短期增温对西藏念青唐古拉山典型植物群落结构和稳定性的影响

青藏高原气候变暖幅度显著高于全球其他区域,深刻影响着该地区植物群落的结构和稳定性。选择西藏念青唐古拉山的三种典型植物群落(高寒草原、高寒草甸和流石滩)作为研究对象,采用开顶式增温箱(OTC)模拟增温,研究了短期增温对植物群落结构和稳定性的影响。结果表明:(1)增温改变了群落的优势物种,影响其结构组成,而对物种多样性无显著影响;(2)增温显著降低了高寒草甸的地上生物量(P < 0.05),增加地下生物量(P < 0.01),从而导致了群落地下地上生物量分配策略的改变;(3)增温降低群落中部分物种的生态位宽度,进而影响群落稳定性,其中高寒草甸变化最大,达到-66.8%。研究结果可为青藏高原高寒草地生态系统应对和适应未来气候变化提供一定科学依据。     

Cuticular waxes in alpine meadow plants: climate effect inferred from latitude gradient in Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Alpine meadow ecosystems are susceptible to climate changes. Still, climate impact on cuticular wax in alpine meadow plants is poorly understood. Assessing the variations of cuticular wax in alpine meadow plants across different latitudes might be useful for predicting how they may respond to climate change. We studied nine alpine meadows in a climate gradient in the east side of Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, with mean annual temperature ranging from −7.7 to 3.2°C. In total, 42 plant species were analyzed for cuticular wax, averaged 16 plant species in each meadow. Only four plant species could be observed in all sampling meadows, including Kobresia humilis,Potentilla nivea,Anaphalis lacteal, and Leontopodium nanum. The amounts of wax compositions and total cuticular wax in the four plant species varied among sampling meadows, but no significant correlation could be observed between them and temperature, precipitation, and aridity index based on plant species level. To analyze the variations of cuticular wax on community level, we averaged the amounts of n‐alkanes, aliphatic acids, primary alcohols, and total cuticular wax across all investigated plant species in each sampling site. The mean annual temperature, mean temperature in July, and aridity index were significantly correlated with the averaged amounts of wax compositions and total cuticular wax. The average chain length of n‐alkanes in both plant and soil linearly increased with increased temperature, whereas reduced with increased aridity index. No significant correlation could be observed between mean annual precipitation and mean precipitation from June to August and the cuticular wax amounts and average chain length. Our results suggest that the survival of some alpine plants in specific environments might be depended on their abilities in adjusting wax deposition on plant leaves, and the alpine meadow plants as a whole respond to climate change, benefiting the stability of alpine meadow ecosystem.     

内蒙古羊草群落、功能群、物种变化及其与气候的关系

基于1981-1994年内蒙古羊草草原的群落学调查数据和同期气象资料,分析了羊草草原群落、功能群与主要物种变化及其生物量与气候的关系.结果表明,1981-1994年5月羊草群落多样性指数、优势度指数、丰富度指数、群落高度、群落生物量的年际变异显著高于其他月,其中羊草群落生物量的变异性自5-9月依次降低,生物量和多样性不存在显著相关性.羊草群落、功能群、物种的年际变异依次增大;不同功能群中一二年生草本和中生植物的年际波动最大,不同物种间的均衡效应降低了群落的变异性.羊草群落生物量具有气候累积效应,主要受上年10月至当年12月的均温、4-8月降水、上年10月至当年8月累积降水的影响,表明羊草群落生物量变化由不同时段的水热因子协同作用决定.     

践踏干扰对碧塔海高寒草甸植被茎叶性状、物种多样性和功能多样性的影响

高寒草甸具有重要的生态服务功能,然而固有脆弱性使其极易遭受气候变化和人为干扰等多重因素的影响。作为滇西北旅游资源中重要的组分之一,高寒草甸吸引了大批游客前往开展徒步旅行活动,但伴随着的践踏干扰作用会不可避免地对高寒草甸生态系统带来负面影响。然而,目前关注践踏干扰对滇西北高寒草甸植被的影响,特别是植被功能性状和功能多样性如何发生变化方面的研究还十分欠缺。以云南省香格里拉市碧塔海自然保护区内的典型高寒草甸生态系统为研究对象,采用实验践踏的方式(一共5种不同强度的践踏处理)来模拟旅游活动对草甸植被的干扰作用,并以草甸植被的茎叶性状特征为切入点,重点探讨践踏干扰对茎叶性状的平均大小和变异程度的影响,以及物种丰富度(以物种形态分类为基础)和功能丰富度(以功能性状为基础)之间的关系。研究结果显示,随着践踏强度的增加,植株高度和叶片大小的平均值,而不是茎叶性状的变异程度,出现明显下降趋势。此外,物种丰富度和功能丰富度均随践踏强度的增强而减小,且两者之间呈现显著正相关关系。然而,较之轻度践踏实验组,重度践踏实验组中的功能均匀度和功能分离度水平均有所增加,表明践踏干扰可能会在短期内打破优势种对资源的绝对占有格局和减少物种间的生态位重叠程度。尽管高寒草甸对人类践踏活动有一定的承受能力,但气候变化和人为干扰等多重因素势必会改变和影响高寒草甸群落的结构和功能可持续性,这也对高寒草甸的保护与管理工作提出了更加紧迫的要求。     

高原鼢鼠干扰强度对祁连山东段高寒草甸大型土壤动物功能群特征及空间分布的影响

为明晰高原鼢鼠干扰对大型土壤动物类群分布和功能群特征影响,选取祁连山东段高原鼢鼠典型分布高寒草甸,依据鼠丘密度将研究区划分4个干扰梯度,调查各干扰区植物、群落结构、土壤理化性质和大型土壤动物功能群组成。采用冗余分析方法探讨植物土壤因子对土壤动物功能群组成和分布的影响。结果表明：研究区植食性土壤动物为优势功能群,极重度干扰区植食性功能群丰富度和Shannon多样性指数显著高于中度和重度干扰区(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠干扰对高寒草甸土壤动物群落稳定和相似性影响较小;冗余分析表明土壤温度、紧实度、全氮和全钾以及莎草科生物量和植物物种均匀度均显著影响高寒草甸土壤动物功能群的空间分布(P<0.05),其中土壤温度对土壤动物功能群分布影响最为显著。     

三江源区退化高寒草甸土壤真菌群落特征

为了明确高寒草甸退化演替过程中土壤真菌物种组成、群落多样性及功能结构等的响应规律,本研究采用高通量基因测序技术和FUNGuild功能预测,分析了三江源区未退化、轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化和极度退化高寒草甸土壤真菌群落特征及其调控因子.结果 表明:高寒草甸土壤优势真菌为子囊菌门、担子菌门和被孢霉菌门.与未退化草地土壤相...     

高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制

植物对干旱胁迫的响应表现为各功能性状的差异化表达。全球气候变化下,青藏高原地区降水格局发生改变,高寒草甸群落功能性状及功能多样性在不同生长期干旱事件下的响应机制对加深高寒草甸适应气候变化认知具有重要意义。以藏北高寒草甸为研究对象,设置截雨棚模拟生长季前期（ED）、中期（MD）和非生长季时期（ND）干旱事件,通过观测群落物种功能性状,分析高寒草甸群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制。结果表明：（1）叶片功能性状对干旱存在差异响应,表现为叶片小而厚且寿命长,同化速率降低,并受氮元素限制加剧;（2）生长季前期干旱对高寒草甸群落功能性状的影响最强,生长季中期干旱次之,非生长季干旱的影响最弱;（3）生长季干旱处理显著改变了群落的功能多样性,ED处理下功能分散度指数（FDiv）和功能分异度指数（FDis）显著降低（P<0.05）,而Rao二次熵指数（RaoQ）显著升高（P<0.05）,MD处理下功能均匀度指数（FEve）显著降低（P<0.05）;（4）相关性分析得出,群落功能性状与功能多样性对干旱的响应之间存在着联系。本研究发现高寒草甸植物功能性状与群落功能多样性对生长季前期和中期干旱存在差异化响应,指示着高寒草甸植物群落在响应不同时期干旱时可能采取不同的生存策略,即对生长季前期干旱采用耐旱策略、对生长季中期干旱采用避旱策略。探讨了高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长时期干旱胁迫的响应机制,为预测未来季节性干旱事件对青藏高原高寒草甸植物功能性状、群落特征和功能多样性的影响提供科学依据。     

Climate change effects on plant biomass alter dominance patterns and community evenness in an experimental old‐field ecosystem

Atmospheric and climatic change can alter plant biomass production and plant community composition. However, we know little about how climate change‐induced alterations in biomass production affect plant species composition. To better understand how climate change will alter both individual plant species and community biomass, we manipulated atmospheric [CO₂], air temperature, and precipitation in a constructed old‐field ecosystem. Specifically, we compared the responses of dominant and subdominant species to our climatic treatments, and explored how changes in plant dominance patterns alter community evenness over 2 years. Our study resulted in four major findings: (1) all treatments, elevated [CO₂], warming, and increased precipitation increased plant community biomass and the effects were additive rather than interactive, (2) plant species differed in their response to the treatments, resulting in shifts in the proportional biomass of individual species, which altered the plant community composition; however, the plant community response was largely driven by the positive precipitation response of Lespedeza, the most dominant species in the community, (3) precipitation explained most of the variation in plant community composition among treatments, and (4) changes in precipitation caused a shift in the dominant species proportional biomass that resulted in lower community evenness in the wet relative to dry treatments. Interestingly, compositional and evenness responses of the subdominant community to the treatments did not always follow the responses of the whole plant community. Our data suggest that changes in plant dominance patterns and community evenness are an important part of community responses to climatic change, and generally, that such compositional shifts can alter ecosystem biomass production and nutrient inputs.     

青藏高原多年冻土区不同水分条件的高寒草甸根系功能性状对增温的响应

在青藏高原多年冻土广泛分布的风火山地区,选择小嵩草（Kobresia pygmea）草甸和藏嵩草（Kobresia tibetica）沼泽化草甸为研究对象,采用开顶增温室（Open top chambers, OTCs）模拟气候变暖,探讨模拟增温对土壤水分差异的两种草甸地下生物量及根系功能性状的影响。结果显示,（1）增温显著增加小嵩草草甸0—20 cm根系生物量,主要是由于表层（0—10 cm）根系生物量显著增加,而对藏嵩草沼泽化草甸根系生物量无影响。（2）增温显著增加了小嵩草草甸根组织密度,同时提高了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸10—20 cm的比根长和比根面积（3）增温降低了小嵩草草甸的根系碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,增加了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸的碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,显著提高了小嵩草草甸和藏嵩草沼泽化草甸深层（10—20 cm）根系碳氮比。这些结果预示着增温使得土壤水分较低的小嵩草草甸朝着资源保守的慢速生长型发展,以适应暖干化的环境;土壤水分较高的藏嵩草沼泽化草甸朝着资源获取的快速生长型发展,加速利用土壤中的养分满足植物生长需要。可见,土壤水分可以调节高寒草甸对气候变暖的演变趋势,强调了水分的重要性。     

Nitrogen addition,rather than altered precipitation,stimulates nitrous oxide emissions in an alpine steppe

Anthropogenic‐driven global change, including changes in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and precipitation patterns, is dramatically altering N cycling in soil. How long‐term N deposition, precipitation changes, and their interaction influence nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions remains unknown, especially in the alpine steppes of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). To fill this knowledge gap, a platform of N addition (10 g m⁻² year⁻¹) and altered precipitation (±50% precipitation) experiments was established in an alpine steppe of the QTP in 2013. Long‐term N addition significantly increased N₂O emissions. However, neither long‐term alterations in precipitation nor the co‐occurrence of N addition and altered precipitation significantly affected N₂O emissions. These unexpected findings indicate that N₂O emissions are particularly susceptible to N deposition in the alpine steppes. Our results further indicated that both biotic and abiotic properties had significant effects on N₂O emissions. N₂O emissions occurred mainly due to nitrification, which was dominated by ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, rather than ammonia‐oxidizing archaea. Furthermore, the alterations in belowground biomass and soil temperature induced by N addition modulated N₂O emissions. Overall, this study provides pivotal insights to aid the prediction of future responses of N₂O emissions to long‐term N deposition and precipitation changes in alpine ecosystems. The underlying microbial pathway and key predictors of N₂O emissions identified in this study may also be used for future global‐scale model studies.     

物种多样性和功能性状驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期禁牧的响应

围封对草地生物多样性和初级生产力的影响是草地生态学研究的热点问题之一。基于2013—2021年在青藏高原东北部紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)高寒草原围栏内外植物群落长期调查数据,从物种多样性、功能性状的角度解析了高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的生态响应过程。结果表明：(1)围封处理对高寒草原物种多样性的负效应具有强烈的时间依赖性。围封处理显著提高地上生物量,但也显著降低了生物量稳定性和异步性,意味着高寒草原稳定的、可持续的生态系统服务功能被长期围封处理削弱。(2)植物功能性状对长期围封处理表现出差异性响应模式;与叶绿素性状相比,叶形态性状对长期围封处理表现出更强的敏感性。(3)物种多样性和功能性状与地上生物量之间均存在显著相关关系,并且物种多样性的影响被功能性状调控进而对地上生物量发挥间接效应,群落加权性状和功能分异度共同对草地生物量发挥直接的主导效应。研究结果证明了植物功能性状通过介导物种多样性与其共同驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的响应。因此,在未来草地管理过程中,同步研究植物物种和功能属性对于全面揭示生态系统的响应机制至关重要。     

非生长季降水对青藏高原高寒草甸优势种生物量稳定性的影响

受全球气候变化的影响,青藏高原在过去的几十年间整体上呈现暖湿化的趋势,相比于年际之间温度和降水的变化外,生长季和非生长季气候变化模式的差异可能会对生态系统产生更重要的影响,但相关的研究尚不充分。以青藏高原东部的高寒草甸为研究对象,基于2001年至2017年17年的野外观测数据,包括优势植物紫花针茅的高度、多度以及生物量、次优势物种洽草的生物量,结合生长季和非生长季平均温度和降水量的变化,通过线性回归以及结构方程模型,探究生长季/非生长季不对称气候变化对于青藏高原高寒草甸优势物种生物量稳定性的影响。研究结果表明：1)青藏高原东部年均温和年降水在过去的17年间显著增加,呈现暖湿化的趋势,但是非生长的降水却变化不明显;2)紫花针茅的高度、多度以及生物量在过去17年没有显著的趋势,但是洽草的生物量稳定性显著减少;3)非生长降水结合紫花针茅的高度、多度以及洽草的生物量稳定性促进了紫花针茅的生物量稳定性。研究结果可以为青藏高原高寒草甸在未来气候变化的背景下合理保护与利用提供科学依据。     

高寒草甸不同草地类型功能群多样性及组成对植物群落生产力的影响

对不同类型草地功能群多样性和组成与植物群落生产力之间的关系进行了探讨。结果表明：(1)在矮嵩草(Kobresia humlis)草甸和金露梅(Potentilla froticosa)灌丛中,豆科植物的作用比较明显,而其他功能群植物的作用较弱。(2)在藏嵩草(Kobresia tibetica)沼泽化草甸和小嵩草(K．pygmaca)草甸中,虽然杂类草、C3植物和莎草科植物功能群的生产力占群落初级生产力的比例较大,但二者在统计上没有显著性差异,这表明群落生产力除受物种多样性的影响外,也受物种本身特征和环境资源的影响,更主要的是受到功能群内物种密度和均匀度的影响,即功能群组成比功能群多样性更能说明对生态系统过程的影响。(3)不同类型草地群落植物功能群盖度与群落初级生产力呈显著的线性相关。(4)不同类型草地群落生产力与功能群内物种数的变化均表现为单峰曲线关系,即功能群内物种数处于中间水平时,群落生产力最高。     

Different sensitivity and threshold in response to nitrogen addition in four alpine grasslands along a precipitation transect on the Northern Tibetan Plateau

The increase in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has resulted in some terrestrial ecological changes. In order to identify the response of sensitive indicators to N input and estimate the sensitivity and saturation thresholds in alpine grasslands, we set up a series of multilevel N addition experiments in four types of alpine grasslands (alpine meadow [AM], alpine meadow‐steppe [AMS], alpine steppe [AS], and alpine desert‐steppe [ADS]) along with a decreasing precipitation gradient from east to west on the Northern Tibetan Plateau. N addition only had significant effects on species diversity in AMS, while had no effects on the other three alpine grasslands. Aboveground biomass of grasses and overall community in ADS were enhanced with increasing N addition, but such effects did not occur in AS. Legume biomass in ADS and AS showed similar unimodal patterns and exhibited a decreasing tend in AM. Regression fitting showed that the most sensitive functional groups were grasses, and the N saturation thresholds were 103, 115, 136, and 156 kg N hm^?2 year^?1 in AM, AMS, AS, and ADS, respectively. This suggests that alpine grasslands become more and more insensitive to N input with precipitation decrease. N saturation thresholds also negatively correlated with soil N availability. N sensitivity differences caused by precipitation and nutrient availability suggest that alpine grasslands along the precipitation gradient will respond differently to atmospheric N deposition in the future global change scenario. This different sensitivity should also be taken into consideration when using N fertilization to restore degraded grasslands.     

Biomass Partitioning and Its Relationship with the Environmental Factors at the Alpine Steppe in Northern Tibet

Alpine steppe is considered to be the largest grassland type on the Tibetan Plateau. This grassland contributes to the global carbon cycle and is sensitive to climate changes. The allocation of biomass in an ecosystem affects plant growth and the overall functioning of the ecosystem. However, the mechanism by which plant biomass is allocated on the alpine steppe remains unclear. In this study, biomass allocation and its relationship to environmental factors on the alpine grassland were studied by a meta-analysis of 32 field sites across the alpine steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau. We found that there is less above-ground biomass (M_A) and below-ground biomass (M_B) in the alpine steppe than there is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. By contrast, the root-to-shoot ratio (R:S) in the alpine steppe is higher than it is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. Although temperature maintained the biomass in the alpine steppe, precipitation was found to considerably influence M_A, M_B, and R:S, as shown by ordination space partitioning. After standardized major axis (SMA) analysis, we found that allocation of biomass on the alpine steppe is supported by the allometric biomass partitioning hypothesis rather than the isometric allocation hypothesis. Based on these results, we believe that M_A and M_B will decrease as a result of the increased aridity expected to occur in the future, which will reduce the landscape’s capacity for carbon storage.     

放牧条件下高原鼠兔扰动对高寒草甸植物群落特征的影响

在高寒草甸生态系统中,大型草食动物放牧是重要的管理方式之一,对草地生物多样性起着关键的驱动作用。高原鼠兔是高寒草甸生态系统中生物多样性的重要组成成分,对生态系统的食物网结构以及其功能与稳定性起着关键作用。探明放牧条件下高原鼠兔扰动对高寒草甸的影响,对于高寒草甸建立合理的放牧提供理论依据,为鼠害的防治提供科学依据有一定的现实意义。2017年5—9月在青海省海北州祁连县矮嵩草草甸,以高原鼠兔为研究对象,通过小区控制研究放牧条件下高原鼠兔扰动对高寒草甸植物功能群植物特征的影响。结果显示高原鼠兔扰动降低了除杂类草以外的各植物功能群的高度;同时显著降低了禾本科、豆科功能群盖度及总盖度,而杂类草功能群的盖度有增加的趋势。另外,我们的结果也发现高原鼠兔扰动对各植物功能群生物量和重要值的影响不显著。该研究表明放牧条件下高原鼠兔扰动在一定程度上对杂草群落特征具有积极的作用,对其它功能群的群落特征具有抑制作用。     

若尔盖湿地高寒草甸退化过程中土壤有机碳含量变化及成因分析

土壤碳输入与输出之间的收支差决定土壤有机碳(SOC)含量。若尔盖湿地高寒草甸退化过程中, 土壤碳输入和输出哪个过程对SOC含量的影响占主导作用还不明确。该研究用空间序列代替时间序列的方法研究了若尔盖湿地高寒草甸不同退化阶段(高寒草甸(AM)、轻度退化高寒草甸(SD)和重度退化高寒草甸(HD)) SOC含量变化及原因。首先, 通过测定高寒草甸退化阶段上主要的土壤理化性状、微生物生物量、植物生物量和功能群组成的变化, 分析了退化阶段上土壤碳输入量的变化及原因; 其次, 结合室内土壤碳矿化培养实验结果和研究区的月平均气温以及土壤呼吸温度敏感性(Q₁₀)估算了该区域土壤碳输出, 并分析了其变化原因; 最后, 分析了造成SOC含量变化的主要原因和过程。结果表明: 在退化梯度上, 土壤含水量(SWC)、SOC和全氮(TN)含量、微生物生物量碳氮含量降低; 植物群落组成逐渐从莎草科、禾本科占优势过渡到杂类草占优势, 且植物生物量降低; SOC矿化量降低; 有机碳潜在积累量降低(与AM阶段相比, SD和HD阶段有机碳潜在输入量、输出量和积累量分别降低了16%、18%、15%和59%、63%、41%)。SWC降低引起土壤容重、SOC含量、TN含量、全磷含量、C:N的改变, 进而导致植物功能群分布模式和土壤微生物的变化, 最终引起SOC输入和输出量的降低。SWC降低导致的植物碳潜在输入量的降低是若尔盖湿地高寒草甸退化过程中SOC含量下降的主要原因。     

Temporal stability and maintenance mechanisms of alpine meadow communities under clipping and fertilization

Negative effects of long‐term overgrazing have been seriously, grasslands temporal stability is an important ecological concern we need to research. Here, we performed a 12‐year‐long (2007–2018) two‐factor controlled experiment on Kobresia humilis meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. The manipulations included three clipping levels (no clipping, NC; moderate clipping, MC; heavy clipping, HC) and two fertilization levels (no fertilization, NF; fertilization, F). Our results revealed that the two clipping manipulations significantly increased the temporal stability of alpine meadow communities, whose significant increase was more pronounced under the MC than HC treatment. Species asynchrony had a significant positive correlation with species abundance along with compound community gradient. Moreover, asynchrony effects, portfolio effects, and facilitation interactions were all present in the communities under the six types of experimental treatment combinations. Additionally, a selection effect was detected in the compound communities, demonstrating characteristics that are common to different mechanisms. There were no significant differences in the effects of these mechanisms on community temporal stability between the NC–NF and MC–NF interactive communities. The portfolio effects predominated when clipping intensity was moderate under both fertilization and nonfertilization conditions. By contrast, in the compound communities, the selection effect predominated. In summary, we conclude that in meadow communities that undergo clipping and fertilization disturbances, facilitation interactions and weak interactions make a greater contribution toward maintaining their temporal stability.     

Looking for compensation at multiple scales in a wetland bird community

Compensatory dynamics, during which community composition shifts despite a near‐constant total community size, are usually rare: Synchronous dynamics prevail in natural communities. This is a puzzle for ecologists, because of the key role of compensation in explaining the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, most studies so far have considered compensation in either plants or planktonic organisms, so that evidence for the generality of such synchrony is limited. Here, we extend analyses of community‐level synchrony to wetland birds. We analyze a 35‐year monthly survey of a community where we suspected that compensation might occur due to potential competition and changes in water levels, favoring birds with different habitat preferences. We perform both year‐to‐year analyses by season, using a compensation/synchrony index, and multiscale analyses using a wavelet‐based measure, which allows for both scale‐ and time‐dependence. We analyze synchrony both within and between guilds, with guilds defined either as tightknit phylogenetic groups or as larger functional groups. We find that abundance and biomass compensation are rare, likely due to the synchronizing influence of climate (and other drivers) on birds, even after considering several temporal scales of covariation (during either cold or warm seasons, above or below the annual scale). Negative covariation in abundance at the guild or community level did only appear at the scale of a few months or several years. We also found that synchrony varies with taxonomic and functional scale: The rare cases where compensation appeared consistently in year‐to‐year analyses were between rather than within functional groups. Our results suggest that abundance compensation may have more potential to emerge between broad functional groups rather than between species, and at relatively long temporal scales (multiple years for vertebrates), above that of the dominant synchronizing driver.     

Drivers of Collembola assemblages along an altitudinal gradient in northeast China

Altitudinal changes in the diversity of plants and animals have been well documented; however, soil animals received little attention in this context and it is unclear whether their diversity follows general altitudinal distribution patterns. Changbai Mountain is one of few well‐conserved mountain regions comprising natural ecosystems on the Eurasian continent. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the diversity and community composition of Collembola along ten altitudinal sites representing five vegetation types from forest to alpine tundra. Among 7834 Collembola individuals, 84 morphospecies were identified. Species richness varied marginally significant with altitude and generally followed a unimodal relationship with altitude. By contrast, the density of Collembola did not change in a consistent way with altitude. Collembola communities changed gradually with altitude, with local habitat‐related factors (soil and litter carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, litter carbon content, and soil pH) and climatic variables (precipitation seasonality) identified as major drivers of changes in Collembola community composition. Notably, local habitat‐related factors explained more variation in Collembola assemblages than climatic variables. The results suggest that local habitat‐related factors including precipitation and temperature are the main drivers of changes in Collembola communities with altitude. Specifically, soil and litter carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio correlated positively with Collembola communities at high altitudes, whereas soil pH correlated positively at low altitudes. This documents that altitudinal gradients provide unique opportunities for identifying factors driving the community composition of not only above‐ but also belowground invertebrates.