The influence of cushion plants on soil fertility islands under their canopies with ontogenesis in an extreme alpine ecosystem

Zhao, Rongcai

doi:10.1007/s11104-022-05798-3

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Unfortunately, this study did not investigate how different ecosystem engineers modify microenvironments, thus preventing a direct correlation between microenvironmental attributes and target plant performance. However, previous studies have repeatedly confirmed the ecosystem engineering effects of ecosystem engineers in our study region ( Yang et al., 2010 ; Chen et al., 2015a , 2015b , 2019 , 2020b ), including on the high Qinghai-Xizang plateau ( Li et al., 2011 ; Pugnaire et al., 2015 ; Jiang et al., 2018 ; Zhao, 2023 ; Liu et al., 2023 ). Based on these facts, we believe that the involved engineered microhabitats indeed provide suitable living conditions for our target species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…2010; Chen et al, 2015aChen et al, , 2015bChen et al, , 2019Chen et al, , 2020b, including on the high Qinghai-Xizang plateau (Li et al, 2011;Pugnaire et al, 2015;Jiang et al, 2018;Zhao, 2023;Liu et al, 2023). Based on these facts, we believe that the involved engineered microhabitats indeed provide suitable living conditions for our target species.…”

Section: Impacts Of Ecosystem Engineers On the Growth Of Associated P...mentioning

confidence: 73%

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Ecosystem engineers can regulate resource allocation strategies in associated plant species

Yang,

Niu,

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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Balancing the biomass requirements of different functions for the purpose of population reproduction and persistence can be challenging for alpine plants due to extreme environmental stresses from both above- and below-ground sources. The presence of ecosystem engineers in alpine ecosystems effectively alleviates microenvironmental stresses, hence promoting the survival and growth of other less stress-tolerant species. However, the influence of ecosystem engineers on plant resource allocation strategies remains highly unexplored. In this study, we compared resource allocation strategies, including biomass accumulation, reproductive effort (RE), root fraction (RF), as well as relationships between different functions, among four alpine plant species belonging to Gentianaceae across bare ground, tussock grass-, cushion-, and shrub-engineered microhabitats. Shrub-engineered microhabitats exerted the strongest effects on regulating plant resource allocation patterns, followed by tussock grass- and cushion-engineered microhabitats. Additionally, apart from microhabitats, population background and plant life history also significantly influenced resource allocation strategies. Generally, plants established within engineered microhabitats exhibited higher biomass accumulation, as well as increased flower, leaf and stem production. Furthermore, individuals within engineered microhabitats commonly displayed lower RF, indicating a greater allocation of resources to above-ground functions while reducing allocation to root development. RE of annual plants was significantly higher than that of perennial plants. However, individuals of annual plants within engineered microhabitats showed lower RE compared to their counterparts in bare ground habitats; whereas perennial species demonstrated similar RE between microhabitat types. Moreover, RE was generally independent of plant size in bare-ground habitats but exhibited size-dependency in certain populations for some species within specific engineered microhabitat types. However, size-dependency did exist for absolute reproductive and root biomass allocation in most of the cases examined here. No trade-offs were observed between flower mass and flower number, nor between leaf mass and leaf number. The capacity of ecosystem engineers to regulate resource allocation strategies in associated plants was confirmed. However, the resource allocation patterns resulted synergistically from the ecosystem engineering effects, population environmental backgrounds, and plant life history strategies. In general, such regulations can improve individual survival and reproductive potential, potentially promoting population persistence in challenging alpine environments.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Impacts Of Ecosystem Engineers On the Growth Of Associated P...mentioning

confidence: 73%

Ecosystem engineers can regulate resource allocation strategies in associated plant species

Yang,

Niu,

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Impacts Of Ecosystem Engineers On the Growth Of Associated P...mentioning

confidence: 73%

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The influence of cushion plants on soil fertility islands under their canopies with ontogenesis in an extreme alpine ecosystem

Cited by 2 publications

References 68 publications

Ecosystem engineers can regulate resource allocation strategies in associated plant species

Ecosystem engineers can regulate resource allocation strategies in associated plant species

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