施肥和刈割对青藏高原东部高寒草甸群落生物量补偿效应的影响

通过对青藏高原东部高寒草甸植物群落在4个施肥处理及7个刈割水平下的群落生物量、物种丰富度和补偿指数的比较,分析了该类草甸群落主要特征对施肥及刈割强度差异的响应.结果表明:施肥显著增加了群落生物量,并降低物种丰富度,而刈割处理虽然增加了物种丰富度,但对群落生物量无显著影响;随着施肥量的增加,高寒草甸由莎草科和杂草类物种占优势的群落构成逐渐向禾本科物种占优势的群落构成转变;施肥可提高群落的补偿能力,在不同施肥梯度中,刈割后植物群落补偿能力也不相同;随着施肥量的增加,增加刈割强度,减少刈割次数,发生超补偿的机率增大;可见,施肥是主效应,刈割对群落主要特征的影响随营养水平的不同而发生变化.     

三江源区高寒坡地退化植物群落多样性和地上生物量沿海拔梯度的变化特征

山地生态系统退化对生物多样性和地上生物量,以及相互关系在海拔高度梯度上的格局影响,是认识全球变化和人类干扰引起自然生态系统变化的重要内容。以青藏高原三江源区高寒坡地退化草甸和灌丛为研究对象,探讨退化草甸、灌丛群落物种多样性与地上生物量关系及其沿海拔梯度的变化规律。结果表明:(1)坡地退化的上坡位植被盖度显著大于下坡位(P＜0.05)。坡地退化高寒草甸和高寒灌丛,植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度变化规律一致,均呈现"单峰"分布格局。坡地退化高寒草甸Shannon-wiener指数和Simpson指数二次回归方程解释度达到80%和70%以上(P＜0.05)。(2)坡地退化高寒草甸和高寒灌丛的地上生物量与海拔梯度的变化规律一致,即随海拔升高高寒坡地地上生物量呈先增加后降低的变化趋势。海拔梯度对退化高寒山地地上生物量的解释度达到85%以上(P＜0.05)。(3)物种多样性和地上生物量的关系在两个坡地上表现出一致的规律,呈线性增加的变化趋势。高寒草甸坡地回归方程解释度达到70%,高寒灌丛坡地达到60%(P＜0.05)。坡地退化高寒灌丛植物群落多样性和地上生物量高于高寒草甸植物群落。高寒坡地退化草甸和灌丛植物群落物种多样性以及其与地上生物量之间的关系沿海拔梯度的变化规律一致,海拔梯度造成的环境差异对植物群落物种多样性和地上生物量影响仍较大。该研究对认识三江源区退化山地形成生态学机制,及提出有效的生态恢复措施具有重要参考价值。     

青藏高原东部高寒草甸群落生物量和补偿能力对施肥与刈割的响应

以青藏高原东部高寒草甸群落为研究对象,通过比较了不同施肥条件和不同刈割对群落地上生物量和多样性的影响。结果表明施肥可提高生物量且生物多样性降低,施肥和刈割处理后,施肥效应显著而刈割效应不显著,说明施肥是主效应。实验还发现施肥可提高群落的补偿能力;不同资源梯度的情况下植物群落对刈割处理后补偿作用也不相同,对刈割处理后植物群落补偿能力随资源的升高而增强。当未施肥和施肥30g/m^2时相同强度的1次刈割的补偿能力较相同强度的2次刈割的补偿能力大;当施肥60g/m^2和120g/m^2时相同强度的2次刈割的补偿能力较相同强度的1次刈割的补偿能力大。     

基于地理编码和突变分析的高寒草甸植物群落退化阈值识别

明确植物群落退化阈值，进而划分草甸退化程度对指导高寒草甸退化修复有重要意义。为建立识别植物群落退化阈值的方法，并基于阈值划分草甸退化程度，于2018年在云南省香格里拉市选取受人类活动干扰严重的典型高寒草甸开展植物群落调查，然后在地理编码的基础上用Mann-Kendall突变检验识别植物群落的结构指标（物种丰富度，R；优良牧草综合优势度，P_SDR）和功能指标（地上生物量，AGB）的突变点，这些突变点即植物群落结构指标和功能指标的变化阈值。据此划分高寒草甸植物群落的退化程度。结果表明：1）研究区内草甸植物群落R的变化阈值为10种、13种和17种；P_SDR的变化阈值为0.25、0.30和0.39；植物群落AGB的变化阈值为31.98 g/m²和91.68 g/m²；2）研究区内高寒草甸植物群落退化等级可划分为"基本退化类型"和"过渡退化类型"两大类。其中，"基本退化类型"包括三类：I级退化，即13种≤ R<17种、0.30 ≤ P_SDR<0.39、31.98 g/m² ≤ AGB<91.68 g/m²；II级退化，即10种≤ R<13种、0.25 ≤ P_SDR<0.30、31.98 g/m² ≤ AGB<91.68 g/m²；III级退化，即R<10种、P_SDR<0.25、AGB<31.98 g/m²；"过渡退化类型"为介于3个基本退化类型之间的类型，包括四类：1）I级正向过渡，即I级退化向健康草甸过渡阶段；2）I级反向过渡阶段，即I级退化向II级退化过渡阶段；3）II级反向过渡阶段，即II级退化向III级退化过渡阶段；4）III级正向过渡阶段，即III级退化向II级退化过渡阶段。本研究表明，可基于地理编码和突变分析识别高寒草甸植物群落结构和功能指标的退化阈值，进而客观、完整地划分高寒草甸植物群落的退化阶段，为其生态修复提供支撑。     

短期增温对西藏念青唐古拉山典型植物群落结构和稳定性的影响

青藏高原气候变暖幅度显著高于全球其他区域,深刻影响着该地区植物群落的结构和稳定性。选择西藏念青唐古拉山的三种典型植物群落(高寒草原、高寒草甸和流石滩)作为研究对象,采用开顶式增温箱(OTC)模拟增温,研究了短期增温对植物群落结构和稳定性的影响。结果表明:(1)增温改变了群落的优势物种,影响其结构组成,而对物种多样性无显著影响;(2)增温显著降低了高寒草甸的地上生物量(P < 0.05),增加地下生物量(P < 0.01),从而导致了群落地下地上生物量分配策略的改变;(3)增温降低群落中部分物种的生态位宽度,进而影响群落稳定性,其中高寒草甸变化最大,达到-66.8%。研究结果可为青藏高原高寒草地生态系统应对和适应未来气候变化提供一定科学依据。     

增温、刈割对高寒草甸植被物种多样性和地下生物量的影响

我国高寒草甸表现出退化现象,严重影响着植被物种多样性和生物量生产。本研究以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究区,采用随机区组设计,设置对照、增温、刈割、增温+刈割交互作用4种试验样地,于植被生长季进行植被物种多样性(Margalef指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数、Pielou指数)和地下生物量的调查,研究增温、刈割对高寒草甸植被物种多样性和地下生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)高寒草甸植被物种多样性在生长季中期(6、7、8月)显著高于初期(5月)和末期(9月),且显著性从2012年到2013年增强。(2)植被物种多样性对增温(3年)、刈割(2年)的响应并不敏感,在增温、刈割单独作用下略有增加,在增温+刈割交互作用下略有减小。(3)增温、刈割趋于增加地下生物量,促使地下生物量在不同土层的分配比例发生变化;随着时间延长,刈割对土壤浅层(0~30 cm土层)地下生物量的影响逐渐加强,而增温对土壤深层(30~50 cm土层)地下生物量的影响逐渐加强。     

刈割、施肥对高寒草甸物种多样性与生态系统功能关系的影响及群落稳定性机制

植物群落中不同“功能身份”物种的多样性与特定生态系统功能之间具有何种关系及其作用机制尚不明确。通过在高寒矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)草甸为期5年的刈割(不刈割、留茬3 cm、留茬1 cm)、施肥(施肥、不施肥)和浇水(浇水、不浇水)控制实验, 研究了刈割与土壤资源获得性梯度上不同“功能身份”物种(群落中所有物种、响应物种、作用物种和共有物种)的多样性变化与群落地上净初级生产力和稳定性的关系以及稳定性机制。研究结果显示: 群落中响应物种、作用物种和共有物种数分别占全部物种数的36.6%、18.3%和64.8%, 物种多样性对生态系统功能具有不同的效应, 净初级生产力主要受响应物种和作用物种的多样性变化影响, 而稳定性则主要由共有物种的多样性变化决定; 群落稳定性的维持主要依赖于共有物种的多样性增加, 其作用机制是投资组合效应, 而超产效应和异步性效应对稳定性并无作用; 刈割和施肥对物种多样性、稳定性和净初级生产力具有相反的影响, 前者能增加物种多样性和稳定性, 并降低净初级生产力, 而后者的作用正相反。这与群落中全部物种的多样性变化受刈割影响较大, 而作用物种的多样性变化受资源获得性影响较大有关。上述结果表明高寒草甸生态系统地上净初级生产力主要由少数影响生产力的作用物种的多样性决定, 而稳定性则由大量共有物种的多样性所掌控。投资组合效应是物种多样性导致稳定性的机制。由于群落中不同物种的多样性效应具有分异性, 对于特定的生态系统功能而言, 物种的“功能身份”可能比物种多样性本身更重要, 不加区别地笼统定义物种多样性与生态系统功能的关系可能欠妥。     

高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制

植物对干旱胁迫的响应表现为各功能性状的差异化表达。全球气候变化下,青藏高原地区降水格局发生改变,高寒草甸群落功能性状及功能多样性在不同生长期干旱事件下的响应机制对加深高寒草甸适应气候变化认知具有重要意义。以藏北高寒草甸为研究对象,设置截雨棚模拟生长季前期（ED）、中期（MD）和非生长季时期（ND）干旱事件,通过观测群落物种功能性状,分析高寒草甸群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制。结果表明：（1）叶片功能性状对干旱存在差异响应,表现为叶片小而厚且寿命长,同化速率降低,并受氮元素限制加剧;（2）生长季前期干旱对高寒草甸群落功能性状的影响最强,生长季中期干旱次之,非生长季干旱的影响最弱;（3）生长季干旱处理显著改变了群落的功能多样性,ED处理下功能分散度指数（FDiv）和功能分异度指数（FDis）显著降低（P<0.05）,而Rao二次熵指数（RaoQ）显著升高（P<0.05）,MD处理下功能均匀度指数（FEve）显著降低（P<0.05）;（4）相关性分析得出,群落功能性状与功能多样性对干旱的响应之间存在着联系。本研究发现高寒草甸植物功能性状与群落功能多样性对生长季前期和中期干旱存在差异化响应,指示着高寒草甸植物群落在响应不同时期干旱时可能采取不同的生存策略,即对生长季前期干旱采用耐旱策略、对生长季中期干旱采用避旱策略。探讨了高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长时期干旱胁迫的响应机制,为预测未来季节性干旱事件对青藏高原高寒草甸植物功能性状、群落特征和功能多样性的影响提供科学依据。     

长期围封对疏勒河源区高寒草甸地表节肢动物多样性的影响

围封会促进退化高寒草甸植被和土壤环境恢复,长期围封也会导致生物多样性及其功能下降,影响高寒草甸生态系统的稳定,但这种影响会随着季节和生境条件变化而异。为了探究不同退化程度高寒草甸地表节肢动物群落变化对围封禁牧的响应,利用陷阱法调查了疏勒河源区沼泽化草甸、草甸和草原化草甸3种不同退化梯度高寒草甸围封禁牧和自由放牧处理下地表节肢动物群落结构变化。结果表明：围封禁牧对高寒草甸地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响随生境条件不同而异。禁牧降低了沼泽化草甸地表节肢动物的物种丰富度,而提高了草甸和草原化草甸地表节肢动物的物种丰富度;围封禁牧对沼泽化草甸地表节肢动物群落结构影响较小,显著降低了草甸生境地表节肢动物活动密度、提高了地表节肢动物多样性和均匀度,相反,禁牧显著提高了草原化草甸生境地表节肢动物活动密度、降低其多样性和均匀度;豹蛛属1种是高寒草甸主要的地表节肢动物类群（相对多度为67.0%）,高寒草甸土壤水分有效性等生境条件不同影响了豹蛛属1种对围封禁牧的响应模式,进而影响了地表节肢动物群落结构变化。总之,高寒草甸退化程度影响了地表节肢动物多样性对禁牧和放牧的响应模式,沼泽化草甸适度放牧有利于提高地表节肢动物多样性及其功能。     

草地利用方式对草甸草原植被空间异质性的影响

研究不同利用方式下植物群落中物种的分布特征,有助于解释植物在不同利用方式干扰下的演替规律。本研究以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草甸草原为研究对象,通过野外调查,基于幂函数法则,探讨围封、放牧和刈割利用方式下草地植被物种分布状况和群落整体空间分布的变化。结果表明:在放牧和刈割利用及围封下,草甸草原植被物种分布规律符合幂函数法则;与围封相比,放牧增加了群落整体的空间分布异质性,而刈割则降低了这种变化,刈割和放牧草地物种异质性指数高于群落整体异质性指数的物种增多;物种出现频率发生变化,如对糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)种群而言,围封地中糙隐子草的出现频率为0.010,刈割和放牧增加了糙隐子草的出现频率(0.151和0.521),刈割和放牧降低了狭叶青蒿(Artemisia dacunculus)的出现频率(0.132和0.028)。     

Evaluating alternative mowing regimes for conservation management of Central European mesic hay meadows: A field experiment

Conservation status of hay meadows highly depends on their management. The main goal of this study was to assess the efficiency of different mowing regimes in maintenance of plant species richness and diversity of mesic hay meadows. The field experiment was carried out on a species rich, mesic hay meadow in Western Hungary. We evaluated the effects of four alternative types of management on the plant community after 7 years of continuous treatment: (1) mowing twice a year, typical traditional management, (2) mowing once a year in May, most practised currently by local farmers, (3) mowing once a year in September, often proposed for conservation management and (4) abandonment of mowing. Traditional mowing resulted in significantly higher number and higher diversity of vascular plant species than other mowing regimes. Mowing twice a year was the only efficient way to control the spread of the invasive Solidago gigantea, and mowing in September was more successful in it than mowing in May. We conclude that the traditional mowing regime is the most suitable to maintain botanical diversity of mesic hay meadows; however, other regimes should also be considered if certain priority species are targeted by conservation.     

桂西北喀斯特地区不同退化程度植被群落物种组成及多样性特征

世界范围内,很多自然生态系统均在不同程度上受到了损害,喀斯特脆弱生态系统的退化是一个复合过程,喀斯特地区不同退化程度植被群落特征有何差异有待研究。该文采用样方法进行全面的调查,研究了桂西北喀斯特地区5个退化程度植被群落的物种组成、群落结构特征和物种多样性。结果表明:(1)不同退化程度群落物种组成和生活型组成有较大差异,潜在退化群落科属种丰富度最高,沿着退化程度递增的梯度,群落乔木树种逐渐减少至消失,灌木比例呈先增后减的趋势,草本比例逐渐增加。(2)调查到维管束植物218种,隶属于86科168属;以大戟科、楝科、蔷薇科、马鞭草科、禾本科和肾蕨科植物为主;退化过程中,优势种的重要值逐渐降低,其在群落内的支配地位逐渐减弱,伴生种重要值逐渐升高。(3)退化过程中,群落结构趋于简单化,群落木本植物密度、高度和盖度逐渐减少。(4)不同退化程度植被群落乔灌草层物种多样性存在显著性差异,随着退化程度的增加,群落总植被物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数整体呈下降趋势。     

青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落结构和功能对氮、磷、钾添加的短期响应

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站的矮嵩草草甸水肥样地进行了氮、磷、钾及其组合的施肥处理,研究了施肥对植物群落结构和功能的影响。结果表明:(1)施肥使矮嵩草草甸植物群落物种丰富度减少,不同施肥处理下物种丰富度大小分别为:对照钾磷氮氮磷磷钾氮钾氮磷钾。(2)在氮磷配合施肥处理下,矮嵩草草甸植物群落Shannon-Wiener指数显著高于对照,而其它施肥处理对Shannon-Wiener指数影响不显著。(3)在同一施肥处理下,禾草类和莎草类的重要值明显高于豆科和杂类草功能群,不同施肥处理使禾草、莎草、豆科植物的重要值增加,而杂类草重要值减少。(4)与对照相比,不同施肥(除钾外)处理可不同程度的增加植物群落的高度。(5)除钾、磷钾养分添加对矮嵩草草甸地上生物量的影响与对照差异不显著外,其它养分及其组合添加都极显著增加了群落地上生物量,且大小顺序依次为氮磷氮磷钾磷氮钾氮磷钾钾对照。(6)施用不同种类的肥料后,矮嵩草草甸各功能群地上生物量的比例变化明显,禾草和莎草的比例均增加,杂类草的比例减少,而豆科植物无规律性。(7)熵值法综合评价短期施肥处理对矮嵩草草甸群落的影响表明,氮磷、氮磷钾配合施肥是青藏高原高寒草甸最佳施肥选择。     

Invertebrate herbivory along a gradient of plant species diversity in extensively managed grasslands

Increasing plant diversity has long been hypothesized to negatively affect levels of invertebrate herbivory due to a lower number of specialist insect herbivores in more diverse sites, but studies of natural systems have been rare. We used a planned comparison to study herbivory in a set of 19 semi-natural montane grasslands managed as hay meadows. Herbivory was measured in transects through the plant communities, and in individuals of Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium pratense that were transplanted into each meadow. In addition, plant community biomass and arthropod abundances were determined in the grasslands. Before the first mowing in June, mean herbivory levels correlated negatively with plant species richness, as predicted by theory, but they were also significantly affected by plant community biomass and plant community composition. After mowing, herbivory levels were only significantly related to plant community composition. Damage levels in the transplants were lower than herbivory levels in the established plant communities. Most insect herbivores were generalists and not specialists. The number of insect herbivores and spiders were positively correlated and tended to increase with increasing plant species richness. Herbivory levels were correlated negatively with spider abundances. We conclude that while the predicted negative relationship between plant species richness and insect herbivory can be found in grasslands, the underlying mechanism involves generalist rather than specialist herbivores. Our data also suggest a role of natural enemies in generalist herbivore activities.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorised users in the online version of this article at .     

高寒草地植物群落关键种对不同放牧家畜组合放牧的响应

如何通过合理的利用方式提高高寒草地管理水平,实现其可持续利用一直是草地生态学领域的研究热点。为明确不同放牧家畜组合下高寒草地植物群落关键种的演替规律及其驱动因素,基于中等放牧强度设置了不同放牧家畜组合放牧样地（牦牛单牧、藏羊单牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 4混牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 6混牧）以及围封样地,并在连续放牧处理7年后系统分析了不同放牧家畜组合下植物群落特征与土壤理化性质变化,以期确定最优放牧组合。结果表明：（1）不同放牧家畜组合均会显著降低高寒草地植物盖度,但对其物种丰富度与多样性指数的影响并不显著。（2）牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧下植物群落特征与禁牧处理下植物群落特征较为相似,且牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧下的植物群落稳定性最强、组织水平最高。（3）牦牛单牧与1 ： 2混牧下关键种为矮生嵩草;藏羊单牧下关键种为天山针茅;1 ： 4混牧下关键种为星毛委陵菜;1 ： 6混牧与围封下关键种为赖草。（4）围封能够显著降低土壤容重,藏羊单牧则会显著增加土壤容重与土壤速效氮、磷含量。（5）土壤速效氮、容重与含水量是驱动不同放牧家畜组合下植物群落关键种演替的重要理化因子。综上所述,中等放牧强度下,牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧是青藏高原高寒草地较为理想的利用方式。此外,相较于单纯增加草地物种丰富度或多样性,建立植物群落物种之间的有效关联是提高青藏高原高寒草地管理水平的另一关键途径。     

Resilience of a high‐conservation‐value,semi‐arid grassland on fertile clay soils to burning,mowing and ploughing

In grassland reserves, managed disturbance is often necessary to maintain plant species diversity. We carried out experiments to determine the impact of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing and disc ploughing on grassland species richness and composition in a nature reserve in semi‐arid eastern Australia. Vegetation response was influenced by winter–spring drought after establishment of the experiments, but moderate rainfall followed in late summer–autumn. Species composition varied greatly between sampling times, and the variability due to rainfall differences between seasons and years was greater than the effects of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing or disc ploughing. In the fire experiment, species richness and composition recovered more rapidly after spring than autumn burning. Species richness and composition were similar to control sites within 12 months of burning and mowing, suggesting that removal of the dominant grass canopy is unnecessary to enhance plant diversity. Two fires (separated by 3 years) and post‐fire kangaroo grazing had only minor influence on species richness and composition. Even disc ploughing caused only a small reduction in native richness. The minor impact of ploughing was explained by the small areas that were ploughed, the once‐off nature of the treatment, and the high degree of natural movement and cracking in these shrink‐swell soils. Recovery of the composition and richness of these grasslands was rapid because of the high proportion of perennial species that resprout vegetatively after fire and mowing. There appears to be little conservation benefit from fire, mowing or ploughing ungrazed areas, as we could identify no native plant species dependent on frequent disturbance for persistence in this grassland community. However, the ability of the Astrebla‐ and Dichanthium‐dominated grasslands to recover quickly after disturbance, given favourable seasonal conditions, suggests that they are well adapted to natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, fire, flooding and native grazing).     

Nutrient status,disturbance and competition: an experimental test of relationships in a wet meadow

Abstract. In many species-rich hay meadows in Central Europe, the traditional extensive (low input, low output) management is no longer economical and meadows are either fertilized or abandoned. Both these practices lead to changes in species composition and usually to a loss in species diversity. The response of a species-rich meadow plant community to fertilization, mowing and removal of dominant species was studied in a manipulative factorial experiment over four years. Both species richness and seedling recruitment were positively influenced by mowing and to a lesser extent by removal of the dominant species, Molinia caerulea, and were negatively influenced by fertilization. Fertilization caused an immediate increase in community biomass. Response to removal of the dominant species was delayed by one season, continued over the whole period, and by the fourth year the biomass reached a similar value as in the plots with Molinia present. Changes in species composition were evaluated by RDA for repeated measurements. The best and only significant predictor of species response to fertilization was plant height. This shows that with increased nutrient availability, nutrient limitation weakens and competition for light becomes the decisive factor. Competition for light appears to be more asymmetric than competition for nutrients, and consequently, it is more likely to drive inferior species to extinction. This is, together with seedling recruitment limitations, the most important cause of a decrease in species richness under high nutrient levels.     

不同刈割频度对大针茅草原群落特征及土壤元素含量的影响

在草原生态系统中,土壤是植物生长发育最重要的基质,对植物群落动态有显著的影响。刈割是内蒙古典型草原区除放牧外最重要的利用方式。研究不同刈割频度对典型草原区群落特征和若干土壤性质的影响及土壤因子与群落特征的相关性,旨在得出对群落多样性最有利并最适宜生产利用的刈割频度。研究区设置在内蒙古锡林浩特市东部以大针茅建群的典型草原;在2009—2013年进行不同频度的刈割处理,共设置处理,一年两次刈割、一年一次刈割、两年一次(割一年休一年)刈割、围封,在2013年8月采集测定土壤养分的样品。刈割对群落多样性影响显著,割一年休一年Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、丰富度指数均高于其他刈割处理(P0.05);不同频度刈割下,一年两次刈割处理下土壤20—30cm和30—40cm的有机质含量显著高于其他处理(P0.05);不同频度刈割处理下土壤中的速效磷和速效氮的含量没有显著差异;一年两次处理的土壤全氮含量显著高于其他处理(P0.05)。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与有机质含量、全氮含量呈显著负相关;Pielou均匀度指数与土壤元素间无显著相关关系;Richness指数与有机质含量呈显著负相关,与全氮含量为极显著负相关关系。割一年休一年刈割处理下土壤元素含量呈现更好的状态,结合群落物种多样性及生产利用的角度,割一年休一年为最合理的刈割频度。     

Nutrient stoichiometry and land use rather than species richness determine plant functional diversity

Plant functional traits reflect individual and community ecological strategies. They allow the detection of directional changes in community dynamics and ecosystemic processes, being an additional tool to assess biodiversity than species richness. Analysis of functional patterns in plant communities provides mechanistic insight into biodiversity alterations due to anthropogenic activity. Although studies have consi‐dered of either anthropogenic management or nutrient availability on functional traits in temperate grasslands, studies combining effects of both drivers are scarce. Here, we assessed the impacts of management intensity (fertilization, mowing, grazing), nutrient stoichiometry (C, N, P, K), and vegetation composition on community‐weighted means (CWMs) and functional diversity (Rao's Q) from seven plant traits in 150 grasslands in three regions in Germany, using data of 6 years. Land use and nutrient stoichiometry accounted for larger proportions of model variance of CWM and Rao's Q than species richness and productivity. Grazing affected all analyzed trait groups; fertilization and mowing only impacted generative traits. Grazing was clearly associated with nutrient retention strategies, that is, investing in durable structures and production of fewer, less variable seed. Phenological variability was increased. Fertilization and mowing decreased seed number/mass variability, indicating competition‐related effects. Impacts of nutrient stoichiometry on trait syndromes varied. Nutrient limitation (large N:P, C:N ratios) promoted species with conservative strategies, that is, investment in durable plant structures rather than fast growth, fewer seed, and delayed flowering onset. In contrast to seed mass, leaf‐economics variability was reduced under P shortage. Species diversity was positively associated with the variability of generative traits. Synthesis. Here, land use, nutrient availability, species richness, and plant functional strategies have been shown to interact complexly, driving community composition, and vegetation responses to management intensity. We suggest that deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms shaping community assembly and biodiversity will require analyzing all these parameters.     

Plant community and soil available nutrients drive arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community shifts during alpine meadow degradation

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in maintaining the function and sustainability of grassland ecosystem, but they are also susceptible to environmental changes. In recent decades, alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau have experienced severe degradation due to the impact of human activities and climate change. But it remains unclear how degradation affects the AMF community, a group of functionally important root associated microorganisms, which potentially limit the development and application of microbial technologies in the restoration of degraded grasslands. In this study, we investigated AMF communities richness and composition in non-degraded (ND), moderately degraded (MD) and severely degraded (SD) alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau, and then explored their main biotic and abiotic determinants. Alpine meadow degradation significantly reduced plant community biomass, richness, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen and available phosphorus, but increased soil pH. AMF community composition and the iesdominant family and genera differed significantly among different degradation stages. Grassland degradation shifted the AMF community composition in favor of Claroideoglomus over Rhizophagus, and resulted in a marked loss of Glomeraceae and the dominance of Diversisporaceae. Alpine meadow degradation significantly increased AMF hyphal density and richness, likely working as a plant strategy to relieve nutrient deficiencies or loss as a result of degradation. The structural equation model showed that AMF community richness and composition were significantly influenced by plant community, followed by soil available nutrients. Soil available nutrients was the key contributor to the increased AMF hyphal density and richness during grassland degradation. Our findings identify the effects of alpine meadow degradation on AMF richness and highlight the importance of the plant community in shaping the AMF community during alpine meadow degradation. These results suggest that plant community restoration should be the primary goal for the ecological restoration of degraded alpine meadows, and these soil functional microorganisms should be simultaneously integrated into ecological restoration strategies and management.