Variation in biomass and nutrients allocation of Corydalis hendersonii on the Tibetan Plateau with increasing rainfall continentality and altitude

Ecological Indicators

Richard Michalet¹  Huichun Xie²  Xiao Guo³  Qien Li⁴  Mingzhu He⁵ 

[1] Corresponding authors at: Tibetan Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China;Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810016, China.;University of Bordeaux, UMR CNRS5805 EPOC, 33615 Pessac, France;Tibetan Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China;University of Bordeaux, UMR CNRS5805 EPOC, 33615 Pessac, France;

关键词: Biomass;    Nutrients;    N:P;    Tibetan Plateaus;    Corydallis hendersonii;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The Tibetan Plateau is considered as one of most sensitive region to global change. Nutrient (N and P) availability is an important limiting ecological factor in cold terrestrial ecosystems such as the alpine belt of the Tibetan Plateau. We focused on Corydallis hendersonii, an endemic alpine species of the Tibetan Plateau. Exploring the N and P below- and above-ground responses of C. hendersonii to climatic factors is crucial for biodiversity conservation of the alpine Tibetan plateau under global change. We used the Outlying Mean Index and regression analyses to assess N and P stoichiometry and biomass responses in leaves and roots of C. hendersonii along climatic gradients. We found that investment and allocation of nutrient and biomass in C. hendersonii were mainly driven by rainfall continentality. In the eastern less-continental wet area of the Tibetan plateau, C. hendersonii had higher biomass in leaf, and lower N and P investment in roots than in the western more continental dry part. Specifically, 300 mm year−1 Mean annual precipitation (MAP) and ca. 80° Rainfall continentality index (GAMS) were threshold values of climate stress inducing strong nutrient limitation for C. hendersonii across the Tibetan Plateau. Our results suggest that rainfall continentality is the primary climatic driver of variation in biomass and nutrients allocation of C. hendersonii on the Tibetan Plateau. Thus, global warming and drying should induce a decrease in total biomass, a reduction in leaf N and P concentrations and an increase in root/shoot ratio in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau.

【 授权许可】

Unknown