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Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 18583

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Dong Yang

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Guest Editor

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

Prof. Dr. Guang-Hui Lv

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
Interests: biodiversity; arid ecology; ecosystem function and service; soil-plant relationship; drought and saline stress

Prof. Dr. Nai-Cheng Wu

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Guest Editor

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

Dr. Xue-Wei Gong

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Guest Editor

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 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 require 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 the plant–environment relationship.

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Dong Yang
Prof. Dr. Guang-Hui Lv
Prof. Dr. Nai-Cheng Wu
Dr. Xue-Wei Gong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

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

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II: Studies from Northwest China

by Xiao-Dong Yang, Sai-Qiang Li, Guang-Hui Lv, Nai-Cheng Wu and Xue-Wei Gong

Forests 2024, 15(5), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050733 - 23 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1237

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid lands cover more than one-third of the Earth’s terrestrial area [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

16 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Divergent Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon Concentrations among Growth Forms, Plant Organs, and Soils across Three Different Desert Ecosystems

by Alamgir Khan, Xu-Dong Liu, Muhammad Waseem, Shi-Hua Qi, Shantwana Ghimire, Md. Mahadi Hasan and Xiang-Wen Fang

Forests 2024, 15(4), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040607 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Quantifying the dryland patterns of plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and their stoichiometric values along environmental gradients is crucial for understanding ecological strategies. To understand the plant adaptive strategies and ecosystem nutrient concentrations across three desert ecosystems (e.g., desert, steppe desert, and temperate desert), we compiled a dataset consisting of 1295 plant species across three desert ecosystems. We assessed the element concentrations and ratios across plant growth forms, plant organs, and soils and further analysed the leaf vs. root N, P, and N:P scaling relationships. We found that the leaf N, P, and C concentrations were significantly different only from those of certain other growth forms and in certain desert ecosystems, challenging the generality of such differences. In leaves, the C concentrations were always greater than the N and P concentrations and were greater than those in soils depending on the soil chemistry and plant physiology. Thus, the element concentrations and ratios were greater in the organs than in the soils. The values in the leaf versus the root N, P, and N:P scaling relationships differed across the three desert ecosystems; for example, αN (1.16) was greater in the desert, αP (1.10) was greater in the temperate desert ecosystem, and αN:P (2.11) was greater in the desert ecosystem. The mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT) did not have significant effects on the leaf elemental concentrations or ratios across the desert ecosystems. This study advances our understanding of plant growth forms and organs, which support resource-related adaptive strategies that maintain the stability of desert ecosystems via divergent element concentrations and environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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12 pages, 3788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns in Tree Cavities (Hollows) in Euphrates Poplar (Populus euphratica, Salicaceae) along the Tarim River in NW China

by Tayierjiang Aishan, Reyila Mumin, Ümüt Halik, Wen Jiang, Yaxin Sun, Asadilla Yusup and Tongyu Chen

Forests 2024, 15(3), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030421 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1145

Abstract

Populus euphratica Oliv., an indicator species for eco-environmental change in arid areas, plays a key role in maintaining the stability of fragile oasis–desert ecosystems. Owing to human interference as well as to the harshness of the natural environment, P. euphratica forests have suffered severe damage and degradation, with trunk cavities (i.e., hollows) becoming increasingly pronounced, and thus posing a great threat to the growth, health, and survival of the species. Currently, there is a gap in our understanding of cavity formation and its distribution in P. euphratica. Here, cavities in the trunks and branches of a P. euphratica in a typical transect (Arghan) along the lower Tarim River were studied based on field positioning observations combined with laboratory analysis. The results revealed a large number of hollow-bearing P. euphratica stands in the study area; indeed, trees with hollows accounted for 56% of the sampled trees, with approximately 159 trees/ha. Sixty-six percent of hollow trees exhibited large (15 cm ≤ cavity width (CW) < 30 cm) or very large (CW > 30 cm) hollows. The main types of cavities in the trees were trunk main (31.3%), trunk top (20.7%), branch end (19.5%), and branch middle (19.5%). Tree parameters, such as diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (TH), east–west crown width (EWCW), height under branches (UBH), and crown loss (CL) were significantly different between hollow and non-hollow trees. Both cavity height and width were significantly and positively correlated with DBH and CL, as well as with average crown width (ACW) (p < 0.001) and the distance from the tree to the river. The proportion of P. euphratica trees with cavities showed an overall increasing trend with increasing groundwater depth. Our findings show that cavities in P. euphratica varied with different tree architectural characteristics. Water availability is a major environmental factor influencing the occurrence of hollowing in desert riparian forests. The results provide scientific support for the conservation and sustainable management of existing desert riparian forest ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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19 pages, 4715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variations in Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Kalidium foliatum Leaves and Roots in Two Saline Habitats in Desert Region

by Lamei Jiang, Deyan Wu, Wenjing Li, Yuehan Liu, Eryang Li, Xiaotong Li, Guang Yang and Xuemin He

Forests 2024, 15(1), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010148 - 11 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1267

Abstract

Salt stress is a key environmental factor that has adverse effects on plant growth and development. High salinity induces a series of structural and functional changes in the morphological and anatomical features. The physiological and biochemical changes in K. foliatum in response to salt stress in natural environments are still unclear. Based on this, this study compared and analyzed the differences in the physiological and biochemical indicators between the leaf and root tissues in high-salt and low-salt habitats, selecting K. foliatum as the research object. The results showed that the chlorophyll contents in the leaves of K. foliatum decreased in the high-salt habitat, while the thicknesses of the upper and lower epidermises, as well as the thicknesses of the palisade tissue, significantly increased. The high-salt environment led to decreases in the N and P contents in the leaves and root tissues of K. foliatum, resulting in changes in the stoichiometric ratio of elements. The concentrations of C, N, and P in the roots of K. foliatum were lower than those in the leaves. The accumulation of Na⁺ in the K. foliatum roots was greater than that in the leaves, and the roots could promote the transport of sodium ions to the leaves. The contents of starch and soluble sugar in the leaves showed higher proportions in the high-salt habitat than in the low-salt habitat, while the changes in the roots and leaves were the opposite. As the salt content increased, the proline contents in the leaves and roots of K. foliatum significantly increased, and the proline contents in the roots of K. foliatum were lower than those in the leaves. The leaves and roots exhibited higher levels of peroxidase and superoxide enzymes in the high-salinity habitat than in the low-salinity habitat. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of the K. foliatum leaves and catalase (CAT) activity of the roots were the “central traits” in the high-salt habitat. In the low-salt habitat, the leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) and root C/N were the central traits of the leaves and roots, indicating that K. foliatum adapts to changes in salt environments in different ways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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14 pages, 1472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studies on the Correlation between δ¹³C and Nutrient Elements in Two Desert Plants

by Zhou Zheng, Xue Wu, Lu Gong, Ruixi Li, Xuan Zhang, Zehou Li and Yan Luo

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2394; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122394 - 8 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1111

Abstract

Stable carbon isotopes (δ¹³C) and elemental stoichiometry characteristics are important ways to research the water and nutrient use strategies of plants. Investigating the variation patterns inof δ¹³C and the major nutrient elements in different organs of plants and the correlation among them can reveal the ecological strategies of desert plants in extreme arid environments. In this study, two typical desert plants, Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspia, were studied in the Tarim Basin. By analyzing the changes in δ¹³C, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) and the ecological stoichiometry of their roots, stems, and leaves, the distribution patterns among different organs and their correlation with soil environmental factors were revealed. The results showed the following: (1) The δ¹³C of the two plants differed significantly among different organs (p < 0.01). The root and stem of Alhagi sparsifolia had significantly greater δ¹³C than the leave, while the δ¹³C of Karelinia caspia showed a root > stem > leaf gradient; (2) the C content in the leaves of the two plants was significantly lower than that of the root (p < 0.01), whereas the N content showed the opposite trend (p < 0.01); (3) the average N:P of Alhagi sparsifolia was >16.00, indicating it was mainly limited by P elements, while the average N:P of Karelinia caspia was <14.00, suggesting it was mainly limited by N elements; (4) in the root, stem and leave of Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspia, the N content and C:N and the P content and C:P showed a significantly negative correlation (p < 0.01), and δ¹³C was negatively correlated with C:P; (5) soil total phosphorus (TP) is an important soil environmental factor affecting δ¹³C and the nutrient elements in Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspia. This study demonstrates that Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspia are able to effectively coordinate and regulate their water, N, and P use strategies in response to environmental stress. These results can provide scientific reference for the evaluation of plant physiological and ecological adaptations for ecological conservation in arid areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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20 pages, 40894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Physicochemical Influencing Factors of Artificial Haloxylon ammodendron Forest in the Sand Blocking and Fixing Belt of Minqin, China

by Anlin Wang, Rui Ma, Yanjun Ma, Danni Niu, Teng Liu, Yongsheng Tian, Zhenghu Dong and Qiaodi Chai

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2244; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112244 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1282

Abstract

Microbial activity plays a crucial role in upholding the functional stability of vegetation–soil ecosystems. Nevertheless, there exists a paucity of studies concerning the impact of sand-fixing vegetation (Haloxylon ammodendron) on the structure and functional attributes of soil microbial communities. We employed Illumina high-throughput sequencing and PICRUSt2 functional prediction technology to investigate the characteristics of soil bacterial community structure, diversity, and metabolic functions in an artificial H. ammodendron forest, and RDA analysis and the Mantel test were used to reveal the main environmental factors affecting the structure and ecological functions of soil bacterial communities. The findings revealed a significant increase in the principal nutrient contents (organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) in the H. ammodendron forest soil compared to the mobile dune soil, while a reduction of 17.17% in the surface soil water content was observed. The H. ammodendron forest exhibited a significant enhancement in the diversity and richness index of soil bacteria. Specifically, Actinobacteria (24.94% ± 11.85%), Proteobacteria (29.99% ± 11.56%), and Chloroflexi (11.14% ± 4.55%) emerged as the dominant bacterial phyla, with Actinobacteria displaying significantly higher abundance compared to the mobile dune soil. PICRUSt2 analyses revealed that the predominant secondary metabolic functions of soil bacteria were carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. Additionally, the tertiary metabolic pathways exhibited greater activity in relation to enzyme function, nucleotide metabolism, energy metabolism, and antibiotics. The RDA results demonstrated that SOM, AK, and pH collectively accounted for 82.4% of the cumulative contribution, significantly influencing the bacterial community. Moreover, the Mantel test revealed that the metabolic function of soil bacteria primarily relied on five environmental factors, namely SOM, TN, AK, pH, and EC. This study significantly advances our understanding of the structural and functional changes in soil bacterial communities during the reclamation of sandy land through the establishment of artificial H. ammodendron forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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18 pages, 1835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Stand Structure, Carbon Sequestration, Oxygen Release Function, and Carbon Sink Value of Three Artificial Shrubs alongside the Tarim Desert Highway

by Lin Li, Abudoukeremujiang Zayiti and Xuemin He

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2137; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112137 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1379

Abstract

Currently, the ecological problems caused by the greenhouse effect are growing more serious, and implementing carbon sequestration methods is an effective way to address them. Arid and semi-arid desert areas have tremendous potential as carbon sinks, and artificial forests in these areas play an important role in absorbing and sequestering carbon dioxide. This study selected three main species of artificial protective trees along the Tarim Desert Highway—Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bunge, Calligonum mongolicum Turcz. and Tamarix chinensis Lour.—and evaluated them for their carbon sequestration, oxygen release capacity, and economic benefits using Pn (net photosynthetic rate) and biomass methods. The results showed that the average daily Pn value and carbon sequestration and oxygen release per unit leaf area of T. chinensis were significantly higher than those of H. ammodendron and C. mongolicum (p < 0.05). The total carbon storage of the three shelterbelts was 15.41 × 10⁴ t, and the carbon storage of H. ammodendron was significantly higher than that of C. mongolicum and T. chinensis (p < 0.05). According to the net photosynthetic rate method, the annual carbon sequestration and oxygen release of the shelter forest is 6.13 × 10⁴ t a⁻¹, and the transaction price is CNY 13.73 million a⁻¹. The total amount of carbon sequestration and oxygen release of the shelter forest obtained via the biomass method is 97.61 × 10⁴ t, and the transaction price is CNY 218.77 million. This study conducted research on the carbon sequestration capacity of protective forests along the Tarim Desert Highway located in an extremely arid region. It highlights the significant contribution of these protective forests in terms of carbon storage, playing a crucial role in promoting ecological restoration and sustainable development in arid areas. Additionally, this study provides a scientific basis for estimating carbon storage and promoting the sustainable management of artificial forests in arid desert regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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15 pages, 2181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interspecific Integration of Chemical Traits in Desert Plant Leaves with Variations in Soil Water and Salinity Habitats

by Jifen Yang, Xueni Zhang, Danhong Song, Yongchang Wang and Jingye Tian

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1963; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101963 - 28 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1258

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between soil environmental conditions and the interspecific integration of plant traits might shed light on how plants adapt to their environment. In order to clarify the adaptation strategies of desert plants in the various habitats, this study calculated interspecific trait integration (ITI) and plant trait networks (PTN) by selecting plants from high water-salinity habitat (HSM) with salt stress and low water-salinity habitat (LSM) with drought stress in the Ebinur Lake region. Eight different phytochemical traits were taken into consideration, including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg). Six soil factors were chosen, including soil pH, water content (SVWC), electrical conductivity (EC), soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The results obtained are shown below: (1) the relationship between plant leaf chemical traits was closer in HSM than in LSM, and the correlation between C and other leaf chemical traits was significant in HSM and insignificant in LSM; (2) the correlations between soil factors and ITI were not statistically significant; however, in both soil water-salinity habitats, the strength of fit between SVWC and ITI was the greatest, while the strength of fit between EC and ITI was the smallest; and (3) according to the PTN, C and Ca are the two most central traits for the growth of desert leaf chemical plants in Ebinur Lake, which is consistent with the results of the PCA. Coordination of plant leaf traits along water-salinity gradients involves many different combinations of traits, and the use of ITI and PTN can quantify the complex relationships between multiple traits to a greater extent, highlighting the multivariate mechanisms of plant response and adaptation to soil habitats. This information will help expand and optimize our ability to observe and predict desert plant responses to habitat change, providing powerful insights for assessing desert plant survival strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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15 pages, 4377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Water Control and Nitrogen Addition on Functional Traits and Rhizosphere Microbial Community Diversity of Haloxylon ammodendron Seedlings

by Menghao Zhu, Lamei Jiang, Deyan Wu, Wenjing Li, Huifang Yang and Xuemin He

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091879 - 15 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1023

Abstract

Water and nitrogen sources have always been the primary limiting factors for vegetation growth in arid and semi-arid regions and play an important role in the physiological ecology of vegetation. In this work, we studied the effects of water deficit and nitrogen addition on the physiological traits and rhizosphere bacterial microbial community of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings in sterilized and non-sterilized soil habitats. A pot experiment was conducted to control the water and nitrogen sources of H. ammodendron seedlings. The water deficit treatment was divided into two groups based on gradient: a normal water group (CK, 70% field water holding capacity) and water deficit group (D, 30% field water holding capacity). The nitrogen addition treatment was divided into a no addition group (CK, 2.8 mg·kg⁻¹) and addition group (N, 22.4 mg·kg⁻¹). At the end of the growing season, the biochemical indexes of H. ammodendron seedlings were measured, and the rhizosphere soil was subjected to 16S rDNA-high-throughput sequencing to determine the rhizosphere bacterial community composition of H. ammodendron seedlings under different treatments. The results showed that the root-to-crown ratio of H. ammodendron seedlings increased significantly (p < 0.05) under the water deficit treatment compared to the control and nitrogen addition treatments, indicating that H. ammodendron seedlings preferred to allocate biological carbon to the lower part of the ground. In contrast, plant height and root length were significantly lower (p < 0.05) under water deficit treatment compared to the control, and no significant change was observed under water deficit and nitrogen addition compared to the control, indicating that water deficit inhibited the growth of H. ammodendron seedlings and nitrogen addition mitigated the effect of water deficit on the growth of H. ammodendron seedlings. Under sterilized soil conditions, both water deficit and nitrogen addition significantly increased the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities in H. ammodendron seedlings (p < 0.05). Conversely, under non-sterilized conditions, both inhibited the diversity of microbial bacterial communities, and the microbial characteristic species under different controls were different. Therefore, in the short-term experiment, H. ammodendron seedlings were affected by water deficit and allocated greater quantities of biomass to the underground part, especially in the non-sterile microbial environment; different initial soil conditions resulted in divergent responses of rhizosphere bacterial communities to water deficit and nitrogen addition. Under different initial soil conditions, the same water deficit and nitrogen addition treatment will lead to the development of distinct differences in rhizosphere bacterial community composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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18 pages, 18493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Temporal Variation in Vegetation Response to Runoff in the Ebinur Lake Basin

by Chenglong Yao, Yuejian Wang, Guang Yang, Baofei Xia, Yongpeng Tong, Junqiang Yao and Huanhuan Chen

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091699 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1701

Abstract

The response of spatial and temporal vegetation changes to runoff is a complex process involving the interaction of several factors and mechanisms. Timely and accurate vegetation and runoff change information is an important reference for the water cycle and water resource security. The Ebinur Lake Basin is representative of arid areas worldwide. This basin has been affected by climate change and human activities for a long time, resulting in the destruction of the basin’s ecological environment, and especially its vegetation. However, there have been few studies that have focused on watershed vegetation and runoff changes. Therefore, we combined Generalized Information System and remote sensing technology, used SWAT and InVEST models based on the Google Earth Engine platform, and used the vegetation normalization index method to calculate the spatial distribution of vegetation and water production from 2000 to 2020 in Ebinur Lake. Sen’s trend analysis and the M–K test were used to calculate vegetation and runoff trends. The relationship between vegetation and runoff variation was studied using bivariate spatial autocorrelation based on sub-basins and plant types. The results showed that the Z parameter in the InVEST model spanned from 1–2. The spatial distribution of the water yield in a watershed is similar to the elevation of the watershed, showing a trend of higher altitude leading to a higher water yield. Its water yield capacity tends to saturate at elevations greater than 3500 m. The local spatial distribution of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) values and water yield clustering in the watershed were consistent and reproducible. Interannual runoff based on sub-basins correlated positively with the overall NDVI, whereas interannual runoff based on plant type correlated negatively with the overall NDVI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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16 pages, 2250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Intraspecific Trait Variation on Plant Functional Diversity and Community Assembly Processes in an Arid Desert Region of Northwest China

by Lamei Jiang, Abudoukeremujiang Zayit, Kunduz Sattar, Shiyun Wang, Xuemin He, Dong Hu, Hengfang Wang and Jianjun Yang

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081536 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1358

Abstract

Exploring how functional traits vary along environmental gradients has long been one of the central questions of trait-based community ecology. Variation in functional traits includes both intraspecific trait variation (ITV) and interspecific trait variation (V_inter); however, the effects of ITV on functional diversity and community assembly remain to be explored. In this study, we compared functional diversity among three communities (i.e., riverbank, transition zone, and desert margin communities) at three spatial scales (i.e., 10 m × 10 m, 20 m × 20 m, and 50 m × 50 m) in the desert ecosystem of the Ebinur Lake basin in Xinjiang. We also analyzed the effects of ITV and environmental and spatial factors on functional diversity. Our results showed that incorporating ITV increased measurements of functional richness at the 10 m × 10 m scale in all three communities (p < 0.01). Rao’s quadratic entropy (RaoQ) represents the differences in functional traits between different species. ITV significantly increased RaoQ at the 50 m × 50 m scale in the riverbank and desert margin community, whereas it significantly decreased RaoQ in the transitional zone community. Similarly, ITV significantly increased functional β-diversity at the 10 m × 10 m and 20 m × 20 m scales in the transitional zone community. Spatial factors mainly influenced functional diversity at smaller scales, whereas environmental factors were influential mainly at larger scales. After considering ITV, spatial factors had less of an effect on functional β-diversity, except for the 50 m × 50 m scale in the transitional zone and desert margin community, indicating that ITV can reduce the measured effect of dispersal on functional β-diversity. Considering ITV did not change the interpretation of the main ecological processes affecting functional diversity. However, it did change the extent to which environmental filtering and dispersal effects explained functional diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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21 pages, 4654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Water Uptake and Its Relationship with Photosynthetic Capacity and Anatomical Structure between Female and Male Populus euphratica at Different Growth Stages

by Zhoukang Li, Yudong Chen, Huimin Wang and Xueni Zhang

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071444 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1411

Abstract

Foliar water uptake (FWU) is considered to be a common phenomenon in most terrestrial plants. As a supplementary water source, it plays an important role in the growth and survival of plants in arid areas. However, there is no research to explain the water absorption of plant leaves from the perspective of gender specificity. To this end, we carried out a leaf water absorption capacity experiment and in situ wetting field experiment, respectively, in the early (Initial), middle (Mid) and end (End) of the growth season of male and female Populus euphratica. The results of the leaf water absorption capacity experiment showed that the FWU capacity of male and female P. euphratica showed an increasing trend with the growth period and reached the maximum at the End period. The FWU capacity of female P. euphratica was significantly greater than that of male P. euphratica after the Initial stage. The water absorption speed (k) of male and female leaves also increased with the growth period, but the increase was not significant. The increase in leaf water content per mg of water absorbed per unit of leaf area (LWC_A) of male P. euphratica was always greater than that of female P. euphratica. Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water saturated deficit (WSD) and water absorption parameters (FWU capacity, k) were significantly correlated. The results of the in situ wetting field experiment show that humidification significantly increased the predawn water potential (Mid period) of female and male P. euphratica leaves and the net photosynthetic rate (Mid period) of male P. euphratica leaves, but had no significant effect on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and anatomical structure. The MFA results show that the water status of male and female P. euphratica leaves was significantly correlated with photosynthetic parameters, fluorescence parameters and anatomical parameters. Our results show that the foliar water uptake capacity of female P. euphratica leaves was stronger than that of male P. euphratica and shows significant dynamic changes during the growing season. This was because female P. euphratica has a developed water storage structure. Foliar water uptake can effectively improve the water status and photosynthetic capacity of male and female P. euphratica, and this improvement was more significant during the most intense period of soil water stress. These findings will deepen our understanding of the ecological adaptation of dioecious plants to foliar water uptake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Leaf Hydrophilicity and Stomatal Regulation on Foliar Water Uptake Capacity of Desert Plants

by Huimin Wang, Zhoukang Li and Jianjun Yang

Forests 2023, 14(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030551 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1846

Abstract

Foliar water uptake (FWU) is one of the primary water sources for desert plants. Desert plants’ water uptake capacity is essential in maintaining the balance of carbon and water. However, there are few studies on FWU capacity in desert plants and the physiological and ecological characteristics that lead to differences in FWU capacity. In order to clarify FWU strategies and the influencing factors of plants in desert ecosystems, this study measured the contact angle, FWU parameters, and hydraulic parameters to explore six desert plants’ FWU capacity and the effects of leaf wettability and hydraulic parameters on FWU capacity. The results showed that all six plants had FWU capacity, among which the leaves of Nitraria sibirica Pall. and Halimodendron halodendron (Pall.) Voss had a high foliar water uptake rate (k) and high foliar water uptake accumulation (FWU storage), and the leaves of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. had a high k and low FWU storage. The leaves of Populus euphratica Oliv., Apocynum hendersonii Hook. f., and Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. had a low k and low FWU storage. Additionally, FWU capacity was mainly affected by stomatal regulation compared with leaf wettability and leaf structure. The results of this study will help to improve the understanding of the physiological and ecological adaptability of desert plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II)

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