共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 35 毫秒
1.
Correlations Between Foliar Stable Carbon Isotope Composition and Environmental Factors in Desert Plant Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim. 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
Jian-Ying MA Tuo CHEN Wei-Ya QIANG Gang WANG 《植物学报(英文版)》2005,47(9):1065-1073
Leaves of 407 individuals of Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim. collected from the major distribution areas were measured to investigate the distribution characteristics of the stable carbon isotope in this desert plant, as well as correlations between δ^13C values and environmental factors. Results showed that δ^13C values in R. soongorica ranged from -22.77‰ to -29.85‰ and that the mean δ^13C value (-26.52‰) was higher than a previously reported δ^13C value for a different desert ecosystem. This indicates that R. soongorica belongs to the C3 photosynthetic pathway and has higher water use efficiency than other species. The correlations between δ^13C values and environmental factors demonstrated that the foliar δ^13C values in R. soongorica increased significantly with decreasing mean annual precipitation and mean relative humidity, and decreased with decreasing duration of sunshine and evaporation. The spatial distribution trend of δ^13C values in R. soongorica was not obvious and there was no significant correlation between the δ^13C values and mean annual temperature. We conclude that different distribution trends in δ^13C values for R. soongorica were likely caused by stomatal limitation rather than by nutrient-related changes in photosynthetic efficiency and that precipitation played an important role in the wide distribution range of R. soongorica. This pattern of δ^13C values for R. soongorica reinforced that it is a super-xerophil in terms of its adaptive strategies to a desert environment. 相似文献
2.
Feng Ying Wen Zhi Bin Gulnur Sabirhazi Wang Xi Yong 《Contemporary Problems of Ecology》2014,7(3):301-307
The paper analyses total of 58 samples representing 32 species of the 14 genera of shrub plant of the carbon isotope composition in Xinjiang representatives of Chenopodiaceae and a detailed discussion on the various factors that can influence them. The value of 38 samples fall between ?14.88‰ and ?11.55‰ with a mean of ?13.34‰, and values of 20 samples between ?27.93‰ and ?22.877‰ with a mean of ?25.38‰. So we obtained a total of 21 of C4 species (59.4%) and 11 of C3 species (40.6%) from 32 species studied Chenopodiaceae of shrubs plant. Then the relationship of plant-carbon-isotope and environmental factors has been analyzed. The results showed that the importance environmental factors for the δ13C-value of the Shrubs was annual precipitation (0.78) > temperature (0.66) > elevation (0.55). The three principal components has important factors to influence on C3/C4 shrub plant distribution. Environmental conditions play significant roles in the distribution and ecophysiological features of different photosynthetic types and even change the photosynthetic pathways. On the other hand, such as geographic location, Sunshine duration, evaporation capacity are more or less correlation with δ13C values, however, they would be interfered by annual precipitation. Desert plants to adapt to drought conditions by increasing water use efficiency (WUE) strategy. In short, plant physiology function is sensitive and timely to adapt environmental change. 相似文献
3.
红砂是我国西北干旱区荒漠植被的主要优势种,对荒漠生态系统的稳定性具有重要作用.通过测定我国境内红砂主要分布区21个自然种群407个植株叶片稳定碳同位素(δ13C)值、叶片氮磷钾含量、叶片含水量、脯氨酸和叶绿素含量等生理指标,分析了不同自然种群红砂叶片δ13C值与相关生理指标之间的关系.结果表明:红砂叶片钾含量、叶片含水量和脯氨酸含量均对δ13C值有显著影响(P<0.001),其中叶片钾含量的影响最大(r=0.793),叶片含水量次之(r=-0.786).说明叶片的δ13C值可以反映植物的水分亏缺程度;不同种群间植物δ13C的丰度差异能从另一个侧面反映植物营养元素含量的变化状况;在干旱条件下,红砂叶片气孔导度的变化是影响其δ13C值随环境变化的主要原因. 相似文献
4.
通过对中国北方C3草本植物稳定性碳同位素的测定以及有关该区植被碳同位素资料的收集,共获取了47个样点的地理位置、气候因子和325个植物样品的碳同位素数据;计算了中国北方不同气候分区的湿润指数,分析了C3草本植物δ13C值的空间特征以及与湿润指数等环境因子之间的关系。在所调查的范围内,中国北方地区C3草本植物δ13C值的分布区间为-29.9‰--25.4‰,平均值为-27.3‰。C3草本植物δ13C的平均值从半湿润地区到半干旱地区再到干旱地区显著变重;3个气候分区植物δ13C值的变化范围分别是-29.9‰--26.7‰(半湿润区)、-28.4‰--25.6‰(半干旱区)和-28.0‰--25.4‰(干旱区)。一元回归分析表明,各气候分区C3草本植物δ13C值与湿润指数的关系存在差异,在半干旱区、半湿润区和整个北方地区,C3草本植物δ13C值与湿润指数均呈显著线性负相关(P〈0.05),随着湿润指数的增加,C3植物δ13C平均值均变轻,但下降幅度不同。而在北方干旱气候区内,C3草本植物δ13C与湿润指数呈显著正相关(P〈0.05),湿润指数每升高0.1,植物δ13C平均值增加1.3‰。年均温度可能是决定该区内各样点湿润指数和C3植物对13C分馏能力差别的主要原因。 相似文献
5.
N. Wang S. S. Xu X. Jia J. Gao W. P. Zhang Y. P. Qiu G. X. Wang 《Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)》2013,15(1):144-151
Variations in foliar stable carbon isotope signatures (δ13C) of different plant functional groups (PFGs) and their relationships with environmental factors in China were investigated in this meta‐analysis. There were some significant, but small differences in δ13C among PFGs categorised by life form (<1‰). Trees (?26.78‰) and shrubs (?26.89‰) had similar mean δ13C that were significantly higher than those of herbs (?27.49‰). Evergreen shrubs (?25.82‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than deciduous shrubs (?26.92‰). Perennial herbs (?26.83‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than annual herbs (?27.10‰). Grasses (?26.46‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than forbs (?26.96‰). For pooled data, δ13C was significantly and negatively correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), while it was significantly and positively correlated with latitude and altitude. There was a threshold value of MAP along the gradients, and δ13C did not change significantly with higher rainfall. The δ13C of PFGs changed with altitude, suggesting that increases in δ13C with altitude cannot be generalised. Differences in δ13C between PFGs were generally much <1‰ and therefore insignificant. In contrast, MAP and MAT had relatively large effects on δ13C (more than 4‰ between extremes). The δ13C of some PFGs responded to environmental gradients in the same manner, while their ‘rates’ of change were significantly different in some cases. This information could help predict potential changes in the distribution of PFGs in response to future climate change. 相似文献
6.
通过测定中国境内红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)主要分布区21个自然种群407个植株叶片氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)含量、叶片含水量和稳 定碳同位素组成等叶片特征, 分析不同自然种群红砂叶片特征与环境气候因子之间的关系。研究结果表明, 随着年平均最低温度的升高, 红砂 叶片N、P含量、叶片含水量和稳定碳同位素值显著升高。年平均温度和红砂叶片含水量、年平均最高温度和红砂叶片稳定碳同位素值显著正相 关。不同生长区年平均降雨量和平均湿度对红砂叶片特征的影响一致, 与红砂叶片P、K含量和叶片稳定碳同位素值显著负相关, 与叶片N含量和 叶片含水量显著正相关。不同生长区平均日照时数和蒸发量对红砂叶片特征的影响一致, 与红砂叶片P、K含量和叶片稳定碳同位素值显著正相 关, 与叶片含水量显著负相关。说明不同自然种群中红砂叶片特征受气候条件的影响显著, 不同气候因子对红砂叶片特征的贡献显著不同。不 同种群间红砂叶片N含量的变化是各气象因子均衡作用的结果, 年平均湿度是影响红砂叶片K含量和稳定碳同位素值的主要限制因子, 蒸发量是 影响红砂叶片P含量的关键因子, 平均日照时数是影响红砂叶片含水量的关键因子。红砂叶片特征对不同环境条件下气候因子的这种响应模式在 一定程度上反映和指示了以红砂为建群种荒漠生态系统的环境状况和稳定程度。 相似文献
7.
为了探讨梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)和沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolicum)适应高温强光荒漠环境的光合作用机构及特征,通过对其同化枝的解剖结构观察,δ13C值分析,以及气体交换测定表明:二者均具有花环结构(Kranz anatomy),肉细胞(Mesophyll cell)呈栅栏状,其内侧是维管束鞘细胞(Bundle sheath cell),小维管束与维管束鞘细胞相接。在栅栏组织和贮水组织中,梭梭具有形状巨大的含晶细胞;沙拐枣具有大量的粘液细胞。梭梭和沙拐枣同化枝的δ13C值分别为-14.3‰和-14.8‰,在不同生长季节和土壤水分条件下,二者的δ13C值变化在-14‰到-16‰之间。梭梭和沙拐枣的CO2补偿点分别为2 μmol•mol-1和4 μmol•mol-1,光饱和点分别为1 660和1 756 μmol•m-2•s-1,表观光合量子效率分别为0.044和0.057 mol CO2•mol-1 photons。这表明,广泛分布于我国荒漠地区的木本植物梭梭和沙拐枣为C4植物,其光合途径不随生长季节和水分条件的变化而改变。 相似文献
8.
Environmental and species‐specific controls on δ13C and δ15N in dominant woody plants from central‐western Argentinian drylands
下载免费PDF全文
![点击此处可从《Austral ecology》网站下载免费的PDF全文](/ch/ext_images/free.gif)
Spatial variation in mean annual precipitation is the principal driver of plant water and nitrogen status in drylands. The natural abundance of carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) in photosynthetic tissues of C3 plants is an indicator of time‐integrated behaviour of stomatal conductance; while that of nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) is an indicator of the main source of plant N (soil N vs. atmospheric N2). Previous studies in drylands have documented that plant δ13C and δ15N values increase with decreasing mean annual precipitation due to reductions in stomatal conductance, and soil enriched in 15N, respectively. However, evidence for this comes from studies focused on stable isotopes measurements integrated at the plant community level or on dominant plants at the site level, but little effort has been made to study C and N isotope variations within a species growing along rainfall gradients. We analysed plant δ13C, δ15N and C/N values of three woody species having different phenological leaf traits (deciduous, perennial and aphyllous) along a regional mean annual precipitation gradient from the central‐western Argentinian drylands. Noticeably, plant δ13C and δ15N values in the three woody species did not increase towards sites with low precipitation or at the start of the growing season (drier period), as we expected. These results suggest that environmental factors other than mean annual precipitation may be affecting plant δ13C and δ15N. The short‐term environmental conditions may interact with species‐specific plant traits related to water and nitrogen use strategies and override the predictive influence of the mean annual precipitation on plant δ13C and δ15N widely reported in drylands. 相似文献
9.
Pablo L. Peri Brenton Ladd David A. Pepper Stephen P. Bonser Shawn W. Laffan Wulf Amelung 《Global Change Biology》2012,18(1):311-321
Stable isotope natural abundance measurements integrate across several biogeochemical processes in ecosystem N and C dynamics. Here, we report trends in natural isotope abundance (δ13C and δ15N in plant and soil) along a climosequence of 33 Nothofagus forest stands located within Patagonia, Southern Argentina. We measured 28 different abiotic variables (both climatic variables and soil properties) to characterize environmental conditions at each of the 33 sites. Foliar δ13C values ranged from ?35.4‰ to ?27.7‰, and correlated positively with foliar δ15N values, ranging from ?3.7‰ to 5.2‰. Soil δ13C and δ15N values reflected the isotopic trends of the foliar tissues and ranged from ?29.8‰ to ?25.3‰, and ?4.8‰ to 6.4‰, respectively, with no significant differences between Nothofagus species (Nothofagus pumilio, Nothofagus antarctica, Nothofagus betuloides). Principal component analysis and multiple regressions suggested that mainly water availability variables (mean annual precipitation), but not soil properties, explained between 42% and 79% of the variations in foliar and soil δ13C and δ15N natural abundance, which declined with increased moisture supply. We conclude that a decline in water use efficiency at wetter sites promotes both the depletion of heavy C and N isotopes in soil and plant biomass. Soil δ13C values were higher than those of the plant tissues and this difference increased as annual precipitation increased. No such differences were apparent when δ15N values in soil and plant were compared, which indicates that climatic differences contributed more to the overall C balance than to the overall N balance in these forest ecosystems. 相似文献
10.
WANG Xiao-An 《植物学报(英文版)》1998,40(11)
The ordination (DCA) and the regression analysis methods were used to study the relations between the Gobi desert plant communities as well as the distribution of the dominants and the environment in Anxi. The results indicated that the coverage(C) and density(D) of the plant communities have a close relation to the annual precipitation(R), but the species richness(N) of the plant communities has a relation to the salt content(S) in the soil. Their regression equations are as follows: C = 0. 051 968 163e0.040786821R (R = 0.95, P < 0.01), D = 0.27 147 913e0.052741829R (R =0.96,P Nitraria sphaerocarpa Maxim. > Sympegma regelli Bge. > Salsola passerina Bge. > Ephedra przewalskii Stapf., but the resistibility to salt of the main dominants was found in the order as follows: Salsola passerina > Reaumuria soongorica > Sympeg- rna regelli > Nitraria sphaerocarpa > Ephedra przewalskii. 相似文献
11.
Photosynthetic activity in carbonate‐rich benthic microbial mats located in saline, alkaline lakes on the Cariboo Plateau, B.C. resulted in pCO2 below equilibrium and δ13CDIC values up to +6.0‰ above predicted carbon dioxide (CO2) equilibrium values, representing a biosignature of photosynthesis. Mat‐associated δ13Ccarb values ranged from ~4 to 8‰ within any individual lake, with observations of both enrichments (up to 3.8‰) and depletions (up to 11.6‰) relative to the concurrent dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Seasonal and annual variations in δ13C values reflected the balance between photosynthetic 13C‐enrichment and heterotrophic inputs of 13C‐depleted DIC. Mat microelectrode profiles identified oxic zones where δ13Ccarb was within 0.2‰ of surface DIC overlying anoxic zones associated with sulphate reduction where δ13Ccarb was depleted by up to 5‰ relative to surface DIC reflecting inputs of 13C‐depleted DIC. δ13C values of sulphate reducing bacteria biomarker phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were depleted relative to the bulk organic matter by ~4‰, consistent with heterotrophic synthesis, while the majority of PLFA had larger offsets consistent with autotrophy. Mean δ13Corg values ranged from ?18.7 ± 0.1 to ?25.3 ± 1.0‰ with mean Δ13Cinorg‐org values ranging from 21.1 to 24.2‰, consistent with non‐CO2‐limited photosynthesis, suggesting that Precambrian δ13Corg values of ~?26‰ do not necessitate higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Rather, it is likely that the high DIC and carbonate content of these systems provide a non‐limiting carbon source allowing for expression of large photosynthetic offsets, in contrast to the smaller offsets observed in saline, organic‐rich and hot spring microbial mats. 相似文献
12.
通过测定亚热带马尾松和杉木树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值的连日变化,及其对天气变化过程的响应,研究δ13C值对短期天气变化动态的响应特征。结果显示,春季马尾松和杉木树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C日均值分别介于-26.81‰到-26.49‰之间,以及-29.26‰到-27.47‰之间,平均值分别为(-26.58±0.12)‰和(-28.67±0.65)‰。进一步分析表明,马尾松树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值与取样之前第4天的太阳辐射、水气压亏缺、相对湿度和空气温度显著相关(P≤0.05),杉木树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值取样之前第3天的太阳辐射、水气压亏缺和相对湿度显著相关(P≤0.05),但与空气温度的相关性不显著(P≤0.05)。在所测定的环境因子中,太阳辐射是影响马尾松和杉木树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值的首要因素。当天降水事件可能导致马尾松和杉木树干韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值连日变化出现异常波动。马尾松和杉木韧皮部水溶性糖δ13C值可以敏感记录短期天气变化动态。 相似文献
13.
对黄土高原地区 4种典型C3 植物狼牙刺 (Sophoraviciifolia) 、辽东栎 (Quercusliaotungensis) 、虎榛子 (Os tryopsisdavidiana) 和酸枣 (Zizyphusjujubavar.spinosa) 样品稳定性碳同位素组分 (δ13 C) 进行分析, 研究了从 2 0世纪 30年代至今近 70年中不同年代植物δ13 C值的变化。结果表明, 在近 70年中, 4种植物δ13 C值变化范围为- 2 5.0 5‰~ - 2 9.75‰, 平均值为 - 2 7.0 4‰。 4种植物叶片δ13 C值均呈下降趋势, 表明随气候环境变化, 近 70年4种植物的水分利用效率 (WUE) 均呈降低趋势。但不同植物叶片δ13 C值下降幅度不同 :狼牙刺和辽东栎叶片δ13 C值下降非常明显, 虎榛子叶片δ13 C值下降也较明显, 而酸枣叶片δ13 C值下降不明显。 4种植物δ13 C值的降低率分别为 14.6 5 %、14.4 6 %、11.99%和 2.4 4 %, 说明不同植物对气候环境因子的敏感性不同, 具有不同的适应环境变化的策略, 酸枣是 4种植物中耐旱能力较强, WUE较高的物种。 相似文献
14.
通过测定采自4个地区(海南、厦门、北海和西双版纳)的红树科6个属共9种植物,包括竹节树(Carallia brachiata)、锯叶竹节树(C. diphopetala)、山红树(Pellacalyx yunnanensis)、红树(Rhizophora apiculata)、红海榄(R. stylosa)、海莲(Bruguiera sexangula)、木榄(B. gymnorhiza)、秋茄(Kandelia candel)和角果木(Ceriops tagal)的叶片碳同位素比值(δ13C),比较了不同地区分布的红树科植物(尤其是内陆生长的和沿海生长的红树科植物之间)、同一地区分布不同种红树科植物间以及不同季节红树科植物δ13C值及其所反映的胞间CO2浓度和水分利用效率的差异。研究结果表明,红树科植物叶片的δ13C变化在-32‰~-26‰之间,大部分种类在两个生长季之间(春季和秋季)没有明显的差异,而内陆和沿海分布的红树科植物有着显著不同的δ13C值,以海水中生长的红树科植物δ13C值较高。此外,在海水中生长的红树科植物以北海地区分布的为最高,而在厦门和海南之间则较少有显著性的差异。从所取得的结果来看,植物δ13C值之间的差异可能有遗传学的基础,但环境的影响也起很大的作用。 相似文献
15.
选取了内蒙古锡林河流域6个水分条件不同的典型植物群落,测定了各群落中黄囊苔草 (Carex korshinskyi) 叶片δ13C值、叶片含水量(LWC)及其种群特征的变化。结果表明:1)不同生境下,黄囊苔草叶片的碳同位素组成发生明显变化(变幅为1.8‰)。沿土壤水分梯度,随着土壤含水量的降低,黄囊苔草叶片δ13C值显著增大,水分利用方式更加保守。2)虽然不同生境下,黄囊苔草叶片含水量变化不大,但其叶片δ13C值与LWC表现出显著的负相关关系(p=0.051)。这表明黄囊苔草水分利用效率对其叶片水分状况变化的反应非常敏感。3)在不同生境下,黄囊苔草种群的植株高度、密度、地上生物量及其在群落中的出现频度明显不同。具有较高δ13C值的黄囊苔草种群在群落中出现的频度和地上生物量所占比例都显著增加。以上结果表明,生长在不同生境下的黄囊苔草种群能够通过改变其水分利用效率适应不同的土壤水分状况,使其在植物群落中表现出更强的竞争能力和生态适应性。 相似文献
16.
Carbon isotopes of C3 herbs correlate with temperature on removing the influence of precipitation across a temperature transect in the agro‐pastoral ecotone of northern China
下载免费PDF全文
![点击此处可从《Ecology and evolution》网站下载免费的PDF全文](/ch/ext_images/free.gif)
Xian‐zhao Liu Yong Zhang Zhen‐guo Li Teng Feng Qing Su Yan Song 《Ecology and evolution》2017,7(24):10582-10591
Plant δ13C–temperature (δ‐T) relation has been established in many systems and is often used as paleotemperature transfer function. However, it is still unclear about the exact contributions of temperature variation to plant 13C discrimination because of covariation between temperature and precipitation (aridity), which reduces confidence in reconstruction of paleoclimate. In this study, we measured carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of 173 samples of C3 perennial herbs from 22 sites across a temperature gradient along the 400 mm isohyet in the farming‐pastoral zone of North China. The results showed that precipitation obviously affected the correlations of temperatures and foliar δ13C. After removing the influence of precipitation by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), a more strongly positive relationship was obtained between site‐mean foliar δ13C and annual mean temperature (AMT), with a regression coefficient of 0.1636‰/°C (p = .0024). For widespread species, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Artemisia capillaries, the slopes (or coefficients) of foliar δ13C and AMT were significantly steeper (larger) than those of foliar δ13C and AMT where the precipitation influence was not excluded, whereas the δ‐T coefficients of Polygonum persicaria and Leymus chinensis showed little change across the transect after deducting the precipitation effect. Moreover, the positive relationship between temperature and δ13C over the transect could be explained by soil moisture availability related to temperature. Our results may afford new opportunities for investigating the nature of past climate variability. 相似文献
17.
通过测定北京地区不同生活型绿化植物叶片的碳同位素组成(δ13C值),从植物种和生活型两个方面研究植物水分利用效率的自然可变性。结果表明:所测定的75种植物(隶属于35科65属)的叶片的δ13C值变幅,春季为-30.7‰--23.4‰,夏季为-31.5‰--25.1‰,秋季为-31.4‰--23.9‰;落叶灌木种间差异不显著(p=0.114),而常绿乔木(p=0.005)、落叶乔木(p0.001)、常绿灌木(p=0.022)、草本植物(p0.001)和藤本植物(p=0.001)的种间差异显著或极显著;同一生活型植物叶片的δ13C季节差异显著,春季叶片的δ13C值显著大于夏秋两季(常绿乔木除外),不同生活型植物叶片的δ13C值在春、夏、秋3个季节差异都达到了极显著水平(春季p=0.001、夏季p0.001、秋季p0.001),且叶片的δ13C值表现出乔木树种灌木树种藤本植物草本植物、常绿植物落叶植物的规律。因此,植物种和生活型均会引起植物叶片δ13C值的变化,但δ13C受生活型变化的影响较大,表明不同生活型植物的水分利用效率具有明显差异。 相似文献
18.
T. J. Mackey D. Y. Sumner I. Hawes S. Z. Leidman D. T. Andersen A. D. Jungblut 《Biogeochemistry》2018,137(1-2):73-92
Calcite-rich columnar stromatolites grew in perennially ice-covered Lake Joyce in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, during a period of environmental change associated with rising lake level. Stromatolite calcite contains carbon and oxygen isotope records of changes to microbial activity in response to variable light environments and water chemistry through time. The stromatolites grew synchronously with correlative calcite zones. The innermost (oldest) calcite zone has a wide range of δ13Ccalcite values consistent with variable photosynthetic effects on local DIC 13C/12C. Subsequent calcite zones preserve a progressive enrichment in δ13Ccalcite values of approximately + 2.6‰ through time, with δ13Ccalcite values becoming less variable. This enrichment likely records the removal of 12C by photosynthesis from the DIC reservoir over decades, with photosynthetic effects decreasing as light levels became lower and more consistent through time. Mean δ18Ocalcite values of the innermost calcified zone were at least 1‰ lower than those of the other calcified zones (t test p-level < 0.001). The significant difference in δ18Ocalcite values between the innermost and other calcified zones could be a product of mixing source waters with different isotopic values associated with the initiation of lake stratification associated with rising lake level. Overall, Lake Joyce stromatolites record significant lateral variability in relative photosynthetic rate and long-lived lake water stratification with microbial modification of the DIC pool. Such processes provide criteria for interpreting microbial activity within polar paleolake deposits and may shed light on variability in lake environments associated with changing climate in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. 相似文献
19.
Plants depend upon both genetic differences and phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental variation over different timescales. The spatial variation in foliar δ13C levels along a moisture gradient represents an overlay of genetic and plastic responses. We hypothesized that such a spatial variation would be more obvious than the variation arising purely from a plastic response to moisture change. Leymus chinensis and Stipa spp. were sampled from Inner Mongolia along a dry‐wet transect, and some of these species were transplanted to an area with a moisture gradient. For Stipa spp., the slope of foliar δ13C and mean annual precipitation along the transect was significantly steeper than that of foliar δ13C and mean annual precipitation after the watering treatment. For L. chinensis, there was a general decreasing trend in foliar δ13C under the different (increasing) watering levels; however, its populations showed an irregular relationship between foliar δ13C and moisture origin. Therefore, support for our hypothesis was obtained from Stipa spp., but not from L. chinensis. 相似文献