Species composition and diversity,and carbon stock in a dune ecosystem in the Horqin Sandy Land of northern China

In this study, we determined carbon allocation and carbon stocks in the plant-soil system of different dune ecosystems in northeastern China. We quantified the species composition, above- and below-ground biomasses, and carbon stocks of three dune types(i.e. active dunes, semi-stabilized dunes and stabilized dunes) and their corresponding inter-dune lowlands(i.e. interdune lowlands of active dunes, interdune lowlands of semi-stabilized dunes and interdune lowlands of stabilized dunes) in the Horqin Sandy Land. The results showed that the succession series on interdune lowlands of the Horqin Sandy Land confirmed differences in species composition of the various dune types. Aboveground carbon(AGC) on the interdune lowlands of semi-stabilized dunes(33.04 g C/m2) was greater(P<0.05) than that on the interdune lowlands of active dunes(10.73 g C/m2). At the same time, the different dune types did not show any significant differences(P>0.05) in belowground plant carbon(BGC). However, the percentage of plant BGC in interdune lowlands of active dunes(81.5%) was significantly higher(P<0.05) than that in the interdune lowlands of semi-stabilized dunes(58.9%). The predominant carbon pool in the study dune ecosystem was in the soil. It accounted for 95% to 99% of total carbon storage. Soil organic carbon(SOC) was at least 55% greater(P<0.05) in the interdunes than in the dunes. Stabilized dunes showed at least a 37% greater(P<0.05) SOC content than active dunes up to a 1-m soil depth. Meanwhile, SOC content of interdune lowlands of semi-stabilized dunes was greater(P<0.05) than that of interdune lowlands of active dunes only up to a 20-cm soil depth. The dune ecosystem showed a great potential to store carbon when interdune lowlands of active dunes were conversed to interdune lowlands of semi-stabilized dunes, which stored up to twice as much carbon per unit volume as interdune lowlands of active dunes.

Tree Height-Related Hydraulic Strategy to Cope with Freeze-Thaw Stress in Six Common Urban Tree Species in North China

Urban trees are sensitive to extreme weather events under climate change.Freeze-thaw induced hydraulic failure could induce urban tree dieback and nullify the services they provide.Plant height is a simple but significant trait for plant ecological strategies.Understanding how urban trees with different heights adapt to freeze-thaw stress is increasingly important under climate change.We investigated the relationship between tree height and stem hydraulic functional traits of six common urban tree species in North China to explore tree height-related hydraulic strategies to cope with freeze-thaw stress.Results showed that tall trees had wider vessels,higher hydraulic conductivity,more winter embolism,but lower vessel and wood densities.Positive relationships were found between tree height and vessel diameter,hydraulic conductivity,and freeze-thaw induced embolism,and negative relationships were found between tree height and vessel and wood densities,which implied that short trees employ more conservative ecological strategies than tall trees.Tall and short tree species were well separated by multiple stem hydraulic functional traits;this is consistent with the fact that tall and short trees occupy different niches and indicates that different hydraulic strategies for freeze-thaw stress exist between them.Tall trees might face more pressure to survive under extreme cold weather caused by climate change in the future.Therefore,more attention should be paid to tall urban tree management in North China to cope with extreme cold weather.

Level of habitat fragmentation determines its non-linear relationships with plant species richness, frequency and density at desertified grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China

Aims This study aimed to examine the changes in plant species richness,frequency and density along a habitat fragmentation gradient(with varied degrees of habitat fragmentation[DHFs])in a desertified grass-land of Horqin Sandy Land,northeastern Inner Mongolia,China.Methods In this study,six landscape plots(500×500 m each)along a habi-tat fragmentation gradient were established.A new fragmentation index was formulated to study the effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity indices(species richness,frequency and density).Regression analyses(linear-or non-linear regression)were con-ducted to assess the changes in species richness,frequency and density along the habitat fragmentation gradient at plant commu-nity,functional group and species scales,respectively.Important Findings There was a non-linear relationship(following a quadratic function)between total species richness and the DHF.Total species richness reached its peak when the DHF was 0.2,beyond which species richness decreased along the fragmentation gradient.Plant func-tional groups showed their specific responses to habitat fragmenta-tion,and some non-linear relationships and thresholds existed.The relative richness of rare species also showed a non-linear response to habitat fragmentation,with the threshold being DHF=0.6.Species became rarer(both some common species and rare spe-cies)with the intensifying habitat fragmentation.Our study dem-onstrates the importance of the non-linear relationships and plant functional groups in exploring the effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity and implementing effective biological conservation in sand dunes.