Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (10): 1256-1273.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2023.0076  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2023.0076

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Response and resilience of net primary productivity of the Hai River Basin ecosystems under meteorological droughts

HUANG Li-Cheng1,2, MO Xing-Guo1,2,3,*()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    2College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2023-03-16 Accepted:2024-01-16 Online:2024-10-20 Published:2024-12-03
  • Contact: MO Xing-Guo
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Programme of China(2022YFF0801804)

Abstract:

Aims The increases in drought intensity and frequency severely threaten structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. To ensure the normal functioning of ecosystems under such scenarios, it is critically needed to understand the spatial-temporal characteristics of ecosystem productivity response and resilience under meteorological droughts.

Methods The intensity and frequency of meteorological droughts were quantified by standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) of the Hai River Basin (HRB). Net primary productivity (NPP) of natural ecosystems was estimated based on Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA). We quantitatively analyzed the relationship between NPP and SPEI, evaluated the drought risk of natural vegetation and the resilience of vegetation after drought.

Important findings (1) Both NPP and normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) in the HRB showed significantly increasing trend. (2) The lagging time of NPP response to droughts follow an order of grassland and savanna < deciduous broadleaf forest and woody savanna < deciduous-evergreen mixed forest and closed shrubland. (3) Drought risk followed an order of grassland > closed shrubland > woody savanna > deciduous broadleaf forest > savanna > deciduous-evergreen mixed forest. (4) More than 75% of the vegetation in the HRB showed no continuous distinctly low NPP status one month after the droughts, indicating relatively strong resilience. The resilience of forests was stronger than shrub or herbaceous vegetation, which showed opposite temporal pattern within each growing season but shared similar increasing trend interannually. Response and resilience characteristics of NPP varied with vegetation types and drought intensity. Ecosystem stability of the HRB could be improved by adjusting the afforestation and grass restoration measures based on vegetation drought risk and resilience, optimizing vegetation structure, and enhancing species diversity.

Key words: meteorological drought, drought risk, resilience, net primary productivity, standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI)