Dataset Information

Composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest respond to spatial climatic changes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although some studies have indicated that climate changes can affect Pinus koraiensis mixed forest, the responses of composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forests to climatic changes are unknown and the key climatic factors controlling the composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest are uncertain.

Methodology/principal findings

Field survey was conducted in the natural Pinus koraiensis mixed forests along a latitudinal gradient and an elevational gradient in Northeast China. In order to build the mathematical models for simulating the relationships of compositional and structural attributes of the Pinus koraiensis mixed forest with climatic and non-climatic factors, stepwise linear regression analyses were performed, incorporating 14 dependent variables and the linear and quadratic components of 9 factors. All the selected new models were computed under the +2°C and +10% precipitation and +4°C and +10% precipitation scenarios. The Max Temperature of Warmest Month, Mean Temperature of Warmest Quarter and Precipitation of Wettest Month were observed to be key climatic factors controlling the stand densities and total basal areas of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest. Increased summer temperatures and precipitations strongly enhanced the stand densities and total basal areas of broadleaf trees but had little effect on Pinus koraiensis under the +2°C and +10% precipitation scenario and +4°C and +10% precipitation scenario.

Conclusions/significance

These results show that the Max Temperature of Warmest Month, Mean Temperature of Warmest Quarter and Precipitation of Wettest Month are key climatic factors which shape the composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest. Although the Pinus koraiensis would persist, the current forests dominated by Pinus koraiensis in the region would all shift and become broadleaf-dominated forests due to the dramatic increase of broadleaf trees under the future global warming and increased precipitation.

SUBMITTER: Zhang J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4014611 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest respond to spatial climatic changes.

Zhang Jingli J Zhou Yong Y Zhou Guangsheng G Xiao Chunwang C

PloS one 20140508 5

<h4>Background</h4>Although some studies have indicated that climate changes can affect Pinus koraiensis mixed forest, the responses of composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forests to climatic changes are unknown and the key climatic factors controlling the composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest are uncertain.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Field survey was conducted in the natural Pinus koraiensis mixed forests along a latitudinal gradient and an elevat ...[more]

PMID: 24810605

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Pinus koraiensis is an evergreen tree species with strong cold resistance. However, the transcriptomic patterns in response to cold stress are poorly understood for P. koraiensis. In this study, global transcriptome profiles were generated for P. koraiensis under cold stress (-?20?°C) over time by high-throughput sequencing. RESULTS:More than 763 million clean reads were produced, which assembled into a nonredundant data set of 123,445 unigenes. Among them, 38,905 unigenes had homology with known genes, 18,239 were assigned to 54 gene ontology (GO) categories and 18,909 were assigned to 25 clusters of orthologous groups (COG) categories. Comparison of transcriptomes of P. koraiensis seedlings grown at room temperature (20?°C) and low temperature (-?20?°C) revealed 9842 differential expressed genes (DEGs) in the 6?h sample, 9250 in the 24?h sample, and 9697 in the 48?h sample. The number of DEGs in the pairwise comparisons of 6?h, 24?h and 48?h was relatively small. The accuracy of the RNA-seq was validated by analyzing the expression patterns of 12 DEGs by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In this study, 34 DEGs (22 upregulated and 12 downregulated) were involved in the perception and transmission of cold signals, 96 DEGs (41 upregulated and 55 downregulated) encoding 8 transcription factors that regulated cold-related genes expression, and 27 DEGs (17 upregulated and 10 downregulated) were involved in antioxidant mechanisms in response to cold stress. Among them, the expression levels of c63631_g1 (annexin D1), c65620_g1 (alpha-amylase isozyme 3C), c61970_g1 (calcium-binding protein KIC), c51736_g1 (ABA), c58408_g1 (DREB3), c66599_g1 (DREB3), c67548_g2 (SOD), c55044_g1 (CAT), c71938_g2 (CAT) and c11358_g1 (GPX) first increased significantly and then decreased significantly with the extension of stress time. CONCLUSIONS:A large number of DEGs were identified in P. koraiensis under cold stress, especially the DEGs involved in the perception and transmission of cold signals, the DEGs encoding TFs related to cold regulation and the DEGs removing ROS in antioxidation mechanisms. The transcriptome and digital expression profiling of P. koraiensis could facilitate the understanding of the molecular control mechanism related to cold responses and provide the basis for the molecular breeding of conifers.

Project description:For both ecologists and physiologists, foliar physioecology as a function of spatially and temporally variable environmental factors such as sunlight exposure within a tree crown is important for understanding whole tree physiology and for predicting ecosystem carbon balance and productivity. Hence, we studied concentrations of nitrogen (N), non-structural carbohydrates (NSC = soluble sugars + starch), and δ(13)C in different-aged needles within Pinus koraiensis tree crowns, to understand the needle age- and crown position-related physiology, in order to test the hypothesis that concentrations of N, NSC, and δ(13)C are needle-age and crown position dependent (more light, more photosynthesis affecting N, NSC, and δ(13)C), and to develop an accurate sampling strategy. The present study indicated that the 1-yr-old needles had significantly higher concentration levels of mobile carbohydrates (both on a mass and an area basis) and N(area) (on an area basis), as well as NSC-N ratios, but significantly lower levels of N(mass) (on a mass basis) concentration and specific leaf area (SLA), compared to the current-year needles. Azimuthal (south-facing vs. north-facing crown side) effects were found to be significant on starch [both on a mass (ST(mass)) and an area basis (ST(area))], δ(13)C values, and N(area), with higher levels in needles on the S-facing crown side than the N-facing crown side. Needle N(mass) concentrations significantly decreased but needle ST(mass), ST(area), and δ(13)C values significantly increased with increasing vertical crown levels. Our results suggest that the sun-exposed crown position related to photosynthetic activity and water availability affects starch accumulation and carbon isotope discrimination. Needle age associated with physiological activity plays an important role in determining carbon and nitrogen physiology. The present study indicates that across-scale sampling needs to carefully select tissue samples with equal age from a comparable crown position.

Dataset Information

Composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest respond to spatial climatic changes.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions/significance

Publications

Composition and structure of Pinus koraiensis mixed forest respond to spatial climatic changes.

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