Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (4): 971-986.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2025.0042  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2025.0042

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption characteristics and adaptive strategies of typical emergent plants in lakeshore zone of Dianchi Lake, China

CHEN Xin-Rui1,2, SONG Wei-Feng1, WANG Yi1,2, WANG Hao6, SUN Shi-Yao1,2, WANG Cai-Jiang3, CAI Shi-Peng3, REN Hong3, HE Yu-Tao3, PAN Min4, CAO Guang-Xiu4, YAN Yi5, XIE Zhi-Yong5, WANG Hang1,*()   

  1. 1 National Plateau Wetland Research Center, College of Ecology and Environment (Wetland College), Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
    2 Dianchi Lake Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650228, China
    3 Kunming Jinning District Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Kunming 650600, China
    4 Kunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, China
    5 Kunming Forestry and Grassland Science Institute, Kunming 650033, China
    6 College of Biological and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
  • Received:2025-02-05 Accepted:2025-07-21 Online:2026-04-20 Published:2026-06-29
  • Contact: WANG Hang
  • Supported by:
    Yunnan Provincial Joint Agricultural Special Program(202301BD070001-009);Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Program(202203AC100002-03);Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Special Project for the Construction of Field Scientific Observation and Research Station(202305AM340008)

Abstract:

Aims Leaf nutrient resorption is an important mechanism for plants to adapt to nutrient limitation or extreme environments. However, the nutrient resorption characteristics and ecological strategies of wetland emergent plants in adapting to specific environments remain unclear.

Methods This study focuses on 12 typical emergent plant species from the lakeshore zone of Dianchi Lake, with 471 plant samples collected from mature and senescent leaves during the mature and senescent phases. The aboveground biomass of plants in 70 sampling plots was also investigated. Based on the measurement of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, the changes in nutrient resorption efficiency and stoichiometric ratios of different emergent plants were studied to reveal their intrinsic mechanisms.

Important findings (1) The resorption efficiencies of N and P differed significantly among all plant species. Zizania latifolia and Iris pseudacorus exhibited the highest N and P resorption efficiencies (66.17% and 56.22%, respectively), while Typha orientalis and Cyperus involucratus showed the lowest (46.13% and 42.78%, respectively). (2) The mean leaf N:P of typical emergent plants was 11.42 (<14), and the resorption efficiency ratio (NRE:PRE) was 1.25 (significantly greater than 1), indicating that the emergent plants along the Dianchi Lake shore are overall limited by N. Under these conditions, the N resorption efficiency (56.43%) of the emergent plants was higher than the P resorption efficiency (49.62%), further highlighting the plants’ preferential absorption of N, which is more limiting. (3) Compared with other plants, Arundo donax var. versicolor exhibited the strongest accumulation capacity for N and P (399.67 and 49.32 g·m-2, respectively) and the highest removal potential (61.19 and 8.63 g·m-2, respectively). Furthermore, the aboveground biomass, N and P contents, and nutrient resorption extent of emergent plants collectively determined the harvesting management strategy, which in turn affected the N and P removal efficiency of wetland plants. (4) In the nutrient resorption process of typical emergent plants, three strategies coexist: nutrient concentration control, nutrient limitation control, and stoichiometric control, with stoichiometric control being the dominant strategies. These findings reveal the characteristics and ecological strategies of nutrient resorption, nutrient accumulation, and biomass removal in typical emergent plants of the Dianchi lakeshore zone, providing important references for harvest management of emergent plants based on nutrient blocking techniques.

Key words: emergent plant, nutrient resorption, resorption strategy, stoichiometry, eutrophication