Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia(RP)has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants(UH),soil properties and their relationships,which may be related to the vegetation zone.However,few studies have teste...Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia(RP)has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants(UH),soil properties and their relationships,which may be related to the vegetation zone.However,few studies have tested effects of RP on UH and soil over a large-scale area of the Loess Plateau.Methods The study area consisted of three vegetation zones(the steppe,forest-steppe and forest zone).Two canopy plant types were selected:RP stands and adjacent native vegetation.We measured five leaf functional traits:leaf carbon content(LC),leaf nitrogen content(LN),leaf phosphorus content(LP),specific leaf area(SLA)and leaf tissue density(LTD).The functional diversity,species diversity and community-weighted mean(CWM)traits were calculated.Important Findings(i)CWM.LN,CWM.LP and CWM.SLA increased significantly,whereas CWM.LC and CWM.LTD decreased significantly in the three vegetation zones,compared with the native communities.(ii)Species diversity,functional diversity and community biomass decreased in the steppe zone,increased in the forest zone,and did not differ significantly in the forest-steppe zone.(iii)We found only soil organic carbon(P<0.05)and soil total nitrogen(P<0.05)in the forest zone decreased significantly compared with the native plots.(iv)The relationship between UH and soil properties was affected by RP and the vegetation zone.Overall,the effect of RP on UH and soil properties was associated with the vegetation zone.This result is of great significance to the planning of restoration and reconstruction of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau.展开更多
Plant leaf litter decomposition provides a source of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems.In addition to traditional environmental factors,the degradation process of litter is also affected by plant functional tr...Plant leaf litter decomposition provides a source of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems.In addition to traditional environmental factors,the degradation process of litter is also affected by plant functional traits and litter quality.However,at the community level,it is still unclear whether the relative importance of plant traits and litter quality on the litter decomposition rate is consistent.A year-long mixed leaf litter decomposition experiment in a similar environment was implemented by using the litterbag method in seven typical forest types in Dongling Mountain,Beijing,North China,including six monodominant communities dominated by Juglans mandshurica,Populus cathayana,Betula dahurica,Betula platyphylla,Pinus tabuliformis and Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii and one codominant community dominated by Fraxinus rhynchophylla,Quercus mongolica and Tilia mongolica.The results showed that there were considerable differences in the litter decomposition rate(k-rate)among the different forest types.The community weighted mean(CWM)traits of green leaves and litter quality explained 35.60%and 9.05%of the k-rate variations,respectively,and the interpretation rate of their interaction was 23.37%,indicating that the CWM traits and their interaction with litter quality are the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.In the recommended daily allowance,leaf nitrogen content,leaf dry matter content,leaf tannin content and specific leaf area were the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.Therefore,we suggest that future studies should focus on the effects of the CWM traits of green leaves on litter decomposition at the community level.展开更多
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41671289,41601586).
文摘Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia(RP)has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants(UH),soil properties and their relationships,which may be related to the vegetation zone.However,few studies have tested effects of RP on UH and soil over a large-scale area of the Loess Plateau.Methods The study area consisted of three vegetation zones(the steppe,forest-steppe and forest zone).Two canopy plant types were selected:RP stands and adjacent native vegetation.We measured five leaf functional traits:leaf carbon content(LC),leaf nitrogen content(LN),leaf phosphorus content(LP),specific leaf area(SLA)and leaf tissue density(LTD).The functional diversity,species diversity and community-weighted mean(CWM)traits were calculated.Important Findings(i)CWM.LN,CWM.LP and CWM.SLA increased significantly,whereas CWM.LC and CWM.LTD decreased significantly in the three vegetation zones,compared with the native communities.(ii)Species diversity,functional diversity and community biomass decreased in the steppe zone,increased in the forest zone,and did not differ significantly in the forest-steppe zone.(iii)We found only soil organic carbon(P<0.05)and soil total nitrogen(P<0.05)in the forest zone decreased significantly compared with the native plots.(iv)The relationship between UH and soil properties was affected by RP and the vegetation zone.Overall,the effect of RP on UH and soil properties was associated with the vegetation zone.This result is of great significance to the planning of restoration and reconstruction of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10300-210100218).
文摘Plant leaf litter decomposition provides a source of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems.In addition to traditional environmental factors,the degradation process of litter is also affected by plant functional traits and litter quality.However,at the community level,it is still unclear whether the relative importance of plant traits and litter quality on the litter decomposition rate is consistent.A year-long mixed leaf litter decomposition experiment in a similar environment was implemented by using the litterbag method in seven typical forest types in Dongling Mountain,Beijing,North China,including six monodominant communities dominated by Juglans mandshurica,Populus cathayana,Betula dahurica,Betula platyphylla,Pinus tabuliformis and Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii and one codominant community dominated by Fraxinus rhynchophylla,Quercus mongolica and Tilia mongolica.The results showed that there were considerable differences in the litter decomposition rate(k-rate)among the different forest types.The community weighted mean(CWM)traits of green leaves and litter quality explained 35.60%and 9.05%of the k-rate variations,respectively,and the interpretation rate of their interaction was 23.37%,indicating that the CWM traits and their interaction with litter quality are the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.In the recommended daily allowance,leaf nitrogen content,leaf dry matter content,leaf tannin content and specific leaf area were the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.Therefore,we suggest that future studies should focus on the effects of the CWM traits of green leaves on litter decomposition at the community level.