Knowledge Management System of Kunming Institute of Botany,CAS
| Degeneration of foundation cushion species induced by ecological constraints can cause massive changes in alpine plant communities | |
Chen, Jianguo; Chen, Xufang; Qian, Lishen ; Zhang, Yazhou; Li, Bo; Shi, Honghua; Sun, Lu; Schob, Christian; Sun, Hang
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| 2024 | |
| Source Publication | SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
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| Volume | 67Issue:3Pages:596-610 |
| Abstract | Foundational cushion plants can re-organize community structures and sustain a prominent proportion of alpine biodiversity, but they are sensitive to climate change. The loss of cushion species can have broad consequences for associated biota. The potential plant community changes with the population dynamics of cushion plants remain, however, unclear. Using eight plant communities along a climatic and community successional gradient, we assessed cushion population dynamics, the underlying ecological constraints and hence associated plant community changes in alpine communities dominated by the foundational cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides. The population dynamics of Arenaria are attributed to ecological constraints at a series of life history stages. Reproductive functions are constrained by increasing associated beneficiary plants; subsequent seedling establishment is constrained by temperature, water and light availability, extreme climate events, and interspecific competition; strong competitive exclusion may accelerate mortality and degeneration of cushion populations. Along with cushion dynamics, species composition, abundance and community structure gradually change. Once cushion plants completely degenerate, previously cushion-dominated communities shift to relatively stable communities that are overwhelmingly dominated by sedges. Climate warming may accelerate the degeneration process of A. polytrichoides. Degeneration of this foundational cushion plant will possibly induce massive changes in alpine plant communities and hence ecosystem functions in alpine ecosystems. The assessment of the population dynamics of foundation species is critical for an effective conservation of alpine biodiversity. |
| Keyword | alpine ecosystem biodiversity change climate change plant community dynamics foundation species global warming population dynamics QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS HENGDUAN MOUNTAINS ARENARIA-POLYTRICHOIDES RANGE SHIFTS CLIMATE DIVERSITY CONSEQUENCES RECRUITMENT VEGETATION |
| Subject Area | Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11427-022-2383-6 |
| WOS ID | WOS:001115173500001 |
| Citation statistics | |
| Document Type | 期刊论文 |
| Identifier | http://ir.kib.ac.cn/handle/151853/74820 |
| Collection | 中国科学院昆明植物研究所 |
| Recommended Citation GB/T 7714 | Chen, Jianguo,Chen, Xufang,Qian, Lishen,et al. Degeneration of foundation cushion species induced by ecological constraints can cause massive changes in alpine plant communities[J]. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES,2024,67(3):596-610. |
| APA | Chen, Jianguo.,Chen, Xufang.,Qian, Lishen.,Zhang, Yazhou.,Li, Bo.,...&Sun, Hang.(2024).Degeneration of foundation cushion species induced by ecological constraints can cause massive changes in alpine plant communities.SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES,67(3),596-610. |
| MLA | Chen, Jianguo,et al."Degeneration of foundation cushion species induced by ecological constraints can cause massive changes in alpine plant communities".SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 67.3(2024):596-610. |
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| 10.1007_s11427-022-2（2734KB） | 期刊论文 | 出版稿 | 开放获取 | CC BY-NC-SA | View Download | |
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