for studying steppe ecosystems on the Mongolian Plateau(20140409 and 201503001).
文摘Aims Functional group composition of a plant community is mainly driven by environmental factors and is one of the main determinants of grassland biodiversity and productivity.Therefore,it is important to understand the role of plant functional groups(PFGs)in mediating the impact of environmental conditions on ecosystem functions and biodiversity.Methods We measured plant biomass and species richness(SR)of grasslands in 65 sites on the Mongolian Plateau and classified 157 perennial herbaceous plants into two main PFGs(namely grasses and forbs).Using the random forest model and ordinary least squares regression,we identified that environmental factors(i.e.aridity index,soil total nitrogen[STN]and pH)were significantly related to the SR and aboveground biomass(AGB)of PFGs.We then used structural equation modeling to explore the relationship between the identified environmental factors and community SR and biomass,and the role of PFGs in driving this relationship.Important Findings We found that aridity index had unimodal relationships with both AGB and SR of the PFGs and the whole community.All SR and biomass metrics were significantly related to STN and pH.The relationship between aridity index and community biomass was mediated by an increase in the AGB of grasses.The influence of STN and pH on community SR was mainly due to their regulation in the SR of forbs.Our results indicate that community composition and the identity of the PFGs play a key role in linking environmental factors to ecosystem functioning.
文摘Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecosystems under hyper-arid climatic conditions in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.In May 2022,30 quadrats measuring 1 m^(2) each were established at the base of Phoenix dactylifera,Leucaena leucocephala,and Tamarix aphylla,corresponding to the dominant tree species in each of three plantations.In each quadrat,the plant quantitative inventory was conducted to measure plant diversity and similarity among the studied plantations.Based on this,we assessed the plant functional traits and rarity/abundance status of the flora.The findings revealed a diverse flora associated with the studied plantations,comprising 29 plant species grouped into 27 genera and 12 families.Notably,Poaceae(accounting for 30.8% of the flora),Asteraceae(25.0%),and Zygophyllaceae(21.6%)were well-represented.With an overall density of approximately 555 individuals/m^(2),Zygophyllum album(120 individuals/m^(2))and Polypogon monspeliensis(87 individuals/m^(2))emerged as the most abundant species.Functional trait analysis underscored the pivotal role of therophytes(constituting over 50.0% of the flora)and anemochorous species(33.0%-62.5%).Phytogeographic analysis emphasized the prevalence of the Saharo-Arabic element(constituting over 31.0% of the flora)and the Mediterranean Saharo-Arabic element(9.5%-21.5%).The Cosmopolitan element thrived under disturbance factors,recording percentages from 13.0% to 20.0% of the plant community.The rarity/abundance status of the flora emphasized the significance of rare,common,and very common species in the studied plantations.These findings could provide fundamental data for the effective control and management of biodiversity in hot hyper-arid urban ecosystems.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022D01A351)the Joint Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2003214)+1 种基金the Key Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation(2022D01D083)the Tianchi Talent Introduction Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.We thank Mr.LI Yonggang,Mrs.DU Fang,Mrs.SHEN Hui,Mrs.PAN Qi,and Mrs.MENG Huanhuan for providing help with the experiment in the field.
文摘Phyllosphere microorganisms are a crucial component of environmental microorganisms,highly influenced by host characteristics,and play a significant role in plant health and productivity.Nonetheless,the impact of host characteristics on shaping phyllosphere microbial communities of plants with different life forms remains ambiguous.Utilizing high-throughput sequencing technology,this study analyzed the diversity and community composition of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms(e.g.,bacteria and fungi)of various plant life forms in the hinterland of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwest China.Functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa(FAPROTAX)and fungi function guild(FUNGuild)were employed to assess the ecological functions of microorganisms and to investigate the role of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping phyllosphere microbial communities.Result showed a diverse array of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms in the desert plants,with Proteobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Actinobacteriota dominating bacterial community,while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were prevalent in fungal community.Comparison across different plant life forms highlighted distinct microbial communities,indicating strong filtering effects by plant characteristics.FAPROTAX prediction identified intracellular parasites(accounting for 27.44%of bacterial community abundance),chemoheterotrophy(10.12%),and phototrophy(17.41%)as the main functions of epiphytic bacteria on leaves of different life form plants.FUNGuild prediction indicated that phyllosphere epiphytic fungi primarily served as Saprotrophs(81.77%),Pathotrophs(17.41%),and Symbiotrophs(0.82%).Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a predominance of positive correlations among different microbial taxa.Raup-Crick dissimilarity index analysis revealed that deterministic processes predominantly influenced phyllosphere bacterial and fungal community assembly.Variance partitioning analysis and random forest modeling suggested that plant leaf functional traits significantly impacted both bacterial and fungal community composition,with fungal community composition showing a closer association with leaf nutrients and physiology compared with bacterial community composition.The distinct responses of bacterial and fungal communities to plant traits were attributed to the differing properties of bacteria and fungi,such as bacteria having higher potential dispersal rates and broader ecological niches than fungi.Overall,the results indicate that phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities undergo similar community assembly processes,with fungi being more influenced by plant characteristics than bacteria.These findings offer novel insights into the ecology of phyllosphere microbial communities of desert plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272670 and 31972986)the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province,China(2023-YBNY-059)。
文摘CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing,and it has been widely used in plant functional genomics research and crop genetic breeding(Chen et al.2019).The target specificity of CRISPR-Cas9 relies on the 20-base-pair single guide RNA(sgRNA),which makes creating plant-specific mutant libraries through large-scale synthesis of sgRNAs targeting multiple genes or even the whole genome relatively quick and straightforward.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0500706)
文摘The differences in nitrogen/phosphorus(N/P)ratios of different functional groups in ecology are more helpful in explaining species competition and community dynamics.Based on the functional groups of plant growth type,carbon metabolism pathway,root type and phylogenetic type,we analyzed characteristics of leaf N/P ratios of 77 species in Sanggendalai(typical grassland zone)of Zhenglan Banner,Inner Mongolia,China and 91 species in the Habahu National Nature Reserve(desertified grassland zone)in Yanchi County of Ningxia,China.The results show that the N/P ratio(16.91)of C3 plants in the desertified steppe was significantly larger than that(12.72)in the typical steppe,but there was no significant difference between the N/P ratios of C4 plants in the two zones.There was no significant difference in N/P ratios between C3 plants and C4 plants in the same zone.Similarly,the N/P ratio(16.60)of dicotyledons in desertified steppe were significantly higher than that(12.98)in typical steppe,while differences in N/P ratios between monocotyledonous plants of the two zones was not significant,and there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants in the same zone.The N/P ratio had significant difference between gramineous and non-gramineous plants in the typical steppe but not in the desertified steppe,but there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios among different root types of perennial herbaceous plants in the same type of steppe or between two types of steppe.Thus,different features on the N/P ratios of C3 plants and dicotyledonous plants between typical steppe and desertified steppe may lead to different growth status of plants,and the N/P ratio stoichiometric of the same plant functional group may be a foundation of the changes of a plant community.
