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Feng R, Wang S, Ma J, Wang N, Wang X, Ren F, Li H, Liang D, Hu J, Li X, Li L. Nutrient Additions Regulate Height Growth Rate but Not Biomass Growth Rate of Alpine Plants Through the Contrasting Effect of Total and Available Nitrogen. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2025; 14:1143. [PMID: 40219211 PMCID: PMC11991464 DOI: 10.3390/plants14071143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2025] [Revised: 04/03/2025] [Accepted: 04/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025]
Abstract
Plant growth, a fundamental biological process that underpins terrestrial ecosystem function, is susceptible to nutrient availability. Despite extensive research on lowland ecosystems, the responses of alpine plant growth to nutrient addition remain poorly understood, particularly given the heightened sensitivity of alpine ecosystems to global change. To investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions on the growth rates of alpine plants and the underlying mechanisms of how these nutrient additions influence plant growth rates, we conducted an experiment in an alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, targeting 14 common plant species. Growth rates were measured using biomass and height, with plant height and soil physicochemical properties recorded biweekly during the growing season. We assessed the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on growth rates, their seasonal dynamics, and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties. Results showed that phosphorus addition and combined nitrogen-phosphorus additions significantly increased the relative growth rate based on height (RGRH). In contrast, nutrient additions had no significant effect on the relative growth rate based on biomass (RGRB). RGRH decreased from June and early July to August, exhibiting species-specific responses to nutrient additions. Additionally, RGRH was significantly influenced by the interaction of nitrogen and phosphorus additions, species, and seasonal dynamics (p < 0.05). Soil available N, available P, and moisture were significantly positively correlated with RGRH (p < 0.05), while soil temperature (ST), total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic carbon (SOC) exhibited significant negative correlations (p < 0.05). Nutrient additions altered the hierarchy, as well as the direct and indirect factors that influence RGRH, revealing the opposing regulatory effects of total and available nitrogen. These findings highlight the critical roles of nitrogen and phosphorus, suggesting phosphorus is a potential limiting factor for plant growth in this alpine region. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of how nitrogen and phosphorus additions affect alpine plant growth rates and clarifies the underlying mechanisms in these sensitive ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runfang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Shu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
- College of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Jikui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Nannan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
| | - Fei Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
| | - Honglin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
| | - Defei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
| | - Jing Hu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Life Science, Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China;
| | - Xilai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
| | - Lanping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (R.F.); (S.W.); (J.M.); (N.W.); (X.W.); (F.R.); (H.L.); (D.L.); (X.L.)
- Sanjiangyuan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Xining 810016, China
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Wu J, Wang H, Li G, Chen N. Effects of nitrogen deposition on soil nitrogen fractions and enzyme activities in wet meadow of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sci Rep 2024; 14:31848. [PMID: 39738611 PMCID: PMC11686321 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-83285-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Soil nitrogen (N) transformation is an essential portion of the N cycle in wetland ecosystems, governing the retention status of soil N by controlling the effective soil N content. N deposition produced by human activities changes the physical characteristics of soil, affecting N fractions and enzyme activities. To characterize these influences, three different N addition levels (N5, 5 g/m2; N10, 10 g/m2; N15, 15 g/m2) were established using a wet meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) as a control treatment (0 g/m2). We investigated the features of soil physical property alterations, N fractions contents, and enzyme activities under N addition conditions throughout the peak plant growth season. Our findings indicated that N addition significantly enhanced soil aeration, porosity, total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-) content, and urease activity. At the same time, it decreased soil dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content and bulk density (BD). Additionally, N addition treatment exerted a significant seasonal impact on soil nitrogen component content. The nitrogen component content within the surface soil (0-10 cm) under four treatments is more sensitive to N addition, whereas the nitrogen component in the deep soil is relatively stable. Principal component analysis demonstrated that soil aeration and porosity were the primary factors affecting soil N fractions and enzyme activities. The findings suggested that lower levels of N addition promoted the transformation process of soil N pools in wet meadows and exacerbated the loss of N in wetland ecosystems. Our findings indicate that sustained increases in N deposition will accelerate soil microbial N cycling, potentially overcoming N limitation in alpine wetland ecosystems and exacerbating the risk of N loss and greenhouse gas emissions from alpine wetland surface soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangqi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Gansu Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Lanzhou City University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Guang Li
- College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
| | - Nan Chen
- Wushan County Productivity Promotion Center, Tianshui, 741300, China.
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Liu Y, Shen H, Dong S, Xiao J, Zhang R, Zuo H, Zhang Y, Wu M, He F, Ma C. Changes in the Phylogenetic Structure of Alpine Grassland Plant Communities on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau with Long-Term Nitrogen Deposition. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2809. [PMID: 39409678 PMCID: PMC11479209 DOI: 10.3390/plants13192809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2024] [Revised: 09/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/20/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition rates have notably increased around the world, especially in high-altitude regions like the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We conducted a six-year comprehensive experiment to simulate nitrogen deposition in an alpine grassland area near Qinghai Lake. Four levels of nitrogen depositions, i.e., 0 (CK), 8 kg N ha-1year-1 (N1), 40 kg N ha-1year-1 (N2), and 72 kg N ha-1year-1 (N3), with three replicates for each N treatment, were tested annually in early May and early July, with the meticulous collection of plant and soil samples during the peak growth period from 15 July to 15 August. We used the null model to evaluate the impact of environmental filtration and interspecific competition on the dynamics of the plant community was assessed based on the level of discrete species affinities within the plant community by constructing a phylogenetic tree. The results showed that the environmental filter was the predominant driver for the change of community's genealogical fabric. The N2 and N3 treatments increased the influence of soil factors on the change of plant community structure. Climatic factors played a crucial role on the change of plant community in the CK grassland area, while soil factors were dominant in the N1- and N3-treated grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqi Liu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Jiannan Xiao
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
| | - Ran Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Hui Zuo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Minghao Wu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Fengcai He
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Chunhui Ma
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Y.L.); (H.S.); (R.Z.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (M.W.); (F.H.); (C.M.)
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Berihun Tenaw T, Gode TB, Lulekal Molla E, Woldemariam ZA. Topography and soil variables drive the plant community distribution pattern and species richness in the Arjo-Diga forest in western Ethiopia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307888. [PMID: 39106214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding plant community characteristics, distributions, and environmental relationships is crucial for sustainable forest management. Thus, this study examined the relationships between plant community composition and topographic and soil variables within the Arjo-Diga forest. Vegetation data were collected from 72 nested plots (30 × 30 m2 and 2 × 2 m2) systematically laid along nine transects spaced 300 to 700 m apart. Environmental variables, including soil properties and anthropogenic disturbance, were recorded within each main plot. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) using R software were employed to identify distinct plant community types and examine their relationships with environmental factors. The Shannon‒Wiener diversity index was calculated to quantify and compare species diversity among the identified community types. The analysis revealed five distinct plant community types: 1: Maesa lanceolata-Ehretia cymosa, 2: Trichilia dregeana-Flacourtia indica, 3: Acacia abyssinica-Millettia ferruginea, 4: Combretum collinum-Croton macrostachyus, and 5: Terminalia macroptera-Piliostigma thonningii. The CCA results highlighted the significant influence (p < 0.05) of altitude, CEC, TN, and disturbance on species distribution and plant community formation. The findings indicate that variation in plant communities is closely associated with altitude, TN, and CEC, as well as with disturbance factors such as human interventions, with elevation being the most influential factor. Based on these findings, it is recommended that conservation plans consider the effects of human interventions to address the challenges in conserving forests in the future. Additionally, further research efforts should focus on mitigating disturbance factors and understanding the environmental variables that affect forests to improve their protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Berihun Tenaw
- Department of Biology, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tamrat Bekele Gode
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Lulekal Molla
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Zemede Asfaw Woldemariam
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Shen H, Dong S, DiTommaso A, Westbrook AS, Li S, Zheng H, Zhi Y, Zuo H, Wang Q, Liu J. Physiological factors contribute to increased competitiveness of grass relative to sedge, forb and legume species under different N application levels. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167466. [PMID: 37788779 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
In alpine grasslands, increased N deposition is increasing the dominance of grasses relative to other functional types according to our previous study Shen et al. (2022). However, the mechanisms that drive this compositional change are not fully understood. We measured the effects of 4-6 years' N addition to simulate N deposition at rates of 0 (CK), 8 (N1), 24 (N2), 40 (N3), 56 (N4), and 72 (N5) kg N ha-1 year-1 on dominant representatives of four functional types, Leymus secalinus (grass), Carex capillifolia (sedge), Potentilla multifidi (non-leguminous forb), and Medicago ruthenica (legume), in the alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). In-situ experiment showed that N addition increased aboveground biomass in L. secalinus but had negative or neutral effects on aboveground biomass in the other species. Consistent with this finding, N addition increased net photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and rubisco activity in L. secalinus with less positive effects on the other species. Nitrogen addition increased leaf N content in L. secalinus and C. capillifolia and reduced leaf non-structural carbohydrate content in all four species. In L. secalinus, the highest N addition rate (N5) reduced MDA content, a marker of oxidative stress, by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity. Overall, our findings suggested that physiological factors can contribute to increased competitiveness of grass relative to sedge, forb and legume species under high N application levels. The rapid growth of this grass species reduces resource availability to non-grass species, increasing its dominance in the alpine meadow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
| | - Antonio DiTommaso
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Anna S Westbrook
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Resource and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Hanzhong Zheng
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, 6526 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yangliu Zhi
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hui Zuo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Qiyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Junxiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
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Zuo H, Shen H, Dong S, Wu S, He F, Zhang R, Wang Z, Shi H, Hao X, Tan Y, Ma C, Li S, Liu Y, Zhang F, Xiao J. Potential short-term effects of earthquake on the plant-soil interface in alpine grassland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1240719. [PMID: 37915511 PMCID: PMC10616788 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1240719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Earthquakes are environmental disturbances affecting ecosystem functioning, health, and biodiversity, but their potential impacts on plant-soil interface are still poorly understood. In this study, grassland habitats in areas near and away from the seismo-fault in Madou, a region typical of alpine conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, were randomly selected. The impacts of earthquake on soil properties and plant nutrient content in the short term were emphasized, and their potential relationships with community diversity and productivity were examined. According to the findings of the study, the Maduo earthquake led to a decrease in soil nutrient content in alpine grassland ecosystems, especially soil TC, TN, TP, TCa, AP, AK, NH4 +-N, and SOC, and inhibited the absorption of N, Ca, and Mg nutrients by plants. In addition, the diversity and productivity of communities were affected by both direct and indirect earthquake pathways. The negative impacts of seismic fracture on soil structure had the most significant direct impact on plant community diversity. Earthquakes also indirectly reduced community productivity by reducing the soil N content and inhibiting the absorption of plant nutrients. Our findings suggested that earthquakes could potentially decrease the stability of the alpine grassland ecosystem on the QTP by affecting nutrient availability at the plant-soil interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zuo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Shengnan Wu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengcai He
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziying Wang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Shi
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinghai Hao
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Youquan Tan
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunhui Ma
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shengmei Li
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongqi Liu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiannan Xiao
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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7
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Abstract
Plant diseases are strongly influenced by host biodiversity, spatial structure, and abiotic conditions. All of these are undergoing rapid change, as the climate is warming, habitats are being lost, and nitrogen deposition is changing nutrient dynamics of ecosystems with ensuing consequences for biodiversity. Here, I review examples of plant-pathogen associations to demonstrate how our ability to understand, model and predict disease dynamics is becoming increasingly difficult, as both plant and pathogen populations and communities are undergoing extensive change. The extent of this change is influenced via both direct and combined effects of global change drivers, and especially the latter are still poorly understood. Change at one trophic level is expected to drive change also at the other, and hence feedback loops between plants and their pathogens are expected to drive changes in disease risk both through ecological as well as evolutionary mechanisms. Many of the examples discussed here demonstrate an increase in disease risk as a result of ongoing change, suggesting that unless we successfully mitigate global environmental change, plant disease is going to become an increasingly heavy burden on our societies with far-reaching consequences for food security and functioning of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Liisa Laine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland; Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, PO BOX 65 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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8
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Wen X, Wang X, Ye M, Liu H, He W, Wang Y, Li T, Zhao K, Hou G, Chen G, Li X, Fan C. Response strategies of fine root morphology of Cupressus funebris to the different soil environment. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1077090. [PMID: 36618632 PMCID: PMC9811150 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1077090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding fine root morphology is crucial to uncover water and nutrient acquisition and transposition of fine roots. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding how the soil environment affects the fine root morphology of various root orders in the stable forest ecosystem. Therefore, this experiment assessed the response strategies of fine root morphology (first- to fifth -order fine roots) in four different soil environments. The results showed that fine root morphology was related to soil environment, and there were significant differences in specific root length (SRL), specific surface area (SRA), diameter (D), and root tissue density (RTD) of first- and second -order fine roots. Soil total nitrogen (TN), alkaline nitrogen (AN) and available phosphorus (AP) were positively correlated with SRL and SRA and negatively correlated with D and RTD. Soil moisture (SW) was positively correlated with the D and RTD of first- and second-order fine roots and negatively correlated with the SRL and SRA. Soil temperature (ST), organic carbon (OC), soil bulk density (SBD) and soil porosity (SP) were not significantly correlated with the D, SRL, SRA, and RTD of the first- and second -order fine roots. AN was positively correlated with SRL and SRA and negatively correlated with both D and RTD in the first- and second -order fine roots, and the correlation coefficient was very significant. Therefore, we finally concluded that soil AN was the most critical factor affecting root D, SRL, SRA and RTD of fine roots, and mainly affected the morphology of first- and second -order fine roots. In conclusion, our research provides support for understanding the relationship between fine root morphology and soil environment, and indicates that soil nutrient gradient forms good root morphology at intraspecific scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Wen
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengting Ye
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai Liu
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenchun He
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kuangji Zhao
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Guirong Hou
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Chen
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianwei Li
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Fan
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
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Li T, Cui L, Liu L, Wang H, Dong J, Wang F, Song X, Che R, Li C, Tang L, Xu Z, Wang Y, Du J, Hao Y, Cui X. Characteristics of nitrogen deposition research within grassland ecosystems globally and its insight from grassland microbial community changes in China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:947279. [PMID: 35991446 PMCID: PMC9386444 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.947279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As global change continues to intensify, the mode and rate of nitrogen input from the atmosphere to grassland ecosystems had changed dramatically. Firstly, we conducted a systematic analysis of the literature on the topic of nitrogen deposition impacts over the past 30 years using a bibliometric analysis. A systematic review of the global research status, publication patterns, research hotspots and important literature. We found a large number of publications in the Chinese region, and mainly focuses on the field of microorganisms. Secondly, we used a meta-analysis to focus on microbial changes using the Chinese grassland ecosystem as an example. The results show that the research on nitrogen deposition in grassland ecosystems shows an exponential development trend, and the authors and research institutions of the publications are mainly concentrated in China, North America, and Western Europe. The keyword clustering results showed 11 important themes labeled climate change, elevated CO2, species richness and diversity, etc. in these studies. The burst keyword analysis indicated that temperature sensitivity, microbial communities, etc. are the key research directions. The results of the meta-analysis found that nitrogen addition decreased soil microbial diversity, and different ecosystems may respond differently. Treatment time, nitrogen addition rate, external environmental conditions, and pH had major effects on microbial alpha diversity and biomass. The loss of microbial diversity and the reduction of biomass with nitrogen fertilizer addition will alter ecosystem functioning, with dramatic impacts on global climate change. The results of the study will help researchers to further understand the subject and have a deep understanding of research hotspots, which are of great value to future scientific research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Environment and Science, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lizhen Cui
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lilan Liu
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junfu Dong
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Environment and Science, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiufang Song
- National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Library, Information and Archives Management, School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rongxiao Che
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Congjia Li
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Environment and Science, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Zhihong Xu
- School of Environment and Science, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yanfen Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science (LATPES), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianqing Du
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanbin Hao
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyong Cui
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Han L, Ganjurjav H, Hu G, Wu J, Yan Y, Danjiu L, He S, Xie W, Yan J, Gao Q. Nitrogen Addition Affects Ecosystem Carbon Exchange by Regulating Plant Community Assembly and Altering Soil Properties in an Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:900722. [PMID: 35769289 PMCID: PMC9234307 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.900722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition can affect the global ecosystem carbon balance. However, how plant community assembly regulates the ecosystem carbon exchange in response to the N deposition remains largely unclear, especially in alpine meadows. In this study, we conducted a manipulative experiment to examine the impacts of N (ammonium nitrate) addition on ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange by changing the plant community assembly and soil properties at an alpine meadow site on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2014 to 2018. The N-addition treatments were N0, N7, N20, and N40 (0, 7, 20, and 40 kg N ha-1year-1) during the plant growing season. The net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), and ecosystem respiration (ER) were measured by a static chamber method. Our results showed that the growing-season NEE, ER and GEP increased gradually over time with increasing N-addition rates. On average, the NEE increased significantly by 55.6 and 65.2% in N20 and N40, respectively (p < 0.05). Nitrogen addition also increased forage grass biomass (GB, including sedge and Gramineae) by 74.3 and 122.9% and forb biomass (FB) by 73.4 and 51.4% in N20 and N40, respectively (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations between CO2 fluxes (NEE and GEP) and GB (p < 0.01), and the ER was positively correlated with functional group biomass (GB and FB) and soil available N content (NO3 --N and NH4 +-N) (p < 0.01). The N-induced shift in the plant community assembly was primarily responsible for the increase in NEE. The increase in GB mainly contributed to the N stimulation of NEE, and FB and the soil available N content had positive effects on ER in response to N addition. Our results highlight that the plant community assembly is critical in regulating the ecosystem carbon exchange response to the N deposition in alpine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Han
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hasbagan Ganjurjav
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
| | - Guozheng Hu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
| | - Jianshuang Wu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Yan
- China New Era Group Corporation, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | - Jun Yan
- Nagqu Grassland Station, Nagqu, China
| | - Qingzhu Gao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Nagqu, China
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