scholarly journals Functional Trait Responses to Strip Clearcutting in a Moso Bamboo Forest

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 793
Author(s):  
Yaxiong Zheng ◽  
Fengying Guan ◽  
Shaohui Fan ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Xiong Jing
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Moso Bamboo ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Functional Features

Functional characteristics reflect plant strategies and adaptability to the changing environment. Determining the dynamics of these characteristics after harvesting would improve the understanding of forest response strategies. Strip clearcutting (SC) of moso bamboo forests, which significantly reduces the cutting cost, has been proposed to replace manual selective harvesting. A comparison of restoration features shows that 8 m is the optimal cutting width. However, the precise response of functional features to the resulting harvest-created gap remains unclear. In this study, three SC plots were selected which was performed in February 2019, with three unharvested plots as a control (C). The study focused on 10 functional traits, including leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), nitrogen/phosphorus ratio (N:P), wood density (WD), fine root biomass (FRB), specific fine root length (SRL), and root length density (RLD). A one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences in functional traits and soil nutrients between treatments. Strip clearcutting significantly reduced the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents (p < 0.05). In terms of functional characteristics, SC significantly decreased LA and increased LNC, LPC, and N:P (p < 0.05). However, SC had no significant effect on fine root traits (p > 0.05). This study highlighted that root trait, soil content of total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) returned to the level of uncut plots after a year’s recovery. The LPC, LNC, and N:P were negatively correlated with LA, and LDMC and WD were negatively correlated with SLA, while the effect of SC on fine root traits was limited (p > 0.05). Fine root traits (FRB, RLD, and SRL) were positively associated with SOC, TN, and TP, but negatively correlated with TK. The changes in soil nutrient content caused by the removal of biomass were normal. Increased light and the rapid growth of new trees will increase nutrient regressions; therefore, these results further confirm the feasibility of SC.

scholarly journals Precipitation Variability Affects Aboveground Biomass Directly and Indirectly via Plant Functional Traits in the Desert Steppe of Inner Mongolia, Northern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Cheng ◽  
Yuanbo Gong ◽  
Xiaoan Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Precipitation Changes

Clarifying the response of community and dominance species to climate change is crucial for disentangling the mechanism of the ecosystem evolution and predicting the prospective dynamics of communities under the global climate scenario. We examined how precipitation changes affect community structure and aboveground biomass (AGB) according to manipulated precipitation experiments in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Bayesian model and structural equation models (SEM) were used to test variation and causal relationship among precipitation, plant diversity, functional attributes, and AGB. The results showed that the responses of species richness, evenness, and plant community weighted means traits to precipitation changes in amount and year were significant. The SEM demonstrated that precipitation change in amount and year has a direct effect on richness, evenness, and community-weighted mean (CWM) for height, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and leaf carbon content (LCC) and AGB; there into CWM for height and LDMC had a direct positive effect on AGB; LA had a direct negative effect on AGB. Three dominant species showed diverse adaptation and resource utilization strategies in response to precipitation changes. A. polyrhizum showed an increase in height under the precipitation treatments that promoted AGB, whereas the AGB of P. harmala and S. glareosa was boosted through alterations in height and LA. Our results highlight the asynchronism of variation in community composition and structure, leaf functional traits in precipitation-AGB relationship. We proposed that altered AGB resulted from the direct and indirect effects of plant functional traits (plant height, LA, LDMC) rather than species diversity, plant functional traits are likely candidate traits, given that they are mechanistically linked to precipitation changes and affected aboveground biomass in a desert steppe.

scholarly journals Shoot and Root Traits Underlying Genotypic Variation in Early Vigor and Nutrient Accumulation in Spring Wheat Grown in High-Latitude Light Conditions

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Hui Liu ◽  
Fabio Fiorani ◽  
Ortrud Jäck ◽  
Tino Colombi ◽  
Kerstin A. Nagel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Nutrient Accumulation ◽  
Early Vigor

Plants with improved nutrient use efficiency are needed to maintain and enhance future crop plant production. The aim of this study was to explore candidate traits for pre-breeding to improve nutrient accumulation and early vigor of spring wheat grown at high latitudes. We quantified shoot and root traits together with nutrient accumulation in nine contrasting spring wheat genotypes grown in rhizoboxes for 20 days in a greenhouse. Whole-plant relative growth rate was here correlated with leaf area productivity and plant nitrogen productivity, but not leaf area ratio. Furthermore, the total leaf area was correlated with the accumulation of six macronutrients, and could be suggested as a candidate trait for the pre-breeding towards improved nutrient accumulation and early vigor in wheat to be grown in high-latitude environments. Depending on the nutrient of interest, different root system traits were identified as relevant for their accumulation. Accumulation of nitrogen, potassium, sulfur and calcium was correlated with lateral root length, whilst accumulation of phosphorus and magnesium was correlated with main root length. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to specific root system traits in the breeding of wheat towards improved nutrient accumulation to counteract the suboptimal uptake of some nutrient elements.

scholarly journals Effects of warming and fertilization interacting with intraspecific competition on fine root traits of Picea asperata

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan-Dan Li ◽  
Hong-Wei Nan ◽  
Chun-Zhang Zhao ◽  
Chun-Ying Yin ◽  
Qing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Root Surface ◽  
Root Branching ◽  
Picea Asperata

Abstract Aims Competition, temperature, and nutrient are the most important determinants of tree growth in the cold climate on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Although many studies have reported their individual effects on tree growth, little is known about how the interactions of competition with fertilization and temperature affect root growth. We aim to test whether climate warming and fertilization promote competition and to explore the functional strategies of Picea asperata in response to the interactions of these factors. Methods We conducted a paired experiment including competition and non-competition treatments under elevated temperature (ET) and fertilization. We measured root traits, including the root tip number over the root surface (RTRS), the root branching events over the root surface (RBRS), the specific root length (SRL), the specific root area (SRA), the total fine root length and area (RL and RA), the root tips (RT) and root branching events (RB). These root traits are considered to be indicators of plant resource uptake capacity and root growth. The root biomass and the nutrient concentrations in the roots were also determined. Important Findings The results indicated that ET, fertilization and competition individually enhanced the nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) concentrations in fine roots, but they did not affect fine root biomass or root traits, including RL, RT, RA and RB. However, both temperature and fertilization, as well as their interaction, interacting with competition increased RL, RA, RT, RB, and nutrient uptake. In addition, the SRL, SRA, RTRS and RBRS decreased under fertilization, the interaction between temperature and competition decreased SRL and SRA, while the other parameters were not affected by temperature or competition. These results indicate that Picea asperata maintains a conservative nutrient strategy in response to competition, climate warming, fertilization, and their interactions. Our results improve our understanding of the physiological and ecological adaptability of trees to global change.

scholarly journals Direct and Indirect Effects of Precipitation Change and Nutrients Addition on Desert Steppe Productivity in Inner Mongolia, Northern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinxin Guo ◽  
Xiaoan Zuo ◽  
Ping Yue ◽  
Xiangyun Li ◽  
Ya Hu
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Nutrient Addition ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Precipitation Changes

Abstract Background and Aims Global changes profoundly impact on structure and function of grassland ecosystem. However, it remains unclear on the mechanism of how multiple limiting resources affect plant community primary productivity (ANPP) in desert steppe.Methods Here, we conducted an experiment to examine the effects of precipitation changes (natural and ± 50% precipitation) and nutrient addition (=N: 0 g·m-2·yr-1; +N: N 10 g·m-2·yr-1; +NPK: N/P/K each for 10 g·m-2·yr-1) on species diversity, ANPP, functional traits and soil properties. We used structural equation model (SEM) to evaluate the effects of precipitation changes and nutrient addition on ANPP.Results Increased precipitation increased species diversity and ANPP under NPK addition, NPK addition increased ANPP under increased precipitation, and the interaction of precipitation changes and nutrient addition was significant for ANPP. Drought reduced plant height and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), but increased leaf nitrogen content (LNC). ANPP was positively correlated with species richness, abundance, height and LDMC, but negatively correlated with specific leaf area (SLA) and LNC. The SEM showed increased precipitation and nutrient addition directly increased ANPP. Altered precipitation indirectly affected ANPP through its effect on abundance and SLA, while nutrient addition indirectly affected ANPP only through its effect on abundance.Conclusion The combined limitations of precipitation and multiple nutrients deserves more attention in studying the effect of global changes on productivity in arid steppe. Our results highlight the importance of species diversity and functional traits in driving short-term responses of ANPP to environmental factors in desert steppe ecosystems.

scholarly journals Trade-off Strategy of Three Dominant Species in Grazing Exclusion of Desert Steppe,china

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
jingli ma ◽  
Hongbin Ma ◽  
Yao Zhou ◽  
Qi Lu ◽  
Yan Shen
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Grazing Exclusion ◽  
Root Functional Traits

Abstract Background and AimsGrazing exclusion is a powerful measure to restore the ecological environment in desert steppe. Studying the changing trend of functional traits and trade-off strategy about dominant species what is of great significance to understand the effect of grazing exclusion on species succession. Methods We studied that the change of leaf and root functional traits of three dominant species (Lespedeza potaninii, Agropyron mongolicum and Stipa breviflora) under different term of grazing exclusion. ResultsWe found that the leaf area and leaf nitrogen content, leaf dry matter content, total root length, specific root length and specific root surface of Lespedeza potaninii in grazing were higher than grazing exclusion. The highest specific leaf area, specific root length of Agropyron mongolicum and Stipa breviflora were observed in short-term grazing exclusion. Leaf tissue density and root tissue density significantly decreased in short-term grazing exclusion. Economic spectrum exist, Lespedeza potaninii have more conservation strategy in short-term grazing exclusion compared with grazing. Agropyron mongolicum and Stipa breviflora have more acquisition strategy in grazing exclusion. Average diameters have great effected on above-ground biomass.ConclusionThe result showed that grazing exclusion change leaf and root functional traits of three dominant species, different species have different trade-off strategy.

scholarly journals The acquisitive-conservative axis of leaf trait variation emerges even in homogeneous environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas D Gorné ◽  
Sandra Díaz ◽  
Vanessa Minden ◽  
Yusuke Onoda ◽  
Koen Kramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Environmental Variation ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Leaf Trait

Abstract Background and Aims The acquisitive-conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait covariation within species are scarcer, and have mostly dealt with variation in response to environmental gradients. Little work has been published on intraspecific patterns of leaf trait covariation in the absence of strong environmental variation. Methods We analysed covariation of four leaf functional traits (SLA: specific leaf area, LDMC: leaf dry matter content, Ft: force to tear, and Nm: leaf nitrogen content) in six Poaceae and four Fabaceae species common in the dry Chaco forest of Central Argentina, growing in the field and in a common garden. We compared intraspecific covariation patterns (slopes, correlation and effect size) of leaf functional traits with global interspecific covariation patterns. Additionally, we checked for possible climatic and edaphic factors that could affect the intraspecific covariation pattern. Key Results We found negative correlations for the LDMC-SLA, Ft-SLA, LDMC-Nm, and Ft-Nm trait pairs. This intraspecific covariation pattern found both in the field and in the common garden and not be explained by climatic or edaphic variation in the field follows the expected acquisitive-conservative axis. At the same time, we found quantitative differences in slopes among different species, and between these intraspecific patterns and the interspecific ones. Many of these differences seem to be idiosyncratic, but some appear consistent among species (e.g.all the intraspecific LDMC-SLA and LDMC-Nm slopes tend to be shallower than the global). Conclusions Our study indicates that the acquisitive-conservative leaf functional trait covariation pattern occurs at the intraspecific level even in the absence of relevant environmental variation in the field. This suggests a high degree of variation-covariation in leaf functional traits not driven by environmental variables.

scholarly journals Biomass Allocation and Root Characteristics of Early-Stage Poplars (Populus spp.) for Assessing Their Water-Deficit Response During SRC Establishment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Meyer ◽  
Kristin Morgenstern ◽  
Dávid Heilig ◽  
Bálint Heil ◽  
Gábor Kovács ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Total Leaf Area ◽  
Total Leaf ◽  
Fine Root Length

AbstractEarly above- and belowground biomass fractionation, root diameter composition and allocation of cumulated fine root length per total leaf area of Populus clones have been measured for a pre-assessment of the risk for plantation establishment during spring drought conditions. Four clones of Populus × euramericana, and one P. nigra × P. maximowiczii clone (cv. Max 3), were planted in sandy mix substrate and were exposed to one normal and one deficit watering regime over 65-day greenhouse experiments conducted during early summer. The P. × euramericana hybrids showed plasticity of their root biomass fractions. Although clone Max 3 was among the productive clones, even under deficit watering, it was not able to respond plastically to deficit watering. It showed no increase in the root biomass fraction and no increase in the ratio of cumulated fine root length per total leaf area. Therefore, the clone Max 3 should not be planted under high risk for spring drought. Planting the investigated P. × euramericana clones under water deficit likely involves a lower risk, but clone differences within this group must be considered. It can be concluded that the water deficit response of biomass allocation to roots and of the ratio of fine root length per unit leaf area is suitable traits to improve drought risk assessments that are based on yield response of poplar clones to drought. Percent plant loss data and the yield at the end of the first SRC rotation will be suitable to verify the present greenhouse assessment.

Species abundance is jointly determined by functional traits and negative density dependence in a subtropical forest in southern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weitao Wang ◽  
Yun Jiang ◽  
Buhang Li ◽  
Nianxun Xi ◽  
Yongfa Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Density Dependence ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Negative Density Dependence

Abstract Aims The factors affecting species abundance are a subject of ongoing debates in community ecology. Empirical studies have demonstrated that tree abundance is affected by plant functional traits and negative density dependence (NDD). However, few studies have focused on the combined effects of negative density dependence and plant functional traits on species abundance. Methods In this study, we used tree functional traits and two census data from a 50-ha forest dynamic plot in the Heishiding (HSD) Nature Reserve to explore the combined effects of functional traits and NDD on species abundance. Using hierarchical Bayesian models, we analyzed how neighbor densities affected the survival of saplings from 130 species and extracted posterior means of the coefficients to represent NDD. The structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was then applied to investigate the causal relationships among species functional traits, negative density dependence, and species abundance. Important findings SEM showed that tree functional traits, including specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf N content (LNC), maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax), and conspecific adult negative density dependence (CNDDadult), together explained 20% of the total variation in tree abundance. Specifically, SLA affected tree abundance both directly and indirectly via CNDDadult, with a totally negative influence on abundance. LDMC and LNC had only indirect effects mediated by CNDDadult on tree abundance. ETRmax and LA had directly negative effects on abundance, but their direct connections with CNDDadult were not observed. In addition, CNDDadult was negatively correlated with species abundance, indicating that abundant species are under stronger negative density dependence. Among these investigated traits, SLA contributed the most to the variation in CNDDadult and abundance. We argued that our findings of trait-CNDDadult-abundance relationships can improve our understanding of the determinants of species commonness and rarity in forests.

scholarly journals BIOVERA-Tree: tree diversity, community composition, forest structure and functional traits along gradients of forest-use intensity and elevation in Veracruz, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Monge González ◽  
Patrick Weigelt ◽  
Nathaly Guerrero-Ramírez ◽  
Dylan Craven ◽  
Gonzalo Castillo-Campos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Forest Use

Here, we describe BIOVERA-Tree, a database on tree diversity, community composition, forest structure and functional traits collected in 120 forest plots, distributed along an extensive elevational gradient in Veracruz State, Mexico. BIOVERA-Tree includes information on forest structure from three levels of forest-use intensity, namely old-growth, degraded and secondary forest, replicated across eight elevations from sea-level to near the tree line at 3500 m and on size and location of 4549 tree individuals with a diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm belonging to 216 species, 154 genera and 80 families. We also report measurements of eight functional traits, namely wood density for 143 species, maximum height for 216 species and leaf traits including: specific leaf area, lamina density, leaf thickness, chlorophyll content and leaf area for 148 species and leaf dry matter content for 145 species. BIOVERA-Tree is a new database comprising data collected in a rigorous sampling design along forest-use intensity and elevational gradients, contributing to our understanding of how interactive effects of forest-use intensity and elevation affect tree diversity, community composition and functional traits in tropical forests.

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