Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2022) | Viewed by 21549

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Special Issue Editors

Department of Geography & Spatial Information, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: drought adaptation; hydraulic redistribution; drought-induced mortality; water physiology; functional traits; plant diversity and forest function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Geography & Spatial Information, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: aquatic ecology; hydroecology; land-water interface; biodiversity; ecosystem function; ecosystem service
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Interests: tree physiology; xylem embolism; plant water relations; leaf thermoregulation under heat stress; applications of physiological ecology to forest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Arid and semi-arid lands cover about 35% of the earth's terrestrial area and they are typically characterized by rainfall scarcity, higher temperate, salinization, nutrient-poor soil, and a paucity of vegetation cover. Climate prediction indicates that the frequency and intensity of extreme environmental events in this region will continue to increase. Revealing the adaptation of desert plants to extreme environments has become one of the research hotspots in assessing the impact of global climate changes on drylands. Notwithstanding the enormous efforts of academic researchers, the differences in adaptive strategies between species, as well as the variance of plant adaptability across environmental gradients, still requires study. In this Special Issue of Forests, we are looking for new research articles, review articles, and opinion papers on the adaptation of trees to extreme environments, such as drought, high temperature, salinization and nutrient-poor soil, and the impact of the plant–environment relationship on diversity, community structure, and function. We hope our Special Issue can provide some insights into how plants adapt to extreme environments under global climate change.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Plant adaptation to extreme environments;
  • Variance in functional traits along extreme environmental gradients;
  • Different adaptive strategies to extreme environments among species;  
  • Responses of plant diversity and community structure to extreme environments;
  • Influence of extreme environmental events on plants;
  • Influence of human-induced environmental changes on plants in arid regions.
  • Collaborative influence of climate and human activities on plant–environment relationship.

Dr. Xiao-Dong Yang
Dr. Nai-Cheng Wu
Dr. Xue-Wei Gong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • arid desert region
  • structure and function
  • functional traits
  • environmental stress
  • salinization
  • hydraulic limitation
  • drought
  • nutrition restriction

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 636 KiB  
Editorial
Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands
by Xiao-Dong Yang, Nai-Cheng Wu and Xue-Wei Gong
Forests 2023, 14(2), 390; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f14020390 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1122
Abstract
Arid and semi-arid lands cover more than one-third of the earth’s terrestrial area and are typically characterized by rainfall scarcity, higher temperatures and evapotranspiration, salinization, nutrient-poor soil, and a paucity of vegetation cover [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 1350 KiB  
Article
α Diversity of Desert Shrub Communities and Its Relationship with Climatic Factors in Xinjiang
by Yan Luo and Yanming Gong
Forests 2023, 14(2), 178; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f14020178 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
In the past 30 years, Northwest China has experienced a warm and humid climate increase trend. How this climate change will affect the species diversity of plant communities is a hot issue in ecological research. In this study, four α diversity indexes were [...] Read more.
In the past 30 years, Northwest China has experienced a warm and humid climate increase trend. How this climate change will affect the species diversity of plant communities is a hot issue in ecological research. In this study, four α diversity indexes were applied in 29 shrub communities at desert sites in Xinjiang, including the Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon–Wiener index, and Pielou index, to explore the relationship between the α diversity of the desert shrub communities and climate factors (mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP)). The species diversity indexes varied across these different desert shrub communities. Tamarix ramosissima communities had the highest Margalef index, while the Krascheninnikovia ewersmannia communities had the lowest Margalef index; T. ramosissima communities also showed the highest Simpson index and Shannon–Wiener index, but Alhagi sparsifolia communities showed the lowest Simpson index and Shannon–Wiener index. The Ephedra przewalskii communities and Karelinia caspica communities showed the highest and the lowest Pielou index, respectively. The α diversity indexes (except the Pielou index) of desert shrub communities had a significantly positive correlation with MAP (p < 0.05) but a non-significantly correlation with MAT (p > 0.05). These results indicate that, compared with temperature, water conditions are still a more vital climatic factor affecting the species diversity of desert shrub communities in Xinjiang, and thus, the recent “warm and humid” climate trend in Xinjiang affects the α diversity of desert shrub communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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16 pages, 3888 KiB  
Article
Changes in Soil Microbial Communities under Mixed Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Addition in Temperate Forests
by Zhaolong Ding, Lu Gong, Haiqiang Zhu, Junhu Tang, Xiaochen Li and Han Zhang
Forests 2023, 14(1), 21; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f14010021 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1887
Abstract
Investigating the response of soil microbial communities to nitrogen (N) deposition is critical to understanding biogeochemical processes and the sustainable development of forests. However, whether and to what extent different forms of N deposition affect soil microbial communities in temperate forests is not [...] Read more.
Investigating the response of soil microbial communities to nitrogen (N) deposition is critical to understanding biogeochemical processes and the sustainable development of forests. However, whether and to what extent different forms of N deposition affect soil microbial communities in temperate forests is not fully clear. In this work, a field experiment with three years of simulated nitrogen deposition was conducted in temperate forests. The glycine and urea were chosen as organic nitrogen (ON) source, while NH4NO3 was chosen as inorganic nitrogen (IN) source. Different ratios of ON to IN (CK = 0:0, Mix-1 = 10:0, Mix-2 = 7:3, Mix-3 = 5:5, Mix-4 = 3:7, Mix-5 = 0:10) were mixed and then used with equal total amounts of 10 kg·N·ha−1·a−1. We determined soil microbial diversity and community composition for bacteria and fungi (16S rRNA and ITS), and soil parameters. Different forms of N addition significantly changed the soil bacterial and fungal communities. Mixed N sources had a positive effect on soil bacterial diversity and a negative effect on fungal diversity. Bacterial and fungal community structures were significantly separated under different forms of N addition. Soil pH was the main factor affecting the change in fungal community structure, while bacterial community structure was mainly controlled by STN. We also found that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were the most abundant phyla, regardless of the form of N addition. RDA showed that C/P and NH4+ were the main factors driving the change in bacterial community composition, and C/P, pH and C/N were the main factors driving the change in fungal community composition. Our results indicate that different components of N deposition need to be considered when studying the effects of N deposition on soil microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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14 pages, 3614 KiB  
Article
Soil Chemical Properties Strongly Influence Distributions of Six Kalidium Species in Northwest China
by Decheng Liu, Zongqiang Chang, Xiaohui Liang and Yuxia Wu
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2178; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13122178 - 19 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1006
Abstract
The degrees of adaptive responses of different halophytes to saline–alkali soil vary substantially. Kalidium (Amaranthaceae), a genus comprised of six species of succulent euhalophytes with significantly differing distributions in China, provides ideal material for exploring the ecophysiological relationships involved in these variations. Thus, [...] Read more.
The degrees of adaptive responses of different halophytes to saline–alkali soil vary substantially. Kalidium (Amaranthaceae), a genus comprised of six species of succulent euhalophytes with significantly differing distributions in China, provides ideal material for exploring the ecophysiological relationships involved in these variations. Thus, in a large-scale field survey in 2014–2018, samples of soil (at 20 cm depth intervals spanning 0 to 100 cm) and seeds were collected from areas where these six species are naturally distributed. Chemical properties of soils in the areas and germinability of the species’ seeds in media with 0–500 mM NaCl and 0–250 mM Na2SO4 were then analyzed to test effects of salinity-related factors on the species’ distributions. The pH of the soil samples mainly ranged between 8.5 and 10.5 and positively correlated with their mean total salt contents. Germination rates of all six species’ seeds were negatively correlated with concentrations of NaCl and Na2SO4 in the media, and their recovery germination rates in distilled water were high (>74%). The results show that the species’ distributions and chemical properties of their saline soils are strongly correlated, notably the dominant cation at all sites is Na+, but the dominant anions at K. cuspidatum and K. caspicum sites are Cl and SO42−, respectively. Species-associated variations in concentrations of Ca2+ were also detected. Thus, our results provide clear indications of major pedological determinants of the species’ geographic ranges and strong genotype-environment interactions among Kalidium species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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14 pages, 3710 KiB  
Article
Potential Geographical Distribution of Medicinal Plant Ephedra sinica Stapf under Climate Change
by Kai Zhang, Zhongyue Liu, Nurbiya Abdukeyum and Yibo Ling
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13122149 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1645
Abstract
Ephedra sinica Stapf is an important traditional medicinal plant. However, in recent years, due to climate change and human activities, its habitat area and distribution area have been decreasing sharply. In order to provide better protection for E. sinica, it is necessary [...] Read more.
Ephedra sinica Stapf is an important traditional medicinal plant. However, in recent years, due to climate change and human activities, its habitat area and distribution area have been decreasing sharply. In order to provide better protection for E. sinica, it is necessary to study the historical and future potential zoning of E. sinica. The maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was used to simulate the potential geographical distribution patterns of E. sinica under historical and future climatic conditions simulated using two Shared Socio-economic Pathways. The main results were also analyzed using the jackknife method and ArcGIS. The results showed that: (1) the potential suitable distribution area of E. sinica in China is about 29.18 × 105 km2—high-suitable areas, medium-suitable areas, and low-suitable areas cover 6.38 × 105 km2, 8.62 × 105 km2, 14.18 × 105 km2, respectively—and E. sinica is mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia; (2) precipitation and temperature contribute more to the distribution of E. sinica; (3) under two kinds of SSPs, the total suitable area of E. sinica increased significantly, but the differences between 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100 are not obvious; (4) the barycentre of E. sinica moves from the historical position to its southwest. The results show that E. sinica can easily adapt to future climates well, and its ecological value will become more important. This study provides scientific guidance for the protection, management, renewal and maintenance of E. sinica. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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13 pages, 2267 KiB  
Article
Leaf Stoichiometry of Halophyte Shrubs and Its Relationship with Soil Factors in the Xinjiang Desert
by Yan Luo, Cuimeng Lian, Lu Gong and Chunnan Mo
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2121; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13122121 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1123
Abstract
Desert halophytes are a special plant group widely distributed in desert ecosystems. Studying their ecological stoichiometric characteristics is helpful for understanding their nutrient utilization characteristics and survival strategies. In this study, three functional groups of halophyte shrubs (euhalophytes, pseudohalophytes, and secretohalophytes) were studied [...] Read more.
Desert halophytes are a special plant group widely distributed in desert ecosystems. Studying their ecological stoichiometric characteristics is helpful for understanding their nutrient utilization characteristics and survival strategies. In this study, three functional groups of halophyte shrubs (euhalophytes, pseudohalophytes, and secretohalophytes) were studied in the Xinjiang desert, and the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of their leaves and their relationships with soil factors were evaluated. The results showed that the C content in secretohalophytes (442.27 ± 3.08 mg g−1) was significantly higher than that in the other functional groups (p < 0.05). The N and P contents in euhalophytes (22.17 ± 0.49 mg g−1 and 1.35 ± 0.04 mg g−1, respectively) were significantly higher than those in halophytes (p < 0.05). The N/P results showed that the growth rates of euhalophytes and pseudohalophytes were more susceptible to P limitation, whereas that of secretohalophytes was more susceptible to both N and P limitations, indicating that there were differences in nutrient characteristics among different functional groups. The results of the redundancy analysis showed that the leaf C, N, and P contents of euhalophytes were most affected by electrical conductivity (EC), whereas those of pseudohalophytes and secretohalophytes were most affected by the soil C content, indicating that different functional groups of halophyte shrubs had different responses to soil factors. The results of this study revealed the nutrient utilization characteristics of different functional groups of halophyte shrubs in the Xinjiang desert and their response and adaptation mechanisms to soil factors, thereby providing a basis for desert ecosystem management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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12 pages, 3918 KiB  
Article
Carbon Allocation of Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. across Different Life Stages Differed by Tree and Shrub Growth Forms at the Driest Site of Its Distribution
by Yang Qi, Hongyan Liu, Wenqi He, Jingyu Dai, Liang Shi and Zhaopeng Song
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1745; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13111745 - 23 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1293
Abstract
There are less than 10% of woody species that can have both tree and shrub growth forms globally. At the xeric timberline, we observed the tree-to-shrub shift of the Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.. Few studies have explored the underlined mechanism of this [...] Read more.
There are less than 10% of woody species that can have both tree and shrub growth forms globally. At the xeric timberline, we observed the tree-to-shrub shift of the Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.. Few studies have explored the underlined mechanism of this morphological transition of tree-to-shrub in arid regions. To examine whether the tree-to-shrub shift affects carbohydrate allocation and to verify the effect of life stage on non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) storage, we measured the concentration of soluble sugar and starch of Q. mongolica in the seedlings, saplings, and adult trees by selecting two sites with either tree or shrub growth forms of Q. mongolica at the driest area of its distribution. Accordingly, there was no significant difference in the radial growth with different growth forms (p > 0.05). The results showed that the effects of growth form on NSC concentrations are significant in the seedling and sapling stages, but become less pronounced as Q. mongolica grows. The results of the linear mixed model showed that life stage has a significant effect on soluble sugar concentration of tree-form (p < 0.05), starch and TNC concentration of shrub-form (p < 0.05). Compared with a shrub form without seedling stage, a tree form needs to accumulate more soluble sugar from seedling stage to adapt to arid environment. Saplings and adult shrubs store more starch, especially in thick roots, in preparation for sprout regeneration. Our study shows that the same species with tree and shrub forms embody differentiated carbohydrate allocation strategies, suggesting that shrub form can better adapt to a drier habitat, and the tree-to-shrub shift can benefit the expansion of woody species distribution in dryland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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13 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
Scale Effects on the Relationship between Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Arid Desert Areas
by Jiaxin Liu, Dong Hu, Hengfang Wang, Lamei Jiang and Guanghui Lv
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1505; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13091505 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1667
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality is popular topic in ecological research. Although scale is an important factor driving changes in biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality, we still know little about the scale effects of the relationship between the different dimensions of [...] Read more.
Understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality is popular topic in ecological research. Although scale is an important factor driving changes in biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality, we still know little about the scale effects of the relationship between the different dimensions of biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. Using plant communities in the northwest of the Qira Desert Ecosystem National Field Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Qira County, Xinjiang, as the study object, we explored the scale effects of plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality at different sampling scales (5 m × 5 m, 20 m × 20 m, and 50 m × 50 m) and the relative contribution of different dimensions of diversity (species diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity) to variation in ecosystem multifunctionality. At different scales, a significant scale effect was observed in the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. Species diversity dominated ecosystem multifunctionality at large scales (50 m × 50 m), and species diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality varied linearly between scales. Functional diversity made the greatest contribution in small scales (5 m × 5 m), and the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality tended to show a single-peaked variation between scales, with a dominant effect on multifunctionality at the mesoscale (20 m × 20 m). The results of the study deepen the understanding of the scale effect of the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality in arid desert areas, and help to further conserve plant diversity and maintain ecosystem multifunctionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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17 pages, 3690 KiB  
Article
Regulatory Control and the Effects of Condensation Water on Water Migration and Reverse Migration of Halostachys caspica (M.Bieb.) C.A.Mey. in Different Saline Habitats
by Lu Qin, Xuemin He, Guanghui Lv and Jianjun Yang
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1442; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13091442 - 08 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 951
Abstract
Condensation water has been a recent focus in ecological hydrology research. As one of the main water sources that maintains the food chain in arid regions, condensation water has a significant impact on water balance in arid environments and plays an important role [...] Read more.
Condensation water has been a recent focus in ecological hydrology research. As one of the main water sources that maintains the food chain in arid regions, condensation water has a significant impact on water balance in arid environments and plays an important role in desert vegetation. This study takes drought desert areas and high-salinity habitats as its focus—selecting Halostachys caspica (M.Bieb.) C.A.Mey. and its community in mild, moderate, and severe salinity soil—analyzed the source of condensation water utilized by these plants, and calculated its percentage of contribution. I. Study results revealed: (1) Scale-like leaves can absorb condensation water and the order of condensation water contribution to plant growth in different salinity habitats are severe > mild > moderate, such that the average contribution rates were 11.13%, 7.10%, and 3.79%, respectively; (2) The migration path of water movement in these three communities are formed in two main ways: (a) rain and condensation water recharge the soil to compensate for groundwater, while some groundwater compensates for river water and partially returns to the atmosphere by soil evaporation and plant transpiration; and (b) rain and condensation water directly compensate for river water and plant roots absorb river water, groundwater, and soil water in order to grow; (3) in mild habitats, the water movement path in plants is as follows: shallow root → stem → branches → leaves and shallow root → deep root; (4) in moderate habitats, stems act as the bifurcation point and the path follows as: stem → branches → leaves and stem → shallow root → deep root; and (5) in severe habitats, the path is as follows: deep root → shallow root → stem → branches → leaves, and finally returning to the atmosphere. These results elucidate the contribution of condensation water on Halostachys caspica growth and the migration path through the Halostachys caspica body. Condensation water obtained by Halostachys caspica communities in different salinity habitats provides a theoretical basis and data supporting the need for future research of condensation water on plants at the physiological level in arid regions and provides reference for the protection of saline soil and its ecological environment in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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14 pages, 2389 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution Pattern and Genetic Diversity of Quercus wutaishanica Mayr Population in Loess Plateau of China
by Dong Hu, Yao Xu, Yongfu Chai, Tingting Tian, Kefeng Wang, Peiliang Liu, Mingjie Wang, Jiangang Zhu, Dafu Hou and Ming Yue
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1375; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13091375 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1480
Abstract
The Quercus wutaishanica forest influences the ecological environment and climate characteristics and plays an important ecological role in the Loess Plateau region. However, we still know relatively little about the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of Q. wutaishanica. Here, we assessed the [...] Read more.
The Quercus wutaishanica forest influences the ecological environment and climate characteristics and plays an important ecological role in the Loess Plateau region. However, we still know relatively little about the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of Q. wutaishanica. Here, we assessed the genetic diversity of Q. wutaishanica using simple sequence repeats and used the point pattern method to analyze the spatial distribution patterns as well as intraspecific relationships. Our results indicate that the diameter structure of the Q. wutaishanica population was inverted J-type, showing a growing population. In addition, the population maintained high genetic diversity on a small scale. Due to dispersal constraints, the spatial distribution pattern of Q. wutaishanica seedlings (DBH < 1 cm) tended to aggregate at small scales and the degree of aggregation decreased with increasing spatial scale. However, trees (DBH > 5 cm) and saplings (1 cm ≤ DBH < 5 cm) showed more random distribution at the scale, indicating that Q. wutaishanica individuals shift from aggregation to random distribution at the spatial scale. In addition, although individuals of different diameter classes showed facilitative (trees vs. saplings, 5–6.5 m) and competitive effects (trees vs. seedlings, 13.5–16 m) on some scales, they showed no correlation on other scales, especially for saplings and seedlings, where they were not correlated on any scale. The results contribute to revealing the status and dynamics of Q. wutaishanica in the Loess Plateau, thereby providing a theoretical basis for further study on the maintenance mechanism of the population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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15 pages, 2853 KiB  
Article
Spatial Scale Effects of Soil Respiration in Arid Desert Tugai Forest: Responses to Plant Functional Traits and Soil Abiotic Factors
by Jinlong Wang, Xuemin He, Wen Ma, Zhoukang Li, Yudong Chen and Guanghui Lv
Forests 2022, 13(7), 1001; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13071001 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
Understanding the spatial variation law of soil respiration (Rs) and its influencing factors is very important when simulating and predicting the terrestrial carbon cycle process. However, there are still limitations in understanding how different sampling scales affect the spatial heterogeneity of Rs and [...] Read more.
Understanding the spatial variation law of soil respiration (Rs) and its influencing factors is very important when simulating and predicting the terrestrial carbon cycle process. However, there are still limitations in understanding how different sampling scales affect the spatial heterogeneity of Rs and whether the spatial scale effect will change with habitat types. Our objectives were to explore the effects of different sampling scales on the spatial variability of Rs and the relative importance of soil abiotic characteristics and plant traits in influencing the spatial variability of Rs. The Rs, soil properties, and plant traits were measured through field investigation and indoor analysis in the Tugai forest desert plant community in the Ebinur Lake Basin in northwest China. The Rs showed significant water gradient changes, with a coefficient of variation of 35.4%–58%. Plot types had significant effects on Rs, while the change of sampling scale did not lead to significant differences in Rs. At the plot scale, Rs spatial variation at the 5 m × 5 m sampling scale mainly depended on plant traits (leaf length, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, and leaf phosphorus content, p < 0.05), while Rs spatial variation at the 10 m × 10 m scale mainly depended on soil properties (soil total phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, soil water content, and pH, p < 0.05). At the local scale, soil nutrients (soil available phosphorus and ammonium nitrogen) and plant traits (maximum plant height, leaf length, and phosphorus content) at the 5 m × 5 m scale jointly explained 49% of the spatial change of Rs. In contrast, soil microclimate (soil water content), soil nutrients (soil pH, available phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen), and plant traits (leaf thickness) jointly explained 51% of the spatial variation of Rs at the 10 m × 10 m scale. These results demonstrate the potential to predict the spatial variability of Rs based on the combination of easily measured aboveground functional traits and soil properties, which provides new ideas and perspectives for further understanding the mechanism of Rs change in Tugai forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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14 pages, 2682 KiB  
Article
Changes in Soil Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Community in Oak Forests along the Urban–Rural Gradient
by Hongyan Shen, Baoshan Yang, Hui Wang, Wen Sun, Keqin Jiao and Guanghua Qin
Forests 2022, 13(5), 675; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13050675 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
The ectomycorrhizal fungi communities of forests are closely correlated with forest health and ecosystem functions. To investigate the structure and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi communities in oak forest soil and their driving factors along the urban–rural gradient, we set up a Quercus acutissima [...] Read more.
The ectomycorrhizal fungi communities of forests are closely correlated with forest health and ecosystem functions. To investigate the structure and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi communities in oak forest soil and their driving factors along the urban–rural gradient, we set up a Quercus acutissima forest transect and collected samples from the center to the edge of Jinan city (urban, suburban, rural). The results showed that the ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition at the phyla level mainly included Basidiomycota and Ascomycota in three sites. At the genus level, the community compositions of ectomycorrhizal fungi, along the urban–rural gradient, exhibited significant differences. Inocybe, Russula, Scleroderma, Tomentella, Amanita and Tuber were the dominant genera in these Quercus acutissima forests. Additionally, the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi was the highest in rural Quercus acutissima forest, followed by urban and suburban areas. Key ectomycorrhizal fungi species, such as Tuber, Russula and Sordariales, were identified among three forests. We also found that pH, soil organic matter and ammonium nitrogen were the main driving factors of the differences in ectomycorrhizal fungi community composition and diversity along the urban–rural gradient. Overall, the differences in composition and diversity in urban–rural gradient forest were driven by the differences in soil physicochemical properties resulting from the forest location. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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12 pages, 1336 KiB  
Article
Effects of Salinity and Oil Contamination on the Soil Seed Banks of Three Dominant Vegetation Communities in the Coastal Wetland of the Yellow River Delta
by Zhaoyang Fu, Xiuli Ge, Yongchao Gao, Jian Liu, Yuhong Ma, Xiaodong Yang and Fanbo Meng
Forests 2022, 13(4), 615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13040615 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1536
Abstract
In view of the important role of vegetation in the integrity of structures and functions of coastal wetland ecosystems, the restoration of degraded coastal wetland vegetation has attracted increased attention. In this paper, the newborn coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) [...] Read more.
In view of the important role of vegetation in the integrity of structures and functions of coastal wetland ecosystems, the restoration of degraded coastal wetland vegetation has attracted increased attention. In this paper, the newborn coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of China was selected to research the effect of salinity and oil exploitation on the germination of soil seed banks of three dominant vegetation communities. The germination experiment with three concentration gradients of NaCl and three concentration gradients of diesel treatments showed that there were 14 species present in the soil seed bank of the multi-species community: three species in the Phragmites australis community, and five species in the P. australis—Suaeda glauca community. The species in the seed bank of the three communities were much richer than the above-ground vegetation in this study. Soil salinity had a significant inhibitory effect on the seedling numbers of germinated species, the seedling density, and the species diversity of the soil seed banks, while the inhibitory effect of diesel was indistinctive under the designed concentrations. There existed significant interactions between the vegetation community type and soil salinity on the number of germinated species, the seedling density, and the Margalef index. Soil salinity is considered an important factor for wetland vegetation restoration in the YRD, but its effect had species-specific differences. Soil seed banks of the present three communities could be used to promote the restoration of degraded wetlands within certain soil salinity and oil concentration ranges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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15 pages, 2587 KiB  
Article
The Edaphic and Vegetational Properties Controlling Soil Aggregate Stability Vary with Plant Communities in an Arid Desert Region of Northwest China
by Lamei Jiang, Dong Hu and Guanghui Lv
Forests 2022, 13(3), 368; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13030368 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1543
Abstract
The stability of soil aggregates is the basis for supporting ecosystem functions and related services provided by the soil. In order to explore the mechanism of the influence of soil and vegetation properties on the stability of soil aggregates in desert communities, the [...] Read more.
The stability of soil aggregates is the basis for supporting ecosystem functions and related services provided by the soil. In order to explore the mechanism of the influence of soil and vegetation properties on the stability of soil aggregates in desert communities, the particle size distribution and aggregate in different communities were compared, and the contribution of soil physical and chemical properties (soil salinity, soil water content, soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil total phosphorus, soil total nitrogen, etc.) and vegetation properties (species richness, phylogenetic richness, plant height and coverage, etc.) to the stability of soil aggregates was determined by using a structural equation model. The results show the following: Soil water content, organic carbon, and salt in river bank plant communities have significant direct positive effects on the mean weight diameter of soil, with path coefficients of 0.50, 0.11, and 0.24, respectively (p < 0.01). Water also indirectly affects soil stability by affecting plant height, soil salt, and soil organic carbon; species richness and vegetation coverage have significant direct positive effects on the soil stability index, with path coefficients of 0.13 and 0.11, respectively (p < 0.01). In the desert marginal plant community, the plant coverage and species richness have significant positive effects on soil stability, with path coefficients of 0.43 (p < 0.001) and 0.35 (p < 0.001), respectively. Phylogenetic richness has a significant direct negative effect on soil stability (p < 0.05), with an effect value of −0.27. Phylogenetic richness indirectly affects soil stability by adjusting the coverage, with an indirect effect value of 0.23. Moisture, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen have significant direct positive effects on soil stability, with effect values of 0.12, 0.09, and 0.15, respectively. Our research shows that the process of soil stabilization is mainly controlled by soil factors and vegetation characteristics, but its importance varies with different community types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands)
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