武功山亚高山草甸群落优势植物野古草和芒异速生长对气候变暖的响应

气候变暖正持续影响着陆地生态系统的结构和功能, 一直是备受关注的热点问题。异速生长关系被认为是生物界中的一种普遍规律, 但我们对于气候变暖如何影响植物异速生长特征所知甚少。该文采用开顶式增温小室对野外自然生境进行模拟增温的方法, 研究了气候变暖对江西武功山亚高山草甸植物群落优势种野古草(Arundinella anomala)和芒(Miscanthus sinensis)异速生长特征的影响。结果表明: 野古草和芒的大多数形态指标之间均具有显著或极显著相关生长关系和异速生长关系, 气候变暖强化了两种禾本科植物大多数形态特征之间的异速生长, 或改变了其原有的生长关系。气候变暖还导致野古草和芒的基部茎粗与其高度、穗长间由原有的等速生长关系转变为异速生长关系; 野古草基部茎粗与小穗数间的异速生长随着温度升高而趋于增强。气候变暖导致野古草个体高度与其叶片长度的异速生长关系转变为等速生长关系, 而芒有相反表现。同时, 增温促进了野古草株高及叶鞘长的生长, 较强增温则改变了芒株高和叶鞘长之间的生长关系; 野古草和芒的叶片形态特征之间几乎都表现为类似的异速生长关系, 增温对其异速生长指数无显著影响。研究表明气候变暖对不同植物和植物构件具有差异性影响, 这种差异性往往与植物的适应性有关。

Responses in allometric growth of two dominant species of subalpine meadow—Arundinella anomala and Miscanthus sinensis—to climate warming in Wugongshan Mountains,China

AimsArundinella anomala and Miscanthus sinensis are dominant species in the subalpine meadow of Wugongshan Mountains. Here we studied the effects of climate warming on allometric relationships among different growth components in the two species through simulated warming in natural habitat. Methods The warming experiments were conducted with open-top chambers (OTCs) in natural habitat in a subalpine meadow community of Wugongshan Mountains. The two main Gramineae species, Arundinella anomala and Miscanthus sinensis, were selected as the study materials. Two sizes of OTCs were set up to create contrasting levels of warming (i.e. TD for low warming and TG for high warming). The morphological variables, such as the plant height and the basal diameter of shoots, were measured. Allometric analysis was conducted with the Smart Package in R software. Important findings Significant or highly significant correlations and significant allometric relationships were found between and among growth components in both species. The allometry of the growth in most morphological features was strengthened and modified by simulated warming. Stem diameter and plant height, and spike length in A. anomala and M. sinensis changed from isometric to allometric following warming. The relationship The synchronized growth between stem diameter and spikelet in A. anomala was weakened, but their allometry was enhanced with increased warming. The allometric relationship between plant height and leaf length in A. anomala transformed into isometric growth, but it was in reversed pattern in M. sinensis. Warming promoted the plant height and leaf sheath length in A. anomala, whilst higher warming changed the growth relationship between plant height and leaf sheath length in M. sinensis. Similar allometric relationships among the leaf traits were observed, but warming did not significantly impact their allometric exponents. The results suggested that climate warming could have varied effects on different plants, and the differences are often related to the adaptability of plants.