共查询到20条相似文献，搜索用时 15 毫秒
1.
Stefano Vitti Elisa Pellegrini Valentino Casolo Giacomo Trotta Francesco Boscutti 《Journal of Plant Ecology》2020,13(6):667
在陆地生态系统中,沿海沙丘特别容易受到外来植物的入侵。许多研究将沙丘生境的入侵归因于人为因素,但对土壤性质和植物性状在植物 入侵中的作用却知之甚少。本研究考察了沙丘系统土壤特征与外来植物入侵的关系,重点研究了土壤养分、土壤盐分和植物功能特征之间的相互作 用。研究地点是马拉诺和格拉多泻湖(北亚得里亚海)的沙质堰洲岛。根据沙丘系统生态梯度上的主要生境(前沙丘、后沙丘和盐沼),在10 个区域内选择100个地块(4 m × 4 m)。在每个地块中记录所有植物物种的发生和丰度,并收集一个土壤核。对每个土壤样品进行土壤质地、电导率(代表土壤盐 分)、有机碳和氮含量分析,并与本地和外来植物的种类数和覆盖度相关联。分析外来和本地物种主要的生殖功能和营养功能性状在生境中的变化。研究结果表明,土壤性质对外来物种库和本地物种库的影响不同,与植物整体多样性密切相关。在后沙丘(最易入侵)的生境中,高的土壤导电性限制了外来物种的数量,但土壤有机碳含量随着外来植物丰度的增加而增加,这也表明植物入侵与土壤之间存在潜在的反馈过程。只有在后沙丘生境中,随着环境条件的改善和植物竞争的加剧,本地植物和外来植物的功能性状谱有显著的趋同。本研究结果表明,在恶劣条件下,只有本地特有植物才能茁壮成长,而在中等条件下,土壤特性梯度与植物特性协同作用,抑制/促进外来植物丰富度。 相似文献
2.
Species' responses to climate change are variable and diverse, yet our understanding of how different responses (e.g. physiological, behavioural, demographic) relate and how they affect the parameters most relevant for conservation (e.g. population persistence) is lacking. Despite this, studies that observe changes in one type of response typically assume that effects on population dynamics will occur, perhaps fallaciously. We use a hierarchical framework to explain and test when impacts of climate on traits (e.g. phenology) affect demographic rates (e.g. reproduction) and in turn population dynamics. Using this conceptual framework, we distinguish four mechanisms that can prevent lower‐level responses from impacting population dynamics. Testable hypotheses were identified from the literature that suggest life‐history and ecological characteristics which could predict when these mechanisms are likely to be important. A quantitative example on birds illustrates how, even with limited data and without fully‐parameterized population models, new insights can be gained; differences among species in the impacts of climate‐driven phenological changes on population growth were not explained by the number of broods or density dependence. Our approach helps to predict the types of species in which climate sensitivities of phenotypic traits have strong demographic and population consequences, which is crucial for conservation prioritization of data‐deficient species. 相似文献
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Maya Mischa Daumal;Michio Oguro;Miki U. Ueda;Sakino Takayanagi;Tohru Nakashizuka;Hiroko Kurokawa; 《Oikos》2024,2024(11):e10532
The ‘home-field advantage (HFA)' for decomposition means that leaf litter decomposes faster on soils under the conspecific species (i.e. the home field) than on soils under different species (i.e. ‘away'). Many previous studies have demonstrated the HFA, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a reciprocal litter-decomposition experiment using two species with different leaf traits: Abies mariesii, an evergreen conifer, and Fagus crenata, a deciduous broad-leaved tree. Dominance of these species shifts along an elevation gradient with a transition zone where both species coexist. In mixed forests of the transition zone along the elevation gradient, we explored how the magnitude of HFA between these two species was influenced by temperature, soil properties, or leaf litter traits which could directly affect the decomposition rate. The magnitude of HFA observed between the two species varied widely from −3.89 to 28.3%. Our modeling showed that the magnitude of HFA increased with decreasing soil pH and leaf litter N, i.e. in more acidic soil and for less decomposable litter. Soil pH affected leaf litter decomposition in the home plots of each species, whereas leaf litter N did not. The magnitude of the HFA increased as the difference in soil pH between the F. crenata and A. mariesii plots at the same elevation became greater, but decreased as the difference in soil C became greater. Thus, the response of leaf litter decomposition to environmental changes might vary not only through direct effects of vegetation traits but also through indirect effects of the HFA. This highlights the importance of considering HFA for accurately predicting the response of local carbon and nutrient cycles to climate change, particularly in communities where a replacement of dominant species by others is expected due to climate change. 相似文献
5.
Bo Zhang Xiaozhen Lu Jiang Jiang Donald L. DeAngelis Zhiyuan Fu Jinchi Zhang 《Ecology and evolution》2017,7(12):4086-4098
The distribution of species and communities in relation to environmental heterogeneity is a central focus in ecology. Co‐occurrence of species with similar functional traits is an indication that communities are determined in part by environmental filters. However, few studies have been designed to test how functional traits are selectively filtered by environmental conditions at local scales. Exploring the relationship between soil characteristics and plant traits is a step toward understanding the filtering hypothesis in determining plant distribution at local scale. Toward this end, we mapped all individual trees (diameter >1 cm) in a one‐ha subtropical forest of China in 2007 and 2015. We measured topographic and detailed soil properties within the field site, as well as plant leaf functional traits and demographic rates of the seven most common tree species. A second one‐ha study plot was established in 2015, to test and validate the general patterns that were drawn from first plot. We found that variation in species distribution at local scale can be explained by soil heterogeneity and plant functional traits. (From first plot). (1) Species dominant in habitats with high soil ammonium nitrogen and total phosphorus tended to have high specific leaf area (SLA) and relative growth rate (RGR). (2) Species dominant in low‐fertility habitats tended to have high leaf dry matter content (LDMC), ratio of chlorophyll a and b (ratioab), and leaf thickness (LT). The hypothesis that functional traits are selected in part by environmental filters and determine plant distribution at local scale was confirmed by the data of the first plot and a second regional site showed similar species distribution patterns. 相似文献
6.
已有研究表明氮沉降可显著影响土壤线虫群落组成和多样性。然而,目前大多数研究集中在无机氮沉降的影响,而对于不同氮素形态对土壤线虫群落影响的研究还不是很清楚。利用运行5年的模拟氮沉降试验平台,开展了4个氮添加处理即对照(无氮添加,CK)、无机氮(硝酸铵,IN),有机氮(尿素和甘氨酸1∶1混合,ON)和混合氮(无机氮和有机氮7∶3混合,MN)添加对温带森林土壤线虫群落组成和多样性的影响研究,采用浅盘法分离线虫,土壤性质如p H、含水量、全碳全氮分别采用电位法、烘干法和元素分析仪法进行测定,应用营养类群组成、区系分析和代谢足迹分析不同形态氮沉降下土壤线虫群落结构特征。共分离线虫50个属,其中在CK样地中共发现29个属,在IN,ON和MN处理中分别发现线虫属37个,34个和29个,盘旋属Rotylenchus和大节片属Macroposthonia在所有处理中均为优势属。结果表明,与CK相比,IN处理、ON处理和MN处理均显著增加了土壤硝态氮含量。与无机氮相比,混合氮处理显著降低了食真菌线虫数量,有机氮处理显著增加了捕食杂食性线虫数量。与对照相比,无机氮处理显著增加了线虫多样性指数(H'),IN处理的均匀度指数(J)显著高于CK和MN处理,混合氮处理对应的优势度指数(λ)显著高于其他3个处理。在CK和ON处理,线虫的结构指数(SI)较高,富集指数(EI)较低,表明这两个处理的土壤受干扰程度较小,食物网处于结构化状态。在IN和MN处理,土壤线虫富集指数和结构指数均较高(50),表明食物网稳定成熟。食真菌线虫代谢足迹和生物量碳在无机氮处理最高。有机氮和混合氮处理显著增加了捕食杂食性线虫代谢足迹和生物量碳。以上结果表明,不同氮素形态不仅对土壤线虫群落组成产生了影响,而且其代谢足迹也发生了显著的变化,这一结果有助于揭示温带森林对氮沉降的响应机制。 相似文献
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Diego Raymundo Caroline Elisabeth Randlev Lehmann Norberto Emídio de Oliveira-Neto Vitor Campana Martini Monize Altomare Jamir Prado-Junior Paulo Eugênio Oliveira 《植被学杂志》2023,34(2):e13178
Questions : Woody encroachment in savannas has been associated with changing taxonomic composition and ecosystem function. Interestingly, there is little understanding of how encroachment impacts plant functional diversity and how those changes relate to plant demography, a crucial mediator between taxonomic composition and ecosystem function. Location : Southeastern Brazil. Methods: Using a landscape scale fire suppression experiment in a diverse Brazilian savanna, we quantify how change in species composition over seven years impacted vegetative and reproductive tree functional diversity as determined by new recruits, dead and surviving trees. Results: Over seven years, tree above-ground biomass increased by 15%, while total species richness did not change. Despite minor changes, species composition remained overall similar (82%), with few species contributing significantly to plot dissimilarity over time. There were small changes in vegetative traits, where the community-weighted mean increased in maximum tree height (↑ 2.1%) and specific leaf area (↑ 5.3%), and decreased in wood density (↓ 1.3%) and bark thickness (↓ 9.4%). Changes in reproductive traits were larger than in vegetative traits, with an increase in the prevalence of monoecy (↑ 32.6%), dioecy (↑ 44.2%), large seeds (↑ 20.3%), animal-mediated seed dispersal (↑ 4.9%) and pollination by very small insects (↑ 45.5%), and a decrease in the prevalence of hermaphroditism (↓ 9%), small seeds (6.8%) and pollination by small insects (12.5%). The overall decrease in bark thickness and increase in monoecy and dioecy were mainly driven by characters of the new recruits, while the overall increase in specific leaf area (SLA) and decrease in small seeds appeared largely determined by the loss of trees possessing those traits. Conclusions: Encroachment leads to changes that are likely increasing ecosystem vulnerability to fire and drought. Further, the compositional changes observed appear to drive marked change in reproductive traits, indicating increasing dependence on animals for dispersal and reproduction. Understanding post-hoc encroachment impacts in an era of widespread pervasive encroachment is fundamental to reconciling ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and pollination services as there is a loss of species with open ecosystem life-history strategies. Among savannas, there remains an urgent need to understand relationships between woody cover and ecosystem function to determine thresholds in woody cover promoting resilient savanna ecosystems. 相似文献
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Fiona Jevon Ashley Lang Matthew Ayres Jaclyn Hatala Matthes 《American journal of botany》2021,108(10):1861-1872
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Arthur Escalas Lauren Hale James W. Voordeckers Yunfeng Yang Mary K. Firestone Lisa Alvarez‐Cohen Jizhong Zhou 《Ecology and evolution》2019,9(20):12000-12016
Functional diversity is increasingly recognized by microbial ecologists as the essential link between biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning, determining the trophic relationships and interactions between microorganisms, their participation in biogeochemical cycles, and their responses to environmental changes. Consequently, its definition and quantification have practical and theoretical implications. In this opinion paper, we present a synthesis on the concept of microbial functional diversity from its definition to its application. Initially, we revisit to the original definition of functional diversity, highlighting two fundamental aspects, the ecological unit under study and the functional traits used to characterize it. Then, we discuss how the particularities of the microbial world disallow the direct application of the concepts and tools developed for macroorganisms. Next, we provide a synthesis of the literature on the types of ecological units and functional traits available in microbial functional ecology. We also provide a list of more than 400 traits covering a wide array of environmentally relevant functions. Lastly, we provide examples of the use of functional diversity in microbial systems based on the different units and traits discussed herein. It is our hope that this paper will stimulate discussions and help the growing field of microbial functional ecology to realize a potential that thus far has only been attained in macrobial ecology. 相似文献
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土壤微生物群落功能如何响应凋落物物种组成的改变,对于指导我国的人工林种植具有重要意义。通过小盆模拟试验,用BIOLOG微平板培养的方法研究了南方红壤丘陵区典型物种马尾松和湿地松的凋落物分别与白栎和青冈的凋落物混合,与单一针叶凋落物分解时相比,针阔混合凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落功能多样性的差异。结果表明：(1)针叶和阔叶混合分解提高了土壤微生物群落碳代谢的强度、丰富度以及多样性,针阔混合凋落物分解时土壤微生物群落的碳源代谢方式与单一针叶分解时差异显著;(2)凋落物分解前期土壤微生物群落碳代谢强度、丰富度和多样性与凋落物初始C/N呈显著负相关,分解后期土壤微生物群落碳代谢强度与凋落物初始木质素/N比呈显著负相关,碳代谢多样性与初始P含量呈显著正相关;(3)通过改变凋落物物种组成,进而改变凋落物元素组成(C/N、木质素/N和P),能显著影响土壤微生物群落的碳代谢强度和代谢多样性。在南方红壤丘陵区,针-阔叶混合的凋落物比单一针叶凋落物更有利于提高土壤微生物群落的功能。 相似文献
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研究不同功能群植物性状差异及其与土壤环境关系对于充分掌握植物的环境适应策略至关重要。以艾比湖流域为研究区,利用荒漠植物的植物高度、叶片碳、氮、磷、硫、钾、钙、钠、镁含量等9个性状,将高、低土壤水盐环境下的植物划分为5个功能群,分析不同功能群的植物组成、性状差异及其与土壤环境的关系。结果表明：(1)不同土壤水盐环境下,其植物功能群组成不同;其中白刺、胡杨和罗布麻在两个土壤水盐环境下的功能群中均存在。(2)植物的功能性状在不同土壤水盐环境下也发生了适应性的变化。高土壤水盐环境下3个功能群的植物高度、叶片碳、氮、磷和钙含量显著高于低土壤水盐环境功能群(P<0.05);低土壤水盐环境下2个功能群的植物叶片硫、钠和镁含量高于高土壤水盐环境功能群。(3)土壤含水量(SVWC)、电导率(EC)、pH以及土壤磷含量对荒漠植物功能性状影响较大。在高土壤水盐环境下,EC、pH与植物高度,叶片钾、钙含量正相关,与叶片硫含量负相关;在低土壤水盐环境下,SVWC、EC与植物高度呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。研究有助于理解荒漠植物对极端环境的适应对策,为保护荒漠地区生物多样性提供理论依据。 相似文献
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Cristina Gasperini Elisa Carrari Sanne Govaert Camille Meeussen Karen De Pauw Jan Plue Pieter Sanczuk Thomas Vanneste Pieter Vangansbeke Giovanni Iacopetti Pieter De Frenne Federico Selvi 《应用植被学》2023,26(3):e12739
Aim
The soil seed bank is a key component of the biodiversity of plant communities, but various aspects of its functioning in temperate forest ecosystems are still unknown. We here adopted a trait-based approach to investigate the effects of macro- and microclimatic gradients on the juvenile plant communities from the realized seed bank of two types of European temperate forest.Location
Oak-dominated forests in Italy and Belgium.Methods
We analysed the variation of key functional traits (plant height, leaf area, leaf dry weight, specific leaf area and leaf number) of juvenile plants from the realised soil seed bank in relation to elevation (from 0 to 800 m a.s.l.), forest type (thinned and unthinned forest) and distance to the forest edge. We translocated soil samples from the forest core to the edge (and vice versa) and from high- to low-elevation forests to test the effects of edge and warming respectively.Results
Taller communities developed at the forest edge due to higher light availability and warmer temperatures. The translocation from the core to the edge did not significantly modify mean trait values. Instead, the shadier and cooler microclimate of the forest core reduced the mean leaf area, mean dry weight, height and leaf number in the communities realised from the edge soil. The translocation from high- to lowland forests led to increased values for all traits (except specific leaf area). Edge vs core trait variation was more driven by intraspecific variability, whereas the translocation from high- to low-elevation forests caused trait changes mostly due to species turnover.Conclusions
Global warming might result in a functional shift of the understorey due to both an early filtering effect on the seedlings from soil seed banks and their adaptive trait adjustments to temperature increase. Furthermore, our study underpins the importance of edge vs core microclimate in driving the functional composition of the realised soil seed bank. 相似文献14.
研究植物功能性状的分异,有助于理解植物适应环境的方式和策略,也能为预测物种分布和环境变化提供依据。以海南霸王岭热带云雾林为对象,建立21个20 m×20 m固定样方,划分为336个5 m×5 m小样方;测定胸径在5cm以上所有乔灌木植物个体的功能性状(叶面积LA;叶干重LDW;比叶重LMA;叶绿素含量Chl;叶厚度LTh;木材密度WD)和土壤养分含量,通过方差分解分析植物功能性状在个体、种内、种间、群落水平的分异大小,探究土壤养分对功能性状分异的影响。结果表明,LA、LDW、LMA、CHl、LTh、WD在个体、种内、种间、群落水平的解释方差范围分别为0.06—0.47、0.09—0.35、0.35—0.72、0—0.07,在个体、种内、种间、群落层次上,种间水平的功能性状分异最大,而群落水平的分异最小。逐步回归分析表明,不同尺度的功能性状变化与土壤有机质、氮和磷含量都有密切关系。 相似文献
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This study aimed to investigate whether soil water dynamics differ along a tree species diversity gradient. The 12 study plots in the Hainich National Park, Germany, were composed of up to 11 tree species. Fagus sylvatica formed the monospecific plots. Mixed forest plots consisted of a variable admixture of other broad‐leaved deciduous tree species such as Tilia spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Carpinus betulus, and Acer pseudoplatanus. Volumetric soil water content and soil water potential were measured for about two and a half years. Overall patterns of soil water dynamics were similar in all study plots. However, during a desiccation period in summer 2006, significant correlations between soil water in the upper soil and tree species diversity of the 12 study plots were observed. At the beginning of this period, soil water was extracted at higher rates in the species‐rich plots than in the beech‐dominated plots. However, later during the desiccation period, when atmospheric evaporative demand was higher, only the beech‐dominated stands were able to increase soil water extraction. In plots of high tree species diversity, soil water reserves were already low and soil water extraction reduced. Possible explanations for high water extraction rates in mixed species plots at the beginning of the desiccation period include species‐specific characteristics such as high maximum water use rate of some species, enhanced exploitation of soil water resources in mixed stands (complementarity effect), and additional water use of the herb layer, which increased along the tree species diversity gradient. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
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Tong Wang;Haifang Li;Xue Yang;Zeyu Zhang;Shengwen Liu;Jinming Yang;Huicui Lu;Shimei Li;Mingyan Li;Xiao Guo;Yuwu Li; 《Ecology and evolution》2024,14(5):e11398
Forest plantations most likely promote exotic plant invasion. Using an in situ monitoring method, this study investigated the traits correlated with growth and reproduction of an understory invader, Phytolacca americana L., and ecological factors including understory irradiance, soil stoichiometry and microbial patterns associated with these traits in different exotic plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Pinus thunbergii Parl. at Mount Lao, Qingdao, China. We found that the traits of P. americana underneath the R. pseudoacacia stand might be situated at the fast side of the trait economic spectrum. The R. pseudoacacia stand appeared to “nurse” P. americana. Furthermore, we intended to explain the nurse effects of R. pseudoacacia stands by examining their ecological factors. First, the R. pseudoacacia stand created understory light attenuation, which matched the sciophilous feature of P. americana. Second, the soil beneath the R. pseudoacacia stand might benefit P. americana more since the soil has greater resource availability. Third, a higher microbial diversity was found in the soil derived from P. americana underneath the R. pseudoacacia stand. A greater abundance of plant pathogens was detected in the soil derived from P. americana in the R. pseudoacacia stand, while more abundant mycorrhizal fungi were detected in the P. thunbergii stand. We speculate that plant pathogens can defend P. americana from aggression from other understory competitors. The mycorrhizal fungi in the P. thunbergii stand might benefit P. americana while simultaneously benefiting other understory plants. Intensive competition from other plants might interfere with P. americana. The potential relationships between plant performance and ecological factors may explain the invasion mechanism of P. americana. The present study provides a novel insight on the facilitative effects of exotic tree plantation on an exotic herb through the modification of soil biota, with implications for the biocontrol of invasive species and forest management and conservation. 相似文献
17.
研究群落演替过程中植物功能性状与土壤含水量的关系, 揭示植物对水分供给变化的响应策略, 具有重要的生态学意义。该研究以浙江东部天童山、南山和双峰山的3个常绿阔叶林演替系列为对象, 旨在探索不同演替阶段常见植物的功能性状与森林群落土壤含水量的相互关系。研究结果显示: 森林演替中后期的树木高度、树冠面积、叶片干物质含量显著大于演替前期植物; 相反, 叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率随演替进程而降低。随森林演替, 表层土壤(0-20 cm)的含水量显著增加, 深层土壤(20-40 cm)含水量随演替进程增加但不显著。表层土壤含水量与树木高度、树冠面积和叶片干物质含量显著正相关, 与叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率显著负相关; 深层土壤含水量与树冠面积显著正相关, 与叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率显著负相关。树木高度、树冠面积、叶片干物质含量、叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均可解释土壤含水量随演替进程的变化趋势, 而冠长比对土壤水分变化的响应最为敏感。 相似文献
18.
为探究湿地土壤微生物对季节性水位变化的响应关系,以鄱阳湖湿地土壤为研究对象,在2014年3、6、10及2015年1月4个季节采集了3个不同高程样带的土壤样品,对土壤微生物基础呼吸、生物量及胞外酶等活性进行了测定。研究结果表明:(1)季节性水位变化不仅显著改变了土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、有效磷等含量,也使得微生物量碳和4种水解酶β-葡萄糖苷酶、β-木糖苷酶、N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶、磷酸酶活性表现出夏冬季较高、秋季最低的动态变化,而2种氧化酶酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶的表现正好相反。(2)水位高程和地上植被类型同样对土壤微生物产生了显著影响,表现为南荻样带有较高营养元素含量和微生物活性。(3)一些土壤理化指标(含水量、铵态氮、有机碳、有效磷等)与微生物活性(微生物量、基础呼吸、酶活)显著相关;季节水位变化对微生物活性的影响大于高程差异。研究结果表明水位波动对湿地土壤微生物活性产生了重要影响,鄱阳湖水文节律的改变将影响到湿地土壤的正常生态功能。 相似文献
19.
探究植物叶功能性状随降水梯度的变化规律,对揭示干旱区优势植物对环境变化的响应和适应策略至关重要。以盐池荒漠草原为研究对象,采用遮雨棚和喷灌系统控制降水梯度,分析了优势植物蒙古冰草（Agropyron mongolicum）、短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）及达乌里胡枝子（Lespedeza davurica）叶功能性状变异,以及土壤水分、养分和微生物特性与响应性状间的相关关系。结果表明：HW（增水50%）处理下3个植物LA（叶面积）、LDMC（干物质含量）显著增大,LW处理（减水50%）下短花针茅和达乌里胡枝子LA、LDMC显著减小,降水处理对短花针茅和达乌里胡枝子SLA（比叶面积）影响不显著,LW处理显著提高了蒙古冰草SLA;LW处理显著提高了蒙古冰草和短花针茅LNC（叶氮含量）和LPC（叶磷含量）;HW显著降低了土壤C、N含量,LW和HW均显著减少了真菌数量,而放线菌数量、微生物生物量C、N显著增加;3种优势植物LA均与土壤水分显著正相关,蒙古冰草和短花针茅通过提高SLA、LNC及LNP来适应干旱生境,蒙古冰草和短花针茅LNC及LNP是表征土壤P、微生物生物量有效性的关键指标,达乌里胡枝子通过自我调节养分利用策略来适应C、N、P含量和微生物活性较低的生境,从而决定其在群落中的优势地位。 相似文献
20.
Andrea C. Westerband Ian J. Wright Vincent Maire Jennifer Paillassa Iain Colin Prentice Owen K. Atkin Keith J. Bloomfield Lucas A. Cernusak Ning Dong Sean M. Gleason Caio Guilherme Pereira Hans Lambers Michelle R. Leishman Yadvinder Malhi Rachael H. Nolan 《Global Change Biology》2023,29(3):856-873
“Least-cost theory” posits that C3 plants should balance rates of photosynthetic water loss and carboxylation in relation to the relative acquisition and maintenance costs of resources required for these activities. Here we investigated the dependency of photosynthetic traits on climate and soil properties using a new Australia-wide trait dataset spanning 528 species from 67 sites. We tested the hypotheses that plants on relatively cold or dry sites, or on relatively more fertile sites, would typically operate at greater CO2 drawdown (lower ratio of leaf internal to ambient CO2, Ci:Ca) during light-saturated photosynthesis, and at higher leaf N per area (Narea) and higher carboxylation capacity (Vcmax 25) for a given rate of stomatal conductance to water vapour, gsw. These results would be indicative of plants having relatively higher water costs than nutrient costs. In general, our hypotheses were supported. Soil total phosphorus (P) concentration and (more weakly) soil pH exerted positive effects on the Narea–gsw and Vcmax 25–gsw slopes, and negative effects on Ci:Ca. The P effect strengthened when the effect of climate was removed via partial regression. We observed similar trends with increasing soil cation exchange capacity and clay content, which affect soil nutrient availability, and found that soil properties explained similar amounts of variation in the focal traits as climate did. Although climate typically explained more trait variation than soil did, together they explained up to 52% of variation in the slope relationships and soil properties explained up to 30% of the variation in individual traits. Soils influenced photosynthetic traits as well as their coordination. In particular, the influence of soil P likely reflects the Australia's geologically ancient low-relief landscapes with highly leached soils. Least-cost theory provides a valuable framework for understanding trade-offs between resource costs and use in plants, including limiting soil nutrients. 相似文献