Experimental warming changed reproductive phenology and height of alpine plants on the Qingzang Plateau

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0450

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Climate change is significantly altering the phenology and growth pattern of alpine plants related to their resource allocation strategies, thereby changing the functioning of alpine ecosystems. The aim of this study is to explore responses of reproductive phenology and vegetative growth of alpine plants to climate warming on the Qingzang Plateau.

Methods Experimental warming was achieved using infrared heating. From 2017 to 2018, we measured the reproductive phenology (leaf out, flower bud, flower and fruit time) and maximum height of 15 common alpine plants (account more than 80% of the total above biomass) under non-competitive condition via common garden experiment.

Important findings Our results showed that: (1) Experimental warming significantly advanced the leaf out, flower bud and first flowering day of legumes by (8.21 ± 1.81), (9.14 ± 2.41) and (10.14 ± 2.05) d, respectively. In addition, warming significantly prolonged the flowering duration of legumes by (6.14 ± 1.52) d. This result implied that different functional groups showed different responses under warming. The reproductive phenology of most alpine plants advanced, and the flowering duration was prolonged under warming, suggesting that more resources was allocated to reproductive growth. (2) In addition, experimental warming significantly reduced the height of forbs by (3.58 ± 0.96) cm, but not of other functional groups. Different species have differential responses to warming in different year. In summary, the alpine plant community on the Qingzang Plateau may start the reproductive stage earlier, hence reducing the resource allocation for vegetative growth under future warming conditions. In addition, due to different responses of the reproductive capacity and vegetative growth of various species to temperature change, climate warming may change the coverage of various species, and then alter the composition of species in the community, and then change the function of alpine ecosystem.

Key words: alpine plant, climate change, infrared heating, reproductive phenology, vegetative growth, Qingzang Plateau

WEI Yao, MA Zhi-Yuan, ZHOU Jia-Ying, ZHANG Zhen-Hua. Experimental warming changed reproductive phenology and height of alpine plants on the Qingzang Plateau[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(9): 995-1004.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0450

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I9/995

Figures/Tables 4

Table 1 Changes of phenological period and height among alpine plants of different functional groups under warming condition on the Qingzang Plateau (mean ± SE)

功能群 Functional group	返青时间 Leaf out time (d)	现蕾时间 Flower bud time (d)	开花时间 Flower time (d)	结实时间 Fruit time (d)	开花持续时间 Flowering time (d)	高度 Height (cm)
豆科类 Legumes	-8.21 ± 1.81^*	-9.14 ± 2.41^*	-10.14 ± 2.05^*	-4.72 ± 1.96	6.14 ± 1.52^*	0.92 ± 0.66
禾草类 Grasses	-1.67 ± 1.59	-6.07 ± 2.18	-0.30 ± 3.17	-0.40 ± 0.99	-0.10 ± 3.71	-1.95 ± 2.05
莎草类 Sedges	1.58 ± 2.25	-4.99 ± 5.02	-7.95 ± 5.74	0.56 ± 3.50	9.72 ± 3.89	0.70 ± 1.86
杂类草 Forbs	-1.08 ± 0.92	-5.25 ± 3.70	-3.04 ± 4.22	-4.64 ± 4.96	-1.31 ± 1.42	-3.58 ± 0.96^*

Fig. 1 Changes of leaf out time (A, B), flower bud time (C, D), flower time (E, F) and fruit time (G, H) among each species of alpine plants on the Qingzang Plateau in 2017 and 2018 under warming condition (mean ± SE). A positive value indicates later than the control; a negative value indicates earlier than the control. * indicates significant difference between treatment and the control (p < 0.05). Cp, Carex przewalskii; En, Elymus nutans; Gf, Gentiana lawrencei var. farreri; Gs, Gentiana straminea; Ht, Helictotrichon tibeticum; Kc, Kobresia capillifolia; Kh, Kobresia humilis; Mr, Medicago ruthenica; Ok, Oxytropis kansuensis; Pp, Poa pratensis; Pf, Potentilla fruticosa; Pv, Polygonum viviparum; Sa, Stipa aliena; Sp, Saussurea pulchra; Th, Tibetia himalaica.

Fig. 2 Changes of flowering time among each species of alpine plants on the Qingzang Plateau in 2017 (A) and 2018 (B) under warming condition (mean ± SE). A positive value indicates longer flowering time than the control; a negative value indicates shorter flowering time than the control. * indicates significant difference between treatment and the control (p < 0.05). Cp, Carex przewalskii; En, Elymus nutans; Gf, Gentiana lawrencei var. farreri; Gs, Gentiana straminea; Ht, Helictotrichon tibeticum; Kc, Kobresia capillifolia; Kh, Kobresia humilis; Mr, Medicago ruthenica; Ok, Oxytropis kansuensis; Pp, Poa pratensis; Pf, Potentilla fruticosa; Pv, Polygonum viviparum; Sa, Stipa aliena; Sp, Saussurea pulchra; Th, Tibetia himalaica.

Fig. 3 Changes of height among each species of alpine plants on the Qingzang Plateau in 2017 (A) and 2018 (B) under warming condition (mean ± SE). A positive value indicates higher height than the control; a negative value indicates lower height than the control. * indicates significant difference between treatment and the control (p < 0.05). Cp, Carex przewalskii; En, Elymus nutans; Gf, Gentiana lawrencei var. farreri; Gs, Gentiana straminea; Ht, Helictotrichon tibeticum; Kc, Kobresia capillifolia; Kh, Kobresia humilis; Mr, Medicago ruthenica; Ok, Oxytropis kansuensis; Pp, Poa pratensis; Pf, Potentilla fruticosa; Pv, Polygonum viviparum; Sa, Stipa aliena; Sp, Saussurea pulchra; Th, Tibetia himalaica.

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