青藏高原高寒草地AM真菌分布及其对近自然恢复的生态作用

超载过牧以及全球气候变化等导致大部分青藏高原高寒草地呈现持续退化态势。青藏高原高寒草地退化致使地上植物群落逐渐发生更替,地下土壤微生物群落多样性和丰富度发生改变。本文旨在探析青藏高原高寒草地丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM）真菌的分布特征、对近自然恢复的生理生态效应及其作用机制。青藏高原高寒草地中已报道4目14属61种AM真菌,约占已知AM真菌物种的20%。高寒草地禾本科植物根围AM真菌物种丰度最高,而莎草科植物根围AM真菌孢子密度最高。3种高寒草地植被类型中,高寒草原AM真菌丰度最高（33种）,山地灌丛草原次之（32种）,高寒草甸最低（22种）。高寒草原以光壁无梗囊霉Acaulospora laevis和闪亮和平囊霉Pacispora scintillans为优势种,山地灌丛草原以摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae为优势种,高寒草甸以光壁无梗囊霉A. laevis、近明球囊霉Claroideoglomus claroideum和闪亮和平囊霉P. scintillans为优势种。高寒草地土著AM真菌与植物构建的菌根网络可以通过调节营养元素吸收、分配,促进植物建植和生长;但是毒杂草入侵可以改变土著AM真菌物种多样性和菌根网络,限制本地植被的实际生态位扩张。退化高寒草地中,AM真菌群落具有高的环境适应性和恢复力,其不仅调控地上植物群落建植和多样性,同时AM真菌建植也增加了代谢产物-球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白产生,进而协同改善地下土壤微生态系统,为退化高寒草地早期植被恢复塑造土壤生境。因此,AM真菌在退化高寒草地近自然恢复中具有较大的应用潜力。     

Snowbeds are more affected than other subalpine–alpine plant communities by climate change in the Swiss Alps

While the upward shift of plant species has been observed on many alpine and nival summits, the reaction of the subalpine and lower alpine plant communities to the current warming and lower snow precipitation has been little investigated so far. To this aim, 63 old, exhaustive plant inventories, distributed along a subalpine–alpine elevation gradient of the Swiss Alps and covering different plant community types (acidic and calcareous grasslands; windy ridges; snowbeds), were revisited after 25–50 years. Old and recent inventories were compared in terms of species diversity with Simpson diversity and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity indices, and in terms of community composition with principal component analysis. Changes in ecological conditions were inferred from the ecological indicator values. The alpha‐diversity increased in every plant community, likely because of the arrival of new species. As observed on mountain summits, the new species led to a homogenization of community compositions. The grasslands were quite stable in terms of species composition, whatever the bedrock type. Indeed, the newly arrived species were part of the typical species pool of the colonized community. In contrast, snowbed communities showed pronounced vegetation changes and a clear shift toward dryer conditions and shorter snow cover, evidenced by their colonization by species from surrounding grasslands. Longer growing seasons allow alpine grassland species, which are taller and hence more competitive, to colonize the snowbeds. This study showed that subalpine–alpine plant communities reacted differently to the ongoing climate changes. Lower snow/rain ratio and longer growing seasons seem to have a higher impact than warming, at least on plant communities dependent on long snow cover. Consequently, they are the most vulnerable to climate change and their persistence in the near future is seriously threatened. Subalpine and alpine grasslands are more stable, and, until now, they do not seem to be affected by a warmer climate.     

Long‐term geobotanical observations of climate change impacts in the Scandes of West‐Central Sweden

In the context of projected future human‐caused climate warming, the present study reports and analyses the performance of subalpine/alpine plants, vegetation and phytogeographical patterns during the past century of about 1 °C temperature rise. Historical baseline data of altitudinal limits of woody and non‐woody plants in the southern Scandes of Sweden are compared with recent assessments of these limits at the same locations. The methodological approach also includes repeat photography, individual age determinations and analyses of permanent plots. At all levels, from trees to tiny herbs, and from high to low altitudes, the results converge to indicate a causal association between temperature rise and biotic evolution. The importance of snow cover phenology is particularly evident. Treeline advance since the early‐20th century varies between 75 and 130 m, depending on species and site. Tendencies and potentials for further upshift in a near future are evident from the appearance of young saplings of all tree species, growing 400–700 m atop of the treeline. Subalpine/alpine plant species have shifted upslope by average 200 m. In addition, present‐day repetitions of floristic inventories on two alpine mountain summits reveal increases of plant species richness by 58 and 67%, respectively, since the early‐1950s. Obviously, many plants adjust their altitudinal ranges to new climatic regimes much faster than generally assumed. Nevertheless, plants have migrated upslope with widely different rates. This produces non‐analogous alpine plant communities, i.e. peculiar mixtures of alpine and silvine species. The alpine region is shrinking (higher treeline), and the character of the remaining alpine vegetation landscape is changing. For example, extensive alpine grasslands are replacing snow bed plant communities.     

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。     

养分添加对天山高寒草地植物多样性和地上生物量的影响

为揭示高寒草地物种多样性和地上生物量以及二者之间关系对养分添加的响应模式,该研究以天山高寒草地为对象,通过两年的多重养分添加实验,研究氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)3种养分单独和组合添加对天山高寒草地群落物种多样性和地上生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)养分添加使当地植物物种多样性不同程度地减少,其中以N+P、N+K、N+P+K添加的效应最为显著,多重养分添加导致的土壤生态位维度降低是当地物种丧失的重要原因。(2)养分添加能显著提高群落地上生物量,其中N为第一限制养分,解除N限制后P和K成为限制养分, N+P+K复合添加对地上生物量的提高最为显著。(3)养分添加两年后,地上生物量与物种丰富度之间无显著回归关系且地上生物量增加主要是由于禾草类生物量增加导致,说明地上生物量主要由少数优势种决定而非群落物种数。     

Ecology and phenology of the Dysderidae (Araneae) in the Djurdjura National Park (Algeria)

The ecology and phenology of the Dysderidae (Araneae) were investigated in two different sites (Tala-Guilef and Tikjda), located at opposite slopes of the Djurdjura National Park in Algeria. The following questions were investigated: Are there any endemic species in the studied area? Do the slopes' orientation influence the abundance, richness and diversity of these spider communities? Are the activity and the vital cycle of the three most abundant species different in the two different plant physiognomies (cedar forests and alpine grasslands)? The Dysderidae were collected monthly for 2 years using pitfall traps. In total, 1532 specimens were collected: 333 males, 389 females and 381 juveniles in Tala-Guilef and 230 males, 66 females and 133 juveniles in Tikjda. Among the total of 10 species sampled, three species belonging to three genera in Tala-Guilef, 10 species belonging to four genera in Tikdja and four endemic species was recorded. The slope orientation influence the abundance and the species richness. The activity and the vital cycle of the three most abundant species were not different in the cedar forests and alpine grasslands. For these species, no relationship was found between the activity cycle and the vegetation physiognomy.     

Impacts of nitrogen addition on plant biodiversity in mountain grasslands depend on dose,application duration and climate: a systematic review

Although the influence of nitrogen (N) addition on grassland plant communities has been widely studied, it is still unclear whether observed patterns and underlying mechanisms are constant across biomes. In this systematic review, we use meta‐analysis and metaregression to investigate the influence of N addition (here referring mostly to fertilization) upon the biodiversity of temperate mountain grasslands (including montane, subalpine and alpine zones). Forty‐two studies met our criteria of inclusion, resulting in 134 measures of effect size. The main general responses of mountain grasslands to N addition were increases in phytomass and reductions in plant species richness, as observed in lowland grasslands. More specifically, the analysis reveals that negative effects on species richness were exacerbated by dose (ha^?1 year^?1) and duration of N application (years) in an additive manner. Thus, sustained application of low to moderate levels of N over time had effects similar to short‐term application of high N doses. The climatic context also played an important role: the overall effects of N addition on plant species richness and diversity (Shannon index) were less pronounced in mountain grasslands experiencing cool rather than warm summers. Furthermore, the relative negative effect of N addition on species richness was more pronounced in managed communities and was strongly negatively related to N‐induced increases in phytomass, that is the greater the phytomass response to N addition, the greater the decline in richness. Altogether, this review not only establishes that plant biodiversity of mountain grasslands is negatively affected by N addition, but also demonstrates that several local management and abiotic factors interact with N addition to drive plant community changes. This synthesis yields essential information for a more sustainable management of mountain grasslands, emphasizing the importance of preserving and restoring grasslands with both low agricultural N application and limited exposure to N atmospheric deposition.     

Shrub encroachment in the Alps gives rise to the convergence of sub‐alpine communities on a regional scale

Question: How does Alnus alnobetula colonization affect plant communities in sub‐alpine grasslands undergoing land abandonment on a regional scale? Location: Savoie, French Alps. Methods: Variations within and between communities were monitored in 243 plots within three types of stands representing an A. alnobetula colonization chronosequence from grassland to dense vegetation. They were tested for species richness, species strategies and species distribution through multivariate analysis. Regional variations were assessed at three sites along a rain shadow gradient. Results: We detected a convergence of the understorey communities along an A. alnobetula colonization gradient at all sites, associated with a reduction in species richness and the replacement of stress related strategists by competitor strategists. This convergence was unaffected by the rain shadow gradient although it was a key factor of plant distribution. Conclusions: The dense cover and the soil properties provided by A. alnobetula stands buffered the heterogeneity of sub‐alpine communities induced by a rain shadow gradient throughout the study region. It facilitated the development a homogeneous understorey community dominated by competitor related strategists while excluding grasslands stress adapted species through competition processes. The resulting community, although species‐poor, has an interesting conservation value. Accordingly, as a ‘native invader’, A. alnobetula does not display typical traits of biological invaders. Future experimental research on the interactions between A. alnobetula and components of the understorey would be particularly interesting in a severe environment that promotes facilitation among plants.     

Ecological filtering of exotic plants in an Australian sub‐alpine environment

We investigated some of the factors influencing exotic invasion of native sub‐alpine plant communities at a site in southeast Australia. Structure, floristic composition and invasibility of the plant communities and attributes of the invasive species were studied. To determine the plant characteristics correlated with invasiveness, we distinguished between roadside invaders, native community invaders and non‐invasive exotic species, and compared these groups across a range of traits including functional group, taxonomic affinity, life history, mating system and morphology. Poa grasslands and Eucalyptus‐Poa woodlands contained the largest number of exotic species, although all communities studied appeared resilient to invasion by most species. Most community invaders were broad‐leaved herbs while roadside invaders contained both herbs and a range of grass species. Over the entire study area the richness and cover of native and exotic herbaceous species were positively related, but exotic herbs were more negatively related to cover of specific functional groups (e.g. trees) than native herbs. Compared with the overall pool of exotic species, those capable of invading native plant communities were disproportionately polycarpic, Asteracean and cross‐pollinating. Our data support the hypothesis that strong ecological filtering of exotic species generates an exotic assemblage containing few dominant species and which functionally converges on the native assemblage. These findings contrast with those observed in the majority of invaded natural systems. We conclude that the invasion of closed sub‐alpine communities must be viewed in terms of the unique attributes of the invading species, the structure and composition of the invaded communities and the strong extrinsic physical and climatic factors typical of the sub‐alpine environment.     

Relationship between Degree of Dominance and Species Richness in Grass Communities with Different Productivities

The aim of this study is to test the assumption that the relationship between the degree of dominance and local species richness may be different in grass communities with different productivities. Alpine, subalpine, and low-mountain grasslands, as well as subalpine mires, alpine communities of low-snow habitats and those with long-term snow cover, steppe communities, and the grass layer of low-mountain forest communities of the Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia, are used as objects of research. The data on the phytomass of 419 plots with an area of 0.25 m² are studied. The results show that, the higher the mean productivity of communities is, the closer the relationship between the degree of dominance and species richness is, and the closest relationship is observed in meadow communities. Possible causes of these relationships are considered. It is reasonably suggested that this may be due to the features of the organization of plant communities with high and low productivity (in particular, high or low intensity of interspecific competition).     

禁牧对西藏亏祖山温性草原主要植物生态位及种间联结的影响

【目的】揭示禁牧处理对西藏亏祖山温性草原优势植物群落中主要植物物种的生态位和种间联结的影响,为青藏高原温性草原植物多样性保护和科学管理提供理论依据。【方法】采用“Levins”方法、方差比率法(V_r)、卡方检验、联结系数(A_c)和Ochiai(O_i)指数,对亏祖山温性草原优势植物群落中的8个主要植物物种进行分析。【结果】(1)禁牧增加了草沙蚕(Tripogon bromoides)、高山嵩草(Carex parvula)、白草(Pennisetum flaccidum)和丝颖针茅(Stipa capillacea)的生态位宽度和生态位重叠值。(2)研究区内禁牧处理的群落总体表现为负关联(V_r=0.43),自然放牧群落总体表现为正关联(V_r=1.21);χ²检验表明8个优势物种所组成的28个种对在禁牧和自然放牧处理下分别有67.9%和53.6%的种对表现出负联结性;联结系数A_c值表明,禁牧和自然放牧处理下分别有50%和42.9%的种对均...     

Role of topography and soils in grassland structuring at the landscape and community scales

The relative importance of abiotic factors in community assembly is debated and thought to be dependent on the scale. I investigated the relative role of topography and soils as structuring agents at the landscape and the community scales in 126 subalpine calcareous grasslands in the Pyrenees, in terms of species composition and abundance. I wished to know: (1) the role of abiotic factors in the organization of plant communities across the landscape; (2) how much of the variation in community distribution was accounted for by abiotic factors; and (3) how well their role applied to the distribution of dominant species at the landscape and the community scales. The hypothesis was: abiotic factors play an important role in community distribution in the landscape, but species interactions are more important within communities. Multivariate methods generated four communities, organized in two contrasting groups along the main vegetation axis, which explained 13% of the variation: mesic grasslands (Nardus stricta and Festuca nigrescens communities) and xeric grasslands (Carex humilis and Festuca gautieri communities). Mesic communities were more acidic and fertile than xeric communities. Changes in the abiotic environment, accounting for up to 80% of the variation in the vegetation, were smooth, while the transition between xeric and mesic grasslands was sharp in terms of species composition. The distribution in the landscape of the first main species from each community was closely related to abiotic factors, which modeled poorly the abundance of the main species at smaller scales. At the within-community scale, the explanatory power of biotic relationships was community dependent, producing the most significant models for plants highly dominant within their communities, such as N. stricta and F. gautieri. Contrary to current hypothesis, there was a shift from mainly positive relationships among dominant species in fertile mesic communities to mainly negative in infertile xeric ones.     

高寒草地植物物种多样性与功能多样性的关系

物种多样性与功能多样性的关系是生态学当前研究的热点问题之一,不同区域典型生态系统物种多样性和功能多样性的关系研究有利于生物多样性保护理论的全面发展。以青藏高原地区的主要草地生态系统—高寒草甸和高寒草原为研究对象,采用4个物种多样性指数(Patrick丰富度指数、Shannon-Weiner多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Simpson优势度指数)和9个功能多样性指数(FAD功能性状距离指数、MFAD功能性状平均距离指数、基于样地的FDp和基于群落的FDc功能树状图指数、FRic功能体积指数、FEve功能均匀度指数、Rao功能离散度常二次熵指数、FDiv功能离散指数、FDis功能分散指数),分析了高寒草地植物物种多样性、功能多样性关系及其与初级生产力的关系,以期阐明3个科学问题:不同草地类型的高寒草地生态系统植物物种多样性和功能多样性有何差异?高寒草地生态系统的植物物种多样性和功能多样性有何关系?高寒草地生态系统物种多样性、功能多样性对生态系统功能的影响有何异同?研究结果表明:(1)与高寒草原相比,高寒草甸具有更高的物种多样性、功能丰富度和功能离散度;(2)高寒草甸中,Patrick丰富度与功能丰富度指数(FAD、MFAD、FDp、FDc)和功能离散度指数(FDiv)的具有较强的相关性,最优拟合方程分别为幂函数和二次多项式函数;(3)高寒草原中,Patrick丰富度与功能丰富度指数(FAD、MFAD、FDp、FDc、FRic)、Shannon指数和Simpson指数与FEve指数的相关性较强,最优拟合方程为二次多项式函数,Pielou指数与FEve指数的相关性较强,最优拟合方程为指数函数;(4)高寒草甸的初级生产力分别与物种丰富度指数Patrick、功能离散指数FDiv具有较强的相关性;而高寒草原的初级生产力与4个物种多样性指数间均具有较强的相关性,与功能离散指数FDiv具有较强的相关性,最佳拟合方程均为二次多项式函数。研究的总体结论为:物种多样性、功能多样性、二者之间的关系以及二者与生态系统服务功能(以初级生产力为例)之间的关系在高寒草甸和高寒草原群落中表现迥异,因此在研究青藏高原高寒草地的生态功能时,不能仅仅测度传统的物种多样性,还应测度与物种多样性、生态功能密切相关的功能多样性。     

拉萨河谷草地群落的数量分类与排序

采用TWINSPAN数量分类和DCA、CCA排序的方法,对拉萨河谷草地23个样点进行统计分析。结果显示:(1)TWINSPAN数量分类将拉萨河谷草地群落划分成8种类型,拉萨河谷的草地群落分布呈现明显的垂直地带性分布格局。(2)TWINSPAN分类所划分的各群落在DCA排序图上都有各自的分布范围和界限,说明DCA排序能较好的反应各群落与其环境资源之间的关系,同时,TWINSPAN的分类结果也在排序图上得到较好的印证。(3)样点DCA排序的第一轴基本反映了海拔高度的变化梯度,第二轴基本反映了坡向的变化。(4)样点CCA排序表明,影响群落分布的主要环境因子是海拔,其次是坡向。CCA排序进一步阐明了拉萨河谷草地群落分布决定于海拔和坡向等环境因子,并间接验证了TWINSPAN的分类结果。(5)物种CCA排序和TWINSPAN分类结果表明:植物群落中物种的分布格局与植物群落类型的分布格局存在一定的相似性,物种的分布格局在很大程度上影响着群落的分布格局。     

Population strategies in severe environments: alpine plants in the northwestern Caucasus

Abstract. This study attempts to show a differentiation into strategy types among plant species of four alpine communities in the northwestern Caucasus, Russia. Four groups of population characteristics (traits) were examined: above-ground biomass, seed size, seed yield and occurrence of a persistent seed bank. In addition, values for relative growth rate and a morphology index were estimated. Agglomerative Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis were applied to a data set with 42 species from these communities and six species characteristics. In the Geranium gymnocaulon meadow, the most productive community, large gaps occur created by wild boars and bears. Here, the response of 13 species to disturbance was also analysed. Strategy types were approached both according to Grime: ‘competitive’, ‘ruderal’, ‘stress-tolerating’ and according to Ramensky, Rabotnov and Romanovsky: ‘violent’ ≈ dominant (V), ‘explerent’ ≈ explorative (E) and ‘patient’ ≈ endurant (P). Differentiation into strategy types was more obvious in productive alpine grasslands than in lichen heaths and snowbed communities. The grassland dominants Festuca varia, Geranium gymnocaulon and Hedysarum caucasicum showed a more or less ‘violent’ strategy. Species approaching an Estrategy, e.g. Matricaria caucasica, Sibbaldia procumbens and Gnaphalium supinum, were also found in the grasslands but prevailed in the snowbed communities. Species with a ‘patient’ strategy prevailed in the lichen heaths. We conclude that plant strategy types are well-differentiated, this is also seen in plant communities occurring under severe high-mountain conditions. We also suggest that the approaches by Grime and Ramensky/Rabotnov/Romanovsky are not so similar as has been assumed earlier and that the R/R/R types are better differentiated and ecologically better interpretable. We emphasize the gradient character of strategy ‘types’ and would characterize plant species by the degree of adaptation to conditions: (1) from small seed size and large persistent seed bank to large seed size and absence of a seed bank; (2) from high to low biomass and seed production, with relative growth rate as a less important partially correlated trait.     

三江源区“黑土滩”型退化草地人工恢复植物群落的演替动态

选取青藏高原三江源区"黑土滩"型退化草地上建植的人工草地为研究对象,对不同建植年限人工草地植物群落及其各功能群的物种组成、平均高度、盖度和地上生物量及植物多样性等进行实地调查和对比分析,探讨"黑土滩型"退化草地在人工恢复过程中植物群落组成和多样性变化,以期回答人工恢复的草地植物群落何时才能接近天然草地、人工恢复的时间阈值应为多长等问题,从而为三江源区"黑土滩"型退化草地的恢复重建提供科学的理论指导。研究结果表明:草地恢复前5年内,禾本科植物的数量大量增加,植物群落的高度增加了847.6%,植物群落盖度增加了134.5%;不同恢复年限的草地植物群落的多样性指数都有相似的变化趋势,恢复8年后植物群落组成达到阶段性的稳定状态,在恢复时间达16—18年后,逐渐向更稳定的状态转化;恢复18年的草地与天然草地植物群落的Jaccard及Sorensen相似度指数分别为0.596、0.747,Cody差异度指数为9.5。由此可见,建植人工草地的方式恢复退化草地,可在建植8年后达较好的恢复效果;恢复时间达16年以上的人工草地采取适度的调控措施,有利于其向天然草地恢复演替;建植18年的人工草地物种组成情况与天然草地最接近,但仍有差异。因此,"黑土滩"型退化草地的人工促进恢复,到未退化的状态至少需要18年以上。     

Floristic richness of three perhumid New Zealand alpine plant communities in comparison with other regions

Abstract Results are presented on vascular species richness in three representative alpine plant communities at 1040–1410 m on Mt Burns in the perhumid Fiordland region, a hotspot of alpine plant diversity, in south‐western South Island, New Zealand. Overall species richness was not dissimilar between the three communities in any of the eight plot sizes (mean values of 20.8–24.4 species in the largest plots of 100 m²), even though coefficients of floristic similarity were small (17.9; 23.5) between both low‐alpine communities (snow tussock‐shrubland and snow tussock grassland) and the high‐alpine cushion fellfield. Vascular species richness was generally similar to that in the few other oceanic New Zealand alpine communities for which data are available. The decline in richness from the low‐alpine to high‐alpine zones, revealed in more comprehensive records from two other regions with generally similar oceanic environments, was not recorded, indeed was reversed, on Mt Burns. Whether the recognized biodiversity hotspot of Fiordland has a generally richer high‐alpine flora than other regions in New Zealand needs further examination. The general pattern of alpine floristic richness in relation to elevation, in New Zealand, also prevails in most alpine regions abroad, usually under much more extreme continental environments. This pattern is usually ascribed to the associated decrease in temperature. Both the small size of the land mass and/or associated environmental conditions may be implicated but clarification awaits further data, preferably collected with standardized procedures.     

Nitrogen economy of alpine plants on the north Tibetan Plateau: Nitrogen conservation by resorption rather than open sources through biological symbiotic fixation

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors limiting plant productivity, and N fixation by legume species is an important source of N input into ecosystems. Meanwhile, N resorption from senescent plant tissues conserves nutrients taken up in the current season, which may alleviate ecosystem N limitation. N fixation was assessed by the ¹⁵N dilution technique in four types of alpine grasslands along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients. The N resorption efficiency (NRE) was also measured in these alpine grasslands. The aboveground biomass in the alpine meadow was 4–6 times higher than in the alpine meadow steppe, alpine steppe, and alpine desert steppe. However, the proportion of legume species to community biomass in the alpine steppe and the alpine desert steppe was significantly higher than the proportion in the alpine meadow. N fixation by the legume plants in the alpine meadow was 0.236 g N/m², which was significantly higher than N fixation in other alpine grasslands (0.041 to 0.089 g N/m²). The NRE in the alpine meadows was lower than in the other three alpine grasslands. Both the aboveground biomass and N fixation of the legume plants showed decreasing trends with the decline of precipitation and soil N gradients from east to west, while the NRE of alpine plants showed increasing trends along the gradients, which indicates that alpine plants enhance the NRE to adapt to the increasing droughts and nutrient‐poor environments. The opposite trends of N fixation and NRE along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients indicate that alpine plants adapt to precipitation and soil nutrient limitation by promoting NRE (conservative nutrient use by alpine plants) rather than biological N fixation (open sources by legume plants) on the north Tibetan Plateau.     

Asynchronous range shifts drive alpine plant–pollinator interactions and reduce plant fitness

Climate change is driving species' range shifts, which are in turn disrupting species interactions due to species‐specific differences in their abilities to migrate in response to climate. We evaluated the consequences of asynchronous range shifts in an alpine plant–pollinator community by transplanting replicated alpine meadow turfs downslope along an elevational gradient thereby introducing them to warmer climates and novel plant and pollinator communities. We asked how these novel plant–pollinator interactions affect plant reproduction. We found that pollinator communities differed substantially across the elevation/temperature gradient, suggesting that these plants will likely interact with different pollinator communities with warming climate. Contrary to the expectation that floral visitation would increase monotonically with warmer temperatures at lower elevations, visitation rate to the transplanted communities peaked under intermediate warming at midelevation sites. In contrast, visitation rate generally increased with temperature for the local, lower elevation plant communities surrounding the experimental alpine turfs. For two of three focal plant species in the transplanted high‐elevation community, reproduction declined at warmer sites. For these species, reproduction appears to be dependent on pollinator identity such that reduced reproduction may be attributable to decreased visitation from key pollinator species, such as bumble bees, at warmer sites. Reproduction in the third focal species appears to be primarily driven by overall pollinator visitation rate, regardless of pollinator identity. Taken together, the results suggest climate warming can indirectly affect plant reproduction via changes in plant–pollinator interactions. More broadly, the experiment provides a case study for predicting the outcome of novel species interactions formed under changing climates.