Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas
The vertical distribution understanding of undergrowth herbaceous plants in high altitude mountain areas is of great significance to reveal the environmental gradient change law of plant diversity. However, the species composition of herbaceous plants at different altitude gradients and the relation...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1138317/full |
| _version_ | 1797862043421769728 |
|---|---|
| author | Jiahua Han Huiyan Yin Jie Xue Jie Xue Jie Xue Zhiwei Zhang Zhiwei Zhang Zhen Xing Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Jingjing Chang Xiaoqiang Chen Xiaoqiang Chen Bo Yu |
| author_facet | Jiahua Han Huiyan Yin Jie Xue Jie Xue Jie Xue Zhiwei Zhang Zhiwei Zhang Zhen Xing Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Jingjing Chang Xiaoqiang Chen Xiaoqiang Chen Bo Yu |
| author_sort | Jiahua Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The vertical distribution understanding of undergrowth herbaceous plants in high altitude mountain areas is of great significance to reveal the environmental gradient change law of plant diversity. However, the species composition of herbaceous plants at different altitude gradients and the relationship between diversity and environmental factors is still vague. This study takes the Sejila Mountain in southeast Tibet at an altitude of 2,000–3,300 m as the study area to analyze the vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes. The results showed that: (1) The number of families, genera and species of herbaceous plants on sunny slope is greater than that on shady slope. Asteraceae on shady and sunny slopes has the largest number of species; (2) The α diversity index of the herbs on shady slope shows a U-shaped trend. The Cody heterogeneity index (βC) is negatively correlated with the β diversity index. The herb richness index (R) on sunny slope is unimodal. The β diversity index displays the same as that of shady slope; (3) Different environmental factors have different effects on herb diversity. The correlation between environmental factors and diversity indicators indicates that there is a certain degree of clustering among samples. The environmental factors of shady slope and sunny slope are separated; and (4) The difference of water and heat conditions caused by altitude and slope aspect is an important driving factor for the diversity of herbage species, followed by soil clay content, silt content and slope gradient. This study will help to understand the species diversity and ecosystem characteristics of the region, and provide a reference for the study of plant community structure and function and rational utilization of understory plant resources in high-altitude mountain areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:14:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86d781ffdb6d4942bd5df2f17ae12e91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:14:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj.art-86d781ffdb6d4942bd5df2f17ae12e912023-03-23T05:37:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2023-03-01610.3389/ffgc.2023.11383171138317Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areasJiahua Han0Huiyan Yin1Jie Xue2Jie Xue3Jie Xue4Zhiwei Zhang5Zhiwei Zhang6Zhen Xing7Shunke Wang8Shunke Wang9Shunke Wang10Jingjing Chang11Xiaoqiang Chen12Xiaoqiang Chen13Bo Yu14College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi, ChinaCele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Hetian, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi, ChinaCele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Hetian, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Ürümqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, ChinaThe vertical distribution understanding of undergrowth herbaceous plants in high altitude mountain areas is of great significance to reveal the environmental gradient change law of plant diversity. However, the species composition of herbaceous plants at different altitude gradients and the relationship between diversity and environmental factors is still vague. This study takes the Sejila Mountain in southeast Tibet at an altitude of 2,000–3,300 m as the study area to analyze the vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes. The results showed that: (1) The number of families, genera and species of herbaceous plants on sunny slope is greater than that on shady slope. Asteraceae on shady and sunny slopes has the largest number of species; (2) The α diversity index of the herbs on shady slope shows a U-shaped trend. The Cody heterogeneity index (βC) is negatively correlated with the β diversity index. The herb richness index (R) on sunny slope is unimodal. The β diversity index displays the same as that of shady slope; (3) Different environmental factors have different effects on herb diversity. The correlation between environmental factors and diversity indicators indicates that there is a certain degree of clustering among samples. The environmental factors of shady slope and sunny slope are separated; and (4) The difference of water and heat conditions caused by altitude and slope aspect is an important driving factor for the diversity of herbage species, followed by soil clay content, silt content and slope gradient. This study will help to understand the species diversity and ecosystem characteristics of the region, and provide a reference for the study of plant community structure and function and rational utilization of understory plant resources in high-altitude mountain areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1138317/fullherbsspecies diversityaltitude gradientdriving factorsQinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| spellingShingle | Jiahua Han Huiyan Yin Jie Xue Jie Xue Jie Xue Zhiwei Zhang Zhiwei Zhang Zhen Xing Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Shunke Wang Jingjing Chang Xiaoqiang Chen Xiaoqiang Chen Bo Yu Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas Frontiers in Forests and Global Change herbs species diversity altitude gradient driving factors Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title | Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| title_full | Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| title_fullStr | Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| title_short | Vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| title_sort | vertical distribution differences of the understory herbs and their driving factors on shady and sunny slopes in high altitude mountainous areas |
| topic | herbs species diversity altitude gradient driving factors Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1138317/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jiahuahan verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT huiyanyin verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT jiexue verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT jiexue verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT jiexue verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT zhiweizhang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT zhiweizhang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT zhenxing verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT shunkewang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT shunkewang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT shunkewang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT jingjingchang verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT xiaoqiangchen verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT xiaoqiangchen verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas AT boyu verticaldistributiondifferencesoftheunderstoryherbsandtheirdrivingfactorsonshadyandsunnyslopesinhighaltitudemountainousareas |