Functional traits of Fagaceae plants in shady and sunny slopes in karst degraded tiankeng

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2021 Jul;32(7):2301-2308. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202107.021.

Abstract

In the negative terrain habitat of the karst degraded tiankeng, the shady and sunny slopes are dramatically different, which results in substantial variations in plant communities. With the degraded tiankeng Shenxiantang in Zhanyi, Yunnan as an example, we explored the functional traits of Fagaceae plants in the shady and sunny slopes, which would help reveal the value of tiankeng as species diversity conservation pool. The results showed that soil nutrients in the shady slope were more than those in the sunny slope. Leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf dry weight of Faga-ceae plants in the shady slope were significantly larger than those in the sunny slope. Leaf thickness was significantly lower than that in the sunny slope. Dry matter content of leaves was less than that of the sunny slope. The main environmental factors affecting functional traits of Fagaceae plants in the shady slope were soil total potassium concentration and soil moisture, while soil total phosphorus concentration was the key factor in the sunny slope. The extent of variation of leaf functional traits in shady slope was less than that in the sunny slope. Fagaceae plants mainly adapted to the shady slope habitat by changing the leaf dry weight to increase photosynthetic rate and carbon accumulation abi-lity. Sunny slope obtained more resource by keeping smaller specific leaf area and increasing the extent of variation of the leaf area. The succession rate of plant community in the shady slope of the degraded tiankeng Shenxiantang was significantly faster than that in the sunny slope. The dominance of Fagaceae plants gradually decreased in the shady slope, but remained to be the constructive species in the sunny slope.

喀斯特退化天坑的负地形生境中阴坡和阳坡的局域环境具有显著差异,导致植物群落类型差异明显。本研究以云南沾益退化天坑深陷塘为例,探究退化天坑阴坡与阳坡壳斗科植物功能性状特征,有助于揭示天坑的物种多样性保护库价值。结果表明: 阴坡土壤营养物质含量高于阳坡,阴坡壳斗科植物的叶面积、比叶面积和叶干重显著大于阳坡,叶厚度显著小于阳坡,叶干物质含量小于阳坡;阴坡壳斗科植物功能性状的主要环境影响因子是土壤全钾和土壤含水量,全磷是阳坡的主要环境影响因子。阴坡的叶功能性状变异程度小于阳坡,主要是以改变叶干重增加植物体内光合速率和碳积累能力的方式适应阴坡生境;阳坡通过保持较小比叶面积,增加叶面积变异程度来获得更多的资源。退化天坑深陷塘阴坡植物群落演替速度明显快于阳坡,壳斗科植物优势在阴坡逐渐减小,在阳坡仍是优势建群种。.

Keywords: Fagaceae; karst degraded tiankeng; plant functional trait; shady slope; sunny slope.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Ecosystem
  • Fagaceae*
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plants
  • Soil

Substances

  • Soil