We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Differences and drivers of leaf stable carbon and nitrogen isotope in herbs under different vegetation types on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
- Authors
CHEN Miao; LIU Shun; XU Gexi; CHEN Jian; XING Hong-shuang; LI Feifan; ZHANG Miaomiao; CAO Xiangwen; SHI Zuomin
- Abstract
The natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in leaves can provide comprehensive information on the physiological and ecological processes of plants and has been widely used in ecological research. However, recent studies on leaf δ13C and δ15N have focused mainly on woody species, few studies have been conducted on herbs in different vegetation types, and their differences and driving factors are still unclear. In this study, we focused on the herbs in subalpine coniferous forests, alpine shrublands, and alpine meadows on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and investigated the differences in leaf δ13C and δ15N of herbs and the driving factors. The results showed that there were significant differences in leaf δ13C and δ15N values of herbs among different vegetation types, with the highest δ13C and δ15N values in alpine meadows, followed by alpine shrublands, and the lowest in subalpine coniferous forests. Using variation partitioning analysis, we revealed that differences in leaf δ13C and δ15N of herbs among various vegetation types were driven by both leaf functional traits and climate factors, with the contribution of leaf functional traits being relatively higher than that of climate factors. Hierarchical partitioning results indicated that mean annual temperature (MAT), chlorophyll content index, leaf nitrogen content per unit area (Narea), and leaf mass per area were the main drivers of leaf δ15N variations of herbs across different vegetation types, while the relative importance of Narea and MAT for variation in leaf δ15N of herbs was much higher than those other variables. There was a strong coupling relationship between leaf δ15N and δ15N as indicated by the result of the ordinary least squares regression. Our findings could provide new insights into under-standing the key drivers of leaf δ15N and δ15N variations in herbs across different vegetation types.
- Subjects
NITROGEN isotopes; CARBON isotopes; MOUNTAIN meadows; CONIFEROUS forests; CHLOROPHYLL spectra; HERBS; CARBON cycle; SHRUBLANDS
- Publication
Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao, 2024, Vol 35, Issue 4, p877
- ISSN
1001-9332
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.13287/j.1001-9332/202404.013