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Trait means predict performance under water limitation better than plasticity for seedlings of Poaceae species on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

ABSTRACT: Water availability may be altered by changes in precipitation under global climate change in alpine areas. Trait means and plasticity are important for plants in response to a changing environment. In an examination of alpine plant responses to changed water availability, and for determination of how trait means and plasticity predict the performance (e.g., biomass) of these species, seeds of ten Poaceae species from the eastern Tibetan Plateau were sown and grown in a manipulated environment during a growing season in which rainfall was removed and other climate conditions remained unchanged. Growth and leaf traits of these species were measured. We found significant effects of moderate water stress on the seedling biomass of these species; however, the responses of these species to changed water condition were strongly dependent on species identity. For example, the biomass of some species significantly decreased under moderate drought, whereas that of others were either significantly increased or unaffected. This pattern was also observed for growth and leaf traits. Overall, the alpine Poaceae species showed low plasticity of traits in response to water availability relative to reports from other areas. Notably, the results show that trait means were better correlated with the productivity than with the plasticity of traits; thus, we argue that the trait means were better predictors of performance than plasticity for alpine Poaceae species. Poaceae species in alpine areas are important for forage production and for water catchment health worldwide, and these species may face water shortage because of current and future climate change. Understanding the response of alpine Poaceae species to water availability would facilitate our ability to predict the impacts of climate change on the alpine vegetation.

SUBMITTER: Li H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7083665 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Trait means predict performance under water limitation better than plasticity for seedlings of Poaceae species on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Li Honglin H Li Xilai X Zhou Xiaolong X

Ecology and evolution 20200212 6

Water availability may be altered by changes in precipitation under global climate change in alpine areas. Trait means and plasticity are important for plants in response to a changing environment. In an examination of alpine plant responses to changed water availability, and for determination of how trait means and plasticity predict the performance (e.g., biomass) of these species, seeds of ten Poaceae species from the eastern Tibetan Plateau were sown and grown in a manipulated environment du ...[more]

PMID: 32211167

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Project description:Background and Aims:There is no knowledge of winter plant phenology and its controlling factors on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Thus, we conducted a 4 year winter phenology and growth dynamics study in the alpine meadow on the eastern QTP. Methods:From November 2013 to March 2017, the phenology of the 'winter-growth' and 'winter-green' species was recorded every 5 d. In November-February from 2014 to 2015, the above-ground biomass (AGB) in random plots was calculated to distinguish different growth patterns among winter growing species. The percentage of winter abundance relative to the summer population for forbs and the percentage of absolute coverage for grasses (W/S) were calculated to describe the importance of the winter population to the summer population. The soil moisture (SM) and soil temperature (ST) were used to explore the controlling factors on the AGB. Pearson's correlation analysis between winter phenology data and environmental variables, including air temperature (Tair), snow cover fraction (SCF), SM and ST, was used to investigate the factors affecting winter phenology during November-February from 2014 to 2017. Key Results:There were 107 species in total in the sites, including ten 'winter-growth' species and four 'winter-green' species. Among the 'winter-green' species, Festuca ovina and Deschampsia cespitosa were the dominant species in the sites. The 'winter-growth' species grew new leaves or ramets or transitioned to reproductive growth. Gentiana spathulifolia even flowered in winter. 'Winter-growth' made important contributions to the annual AGB, e.g. winter growth of G. spathulifolia accounted for 23.26 % of its annual AGB, while 14.74 % of the annual AGB of G. crassuloides was from winter growth. In addition, winter warming and snowfall reduction under global climate change on the eastern QTP may decrease the AGB increment of the 'winter-growth' and delay the green-up onset date of 'winter-green' species. Also, winter warming and snowfall reduction may advance the first flowering date of 'winter-growth' species. Conclusions:In contrast to previous views that plants on the QTP were generally considered to remain dormant in winter, our study revealed that alpine meadow plants had strong winter growth which suggested the importance of re-evaluating the dynamics of ecosystem function of alpine meadow, including its contribution to the global carbon balance. It was also shown that soil moisture availability is more important than warmer temperature in controlling the green-up onset of 'winter-green' species on the eastern QTP, which contrasts with the traditional view that warmer winters could advance green-up. As snowmelt is the only source of soil water in winter, the prediction of the green-up trend may be further complicated by snowfall variation in winter.

Project description:Diet selection, a core problem of foraging behavior, is a nutritional adaptation strategy formed in the long-term natural selection process by grazing herbivores and is significant for the sustainable management of grassland. Studies have mainly focused on the impacts of the individual and whole community spatial characteristics and herbivore body status on herbivore foraging behavior; thus, the response and mechanism of forage plants in different terrains to the diet selection of grazing herbivores remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, forage plants (gramineae, cyperaceae, legume, forbs, edible shrubs, and community) in different topographies (terrace, riparian zones, shady slope, half shady slope, half sunny slope, sunny slope) on the eastern Tibetan plateau were selected to study changes in nutrient and mineral content characteristics of forage plants, as well as the difference in feeding bias of yaks for forage plants in different terrains by using an indoor cafeteria trial. A structural equation model was used to illustrate the impact of the forage plants in different terrains on the feeding bias of yak. The multi-criterion decision model TOPSIS showed that the nutritional value of gramineae was highest for the shaded slope, and that of cyperaceae and leguminosae was the highest for the terraces. The nutrient value of forbs and the whole community was highest for the sunny slope. Dry matter intake by yaks of leguminosae, forbs, and the whole plant community was significantly higher for terraces than for grasslands with other topographies, and all were significantly lower in riparian zones. Yak forage preference of leguminosae, forbs, and the whole community was the highest for the terrace and the lowest for the riparian zones. Structural equation modeling showed that for functional groups, the interactions between topography and functional groups were the drivers influencing yak forage preferences. Our study highlights the propensity of yaks to forage for plants in areas with different topographies. These results have provided a scientific basis for understanding the relationship between herbivores and plants in grasslands and for formulating scientific grazing management strategies, which are of considerable importance for sustainable grassland livestock husbandry.

Dataset Information

Trait means predict performance under water limitation better than plasticity for seedlings of Poaceae species on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Publications

Trait means predict performance under water limitation better than plasticity for seedlings of Poaceae species on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

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