Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau
Slope aspect has an important impact on vegetation morphology, structure, and spatial distribution. However, the effects of different slope aspects on the characteristics of plant communities, and soil physical and chemical properties in alpine meadows remains unclear. Here, we selected the gully hi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22008731 |
| _version_ | 1828144850712657920 |
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| author | Qi-peng Zhang Ru-yao Fang Cui-yan Deng Hong-juan Zhao Meng-Han Shen Qian Wang |
| author_facet | Qi-peng Zhang Ru-yao Fang Cui-yan Deng Hong-juan Zhao Meng-Han Shen Qian Wang |
| author_sort | Qi-peng Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Slope aspect has an important impact on vegetation morphology, structure, and spatial distribution. However, the effects of different slope aspects on the characteristics of plant communities, and soil physical and chemical properties in alpine meadows remains unclear. Here, we selected the gully hillsides of Dangzhou, distributed along the eastern border of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, as the study object. Based on variance and correlation analysis, we determined the following results. The slope aspect has a significant effect on the characteristics of plant communities. Significant differences in plant functional groups and plant diversity among different slope aspects in alpine meadows were found (p-value < 0.05). Plant functional groups and plant diversity showed consistent trend changes at the slope aspect transition from the north to south slope. The slope aspect affected the physical and chemical properties of the soil. With the slope aspect varied from North to South, pH, ST (soil temperature), and STP (soil total phosphorus) increased, whereas soil organic matter (SOM), soil total potassium, soil water content (SWC), and soil total nitrogen showed a decreasing trend (p-value < 0.05). The characteristics of plant functional groups varied with the physical and chemical properties of the soil. A significant correlation between plant functional groups and soil pH, SOM, and SWC was observed (p-value < 0.05). Plant diversity significantly correlated with soil pH and SWC (p-value < 0.05) but not with the other soil physical and chemical properties (p-value > 0.05). Our findings may provide a scientific basis for the sustainable use of alpine meadows and the evaluation of ecosystem services in alpine meadows. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:23:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-087bb5c8149a46a8a42a0b50530b12a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:23:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-087bb5c8149a46a8a42a0b50530b12a22022-12-22T04:04:44ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2022-10-01143109400Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateauQi-peng Zhang0Ru-yao Fang1Cui-yan Deng2Hong-juan Zhao3Meng-Han Shen4Qian Wang5School of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, ChinaSchool of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, ChinaSchool of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, ChinaThe 7th Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration of Shandong Province, Linyi, Shandong 276000, ChinaSchool of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, ChinaSchool of Geography and Environment, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China; Corresponding author.Slope aspect has an important impact on vegetation morphology, structure, and spatial distribution. However, the effects of different slope aspects on the characteristics of plant communities, and soil physical and chemical properties in alpine meadows remains unclear. Here, we selected the gully hillsides of Dangzhou, distributed along the eastern border of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, as the study object. Based on variance and correlation analysis, we determined the following results. The slope aspect has a significant effect on the characteristics of plant communities. Significant differences in plant functional groups and plant diversity among different slope aspects in alpine meadows were found (p-value < 0.05). Plant functional groups and plant diversity showed consistent trend changes at the slope aspect transition from the north to south slope. The slope aspect affected the physical and chemical properties of the soil. With the slope aspect varied from North to South, pH, ST (soil temperature), and STP (soil total phosphorus) increased, whereas soil organic matter (SOM), soil total potassium, soil water content (SWC), and soil total nitrogen showed a decreasing trend (p-value < 0.05). The characteristics of plant functional groups varied with the physical and chemical properties of the soil. A significant correlation between plant functional groups and soil pH, SOM, and SWC was observed (p-value < 0.05). Plant diversity significantly correlated with soil pH and SWC (p-value < 0.05) but not with the other soil physical and chemical properties (p-value > 0.05). Our findings may provide a scientific basis for the sustainable use of alpine meadows and the evaluation of ecosystem services in alpine meadows.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22008731Slope aspectAlpine meadowsGully hillsidesFunctional groupsPlant diversity |
| spellingShingle | Qi-peng Zhang Ru-yao Fang Cui-yan Deng Hong-juan Zhao Meng-Han Shen Qian Wang Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau Ecological Indicators Slope aspect Alpine meadows Gully hillsides Functional groups Plant diversity |
| title | Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau |
| title_full | Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau |
| title_fullStr | Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau |
| title_short | Slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau |
| title_sort | slope aspect effects on plant community characteristics and soil properties of alpine meadows on eastern qinghai tibetan plateau |
| topic | Slope aspect Alpine meadows Gully hillsides Functional groups Plant diversity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22008731 |
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