Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau

The concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and stoichiometric ratios of twig (i.e. stem and leaves) are the important indicators to connect plant individual and the abiotic environment, which reflects the nutritional status for plants and ecosystem function. However, the variatio...

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Main Authors: Hongmei Zhang, Guopeng Chen, Junren Xian, Ketong Yang, Li Wang, Qi Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-11-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22009578
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author Hongmei Zhang
Guopeng Chen
Junren Xian
Ketong Yang
Li Wang
Qi Yang
author_facet Hongmei Zhang
Guopeng Chen
Junren Xian
Ketong Yang
Li Wang
Qi Yang
author_sort Hongmei Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and stoichiometric ratios of twig (i.e. stem and leaves) are the important indicators to connect plant individual and the abiotic environment, which reflects the nutritional status for plants and ecosystem function. However, the variations of stoichiometric characteristics of twig C, N and P across altitude gradient have not yet been extensively studied. In the present study, we determined the elements (C, N and P) concentrations of current-year twigs from 1050 to 3070 m woody plants in the Bailongjiang River Basin (BRB), a typical dry valley of eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau. And then, the relationships between altitude and the element concentrations of twigs, stems, and leaves had been explored by linear regression, allometric analysis and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that: the frequency distribution of elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios was left-deviations. The C, N and P concentrations were 395.66 mg g−1, 17.59 mg g−1 and 1.53 mg g−1 for leaves, 414.83 mg g−1, 8.76 mg g−1 and 1.13 mg g−1 for stems, and 401.72 mg g−1, 8.78 mg g−1 and 1.51 mg g−1 for twigs, respectively. The stems elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios were positively correlated to that of the leaves. Except for the N of stem and twig, the other elemental concentrations were significantly correlated to altitude. And the leaves and stems N/P and C/P, and twig C/P were significantly negative correlated to altitude. The significant isometry relationships were observed between N vs P of leaves, stems and twigs. The elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of BRB woody plant had no statistical phylogenetic signal. This study presented the evidence that the leaf, stem and twig C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios from wider altitude-gradient within BRB, it was special and varied largely in different elements, stoichiometric ratios and locations, which supported the growth rate theory in the whole.
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spelling doaj.art-54a0ec931a97451d84976192dbe78f332022-12-22T02:36:30ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2022-11-01144109484Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateauHongmei Zhang0Guopeng Chen1Junren Xian2Ketong Yang3Li Wang4Qi Yang5College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Corresponding author at: College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1 Yingmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China.College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaThe concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and stoichiometric ratios of twig (i.e. stem and leaves) are the important indicators to connect plant individual and the abiotic environment, which reflects the nutritional status for plants and ecosystem function. However, the variations of stoichiometric characteristics of twig C, N and P across altitude gradient have not yet been extensively studied. In the present study, we determined the elements (C, N and P) concentrations of current-year twigs from 1050 to 3070 m woody plants in the Bailongjiang River Basin (BRB), a typical dry valley of eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau. And then, the relationships between altitude and the element concentrations of twigs, stems, and leaves had been explored by linear regression, allometric analysis and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that: the frequency distribution of elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios was left-deviations. The C, N and P concentrations were 395.66 mg g−1, 17.59 mg g−1 and 1.53 mg g−1 for leaves, 414.83 mg g−1, 8.76 mg g−1 and 1.13 mg g−1 for stems, and 401.72 mg g−1, 8.78 mg g−1 and 1.51 mg g−1 for twigs, respectively. The stems elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios were positively correlated to that of the leaves. Except for the N of stem and twig, the other elemental concentrations were significantly correlated to altitude. And the leaves and stems N/P and C/P, and twig C/P were significantly negative correlated to altitude. The significant isometry relationships were observed between N vs P of leaves, stems and twigs. The elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of BRB woody plant had no statistical phylogenetic signal. This study presented the evidence that the leaf, stem and twig C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios from wider altitude-gradient within BRB, it was special and varied largely in different elements, stoichiometric ratios and locations, which supported the growth rate theory in the whole.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22009578CarbonNitrogenPhosphorusConcentrations and stoichiometric ratiosCurrent-year twigBailongjiang River Basin
spellingShingle Hongmei Zhang
Guopeng Chen
Junren Xian
Ketong Yang
Li Wang
Qi Yang
Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
Ecological Indicators
Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Concentrations and stoichiometric ratios
Current-year twig
Bailongjiang River Basin
title Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
title_full Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
title_fullStr Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
title_full_unstemmed Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
title_short Complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley, eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
title_sort complex dynamics of twig elements and stoichiometric ratios with altitude changes in the typical dry valley eastern qinghai tibet plateau
topic Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Concentrations and stoichiometric ratios
Current-year twig
Bailongjiang River Basin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22009578
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