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Guo J, Zhao C, Zhang L, Han Y, Cao R, Liu Y, Sun S. Water table decline alters arthropod community structure by shifting plant communities and leaf nutrients in a Tibetan peatland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 814:151944. [PMID: 34838919 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Water table decline is one of the most serious environmental problems in the peatland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, the effect of water table decline on the structure of aboveground arthropod communities is still not clear. We investigated changes in the abundance of different arthropod groups, and estimated the abundance, height, and biomass of the plant community in a soil water table reduction experiment to reveal the effect of water table decline on the arthropod community structure. The effect of water level decline on herbivorous arthropods varied according to the feeding habits. Specifically, water table decline treatment decreased the abundance of grass-preferring herbivores but increased the abundance of forb-preferring herbivores. However, the density of predators (e.g., spiders) did not change significantly. The variations in arthropod communities were correlated with the increase in forbs and leaf nitrogen content in the water table decline treatments. Our experiment demonstrated that the effect of water table decline on plant communities cascades upwardly to alter the arthropod community. Such trophic interactions should be considered in studies aimed at predicting shifts in the arthropods communities in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Guo
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Cancan Zhao
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Luna Zhang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Yangyang Han
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Rui Cao
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Science, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinzhan Liu
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China.
| | - Shucun Sun
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, China
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Imin B, Dai Y, Shi Q, Guo Y, Li H, Nijat M. Responses of two dominant desert plant species to the changes in groundwater depth in hinterland natural oasis, Tarim Basin. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9460-9471. [PMID: 34306635 PMCID: PMC8293730 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Groundwater is increasingly becoming a permanent and steady water source for the growth and reproduction of desert plant species due to the frequent channel cutoff events in arid inland river basins. Although it is widely acknowledged that the accessibility of groundwater has a significant impact on plant species maintaining their ecological function, little is known about the water use strategies of desert plant species to the groundwater availability in Daryaboyi Oasis, Central Tarim Basin. This study initially determined the desirable and stressing groundwater depths based on ecological and morphological parameters including UAV-based fractional vegetation cover (FVC) images and plant growth status. Then, leaf δ13C values of small- and big-sized plants were analyzed to reveal the water use strategies of two dominant woody species (Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima) in response to the groundwater depth gradient. The changes in FVC and growth status of plants suggested that the actual groundwater depth should be kept at an appropriate range of about 2.1-4.3 m, and the minimum groundwater depth should be less than 7 m. This will ensure the protection of riparian woody plants at a normal growth state and guarantee the coexistence of both plant types. Under a desirable groundwater condition, water alternation (i.e., flooding and rising groundwater depth) was the main factor influencing the variation of plant water use efficiency. The obtained results indicated that big-sized plants are more salt-tolerant than small ones, and T. ramosissima has strong salt palatability than P. euphratica. With increasing groundwater depth, P. euphratica continuously decreases its growth status to maintain hydraulic efficiency in drought condition, while T. ramosissima mainly increases its water use efficiency first and decreases its growth status after then. Besides, in a drought condition, T. ramosissima has strong adaptability than P. euphratica. This study will be informative for ecological restoration and sustainable management of Daryaboyi Oasis and provides reference materials for future research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Imin
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
- Institute of Arid Ecology and EnvironmentXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Yue Dai
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Qingdong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
- Institute of Arid Ecology and EnvironmentXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Yuchuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
- Institute of Arid Ecology and EnvironmentXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Marhaba Nijat
- Key Laboratory of Oasis EcologyCollege of Resources and Environmental ScienceXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
- Institute of Arid Ecology and EnvironmentXinjiang UniversityUrumqiChina
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Lu Q, Meng X, Yang F, Liu X, Cui J. Characterization of LcGAPC and its transcriptional response to salt and alkali stress in two ecotypes of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2020.1719020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Lu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xue Meng
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Fanghui Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Jizhe Cui
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, PR China
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Liu Y, Zhang L, Xu X, Niu H. Understanding the wide geographic range of a clonal perennial grass: plasticity versus local adaptation. AOB PLANTS 2015; 8:plv141. [PMID: 26644341 PMCID: PMC4705351 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plv141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Both phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation may allow widely distributed plant species to either acclimate or adapt to environmental heterogeneity. Given the typically low genetic variation of clonal plants across their habitats, phenotypic plasticity may be the primary adaptive strategy allowing them to thrive across a wide range of habitats. In this study, the mechanism supporting the widespread distribution of the clonal plant Leymus chinensis was determined, i.e. phenotypic plasticity or local specialization in water use efficiency (WUE; reflected by foliar δ(13)C). To test whether plasticity is required for the species to thrive in different habitats, samples were collected across its distribution in the Mongolian steppe, and a controlled watering experiment was conducted with two populations at two different sites. Five populations were also transplanted from different sites into a control environment, and the foliar δ(13)C was compared between the control and original habitats, to test for local specialization in WUE. Results demonstrated decreased foliar δ(13)C with increasing precipitation during controlled watering experiments, with divergent responses between the two populations assessed. Change in foliar δ(13)C (-3.69 ‰) due to water addition was comparable to fluctuations of foliar δ(13)C observed in situ (-4.83 ‰). Foliar δ(13)C differed by -0.91 ‰ between two transplanted populations; however, this difference was not apparent between the two populations when growing in their original habitats. Findings provide evidence that local adaptation affects foliar δ(13)C much less than phenotypic plasticity. Thus, plasticity in WUE is more important than local adaptation in allowing the clonal plant L. chinensis to occupy a wide range of habitats in the Mongolian steppe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz D-78457, Germany
| | - Lirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 16 Lincui Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xingliang Xu
- Key Laboratory and Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Haishan Niu
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
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