Nitrogen deposition but not climate warming promotes Deyeuxia angustifolia encroachment in alpine tundra of the Changbai Mountains, Northeast China

Montane bogs&#8212;peat-forming ecosystems located in high elevation and receiving their water supply mostly from meteoric waters&#8212;are unique archives of past environmental changes. Studying these ecosystems and their responses to recent climate warming will help improve our understanding of the sensitivity of high-elevation peatlands to regional climate dynamics. Here, we report a post-bomb radiocarbon-dated, high-resolution, and multi-proxy record in Laobaishan bog (LBS), a mountaintop bog from the Changbai Mountains Range in Northeast China. We analyzed plant macrofossils and testate amoebae of a 41-cm peat core dated between 1970 and 2009 to document the ecohydrological response of peatland to the anthropogenic warming in recent decades. We quantitatively reconstruct the surface wetness changes of LBS bog using the first axis of the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of plant macrofossil assemblages and depth to water table (DWT) inferred by transfer function of testate amoebae assemblages. We distinguished two hydroclimate stages: the moist stage before the 1990s and the rapidly drying stage since the 1990s. During the moist stage, plant macrofossils were characterized by the low abundance of Sphagnum capitifolium and Polytrichum strichum that prefer dry habitats, and testate amoebae assemblages were dominated by low abundance of dry-adapted Assulina muscorum and Corythion dubium. High score of first axis and low DWT also suggested a moist habitat at LBS. After the transition into the drying stage, the abundance of S. capitifolium and P. strichum increased and that of A. muscorum and C. dubium showed similar trend. Score of first axis and DWT reconstructions show that LBS have experienced rapid surface desiccation since the 1990s. Based on the high-resolution gridded reanalysis data, these ecohydrological changes occurred with a rapid increase in temperature (~1&#176;C) but without notable change in total precipitation during the growing season (May&#8211;September) since the 1990s. Besides, backward trajectory analysis showed no apparent changes in atmospheric circulation pattern since the 1990s, supporting our interpretation that the ecohydrological changes in LBS bog were induced by climate warming. These results demonstrate that the plant communities, microbial assemblages, and peatland hydrology of montane peatland show a sensitive response to climate warming that might be in larger amplitude than the low-elevation areas.

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Nitrogen Deposition and Deyeuxia angustifolia Encroachment in Alpine Tundra

Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biodiversity ◽

10.1201/9780429445651-40 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 315-320

Author(s):

Shengwei Zong ◽

Kunwei Wang

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Deposition ◽

Alpine Tundra ◽

Deyeuxia Angustifolia

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Vegetation Heterogeneity Effects on Soil Macro-Arthropods in an Alpine Tundra of the Changbai Mountains, China

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8100418 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 418 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yan Tao ◽

Zhongqiang Wang ◽

Chen Ma ◽

Hongshi He ◽

Jiawei Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sampling Period ◽

Taxonomic Composition ◽

Alpine Tundra ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Arthropod Communities ◽

Vaccinium Uliginosum ◽

Deyeuxia Angustifolia ◽

Vegetation Heterogeneity ◽

Heterogeneity Effects ◽

Rhododendron Aureum

The harsh environmental conditions in alpine tundra exert a significant influence on soil macro-arthropod communities, yet few studies have been performed regarding the effects of vegetation heterogeneity on these communities. In order to better understand this question, a total of 96 soil macro-arthropod samples were collected from four habitats in the Changbai Mountains in China, namely, the Vaccinium uliginosum habitat, Sanguisorba sitchensis habitat, Rhododendron aureum habitat, and Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat. The results revealed that the taxonomic composition of the soil macro-arthropods varied among the habitats, and that dissimilarities existed in these communities. The abundance, richness and diversity in the D. angustifolia habitat were all at their maximum during the sampling period. The vegetation heterogeneity affected the different taxa of the soil macro-arthropods at various levels. In addition, the vegetation heterogeneity had direct effects not only on soil macro-arthropod communities, but also indirectly impacted the abundance, richness and diversity by altering the soil fertility and soil texture. Overall, our results provide experimental evidence that vegetation heterogeneity can promote the abundance, richness and diversity of soil macro-arthropods, yet the responses of soil macro-arthropods to vegetation heterogeneity differed among their taxa.

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Soil Mesofauna Respond to the Upward Expansion of Deyeuxia purpurea in the Alpine Tundra of the Changbai Mountains, China

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8120615 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 615

Author(s):

Yan Tao ◽

Zhongqiang Wang ◽

Chen Ma ◽

Hongshi He ◽

Jiawei Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Northeast China ◽

Taxonomic Composition ◽

Alpine Tundra ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Native Plant ◽

Soil Mesofauna ◽

Faunal Communities ◽

Low Altitude ◽

Different Levels

Deyeuxia purpurea, a low-altitude species, has been expanding upwards into alpine tundra, and this upward expansion is causing serious ecological consequences. However, few studies have been performed regarding its effects on soil faunal communities. We examine how the upward expansion of D. purpurea affects the abundance, richness, and diversity of soil mesofauna, and evaluate how different taxa of soil mesofauna respond to the upward expansion of D. purpurea in the alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains, northeast China. A total of 128 soil mesofaunal samples were collected from four treatments, namely high upward expansion (HU), medium upward expansion (MU), low upward expansion (LU), and native plant habitats (NP). The results revealed that the abundance of soil mesofauna was increased with the rise of D. purpurea upward expansion, and the taxonomic composition varied with the different levels of D. purpurea upward expansion in the alpine tundra of the Changbai Mountains. No unique taxa were collected in the native plant habitats, and the upward expansion of D. purpurea promoted the colonization of predatory invertebrates. Isotomidae and Gamasida responded positively to the herbaceous plant upward expansion, and thus they were considered to be a positive indicator of upward expansion. Hypogastruridae and Enchytraeidae responded relatively negatively, while Oribatida, Actinedida, and Pseudachorutidae had ambivalent responses to the upward expansion. Overall, the abundance of soil mesofauna can indicate the levels of the upward expansion of D. purpurea. Soil mesofaunal guild characteristics were altered by the upward expansion. The different taxa of soil mesofauna responded to herbaceous plants’ upward expansion to various degrees. Therefore, this study provide evidence supporting the fact that the abundance of soil mesofauna can indicate the levels of upward expansion of D. purpurea, but the responses of soil mesofauna to the upward expansion of D. purpurea differ among their taxa.

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Distribution patterns of vegetation biomass and nutrients bio-cycle in alpine tundra ecosystem on Changbai Mountains, Northeast China

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-007-0055-3 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 271-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jing Wei ◽

Ping Jiang ◽

De-yong Yu ◽

Gang Wu ◽

Hai-wei Fu

Keyword(s):

Northeast China ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Alpine Tundra ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Vegetation Biomass ◽

Tundra Ecosystem

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Effects of nitrogen deposition on tundra vegetation undergoing invasion by Deyeuxia angustifolia in Changbai Mountains

Chinese Geographical Science ◽

10.1007/s11769-015-0746-1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yinghua Jin ◽

Jiawei Xu ◽

Yeqiao Wang ◽

Shaoxian Wang ◽

Zhaoshuang Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Deposition ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Deyeuxia Angustifolia ◽

Tundra Vegetation

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Nutrients and biomass spatial patterns in alpine tundra ecosystem on Changbai Mountains, Northeast China

Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces ◽

10.1016/j.colsurfb.2007.06.022 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 250-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gang Wu ◽

Ping Jiang ◽

Jing Wei ◽

Hongbo Shao

Keyword(s):

Spatial Patterns ◽

Northeast China ◽

Alpine Tundra ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Tundra Ecosystem

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The Impact of Human Pressure and Climate Change on the Habitat Availability and Protection of Cypripedium (Orchidaceae) in Northeast China

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Huanchu Liu ◽

Hans Jacquemyn ◽

Xingyuan He ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Yanqing Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Northeast China ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Human Pressure ◽

Terrestrial Orchids ◽

The Future ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

The Impact

Human pressure on the environment and climate change are two important factors contributing to species decline and overall loss of biodiversity. Orchids may be particularly vulnerable to human-induced losses of habitat and the pervasive impact of global climate change. In this study, we simulated the extent of the suitable habitat of three species of the terrestrial orchid genus Cypripedium in northeast China and assessed the impact of human pressure and climate change on the future distribution of these species. Cypripedium represents a genus of long-lived terrestrial orchids that contains several species with great ornamental value. Severe habitat destruction and overcollection have led to major population declines in recent decades. Our results showed that at present the most suitable habitats of the three species can be found in Da Xing’an Ling, Xiao Xing’an Ling and in the Changbai Mountains. Human activity was predicted to have the largest impact on species distributions in the Changbai Mountains. In addition, climate change was predicted to lead to a shift in distribution towards higher elevations and to an increased fragmentation of suitable habitats of the three investigated Cypripedium species in the study area. These results will be valuable for decision makers to identify areas that are likely to maintain viable Cypripedium populations in the future and to develop conservation strategies to protect the remaining populations of these enigmatic orchid species.

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Modeling the Impact of Atmospheric Warming on Staple Crop Growth in China in the 1960s and 2000s

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12010036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Qing Zhang ◽

Wen Zhang ◽

Yongqiang Yu ◽

Tingting Li ◽

Lijun Yu

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Climate Warming ◽

Northeast China ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Crop Growth ◽

East China ◽

Frequency Distributions ◽

Before And After ◽

The 1960S ◽

The Impact

Responses of crop growth to climate warming are fundamental to future food security. The response of crops to climate change may be subtly different at their growing stages. Close insights into the differentiated stage-dependent responses of crops are significantly important in making adaptive adjustments of crops’ phenological optimization and cultivar improvement in diverse cropping systems. Using the Agro-C model, we studied the influence of past climate warming on crops in typical cropping systems in China. The results showed that while the temperature had increased distinctly from the 1960s to 2000s, the temperature frequency distributions in the growth season of crops moved to the high-temperature direction. The low temperature days during the crop growth periods that suppress crop growth decreased in the winter wheat area in North and East China, rice and maize areas in Northeast China, and the optimum temperature days increased significantly. As a result, the above ground biomass (AGB) of rice and maize in Northeast China and winter wheat in North and East China increased distinctly, while that of rice in South China had no significant change. A comparison of the key growth periods before and after heading (silking) showed that the warming before heading (silking) made a great contribution to the increase in the AGB, especially for winter wheat.

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