不同刈牧强度对冷蒿生长与资源分配的影响

利用野外实验与盆栽实验,对不同刈牧强度下冷蒿生长与资源分配影响的研究结果表明,按比例刈割冷篙的再生生长大于留茬高度刈割,在生长季前期,不刈割冷蒿净生长高于刈割处理,而进入生长季中后期(8月中旬以后),轻度刈割净生长高于不刈割处理,冷篙种群生物量分配的总体格局是根>叶>茎,刈牧明显影响冷蒿生物量分配格局,尤其是叶和花的分配,3／4刈割或留茬4cm刈割叶生物量分配显著高于其它各处理,而花的生物量及其分配显著低于其它处理,根、茎生物量分配各处理间差异不显著．冷蒿有性生殖分配随刈牧强度的增加而降低,繁殖方式发生了改变,优先将光合产物分配给再生茎以及繁殖方式转向营养繁殖,通过克隆生长维持和扩大种群是冷蒿对强度放牧的生态适应对策。     

干热河谷草本植物生物量分配及其对环境因子的响应

以干热河谷6种草本植物为对象,研究了水分、养分、刈割对生物量在根、茎、叶的分配及异速生长关系的影响.结果表明:刈割处理叶生物量质量分数从25.1%显著增加到31.2%,茎生物量质量分数从43.7%显著降低到34.2%;养分添加处理根生物量质量分数从34.0%显著降低到30.8%;水分处理对生物量分配没有显著影响.物种对根、茎、叶生物量分配有显著影响,适应贫瘠土壤的物种将更多生物量分配给叶和根,对茎生物量的分配相对较低.物种与环境因子存在显著的互作效应,表明环境因子对不同物种的生物量分配影响不同.适应贫瘠土壤的物种叶-茎标度指数和异速生长常数大于其他物种,而茎-根标度指数和异速生长常数小于其他物种.养分显著增加了叶-茎和叶-根的异速生长常数,刈割显著降低了茎-根的标度指数,水分处理则没有显著效应.环境因素对器官间异速生长关系的影响存在种间差异.生物量分配的种间差异及其对环境因素的响应特征可能对植物适应环境变化产生重要影响.     

刈割留茬高度和不同播种组合对人工草地初级生产力和物种丰富度的影响

采用7种播种方式(3种单播和4种混播)和3种刈割留茬高度裂区试验,测定了青藏高原高寒地区人工建植3年的垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)、中华羊茅(Festuca sinensis)和羊茅(Festuca ovina)草地地上生物量、物种丰富度以及杂草生物量,以分析刈割对青藏高原人工草地初级生产力和物种丰富度的影响。结果显示:(1)在草地建植第2年,不刈割与刈割留茬60和20 mm的草地初级生产力均有显著差异;留茬60和20 mm刈割使单播草地的平均初级生产力分别降低20%和27%,使混播草地的平均初级生产力分别降低29%和37%。(2)草地建植第3年,不刈割、留茬60和20 mm 3个处理间的草地生产力均差异极显著;留茬60和20 mm刈割使单播草地的平均生产力分别降低19%和36%,使混播草地的平均生产力分别降低4%和18%。研究表明,刈割显著降低了人工草地的初级生产力,同时显著增加了垂穗披碱草单播草地的物种丰富度和杂草生物量以及3种牧草混播草地物种丰富度,其他播种草地的物种丰富度和杂草生物量与不刈割草地均无显著差异。     

异质光照环境下克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种间关系的影响

很多入侵植物具有克隆性,克隆整合对入侵克隆植物生长和繁殖具有重要的贡献。自然界中,植物生长和繁殖所需的各种资源如光照、水分和矿质养分等在空间上分布通常是异质的,但关于异质环境下克隆整合对入侵植物和本土同属植物种间关系影响的研究相对缺乏。通过温室控制实验,将入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)和同属本土植物蟛蜞菊(W.chinensis)的分株对单独种植或者混合种植在异质性光照条件下,同时通过保持或者切断分株之间的连接来控制克隆整合效应的有无,研究异质光照环境下克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊种间关系的影响。克隆整合对南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊的生长和繁殖都有促进作用,且南美蟛蜞菊比蟛蜞菊从克隆整合中获益更多。与单独种植相比,两者混种对南美蟛蜞菊的叶生物量有显著影响,而对本地种蟛蜞菊的根生物量有显著影响。克隆整合和种间关系对南美蟛蜞菊的总生物量和叶生物量产生了显著的交互作用,而对蟛蜞菊各指标无显著影响。克隆整合状态显著影响了南美蟛蜞菊和蟛蜞菊的种间关系。这些结果表明,异质环境下克隆整合可以改变入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊和本土植物蟛蜞菊的生长性状及种间关系。     

刈割干扰下内蒙古草原两种丛生禾草繁殖策略的适应性调节

刈割是内蒙古草原的主要利用方式之一。当植物面对刈割干扰时, 可以通过繁殖策略的调节适应变化的环境。研究刈割干扰下植物繁殖策略的调节对于揭示植物的适应与进化机制具有重要意义。为此, 选择内蒙古典型草原的大针茅(Stipa grandis)和糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa), 在1979年围封的羊草(Leymus chinensis)样地(对照)和毗邻的长期刈割区对其繁殖策略进行了研究。结果显示: 1)长期刈割干扰下, 大针茅的种群生物量与对照区无显著差异, 由于其株丛生物量显著降低, 大针茅种群生物量的维持得益于种群密度的显著增加。糙隐子草的种群生物量比对照区显著提高, 由于其株丛生物量与对照区无显著差异, 糙隐子草种群生物量的增加也是因为密度的显著提高。因此, 密度调节是两种植物应对长期刈割干扰的重要的调节机制。2)长期刈割干扰下, 两种植物在无性繁殖和有性繁殖过程所采取的密度调节策略并不相同。大针茅种群生殖株丛的密度无显著变化, 非生殖株丛的密度显著提高, 导致其非生殖株丛的相对密度显著增加, 而生殖株丛的相对密度显著降低。因此刈割干扰下大针茅种群在密度调节上采取了保持有性繁殖株丛密度, 增加无性繁殖株丛密度的策略。糙隐子草种群非生殖株丛的密度显著增加, 但生殖株丛的密度增加幅度更大, 导致其非生殖株丛的相对密度显著降低, 而生殖株丛的相对密度显著提高。因此刈割干扰下糙隐子草种群在密度调节上采取了增加无性繁殖株丛密度的同时, 更大幅度地增加有性繁殖株丛密度的策略。3)长期刈割干扰下, 两种植物对生物量生殖分配的调节采取了不同的策略。大针茅株丛生物量向生殖枝分配的比例无显著变化, 通过降低生殖枝向穗的生物量分配比例, 降低了对有性生殖过程的生物量分配的投入; 而糙隐子草则通过增加株丛生物量向生殖枝分配的比例, 维持生殖枝向穗的生物量分配比例, 从而增加了对有性繁殖过程生物量分配的投入。4)长期刈割干扰下, 大针茅的株丛面积和株丛分蘖数与对照区无显著差异。糙隐子草株丛面积降低, 但是株丛分蘖数无显著变化。本实验说明, 植物种群有性繁殖和无性繁殖之间的密度调节和资源分配调节是草原植物应对刈割干扰下的重要调节机制, 不同的响应策略影响着植物种群的消长动态。     

刈割对外来入侵植物黄顶菊的生长、 气体交换和荧光的影响

为明确不同刈割处理对黄顶菊生长和生理特性的影响,本研究在田间条件下,对黄顶菊在生长季内不同时间进行刈割处理。结果表明,刈割降低了黄顶菊植株各部分的生物量积累,其中以刈割3次效果最为显著,使黄顶菊总生物量、根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量分别较对照下降82.57%、44.53%、80.04%、91.76%;植株的高度和花序数随刈割次数的增加显著降低,其中刈割3次的花序数为0;刈割1次植株分枝数最大,出现超补偿现象,刈割3次分枝数显著低于其他处理;叶绿素含量除了刈割2次出现增高趋势外,随刈割次数的增加,叶绿素含量逐渐降低;刈割处理使黄顶菊净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Cond)和蒸腾速率(Tr)均显著升高;刈割3次的PSⅡ的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ的潜在活性(Fv/F0)显著低于其它各处理,而初始荧光(F0)则显著增加;生长指标的可塑性指数大于生理指标可塑性指数,表明前者在黄顶菊对刈割处理等物理措施适应方面起到了更为重要的作用。总之,刈割3次处理黄顶菊的各项生长和生理指标所受影响最大,对黄顶菊植株的再生和开花结实抑制效果最为理想。     

不同刈割频度对绵毛优若藜地上生物量及根系的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了不同刈割频度对绵毛优若藜地上生物量和根系的影响.结果显示:(1)不同刈割处理下绵毛优若藜地上生物量及其营养成分百分含量差异极显著(P<0.01),地上生物量随刈割频度增大呈先增大后减小,其1次刈割生物量最大,单株均值高达5.63g;随刈割次数增加其地上部分的粗脂肪和粗蛋白百分含量均极显著提高,而粗纤维和粗灰分的百分含量则均极显著降低.(2)与不刈割相比,不同频度的刈割均能使根系生物量、根系体积总量和主根直径减少,并随着刈割频度的增大显著减少.(3)刈割显著抑制植株主根伸长,也限制侧根发生,使整个根系在土壤中的分布因刈割频度增大而逐渐变浅,刈割频度≤1时,植物根系主要分布在0～30cm的土层中;刈割频度≥2时,植物根系基本分布在0～20cm的土层中.试验结果说明,绵毛优若藜在民勤沙区适应低频度刈割管理,即1年刈割1次,其地上生物量最大,而根系受影响最小.     

刈割加淹水对互花米草萌发和幼苗生长的影响

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)是我国危害最严重的外来入侵植物之一,探索环保、经济、有效地防治互花米草的技术对保护我国海滩生态环境具有重要意义。本研究通过人工气候室(20~25℃)的盆栽实验,研究刈割与淹水对互花米草萌发和幼苗生长的影响。实验持续4个月,对互花米草地上部分进行了2次刈割,首次刈割是在互花米草生长季结束时,3个月后进行第二次刈割。首次刈割后持续淹水至实验结束,淹水处理设计0、5、10、20 cm四个淹水深度。首次刈割后各淹水处理互花米草根茎上迅速萌发克隆苗,种子的萌发比克隆苗晚约3个月。不同淹水深度对克隆苗的萌发和生长均有抑制作用,克隆苗株数、株高和地上生物量均随淹水深度增加而减少。第二次刈割后各淹水处理均没有再萌发克隆苗,但有少量种子实生苗,其中20 cm水深处理的实生苗数量最少。刈割加淹水可以很好地抑制互花米草的萌发和幼苗生长,据此建议互花米草防治方案为:在春季萌芽前,修筑堤坝,保持淹水20 cm,在营养生长期后期贴地刈割互花米草,继续淹水,第二年重复同样的刈割和淹水。为防止二次入侵,需要在邻近的互花米草分布区同时进行治理。     

刈割频次对白三叶能量分配及构型的影响

4～ 10月 ,在亚热带高山人工草地 ,通过生长季割 2、4和 7次的刈割试验后发现 ,不同刈割频次对翌年白三叶能量分配、构件密度、分枝数量及分枝角度影响显著 .随刈割频次的增加 ,白三叶匍匐茎的能量分配递增 ,分别为 42 .8%、44 .9%、47.7% ,而单位长度茎所含能量递减 ,分别为 13 .0、12 .2和 11.1kJ·m-1;叶密度、茎密度、分枝数量及节间长度出现低→高→低的变化趋势 .提高刈割频次后 ,白三叶的分枝强度由 15分枝·m-1递增到 2 3 .7分枝·m-1;分枝角度由 49.5°递增到 60 .2° ,从而提高了白三叶种群在刈割干扰下对土壤微生境资源的利用率     

氮素添加和刈割对内蒙古弃耕草地土壤氮矿化的影响

以内蒙古多伦县恢复生态学试验示范研究站弃耕10余年的草地为研究对象,于2006年起分别设置对照、氮素添加、刈割和氮素添加+刈割4种处理,每种处理6次重复,研究弃耕草地氮素添加和刈割对土壤氮矿化的影响,结合土壤理化性质和植被地上生产力的动态变化,分析弃耕草地土壤氮矿化对植被恢复的响应,为当地草地恢复与重建提供理论依据和数据支持。实验结果表明:1氮素添加显著增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP)和土壤无机氮库,与对照相比分别提高115%和196%,同时显著提高了土壤总硝化速率;但是氮素添加对总氨化速率、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、微生物呼吸(MR)以及呼吸熵(q CO2)均无显著影响;2总氨化速率和硝化速率对刈割处理的响应均不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了土壤MR(P0.05);3氮素添加+刈割处理5—7a后,土壤总氨化和硝化速率均无显著变化;但是氮素添加+刈割处理显著增加了ANPP、土壤无机氮库和q CO2,同时显著降低了MBC和MBC/MBN。这说明在弃耕草地适应性管理中,氮素添加可以显著提高草地生产力,但是长期的氮添加对土壤微生物氮的转化是否有利还值得我们进一步研究。     

Allometric growth, disturbance regime, and dilemmas of controlling invasive plants: a model analysis

Disturbed communities are observed to be more susceptible to invasion by exotic species, suggesting that some attributes of the invaders may interact with disturbance regime to facilitate invasion success. Alternanthera philoxeroides, endemic to South America, is an amphibious clonal weed invading worldwide. It tends to colonize disturbed habitats such as riparian zones, floodplain wetlands and agricultural areas. We developed an analytical model to explore the interactive effects of two types of physical disturbances, shoot mowing and root fragmentation, on biomass production dynamics of A. philoxeroides. The model is based on two major biological assumptions: (1) allometric growth of root (belowground) vs. shoot (aboveground) biomass and (2) exponential regrowth of shoot biomass after mowing. The model analysis revealed that the interaction among allometric growth pattern, shoot mowing frequency and root fragmentation intensity might lead to diverse plant ‘fates’. For A. philoxeroides whose root allocation decreases with growing plant size, control by shoot mowing was faced with two dilemmas. (1) Shoot regrowth can be effectively suppressed by frequent mowing. However, frequent shoot mowing led to higher biomass allocation to thick storage roots, which enhanced the potential for faster future plant growth. (2) In the context of periodic shoot mowing, individual shoot biomass converged to a stable equilibrium value which was independent of the root fragmentation intensity. However, root fragmentation resulted in higher equilibrium population shoot biomass and higher frequency of shoot mowing required for effective control. In conclusion, the interaction between allometric growth and physical disturbances may partially account for the successful invasion of A. philoxeroides; improper mechanical control practices could function as disturbances and result in exacerbated invasion.     

Invasive clonal plant species have a greater root-foraging plasticity than non-invasive ones

Clonality is frequently positively correlated with plant invasiveness, but which aspects of clonality make some clonal species more invasive than others is not known. Due to their spreading growth form, clonal plants are likely to experience spatial heterogeneity in nutrient availability. Plasticity in allocation of biomass to clonal growth organs and roots may allow these plants to forage for high-nutrient patches. We investigated whether this foraging response is stronger in species that have become invasive than in species that have not. We used six confamilial pairs of native European clonal plant species differing in invasion success in the USA. We grew all species in large pots under homogeneous or heterogeneous nutrient conditions in a greenhouse, and compared their nutrient-foraging response and performance. Neither invasive nor non-invasive species showed significant foraging responses to heterogeneity in clonal growth organ biomass or in aboveground biomass of clonal offspring. Invasive species had, however, a greater positive foraging response in terms of root and belowground biomass than non-invasive species. Invasive species also produced more total biomass. Our results suggest that the ability for strong root foraging is among the characteristics promoting invasiveness in clonal plants.     

酸雨和采食模拟胁迫下克隆整合对空心莲子草生长的影响

研究表明克隆整合可以显著提升异质环境中克隆植物的生长,然而当克隆植物遭受均质环境压力时,整合对植物生长影响的研究相对较少。本文以典型入侵克隆植物空心莲子草（Alternanthera philoxeroides）为例,研究均质环境压力酸雨和采食模拟胁迫对空心莲子草生长的影响,以及克隆整合在空心莲子草适应不利环境过程中所起的作用。酸雨设3种浓度梯度：pH值3.5 、pH值4.5和 pH值6.5（对照）;采食设3种水平：不去叶、去叶50%和去叶90%;整合水平：匍匐茎切断和连接。结果表明：无论保持或切断匍匐茎的连接,酸雨处理都不影响空心莲子草生物量。当保持匍匐茎连接时,pH值4.5酸雨处理增加了空心莲子草匍匐茎长度和分株数目,因此,低度酸雨可能对空心莲子草生长有一定的促进作用。同样,无论匍匐茎是否被切断,采食处理都显著降低了空心莲子草克隆片段生物量,而显著增加了叶片数目。当切断匍匐茎连接时,采食处理使空心莲子草分株数目显著增加。本文得出的结论是：空心莲子草能较好地适应酸雨和采食的环境压力,当空心莲子草全部克隆分株遭受均质环境胁迫时,克隆整合并不能显著改善它的生长。     

The effect of nutrient availability on biomass allocation patterns in 27 species of herbaceous plants

We investigated allocation to roots, stems and leaves of 27 species of herbaceous clonal plants grown at two nutrient levels. Allocation was analyzed as biomass ratios and also allometrically. As in other studies, the fraction of biomass in stems and, to a lesser extent, in leaves, was usually higher in the high-nutrient treatment than in the low-nutrient treatment, and the fraction of biomass in roots was usually higher under low-nutrient conditions. The relationship between the biomass of plant structures fits the general allometric equation, with an exponent 1 in most of the species. The different biomass ratios under the two nutrient conditions represented points on simple allometric trajectories, indicating that natural selection has resulted in allometric strategies rather than plastic responses to nutrient level. In other words, in most of the species that changed allocation in response to the nutrient treatment, these changes were largely a consequence of plant size. Our data suggest that some allocation patterns that have been interpreted as plastic responses to different resource availabilities may be more parsimoniously explained as allometric strategies.     

Biomass allocation, shade tolerance and seedling survival of the invasive species

Berberis darwinii (Berberidaceae) is a serious environmental weed in New Zealand, capable of invading a range of different light environments from grazed pasture to intact forest. According to optimal partitioning models, some plants optimise growth under different environmental conditions by shifting biomass allocation among tissue types (e.g. roots, shoots) to maximise the capture of limiting resources (e.g. water, light). We examined patterns of growth, biomass allocation, and seedling survival in Berberis darwinii to determine whether any of these factors might be contributing to invasion success. Growth and biomass allocation parameters were measured on seedlings grown for 7 months in five natural light environments in the field. Survival was high in the sunniest sites, and low in the shadiest sites. Seedlings grown in full sun were an order of magnitude taller and heavier, had five times as many leaves, and proportionally more biomass allocated to leaves than seedlings grown in other light environments. In the shade, leaves were bigger and thinner, and leaf area as a proportion of total plant biomass increased, but the proportion of above- to below-ground biomass was similar across all light and soil moisture environments. In summary, although leaf traits were plastic, patterns of biomass allocation did not vary according to optimal partitioning models, and were not correlated with patterns of seedling survival. Implications for the management of this invasive species are discussed.     

The effects of clonal integration on morphological plasticity and placement of daughter ramets in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

We studied the field response of Robinia pseudoacacia L. to light, total soil nitrogen, available soil phosphorus and soil pH. Results indicated that there was very strong clonal integration between mother and daughter ramets. Mother ramets can provide nitrogen and phosphorus to daughter ramets sufficient for their continued growth through strong clonal integration, but cannot provide enough photosynthate. With clonal integration, soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability had no effect on biomass allocation to roots, number of ramets and length of connection roots. Biomass allocation to roots increased markedly and responded to nitrogen and phosphorus availability, when the connections were severed. Light had a significant effect on the percent of biomass allocation to leaves and number of ramets, but no effect on the length of connection roots. Daughter ramets allocated more resources to leaves, and clones placed more daughter ramets in high light patches than in low light patches. Soil pH had a significant effect on ramet number and connection root length. Clones concentrated in alkaline patches and escaped from acid patches through selective placement of daughter ramets and changing the length of connection roots. We suggest that the clonal integration may be very strong and provide sufficient soil resources to daughter ramets, then affect the daughter ramets’ morphology and placement, if the size of a specific ramet is significantly larger than the other ramets in an arbor clone.     

Changes in individual plant traits and biomass allocation in alpine meadow with elevation variation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Plant traits and individual plant biomass allocation of 57 perennial herbaceous species, belonging to three common functional groups (forbs, grasses and sedges) at subalpine (3700 m ASL), alpine (4300 m ASL) and subnival (⩾5000 m ASL) sites were examined to test the hypothesis that at high altitudes, plants reduce the proportion of aboveground parts and allocate more biomass to belowground parts, especially storage organs, as altitude increases, so as to geminate and resist environmental stress. However, results indicate that some divergence in biomass allocation exists among organs. With increasing altitude, the mean fractions of total biomass allocated to aboveground parts decreased. The mean fractions of total biomass allocation to storage organs at the subalpine site (7%±2% S.E.) were distinct from those at the alpine (23%±6%) and subnival (21%±6%) sites, while the proportions of green leaves at all altitudes remained almost constant. At 4300 m and 5000 m, the mean fractions of flower stems decreased by 45% and 41%, respectively, while fine roots increased by 86% and 102%, respectively. Specific leaf areas and leaf areas of forbs and grasses deceased with rising elevation, while sedges showed opposite trends. For all three functional groups, leaf area ratio and leaf area root mass ratio decreased, while fine root biomass increased at higher altitudes. Biomass allocation patterns of alpine plants were characterized by a reduction in aboveground reproductive organs and enlargement of fine roots, while the proportion of leaves remained stable. It was beneficial for high altitude plants to compensate carbon gain and nutrient uptake under low temperature and limited nutrients by stabilizing biomass investment to photosynthetic structures and increasing the absorption surface area of fine roots. In contrast to forbs and grasses that had high mycorrhizal infection, sedges had higher single leaf area and more root fraction, especially fine roots.     

林冠环境对亚高山针叶林下缺苞箭竹生物量分配和克隆形态的影响

通过对亚高山针叶林的林下、小林窗(130 m²)、中林窗(300 m²)和大林窗(500 m²) 4种林冠环境中缺苞箭竹(Fargesia denudata)分株种群特征进行调查, 研究其生物量分配格局和克隆形态可塑性。研究结果表明: (1)分株生物量、基径、高度以及分株各构件生物量随林冠郁闭度减小均表现为先增加后减小的趋势, 在小林窗中达到最大值; (2)大林窗中, 根生物量分配和数量显著高于其他林冠环境, 随林冠郁闭度增大, 分株不断增大叶生物量分配、比叶面积和分枝百分比等地上部分投资, 以适应低光环境; (3)比茎长和比地下茎长随林冠郁闭度增大表现为先减小后增加的趋势, 在小林窗值最低, 分枝强度在小林窗和中林窗中显著高于林下和大林窗环境。结果显示, 缺苞箭竹在不同林冠环境中具有生物量分配和克隆形态的可塑性, 以利于种群对光资源的有效利用。小林窗环境是缺苞箭竹较适宜的生境, 生物量积累最多, 长势最好。     

Plant sizes mediate mowing‐induced changes in nutrient stoichiometry and allocation of a perennial grass in semi‐arid grassland

While mowing‐induced changes in plant traits and their effects on ecosystem functioning in semi‐arid grassland are well studied, the relations between plant size and nutrient strategies are largely unknown. Mowing may drive the shifts of plant nutrient limitation and allocation. Here, we evaluated the changes in nutrient stoichiometry and allocation with variations in sizes of Leymus chinensis, the dominant plant species in Inner Mongolia grassland, to various mowing frequencies in a 17‐yr controlled experiment. Affected by mowing, the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) in leaves and stems were significantly increased, negatively correlating with plant sizes. Moreover, we found significant trade‐offs between the concentrations and accumulation of N, P, and C in plant tissues. The N:P ratios of L. chinensis aboveground biomass, linearly correlating with plant size, significantly decreased with increased mowing frequencies. The ratios of C:N and C:P of L. chinensis individuals were positively correlated with plant size, showing an exponential pattern. With increased mowing frequencies, L. chinensis size was correlated with the allocation ratios of leaves to stems of N, P, and C by the tendencies of negative parabola, positive, and negative linear. The results of structure equation modeling showed that the N, P, and C allocations were co‐regulated by biomass allocation and nutrient concentration ratios of leaves to stems. In summary, we found a significant decoupling effect between plant traits and nutrient strategies along mowing frequencies. Our results reveal a mechanism for how long‐term mowing‐induced changes in concentrations, accumulations, ecological stoichiometry, and allocations of key elements are mediated by the variations in plant sizes of perennial rhizome grass.     

Variations and Trade‐offs in Functional Traits of Tree Seedlings during Secondary Succession in a Tropical Lowland Rain Forest

The seedling stage is generally the most important bottleneck for the successful regeneration of trees in forests. The traits of seedlings, particularly biomass allocation and root traits, are more easily quantified than the traits of adults. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that seedling traits vary and trade‐off tracking the changing environment during secondary succession. We measured the major morphological traits of 27 dominant species and the major environmental factors in a chronosequence (30‐yr‐old fallow, 60‐yr‐old fallow, and old growth forest) after shifting cultivation in a tropical lowland rain forest on Hainan Island, China. The 30‐yr‐old fallow had higher light and nutrient availability, and the older forests had higher soil water content. Redundancy analysis based on species abundance and environmental factors revealed groups of seedlings that dominate in different stages of succession. Seedlings in different stages of succession had different strategies of biomass allocation for harvesting resources that varied in availability. Species characteristic of younger forest had higher allocation to roots and higher specific leaf area, while species characteristic of older forest had higher allocation to leaves. Our study suggests that the variations and trade‐offs in the major functional traits of tree seedlings among successional classes may reflect changes in environmental conditions during succession.