Age-related changes of leaf traits and stoichiometry in an alpine shrub(Rhododendron agglutinatum) along altitudinal gradient

Leaf morphological and stoichiometric characteristics are considered to represent both the interior inheritable characters in the plant and its adaptations to specific exterior environments. Rhododendron agglutinatum,an evergreen alpine shrub species,occupies a wide range of habitats above timberline in the Miyaluo Natural Reserve,southwestern China. Along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 3700 to 4150 m,we measured leaf morphological characters including leaf dry matter content(LDMC),leaf dry mass per unit area(LMA),and one leaf area(OLA),as well as carbon(C) and nutrient(N,P) contents in leaves of three different age groups(juvenile leaves,mature leaves and senescent leaves). We also calculated the stoichiometric relationships among carbon and nutrients(C/N,C/P and N/P). Results showed thatboth age and altitude affected the leaf morphological and stoichiometric properties of R. agglutinatum. Mature leaves possessed the highest LDMC,LMA and C contents both on a dry mass basis and on a unit area basis. Younger leaves possessed higher contents of nutrients. OLA as well as ratios between carbon and nutrients(C/N,C/P) increased with ages. Juvenile leaves possessed lowest ratio between nitrogen and phosphorus. In juvenile leaves,nutrients increased with altitudinal elevation,whereas other traits decreased. In mature leaves,nutrients and their ratios with carbon showed consistent trends with juvenile leaves along increasing altitude,whereas LMA and carbon on a unit area basis showed opposite trends with juvenile leaves along increasing altitude. In senescent leaves,only content of phosphorus on a unit area basis and N/P were found linearly correlated with altitude. Our results demonstrated a clear pattern of nutrient distribution with aging process inleaves and indicated that a high possibility of N limitation in this region. We also concluded that younger leaves could be more sensitive to climate changes due to a greater altitudinal influence on the leaf traits in younger leaves than those in elder leaves.     

Degradation induces changes in the soil C:N:P stoichiometry of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

Due to the Tibetan Plateau's unique high altitude and low temperature climate conditions,the region's alpine steppe ecosystem is highly fragile and is suffering from severe degradation under the stress of increasing population,overgrazing,and climate change.The soil stoichiometry,a crucial part of ecological stoichiometry,provides a fundamental approach for understanding ecosystem processes by examining the relative proportions and balance of the three elements.Understanding the impact of degradation on the soil stoichiometry is vital for conservation and management in the alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau.This study aims to examine the response of soil stoichiometry to degradation and explore the underlying biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the alpine steppe.We conducted a field survey in a sequent degraded alpine steppe with seven levels inNorthern Tibet.The plant species,aboveground biomass,and physical and chemical soil properties such as the moisture content,temperature,pH,compactness,total carbon(C),total nitrogen(N),and total phosphorus(P)were measured and recorded.The results showed that the contents of soil C/N,C/P,and N/P consistently decreased along intensifying degradation gradients.Using regression analysis and a structural equation model(SEM),we found that the C/N,C/P,and N/P ratios were positively affected by the soil compactness,soil moisture content and species richness of graminoids but negatively affected by soil pH and the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs.The soil temperature had a negative effect on the C/N ratio but showed positive effect on the C/P and N/P ratios.The current study shows that degradation-induced changes in abiotic and biotic conditions such as soil warming and drying,which accelerated the soil organic carbon mineralization,as well as the increase in the proportion of forbs,whichwere difficult to decompose and input less organic carbon into soil,resulted in the decreases in soil C/N,C/P,and N/P contents to a great extent.Our results provide a sound basis for sustainable conservation and management of the alpine steppe.     

Age-related changes of leaf traits and stoichiometry in an alpine shrub (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhododendron agglutinatum</Emphasis>) along altitudinal gradient

Leaf morphological and stoichiometric characteristics are considered to represent both the interior inheritable characters in the plant and its adaptations to specific exterior environments. Rhododendron agglutinatum, an evergreen alpine shrub species, occupies a wide range of habitats above timberline in the Miyaluo Natural Reserve, southwestern China. Along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 3700 to 4150 m, we measured leaf morphological characters including leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA), and one leaf area (OLA), as well as carbon (C) and nutrient (N, P) contents in leaves of three different age groups (juvenile leaves, mature leaves and senescent leaves). We also calculated the stoichiometric relationships among carbon and nutrients (C/N, C/P and N/P). Results showed that both age and altitude affected the leaf morphological and stoichiometric properties of R. agglutinatum. Mature leaves possessed the highest LDMC, LMA and C contents both on a dry mass basis and on a unit area basis. Younger leaves possessed higher contents of nutrients. OLA as well as ratios between carbon and nutrients (C/N, C/P) increased with ages. Juvenile leaves possessed lowest ratio between nitrogen and phosphorus. In juvenile leaves, nutrients increased with altitudinal elevation, whereas other traits decreased. In mature leaves, nutrients and their ratios with carbon showed consistent trends with juvenile leaves along increasing altitude, whereas LMA and carbon on a unit area basis showed opposite trends with juvenile leaves along increasing altitude. In senescent leaves, only content of phosphorus on a unit area basis and N/P were found linearly correlated with altitude. Our results demonstrated a clear pattern of nutrient distribution with aging process in leaves and indicated that a high possibility of N limitation in this region. We also concluded that younger leaves could be more sensitive to climate changes due to a greater altitudinal influence on the leaf traits in younger leaves than those in elder leaves.     

Biomass allocation patterns of alpine grassland species and functional groups along a precipitation gradient on the Northern Tibetan Plateau

Variations in the fractions of biomass allocated to functional components are widely considered as plant responses to resource availability for grassland plants. Observations indicated shoots isometrically relates to roots at the community level but allometrically at the species level in Tibetan alpine grasslands. These differences may result from the specific complementarity of functional groups between functional components, such as leaf, root, stem and reproductive organ. To test the component complementary responses to regional moisture variation, we conducted a multi-site transect survey to measure plant individual size and component biomass fractions of common species belonging to the functional groups： forbs, grasses, legumes and sedges on the Northern Tibetan Plateau in peak growing season in 2010. Along the mean annual precipitation （MAP） gradient, we sampled 7o species, in which 2o are in alpine meadows, 20 in alpine steppes, 15 in alpine desert-steppes and 15 in alpine deserts, respectively. Our results showed that the size of alpine plants is small with individual biomass mostly lower than 1.0 g. Plants keep relative conservative component individual responses moisture functional fractions across alpine grasslands at the level. However, the complementary between functional components to variations specifically differ among groups. These results indicate that functional group diversity may be an effective tool for scaling biomass allocation patterns from individual up to community level. Therefore, it is necessary andvaluable to perform intensive and systematic studies on identification and differentiation the influences of compositional changes in functional groups on ecosystem primary services and processes.     

Variation in carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus partitioning between above- and belowground biomass along a precipitation gradient at Tibetan Plateau

Precipitation is a potential factor that significantly affects plant nutrient pools by influencing biomass sizes and nutrient concentrations. However, few studies have explicitly dissected carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) pools between above- and belowground biomass at the community level along a precipitation gradient. We conducted a transect(approx. 1300 km long) study of Stipa purpurea community in alpine steppe on the Tibet Plateau of China to test the variation of N pool of aboveground biomass/N pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB N) and P pool of aboveground biomass/P pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB P) along a precipitation gradient. The proportion of aboveground biomass decreased significantly from mesic to drier sites. Along the belt transect, the plant N concentration was relatively stable; thus, AB/BB N increased with moisture due to the major influences by above- and belowground biomass allocation. However, P concentration of aboveground biomass decreased significantly with increasing precipitation and AB/BB P did not vary with aridity because of the offset effect of the P concentration and biomass allocation. Precipitation gradients do decouple the N and P pool of a S. purpurea community along a precipitation gradient in alpine steppe. The decreasing of N:P in aboveground biomass in drier regions may indicate much stronger N limitation in more arid area.     

Heavy metals in sediments and their bioaccumulation in Phragmites australis in the Anzali wetland of Iran

Accumulation of metals in both sediments and Phragmites australis organs was studied. Samples were collected from seven stations located in Anzali wetland, Iran. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The results showed that concentration of the studied metals(except As and Cd) were higher in sediments than in P.australis organs. Metal accumulation was found to be signifi cantly(P 0.05) higher in roots than in above-ground organs of P.australis. The bioaccumulation factor(BAF) and the transfer factor(TF) also verifi ed the highest rate of metal accumulation in roots and their reduced mobility from roots to the above-ground organs. Pearson correlation coeffi cient showed signifi cant relationships between metal concentrations in sediments and those in plant organs. It should be pointed out that sediment and plant samples exhibited higher metal concentrations in eastern and central parts than in western and southern parts of the wetland. The mean concentrations of all studied elements(except for Fe, V and Al) were higher in these sediment samples than in the Earth's crust and shale. High accumulation of metals in P. australis organs(roots and shoots) is indicative of their high bioavailability in sediments of the wetland. The correlation between metal concentrations in sediments and in P. australis indicates that plant organs are good bioindicators of metal pollution in sediments of Anzali wetland.     

Is Moss Stoichiometry Influenced by Microtopography in a Boreal Peatland of Northeast China?

To examine the effects of microtopography on the stoichiometry of carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) in mosses along the hummock-hollow gradient in boreal peatlands, we investigated species-level C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of five mosses(Sphagnum magellanicum, S. perichaetiale, S. palustre, S. girgensohnii and Aulacomnium palustre) in the hummocks, hollows and their intermediate zones, and then assessed community-level spatial patterns in a boreal ombrotrophic peatland of north of the Great Xing'an Mountain, Northeast China. The results show that at the species level, C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of the selected Sphagnum mosses remained stable in the hummock-hollow complexes due to unchanged C, N and P concentrations, whereas the non-Sphagnum moss(A. palustre) in the hummocks and intermediate zones had lower P concentrations and thus greater C?P ratios than that in the hollows. At the community level, moss N concentration and C?N ratio remained constant along the hummock-hollow gradient, whereas hummocks and intermediate zones had higher community-level moss C?P and N?P ratios than hollows because of greater C and lower P concentrations. These findings imply that the effects of microtopography on moss C?N?P stoichiometry are scale-dependent and reveal spatial heterogeneity in C and nutrient dynamics. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical cycles in boreal peatlands.     

Responses of Dodonaea viscosa growth and soil biological properties to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in Yuanmou dry-hot valley

Nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) are limited nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems, and their limitation patterns are being changed by the increase in N deposition. However, little information concerns the plant growth and the soil biological responses to N and P additions among different soils simultaneously, and these responses may contribute to understand plant-soil interaction and predict plant performance under global change. Thus, this study aimed to explore how N and P limitation changes in different soil types, and reveal the relationship between plant and soil biological responses to nutrient additions. We planted Dodonaea viscosa, a globally distributed species in three soil types(Lixisols, Regosols and Luvisols) in Yuanmou dry-hot valley in Southwest China and fertilized them factorially with N and P. The growth and biomass characters of D. viscosa, soil organic matter, available N, P contents and soil carbon(C), N, P-related enzyme activities were quantified. N addition promoted the growth and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa in Lixisols; N limitation in Lixisols was demonstrated by lower soil available N with higher urease activity. P addition promoted the growth and leaf P concentration of D. viscosa in Luvisols; severe P limitation in Luvisols was demonstrated by a higher soil available N: P ratio with higher phosphatase activity. Urease activity was negatively correlated with soil available N in Nlimited Lixisols, and phosphatase activity was negatively correlated with soil available P in P-limited Luvisols. Besides, the aboveground biomass and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa were positively correlated with soil available N in Lixisols, but the aboveground biomass was negatively correlated with soil available P. Our results show similar nutrient limitation patterns between plant and soil microorganism in the condition of enough C, and the nutrient limitations differ across soil types. With the continued N deposition, N limitation of the Lixisols in dry hot valleys is expected to be alleviated, while P limitation of the Luvisols in the mountaintop may be worse in the future, which should be considered when restoring vegetation.     

Heavy metals in sediments and their bioaccumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> in the Anzali wetland of Iran

Accumulation of metals in both sediments and Phragmites australis organs was studied. Samples were collected from seven stations located in Anzali wetland, Iran. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that concentration of the studied metals (except As and Cd) were higher in sediments than in P. australis organs. Metal accumulation was found to be significantly (P <0.05) higher in roots than in above-ground organs of P. australis. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and the transfer factor (TF) also verified the highest rate of metal accumulation in roots and their reduced mobility from roots to the above-ground organs. Pearson correlation coefficient showed significant relationships between metal concentrations in sediments and those in plant organs. It should be pointed out that sediment and plant samples exhibited higher metal concentrations in eastern and central parts than in western and southern parts of the wetland. The mean concentrations of all studied elements (except for Fe, V and Al) were higher in these sediment samples than in the Earth’s crust and shale. High accumulation of metals in P. australis organs (roots and shoots) is indicative of their high bioavailability in sediments of the wetland. The correlation between metal concentrations in sediments and in P. australis indicates that plant organs are good bioindicators of metal pollution in sediments of Anzali wetland.     

Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dodonaea viscosa</Emphasis> growth and soil biological properties to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in Yuanmou dry-hot valley

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are limited nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems, and their limitation patterns are being changed by the increase in N deposition. However, little information concerns the plant growth and the soil biological responses to N and P additions among different soils simultaneously, and these responses may contribute to understand plant-soil interaction and predict plant performance under global change. Thus, this study aimed to explore how N and P limitation changes in different soil types, and reveal the relationship between plant and soil biological responses to nutrient additions. We planted Dodonaea viscosa, a globally distributed species in three soil types (Lixisols, Regosols and Luvisols) in Yuanmou dry-hot valley in Southwest China and fertilized them factorially with N and P. The growth and biomass characters of D. viscosa, soil organic matter, available N, P contents and soil carbon (C), N, P-related enzyme activities were quantified. N addition promoted the growth and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa in Lixisols; N limitation in Lixisols was demonstrated by lower soil available N with higher urease activity. P addition promoted the growth and leaf P concentration of D. viscosa in Luvisols; severe P limitation in Luvisols was demonstrated by a higher soil available N: P ratio with higher phosphatase activity. Urease activity was negatively correlated with soil available N in Nlimited Lixisols, and phosphatase activity was negatively correlated with soil available P in P-limited Luvisols. Besides, the aboveground biomass and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa were positively correlated with soil available N in Lixisols, but the aboveground biomass was negatively correlated with soil available P. Our results show similar nutrient limitation patterns between plant and soil microorganism in the condition of enough C, and the nutrient limitations differ across soil types. With the continued N deposition, N limitation of the Lixisols in dry hot valleys is expected to be alleviated, while P limitation of the Luvisols in the mountaintop may be worse in the future, which should be considered when restoring vegetation.     

Trait complementarity between fine roots of Stipa purpurea and their associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi along a precipitation gradient in Tibetan alpine steppe

Development of fine roots and formation of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi represent two strategies for plants to acquire nutrient and water from soil. Here, we elucidated how fine root development and symbolized mycorrhizal fungi with Stipa purpurea responded to the precipitation change in Tibetan alpine steppe ecosystem across a precipitation gradient from 50 mm to 400 mm. As precipitation increased, the proportion of thinner fine roots(diameter 0.4 mm) in total roots increased significantly; while the mycorrhizal colonization percentage, either associated with thinner or thicker roots, decreased. This phenomenon indicated that fine root development and symbolized mycorrhizal fungi are likely alternative, and plant preferred to develop fine root rather than build a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi in more benign niches with higher precipitation. Also, root diameter was negatively correlated with specific root length(SRL), but positively correlated with AM fungal colonization percentage, indicating thicker-root species rely more on mycorrhizal fungi in alpine steppe. The complementarity between fine root and mycorrhizal fungi of S. purpurea is mediated by precipitation in Tibetan alpine steppe.     

Impacts of ontogenetic and altitudinal changes on morphological traits and biomass allocation patterns of Fritillaria unibracteata

Environmental variations and ontogeny may affect plant morphological traits and biomass allocation patterns that are related to the adjustments of plant ecological strategies. We selected 2-, 3-and 4-year-old Fritillaria unibracteata plants to explore the ontogenetic and altitudinal changes that impact their morphological traits(i.e., plant height, single leaf area,and specific leaf area) and biomass allocations [i.e.,biomass allocations of roots, bulbs, leaves, stems, and flowers] at relatively low altitudinal ranges(3400 m to 3600 m asl) and high altitudinal ranges(3600 m to4000 m asl). Our results indicated that plant height,root biomass allocation, and stem biomass allocation significantly increased during the process of individual growth and development, but single leaf area, specific leaf area, bulb biomass allocation, and leaf biomass allocation showed opposite trends.Furthermore, the impacts of altitudinal changes on morphological traits and biomass allocations had no significant differences at low altitude, except for single leaf area of 2-year-old plants. At high altitude,significantly reduced plant height, single leaf area and leaf biomass allocation for the 2-year-old plants,specific leaf area for the 2-and 4-year-old plants, and stem biomass allocation were found along altitudinal gradients. Significantly increased sexual reproductive allocation and relatively stable single leaf area and leaf biomass allocation were also observed for the 3-and 4-year-old plants. In addition, stable specific leaf area for the 3-year-old plants and root biomass allocation were recorded. These results suggested that the adaptive adjustments of alpine plants, in particular F. unibracteata were simultaneously influenced by altitudinal gradients and ontogeny.     

Leaf litter decomposition dynamics in unmanaged Phyllostachys pubescens stands at high elevations in the Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve

Due to its rapid growth and high rate of spread, Phyllostachys pubescens can suppress other species, eventually leading to pure P. pubescens forests. Research on the patterns of litter decomposition and nutrient release from P. pubescens across stand mixtures are helpful to understand the decomposition and nutrient dynamics during the invasion process. However, little is known for unmanaged conditions at high elevations. Therefore, we studied the decomposition of four litter compositions comprised of different combinations of P. pubescens and Cunninghamia lanceolata foliage for one year to explore the pattern of litter decomposition and nutrient release at the Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve. The results show that:(1) the litter decomposed faster with a higher proportion of P. pubescens based on Olson's decay model;(2) the remaining litter compositions followed a trigonometric function model better than Olson'sdecay model and fluctuated periodically in tandem with changing temperature and precipitation;(3) the litter mixture decompositions did not support the biomass-ratio hypothesis test; and(4) there were significant binomial, power and exponential relationships between initial concentration and final amounts remaining after 1 year decomposition for C, N and P. The correlations between litter decomposition and nutrient releases were significant. The results may be used to explain the rapid spread of P. pubescens and to guide the natural management of plantations.     

Scaling of soil carbon,nitrogen, phosphorus and C:N:P ratio patterns in peatlands of China

Inspired by the importance of Redfield-type C:N:P ratios in global soils,we looked for analogous patterns in peatlands and aimed at deciphering the potential affecting factors.By analyzing a suite of peatlands soil data(n = 1031),mean soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorous(TP) contents were 50.51%,1.45% and 0.13%,respectively,while average C:N,C:P and N:P ratios were 26.72,1186.00 and 46.58,respectively.C:N ratios showed smaller variations across different vegetation coverage and had less spatial heterogeneity than C:P and N:P ratios.No consistent C:N:P ratio,though with a general value of 1245:47:1,was found for entire peatland soils in China.The Northeast China,Tibet,Zoigê Plateau and parts of Xinjiang had high soil SOC,TN,TP,and C:P ratio.Qinghai,parts of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,and the coast zones have low TP and N:P ratio.Significant differences for SOC,TN,TP,C:N,C:P and N:P ratios were observed across groups categorized by predominant vegetation.Moisture,temperature and precipitation all closely related to SOC,TN,TP and their pairwise ratios.The hydrothermal coefficient(RH),defined as annual average precipitation divided by temperature,positively and significantly related to C:N,C:P and N:P ratios,implying that ongoing climate change may prejudice peatlands as carbon sinks during the past 50 years in China.     

Dynamics of above- and below-ground biomass and C, N, P accumulation in the alpine steppe of Northern Tibet

The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) concentrations and accumulation contents, in aboveand below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alpine steppe vegetation of Northern Tibet during the growing season of 2010. The highest levels of total biomass (311.68 g m⁻²), total C (115.95 g m⁻²), total N (2.60 g m⁻²), and total P (0.90 g m⁻²) accumulation contents were obtained in August in 2010. Further, biomass and nutrient stocks in the below-ground components were higher than those of the above-ground components. The dominant species viz., Stipa purpurea and Carex moorcrofti had lower biomass and C, N, P accumulations than the companion species which including Oxytropis. spp., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Aster tataricus L., and so on.     

Leaf litter decomposition dynamics in unmanaged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis> stands at high elevations in the Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve

Due to its rapid growth and high rate of spread, Phyllostachys pubescens can suppress other species, eventually leading to pure P. pubescens forests. Research on the patterns of litter decomposition and nutrient release from P. pubescens across stand mixtures are helpful to understand the decomposition and nutrient dynamics during the invasion process. However, little is known for unmanaged conditions at high elevations. Therefore, we studied the decomposition of four litter compositions comprised of different combinations of P. pubescens and Cunninghamia lanceolata foliage for one year to explore the pattern of litter decomposition and nutrient release at the Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve. The results show that: (1) the litter decomposed faster with a higher proportion of P. pubescens based on Olson’s decay model; (2) the remaining litter compositions followed a trigonometric function model better than Olson’s decay model and fluctuated periodically in tandem with changing temperature and precipitation; (3) the litter mixture decompositions did not support the biomass-ratio hypothesis test; and (4) there were significant binomial, power and exponential relationships between initial concentration and final amounts remaining after 1 year decomposition for C, N and P. The correlations between litter decomposition and nutrient releases were significant. The results may be used to explain the rapid spread of P. pubescens and to guide the natural management of plantations.     

Adaptations of the floral characteristics and biomass allocation patterns of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gentiana hexaphylla</Emphasis> to the altitudinal gradient of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

This study addressed the floral component traits and biomass allocation patterns of Gentiana hexaphylla as well as the relationships of these parameters along an elevation gradient (approximately 3700 m, 3800 m, 3900 m, and 4000 m) on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plant height, floral characteristics, and biomass allocation of G. hexaphylla were measured at different altitudes after field sampling, sorting, and drying. Plant height was significantly greater at 3700 m than that at other elevations. Flower length was significantly greater at 4000 m than that at other elevations, whereas the flower length at low elevations showed no significant differences. Corolla diameter increased with altitude, although the difference was not significant between 3800 m and 3900 m. Variations in biomass accumulation, including the aboveground, photosynthetic organ, flower and belowground biomasses, showed non-linear responses to changes in altitude. The aboveground and photosynthetic organ biomasses reached their lowest values at 4000 m, whereas the belowground and flower biomass reached minimum values at 3700 m. The sexual reproductive allocation of G. hexaphylla also increased with altitude, with a maximum observed at 4000 m. These results suggest that external environmental factors and altitudinal gradients as well as the biomass accumulation and allocation of G. hexaphylla play crucial roles in plant traits and significantly affect the ability of this species to adapt to harsh environments. The decreased number of flowers observed at higher altitudes may indicate a compensatory response for the lack of pollinators at high elevations, which is also suggested by the deformed flower shapes at high altitudes. In addition, the individual plant biomass (i.e., plant size) had significantly effect on flower length and corolla diameter. Based on the organ biomass results, the optimal altitude for G. hexaphylla in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is 3800 m, where the plant exhibits minimum propagule biomass and asexual reproductive allocation.     

Decreasing nutrient concentrations in soils and trees with increasing elevation across a treeline ecotone in Rolwaling Himal,Nepal

At a global scale, tree growth in alpine treeline ecotones is limited by low temperatures. At a local scale, however, tree growth at its upper limit depends on multiple interactions of influencing factors and mechanisms. The aim of our research was to understand local scale effects of soil properties and nutrient cycling on tree growth limitation, and their interactions with other abiotic and biotic factors in a near-natural Himalayan treeline ecotone. Soil samples of different soil horizons, litter, decomposition layers, and foliage samples of standing biomass were collected in four altitudinal zones along three slopes, and were analysed for exchangeable cations and nutrient concentrations, respectively. Additionally, soil and air temperature, soil moisture, precipitation, and tree physiognomy patterns were evaluated. Both soil nutrients and foliar macronutrient concentrations of nitrogen (N), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and foliar phosphorus (P) decrease significantly with elevation. Foliar manganese (Mn) concentrations, by contrast, are extraordinarily high at high elevation sites. Potential constraining factors on tree growth were identified using multivariate statistical approaches. We propose that tree growth, treeline position and vegetation composition are affected by nutrient limitation, which in turn, is governed by low soil temperatures and influenced by soil moisture conditions.     

Adaptations of the floral characteristics and biomass allocation patterns of Gentiana hexaphylla to the altitudinal gradient of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

This study addressed the floral component traits and biomass allocation patterns of Gentiana hexaphylla as well as the relationships of these parameters along an elevation gradient(approximately 3700 m, 3800 m, 3900 m, and 4000 m) on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plant height, floral characteristics, and biomass allocation of G. hexaphylla were measured at different altitudes after field sampling, sorting, and drying. Plant height was significantly greater at 3700 m than that at other elevations. Flower length was significantly greater at 4000 m than that at other elevations, whereas the flower length at low elevations showed no significant differences. Corolla diameter increased with altitude, although the difference was not significant between 3800 m and 3900 m. Variations in biomass accumulation, including the aboveground, photosynthetic organ, flower and belowground biomasses, showed non-linear responses to changes in altitude. The aboveground and photosynthetic organ biomasses reached their lowest values at 4000 m, whereas the belowground and flower biomassreached minimum values at 3700 m. The sexual reproductive allocation of G. hexaphylla also increased with altitude, with a maximum observed at 4000 m. These results suggest that external environmental factors and altitudinal gradients as well as the biomass accumulation and allocation of G. hexaphylla play crucial roles in plant traits and significantly affect the ability of this species to adapt to harsh environments. The decreased number of flowers observed at higher altitudes may indicate a compensatory response for the lack of pollinators at high elevations, which is also suggested by the deformed flower shapes at high altitudes. In addition, the individual plant biomass(i.e., plant size) had significantly effect on flower length and corolla diameter. Based on the organ biomass results, the optimal altitude for G. hexaphylla in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is 3800 m, where the plant exhibits minimum propagule biomass and asexual reproductive allocation.     

Responses of Alpine Wetlands to Climate Changes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Based on Remote Sensing

The alpine wetlands in QTP(Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau) have been profoundly impacted along with global climate changes. We employ satellite datasets and climate data to explore the relationships between alpine wetlands and climate changes based on remote sensing data. Results show that: 1) the wetland NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and GPP(Gross Primary Production) were more sensitive to air temperature than to precipitation rate. The wetland ET(evapotranspiration) across alpine wetlands was greatly correlated with precipitation rate. 2) Alpine wetlands responses to climate changes varied spatially and temporally due to different geographic environments, variety of wetland formation and human disturbances. 3) The vegetation responses of the Zoige wetland was the most noticeable and related to the temperature, while the GPP and NDVI of the Qiangtang Plateau and Gyaring-Ngoring Lake were significantly correlated with both temperature and precipitation. 4) ET in the Zoige wetland showed a significantly positive trend, while ET in Maidika wetland and the Qiangtang plateau showed a negative trend, implying wetland degradation in those two wetland regions. The complexities of the impacts of climate changes on alpine wetlands indicate the necessity of further study to understand and conserve alpine wetland ecosystems.