Plant diversity drives soil microbial biomass carbon in grasslands irrespective of global environmental change factors

Soil microbial biomass is a key determinant of carbon dynamics in the soil. Several studies have shown that soil microbial biomass significantly increases with plant species diversity, but it remains unclear whether plant species diversity can also stabilize soil microbial biomass in a changing environment. This question is particularly relevant as many global environmental change (GEC) factors, such as drought and nutrient enrichment, have been shown to reduce soil microbial biomass. Experiments with orthogonal manipulations of plant diversity and GEC factors can provide insights whether plant diversity can attenuate such detrimental effects on soil microbial biomass. Here, we present the analysis of 12 different studies with 14 unique orthogonal plant diversity × GEC manipulations in grasslands, where plant diversity and at least one GEC factor (elevated CO₂, nutrient enrichment, drought, earthworm presence, or warming) were manipulated. Our results show that higher plant diversity significantly enhances soil microbial biomass with the strongest effects in long‐term field experiments. In contrast, GEC factors had inconsistent effects with only drought having a significant negative effect. Importantly, we report consistent non‐significant effects for all 14 interactions between plant diversity and GEC factors, which indicates a limited potential of plant diversity to attenuate the effects of GEC factors on soil microbial biomass. We highlight that plant diversity is a major determinant of soil microbial biomass in experimental grasslands that can influence soil carbon dynamics irrespective of GEC.     

Plant diversity positively affects short‐term soil carbon storage in experimental grasslands

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration and related climate change have stimulated much interest in the potential of soils to sequester carbon. In ‘The Jena Experiment’, a managed grassland experiment on a former agricultural field, we investigated the link between plant diversity and soil carbon storage. The biodiversity gradient ranged from one to 60 species belonging to four functional groups. Stratified soil samples were taken to 30 cm depth from 86 plots in 2002, 2004 and 2006, and organic carbon contents were determined. Soil organic carbon stocks in 0–30 cm decreased from 7.3 kg C m^?2 in 2002 to 6.9 kg C m^?2 in 2004, but had recovered to 7.8 kg C m^?2 by 2006. During the first 2 years, carbon storage was limited to the top 5 cm of soil while below 10 cm depth, carbon was lost probably as short‐term effect of the land use change. After 4 years, carbon stocks significantly increased within the top 20 cm. More importantly, carbon storage significantly increased with sown species richness (log‐transformed) in all depth segments and even carbon losses were significantly smaller with higher species richness. Although increasing species diversity increased root biomass production, statistical analyses revealed that species diversity per se was more important than biomass production for changes in soil carbon. Below 20 cm depth, the presence of one functional group, tall herbs, significantly reduced carbon losses in the beginning of the experiment. Our analysis indicates that plant species richness and certain plant functional traits accelerate the build‐up of new carbon pools within 4 years. Additionally, higher plant diversity mitigated soil carbon losses in deeper horizons. This suggests that higher biodiversity might lead to higher soil carbon sequestration in the long‐term and therefore the conservation of biodiversity might play a role in greenhouse gas mitigation.     

Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration in contrasting biomes

Plant functional traits control a variety of terrestrial ecosystem processes, including soil carbon storage which is a key component of the global carbon cycle. Plant traits regulate net soil carbon storage by controlling carbon assimilation, its transfer and storage in belowground biomass, and its release from soil through respiration, fire and leaching. However, our mechanistic understanding of these processes is incomplete. Here, we present a mechanistic framework, based on the plant traits that drive soil carbon inputs and outputs, for understanding how alteration of vegetation composition will affect soil carbon sequestration under global changes. First, we show direct and indirect plant trait effects on soil carbon input and output through autotrophs and heterotrophs, and through modification of abiotic conditions, which need to be considered to determine the local carbon sequestration potential. Second, we explore how the composition of key plant traits and soil biota related to carbon input, release and storage prevail in different biomes across the globe, and address the biome-specific mechanisms by which plant trait composition may impact on soil carbon sequestration. We propose that a trait-based approach will help to develop strategies to preserve and promote carbon sequestration.     

豫西丘陵坡地弃耕农田植被演替对土壤碳、氮库的影响

在豫西丘陵坡地弃耕农田中,设置一个时间梯度为1,3,8,15,25 a的弃耕演替系列,调查其群落数量特征、物种组成、植被与土壤的碳、氮储量,分析群落的自然次生演替过程,并探讨土壤碳库与氮库对植物群落演替的响应机制。结果表明,弃耕农田群落演替缓慢,阶段性不明显,大致可划分为一、二年生草本→多年生草本+灌木两个阶段。定植物种的多样性变化与附近的原生植被有关。在25 a的演替进程中,草本植物始终占据优势,旱生植物数量约是中生植物的4倍,C3植物数量逐渐增多;群落α多样性指数呈先增大后减小趋势,Margalef丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数与Shannon-Wiener综合多样性指数最大值分别为1.53、0.95、2.18,表明弃耕农田的自然演替促使群落结构更加复杂并趋向稳定。群落植物的碳、氮储量随着生物量的增加而增加,在25 a时分别达到313.14 g/m~2和11.69 g/m~2。土壤碳储量与氮储量的变化相反,在演替后期(25 a)土壤碳储量增加到960.98 g/m~2,而氮储量则降低至27.08 g/m~2,表明豫西弃耕农田土壤具有"固碳放氮"的生态现象。RDA分析表明,群落盖度、密度和生物量是影响土壤碳、氮储量的主要因子。从群落的生态功能变化分析,按照弃耕演替时间推进,土壤碳储量逐渐增大,有利于生态系统碳固定;而土壤氮库的缩减则不利于群落的稳定,建议增加群落中豆科植物的丰富度,从而促进土壤氮素固定,缓解氮素流失。     

森林碳库特征及驱动因子分析研究进展

森林碳库作为全球碳库的重要组成部分,在区域以及全球碳循环中发挥重要作用。森林生态系统有机碳库主要由3部分组成:活植物碳库、土壤有机质碳库和死植物体碳库。各碳库时空差异很大,使研究森林碳储存机制存在很大的不确定性。在全球或者区域尺度上,森林生物量(与森林碳储量密切相关)呈现出清晰的分布格局,但对于这些格局的驱动因子与地上生物量的相关关系和尺度外推程度尚有很大的争议。分别讨论了气候、土壤、地形和生物因子对地上生物量的影响;而后,从各生态因子与地上生物量之间的直接或者间接关系入手,分析了各因子与生物量之间的交互作用,认为目前运用相同的处理方式来研究环境因子和生物因子对森林生物量的影响是不合适的。文章最后介绍两种新的研究方法:层次模型和生境分类,以期用来重新评估生态因子对森林生物量的影响,有助于更准确的了解森林碳储存机制。     

Spatial and temporal distribution of carbon isotopes in soil organic matter at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, South China

The spatial and temporal distribution of carbon isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁴C) in soil organic matter (SOM) were studied based on SOM content, SOM ¹⁴C and SOM ¹³C of thinly layered soil samples for six soil profiles with different elevations at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve (DHSBR), South China. The results indicate that variations of SOM ¹³C with depth of the soil profiles at different elevations are controlled by soil development, and correlate well with SOM composition in terms of SOM compartments with different turnover rates, and SOM turnover processes at the DHSBR. The effect of carbon isotope fractionation was obvious during transformation of organic matter (OM) from plant debris to SOM in topsoil and SOM turnover processes after the topsoil was buried, which resulted in great increments of OM ¹³C, respectively. Increments of SOM ¹³C of topsoil from ¹³C of plant debris were controlled by SOM turnover rates. Both topsoil SOM ¹³C and plant debris ¹³C increase with elevation, indicating regular changes in vegetation species and composition with elevation, which is consistent with the vertical distribution of vegetation at the DHSBR. The six soil profiles at different elevations had similar characteristics in variations of SOM ¹³C with depth, alterations of SOM contents with depth and that SOM ¹⁴C apparent ages increasing with depth, respectively. These are presumably attributed to the regular distribution of different SOM compartments with depth because of their regular turnover during soil development. Depth with the maximal SOM ¹³C value is different in mechanism and magnitude with penetrating depth of ¹⁴C produced by nuclear explosion into atmosphere from 1952 to 1962, and both indicate controls of topography and vegetation on the distribution of SOM carbon isotopes with depth. Elevation exerts indirect controls on the spatial and temporal distribution of SOM carbon isotopes of the studied mountainous soil profiles at the DHSBR. This study shows that mountainous soil profiles at different elevations and with distinctive aboveground vegetation are presumably ideal sites for studies on soil carbon dynamics in different climatic-vegetation zones.     

黄河流域陆地生态系统碳储量测算及其影响因素

准确估算陆地生态系统碳储量,科学制定生态环境保护和土地利用政策,对促进区域低碳可持续发展,实现"碳中和"目标具有重要意义。基于大量碳密度样点数据,将其与生态地理分区和土地利用类型图空间叠置,采用克里金插值法得到黄河流域碳密度空间分布数据集。应用InVEST模型对2000年、2010年和2020年黄河流域陆地生态系统碳储量的时空演变测度,提高了碳储量估算结果的准确性。利用Pearson相关性分析和多尺度地理加权回归模型(MGWR)对自然、社会经济和景观格局指数等因素对县级行政单元尺度单位面积碳储量的影响进行分析。主要结论如下:(1)黄河流域碳密度空间分布呈西部大于东部、东部地区自东南向西北递减的格局;(2)2000-2020年黄河流域陆地生态系统碳储量增加0.02%(7.011×10⁹-7.012×10⁹t),空间分布与碳密度相同,空间集聚特征显著,"高高集聚区"主要分布在黄河上游西南部的青藏高原地区, "低低集聚区"主要分布在黄河上游北部和黄河下游大部分地区;(3)Pearson相关性分析得出与碳储量呈正相关的影响因素为Pr(降水)、NDVI(归一化植被指数)和Slope(坡度);呈负相关的影响因素为TEM(温度)、HAI(人类影响指数)、SHDI(香农多样性指数)、DN(夜间灯光数据像素值)和PPOD(人口密度)。(4)MGWR模型得出TEM、Pr、NDVI和SHDI空间异质性强,HAI在2010年后异质性强;Slope空间异质性中等;DN和PPOD为全局尺度变量,空间影响平稳;(5)MGWR模型得出NDVI对黄河流域县级单位面积碳储量作用强度最大。NDVI、Slope对县级单位面积碳储量的影响呈正效应,TEM、HAI、DN和PPOD呈负效应,Pr、SHDI呈正、负双向效应。     

农田作物同化碳输入与周转的生物地球化学过程

作物同化碳在“大气-植物-土壤”系统中流通的生物地球化学过程,显著影响全球陆地生态系统碳循环过程。作物同化碳是土壤有机碳的重要来源,与根际环境及作物生长发育有密切联系,但由于其复杂性和多变性,作物生长期内同化碳在土壤中的分配、转化与稳定的机理尚不十分清楚。因此,综述了作物同化碳向土壤碳库输入及其对土壤有机碳库的贡献,在土壤碳库中的分配与转化特征,在土壤中流通的微生物机制以及同化碳在土壤-微生物系统分配、稳定的微观机制。探讨同化碳在地上部-根际-土壤系统中的分配及调节机制,土壤界面同化碳流动过程与土壤微生物多样性形成的关系;提出了在不同生态系统尺度上加强作物同化碳在土壤-作物系统中分配过程的定量研究对于明确陆地生态碳循环过程的重要意义;指出了研究作物同化碳向土壤碳库迁移、分配定量过程与机制的重要性,以及应用显微镜成像技术与同位素示踪技术相结合的纳米二次离子质谱技术、和微生物分子与群落生态相偶联的技术是未来研究作物同化碳生物地球化学特性的有效手段。     

增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物功能基因丰度的影响

为探讨温度升高和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物的影响,于2017年7月采集多年冻土区泥炭地表层(0—10 cm和10—20 cm)土壤样品,在10、15℃两个温度下开展为期42d的增温模拟试验,同时设置葡萄糖添加处理,利用荧光定量PCR技术分析泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度变化,同时分析增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤活性碳组分和无机氮含量的影响。结果表明:温度升高可导致北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度以及群落结构变化,0—10 cm土壤微生物比10—20 cm土壤微生物更加敏感。增温条件下微生物首先快速分解活性有机碳,同时温度升高加快土壤氮周转速率,增加有效氮含量。外源碳输入整体提高了深层土壤微生物丰度,使得10—20 cm土壤细菌、产甲烷菌、甲烷氧化菌、氨氧化细菌以及反硝化细菌丰度显著增加,说明外源碳输入可能会促进10—20 cm土壤甲烷氧化过程、氨氧化过程和反硝化过程。温度和葡萄糖的交互作用对泥炭地表层土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度均有显著影响。在增温和外源碳输入条件下,北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度受土壤碳氮活性基质的影响。     

菌渣化肥配施对稻田土壤微生物量碳氮和可溶性碳氮的影响

菌渣作为一种养分丰富的有机物料还田,可减少化肥施用,同时保持土壤肥力;而土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性碳、氮是土壤活性碳氮库的重要组成部分,其含量和比例变化对土壤肥力均具有重要作用。因此,探讨不同比例菌渣化肥配施对土壤微生物量碳、氮及可溶性碳、氮的影响,评价菌渣在优化土壤肥力方面的生态作用具有重要意义。本研究在水稻田间定位试验条件下,设置3个化肥水平(C) 0%、50%、100%,菌渣相对用量(F) 0%、50%、100%,共9个处理,分析了各处理土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)和可溶性碳(DOC)、氮(DON)的变化特征,及其占土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)的比例与相关关系。结果表明:菌渣化肥配施后,微生物量碳和可溶性碳、氮均在C100F50最高,微生物量氮在C50F100最高,与不施肥处理相比,分别显著增加了49.40%、43.65%、83.52%、207.19%;MBC/SOC和DOC/SOC均随着菌渣化肥配施量的增加而减少,MBN/TN和DON/TN均在C100F50最高。相关分析表明,MBC、DOC与SOC,MBN与TN均呈极显著正相关,DON和TN呈显著正相关。总体来讲,菌渣化肥配施能够显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性碳、氮含量,但不是随着用量的增加一直呈增加趋势,高量菌渣或者化肥下会有降低趋势;菌渣化肥配施降低了土壤微生物量和可溶性碳氮比,因此适宜的菌渣化肥配施是提高土壤有机碳周转速度、微生物活性及其氮素供应能力和有效性的最佳选择。     

Identifying the functional groups and the influence of synthetic chelators on Cd availability and microbial biomass carbon in Cd-contaminated soil

Synthetic chelators play an important role in boosting the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and heavy metal solubility in a contaminated soil toward a sustainability of environment for agricultural crops. Castor plant was grown under different levels of Cd contaminated soil (?Cd and +Cd) following adding three chelating agents, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H₄EDTA), nitriloacetic acid (H₃ NTA), and NH₄ citrate (ammonium citrate) to the soil at rates of 10, 15, and 25 mmol in 5 kg of soil per pot. The highest bioavailable Cd concentrations in soil and castor plant were obtained from NH₄ citrate and H₄EDTA treatments in the contaminated soil. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that NH₄ citrate was the most effective chelator in Cd-contaminated soil. MBC and DOC contents were significantly increased and reached at 81.98–80.37 and 1.96–1.90 mg kg^?1 respectively, in the (H₃ NTA) and NH₄ citrate treatments in Cd-contaminated soil. Further research is needed to investigate the use of chelators in the phytoextraction of Cd-contaminated soils under field conditions and whether it may be beneficial in accelerating the phytoextraction of Cd through hyperaccumulating plants.     

高寒草原不同植物群落地上-地下生物量碳分布格局

高寒草原具有独特的自然生境和生物资源,对高寒草原开展系统研究对于减缓气候变化与草原恢复具有重要实践意义。以往研究主要针对高寒草原生物量碳开展整体评估,缺乏对不同群落类型间的定量比较。本文分析了高寒草原10种主要典型植物群落地上-地下生物量碳分布格局以及对总生物量碳的贡献差异。结果表明:高寒草原面积为167.33×10⁶hm²,总生物量碳为1.53 Pg(1 Pg=10¹⁵g),其中地上生物量碳0.19 Pg,地下生物量碳1.34 Pg;紫花针茅、青藏苔草和紫花针茅-小蒿草群落面积大,生物量碳密度高,为高寒草原贡献了69.3%的生物量碳。高寒草原平均生物量碳密度为690.80 g C·m^-2,其中紫花针茅群落(196.14 g C·m^-2)和蔷薇群落(177.93 g C·m^-2)具有最高的地上生物量碳密度(AGC);蔷薇(1491.18 g C·m^-2)和紫花针茅-小蒿草群落(1306.51 g C·m^-2)则具...     

Impacts of invasive annuals on soil carbon and nitrogen storage in southern California depend on the identity of the invader

Non‐native plant invasions can alter nutrient cycling processes and contribute to global climate change. In southern California, California sage scrub (hereafter sage scrub), a native shrub‐dominated habitat type in lowland areas, has decreased to <10% of its original distribution. Postdisturbance type‐conversion to non‐native annual grassland, and increasingly to mustard‐dominated invasive forbland, is a key contributor to sage scrub loss. To better understand how type‐conversion by common invasive annuals impacts carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in surface soils, we examined how the identity of the invader (non‐native grasses, Bromus spp.; and non‐native forbs, Brassica nigra), microbial concentrations, and soil properties interact to influence soil nutrient storage in adjacent native and invasive habitat types at nine sites along a coast to inland gradient. We found that the impact of type‐conversion on nutrient storage was contingent upon the invasive plant type. Sage scrub soils stored more C and N than non‐native grasslands, whereas non‐native forblands had nutrient storage similar to or higher than sage scrub. We calculate that >940 t C km^?2 and >60 t N km^?2 are lost when sage scrub converts to grass‐dominated habitat, demonstrating that grass invasions are significant regional contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. We found that sites with greater total C and N storage were associated with high cation exchange capacities and bacterial concentrations. Non‐native grassland habitat type was a predictor of lower total C, and soil pH, which was greatest in invasive habitats, was a predictor of lower total N. We demonstrate that modeling regional nutrient storage requires accurate classification of habitat type and fine‐scale quantification of cation exchange capacity, pH, and bacterial abundance. Our results provide evidence that efforts to restore and conserve sage scrub enhance nutrient storage, a key ecosystem service reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.     

“双碳”目标下山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复工程优先区与技术策略研究

巩固与提升生态系统碳汇能力是实现碳达峰、碳中和目标的重要途径之一。生态保护修复对生态系统固碳增汇有着重要影响。2016—2021年,财政部、自然资源部、生态环境部在我国27个省(自治区、直辖市)共支持了三批山水林田湖草生态保护修复工程试点和第一批山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复工程,共35个山水工程。通过分析已部署的35个山水工程布局的空间特征和碳汇效益,结合国家重点关注的生态保护修复区域、全国重要生态系统保护和修复重大工程分布、生态系统碳汇重要区域和敏感区域,探索“双碳”目标下山水工程布局优先区及生态保护修复技术策略。研究发现山水工程的碳汇效益具有空间差异性,且山水工程优先区主要依次分布在青藏高原生态屏障区、东北森林带、长江重点生态区(含川滇生态屏障)、南方丘陵山地带、黄河重点生态区(含黄土高原生态屏障)、北方防沙带等的森林、高原草地、荒漠、岩溶地区等区域。基于此,提出未来山水工程在不同区域的技术策略。在森林生态系统为主地区,不仅要提高森林覆盖度、森林质量,还应当加强生物多样性的保护和土壤碳汇能力的提升;在高原草原及冻土地区应加强草地退化和冻土监测,提高草地质量;在西北荒漠化地区加强碳...     

库布齐东段不同植被恢复阶段荒漠生态系统碳氮储量及分配格局

为科学评价植被恢复促进沙漠化逆转对碳氮储量的影响,以流动沙地、半固定沙地、油蒿固定沙地、柠条固定沙地、沙柳固定沙地5个阶段荒漠生态系统为研究对象,采用时空替代法分析植被恢复过程中荒漠生态系统碳氮储量及分配格局。结果表明:不同恢复阶段碳氮储量均表现为:流动沙地(3320.97 kg C/hm~2、346.69 kg N/hm~2)半固定沙地(4371.46 kg C/hm~2、435.95 kg N/hm~2)油蒿固定沙地(6096.50 kg C/hm~2、513.76 kg N/hm~2)柠条固定沙地(9556.80 kg C/hm~2、926.31 kg N/hm~2)沙柳固定沙地(19488.54 kg C/hm~2、982.11 kg N/hm~2)。植被层碳氮储量均呈现随植被恢复逐渐增加的趋势,除流动沙地外,其他阶段碳氮储量均以灌木层为主,占比分别为66.65%—91.41%和52.94%—93.39%,草本和凋落物占比较小。灌木各器官生物量及碳储量分配均为:茎根叶,氮储量分配无明显规律,草本各器官生物量及碳氮储量分配均为地上部分高于地下部分。土壤层是荒漠生态系统碳氮储量的主体,碳储量占比为68.64%—99.62%,氮储量占比为89.26%—99.89%,同样呈现随植被恢复逐渐增加的趋势。碳氮储量随土层加深逐渐降低,具有明显的表层富集特征,且随植被恢复过程富集性显著加强。这说明人工建植促进植被演替实现沙漠化逆转可以显著增强荒漠生态系统的碳氮固存能力。     

祁连山青海云杉林生物量和碳储量空间分布特征

根据野外调查资料、祁连山地区青海云杉林相图和气象资料,在GIS技术的支持下估算了祁连山地区青海云杉林的生物量和碳储量及其空间分布.结果表明：2008年,研究区青海云杉林平均生物量为209.24 t·hm^-2,总生物量为3.4×10⁷ t;研究区水热条件的差异使青海云杉生物量在地理空间上存在较大的差异性;经度每增加1°,青海云杉生物量增加3.12t·hm^-2;纬度每增加1°,生物量减少3.8 t·hm^-2;海拔每升高100 m,生物量减少0.05 t·hm^-2;2008年,研究区青海云杉林碳密度在70.4～131.1 t·hm^-2,平均碳密度为109.8 t·hm^-2,幼龄林、中龄林、近熟林、成熟林和过熟林的平均碳密度分别为83.8、109.6、122、124.2和117.1 t·hm^-2,研究区青海云杉林总碳储量为1.8×10⁷ t.     

Plant functional diversity mediates the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community-level plant nitrogen use in the restoration of semiarid sandy grassland

Species-rich plant communities use nitrogen (N) more efficiently in grassland ecosystems; however, the role of plant functional diversity in affecting community level plant N-use has received little attention. We examined plant N content, stock and N-use efficiency at community-level along a restoration gradient of sandy grassland (mobile dune, semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland) in Horqin Sand Land, northern China. We used the functional trait-based approach to examine how plant functional diversity, reflected by the most abundant species’ traits (community-weighted mean, CWM) and the dispersion of functional trait values (FDis), affected N-use efficiency in sandy grassland restoration. We further used the structure equation model (SEM) to evaluate the direct or indirect effects of plant species richness, biomass, functional diversity and soil properties on community-level plant N-use efficiency. We found that plant biomass and its N stock increased following sandy grassland restoration, and there were lower plant N content and higher N-use efficiency in semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland as compared with mobile dune. N-use efficiency was positively associated with plant species richness, biomass, CWM plant height, CWM leaf C:N, FDis and soil gradient, but SEM results showed that species richness, CWM leaf C:N, plant biomass and FDis controlled by soil properties were the main factors exerting direct effects. CWM plant height also had a positive effect on N-use efficiency through its indirect effect on plant biomass. Soil gradient increased N-use efficiency through an indirect effect on vegetation rather than a direct effect. Final SEM models based on different plant functional diversity explained over 74% of variances in N-use efficiency. Effects of plant functional diversity on N-use efficiency supported both the mass ratio hypothesis and the complementarity hypothesis. Our results clearly highlight the important role of plant functional diversity in mediating the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community level plant N-use in sandy grassland ecosystems.     

Effects of biodiversity,stand factors and functional identity on biomass and productivity during the restoration of subtropical forests in Central China

恢复梯度上华中亚热带森林生物多样性、林分因子及功能特性对生物量、生产力的影响 草地群落上进行的控制实验大都发现生物多样性对生态系统功能有显著促进作用。然而,在天然林中,多样性与林分因子、群落功能特性的相对作用大小仍存在争议。本文在森林恢复梯度上,研究这3类因素对生物量和生产力的相对影响。我们在湖北神农架设置了处于不同恢复阶段的24块(600 m²)亚热 带森林样地,计算了林分生物量和生产力。选择5个关键的植物功能性状,并计算了群落的功能多样性(功能丰富度、功能均匀度和功能离散度)和性状的加权平均值(CWM)。使用一般线性模型(GLMs)、变异分离等方法探究林分因子(密度、林龄、群落最大树高等)、功能特性、物种和功能多样性对生物量和生产力的相对重要性。研究结果表明,随着森林恢复,林分生物量和生产力显著增加,群落物种丰富度显著增加,而功能离散度显著降低。变异分离结果表明,多样性对生物量和生产力的单独效应不显著,但可能通过与林分因子和功能特性的协同效应来影响生物量和生产力。总体而言,我们发现林分因子对亚热带森林生物量和生产力的影响最大,功能特性显著影响生产力,但不影响生物量。这些结果说明,在森林经营中,调整林分结构和群落物种特性是提高森林碳储量和固碳潜力的有效途径。     

Plant functional diversity enhances associations of soil fungal diversity with vegetation and soil in the restoration of semiarid sandy grassland

The trait‐based approach shows that plant functional diversity strongly affects ecosystem properties. However, few empirical studies show the relationship between soil fungal diversity and plant functional diversity in natural ecosystems. We investigated soil fungal diversity along a restoration gradient of sandy grassland (mobile dune, semifixed dune, fixed dune, and grassland) in Horqin Sand Land, northern China, using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 18S rRNA and gene sequencing. We also examined associations of soil fungal diversity with plant functional diversity reflected by the dominant species' traits in community (community‐weighted mean, CWM) and the dispersion of functional trait values (FD_is). We further used the structure equation model (SEM) to evaluate how plant richness, biomass, functional diversity, and soil properties affect soil fungal diversity in sandy grassland restoration. Soil fungal richness in mobile dune and semifixed dune was markedly lower than those of fixed dune and grassland (P < 0.05). Soil fungal richness was positively associated with plant richness, biomass, CWM plant height, and soil gradient aggregated from the principal component analysis, but SEM results showed that plant richness and CWM plant height determined by soil properties were the main factors exerting direct effects. Soil gradient increased fungal richness through indirect effect on vegetation rather than direct effect. The negative indirect effect of FDis on soil fungal richness was through its effect on plant biomass. Our final SEM model based on plant functional diversity explained nearly 70% variances of soil fungal richness. Strong association of soil fungal richness with the dominant species in the community supported the mass ratio hypothesis. Our results clearly highlight the role of plant functional diversity in enhancing associations of soil fungal diversity with community structure and soil properties in sandy grassland ecosystems.