The decomposition of plant litter in peatland is a key process in the ecosystem carbon cycle. The rate of litter decomposition and its underlying mechanisms significantly influence the biogeochemical cycling of peatland ecosystems. Litter decomposition is a complex process governed by the interactions of multiple factors, and increasing research efforts have focused on the effects of both biotic and abiotic factors on this process. Microorganisms, as the primary decomposers of soil organic matter, play an important role in the decomposition of plant litter, which is characterized by their phased and unequal contributions to the process. Additionally, microbial activities influence organic matter decomposition through functional genes encoding key enzymes. Beyond microorganisms, other biotic factors, including litter quality, plant community composition, and soil fauna, along with abiotic factors such as temperature, moisture, and light, significantly impact litter decomposition and microbial community. This study provides a comprehensive review of the litter decomposition process in peatlands, elucidating the roles of microorganisms and soil enzymes, as well as the regulatory mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors influence litter degradation and microbial community composition. These insights provide a better understanding of peatland carbon cycling and conservation, ultimately contribute to climate change mitigation. Future research should further associate aboveground and belowground systems to explore the interactions among plants, microorganisms, and soil environments, enabling a more comprehensive understanding and effective conservation of peatland wetland ecosystems.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant threat to plant growth and ecosystem security. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying plant responses to Cd stress is critical for pollution remediation and agricultural safety. This review systematically examines Cd uptake, transport, physiological responses, and mitigation strategies in plants. Cd primarily enters plants through symplastic pathways (mediated by transporters such as Nramp and ZIP) and apoplastic pathways (e.g., cell wall adsorption and xylem transport), with its bioavailability significantly influenced by soil pH, organic matter, and microbial activity. At the physiological level, Cd stress induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, activates antioxidant enzyme systems (SOD, CAT, APX) and chelation mechanisms (e.g., GSH, PCs, MTs), and reduces cytosolic Cd toxicity via vacuolar compartmentalization. Molecularly, transporter families such as Heavy Metal ATPase (HMA) and ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) proteins synergistically regulate transmembrane Cd transport and detoxification processes. Practically, phytoremediation technologies utilizing hyperaccumulator plants (e.g., Salix spp. and Sedum spp.), combined with chelating agents (e.g., EDTA) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), enhance soil remediation efficiency. Additionally, low-Cd crops developed through gene-editing technologies (e.g., knockout of OsNramp5 and OsHMA3) exhibit significantly reduced grain Cd accumulation. This review provides a theoretical framework for understanding plant Cd tolerance mechanisms and offers technical references for Cd pollution control and safe crop production.

Aims The broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest, as the zonal climax vegetation in eastern Northeast China, has been severely disturbed by long-term human activities. As a result, most primary forests have degraded into secondary poplar-birch forests. However, relevant systematic comparative studies between these two forest types remain insufficient, limiting our understanding of the natural recovery process of the broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest. Methods Based on a 24-ha permanent forest dynamics plot in Changbai Mountain, we employed the paired correlation function g(r) and the heterogeneous Poisson null model to compare the spatial distribution and interspecific association patterns of tree species between the northern secondary poplar-birch forest (early successional stage, 15.6 ha) and the southern broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest (late successional stage, 8.4 ha) within the plot. Important findings (1) Most tree species in both forest types exhibited scale-dependent spatial patterns, showing aggregated distribution at small scales (0-10 m) and random distribution at larger scales (>20 m). Clustering intensity was generally higher for small and medium-sized trees (DBH < 30 cm) than for large trees (DBH ≥ 30 cm). In the secondary poplar-birch forest, large trees were mostly randomly distributed, whereas in the broad leaved Korean pine forest, large trees remained aggregated at small scales (0-10 m). (2) Interspecific associations among tree species were predominantly random in both forest types. Large trees exhibited a higher proportion of negative interspecific associations than small trees. While large trees showed both facilitative and inhibitory effects on small sized individuals, they mainly exhibited competitive suppression on medium sized individuals. (3) As a key foundation species, Pinus koraiensis exhibited aggregated distribution patterns in both forest types. However, its aggregation intensity was lower in the broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest, where it exhibited negative spatial associations with pioneer species such as Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana. In contrast, small P. koraiensis trees in the secondary poplar–birch forest displayed significant positive associations with these pioneers. These findings indicate that pioneer species facilitate the establishment of small P. koraiensis trees during early succession but become progressively suppressed and are eventually excluded as forest succession proceeds. Overall, the species distribution and interspecific association patterns were broadly similar between the two forest types, whereas pronounced differences were observed for key foundation species, such as P. koraiensis. These results enhance our understanding of the natural recovery process of the broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest and provide valuable insights for forest management and restoration of temperate forests of Northeast China.

Aims Soil microorganisms play a key role in the dynamics of plant communities. However, it is still unclear how soil microorganisms affect the survival and growth traits of different mycorrhizal tree species, and whether these effects change with the succession process, especially in tropical forest ecosystems. Methods In this study, six typical tropical tree species seedlings (three arbuscular mycorrhizal and three ectomycorrhizal fungal tree species) were selected to explore the effects of different succession stages and soil sterilization conditions on their survival and growth traits. Important findings 1) Sterilization significantly increased the survival rate of arbuscular mycorrhizal seedlings in the soil at the early stage of succession, but reduced the survival rate of exophytic mycorrhizal seedlings in the soil at the late stage of succession. The influence of soil microorganisms on the traits of seedlings is the combined effect of mycorrhizal type and succession stage: sterilization treatment significantly increased the specific leaf area and leaf length of arbuscular mycorrhizal seedlings in the soil at the early stage of succession, as well as the dry leaf weight and mycorrhizal infection rate of seedlings at the late stage of succession. Meanwhile, sterilization will reduce the leaf thickness and average root diameter of seedlings in the early stage of succession. In addition, sterilization treatment can significantly reduce the specific leaf area and average root diameter of exogenous mycorrhizal seedlings in the soil during the early stage of succession. Under unsterilized conditions, it promotes the increase of abovemground biomass, dry leaf weight, leaf length and root surface area of seedlings in the later stage of succession. 2) With the increase of the same density, the influence of soil microorganisms in the early stage of succession is stronger than that in the late stage of succession: in unsterilized soil, high density significantly promoted the growth traits of seedlings such as dry leaf weight, leaf length and leaf width. However, in sterilized soil, except for specific leaf area, most traits were inhibited. In addition, there are also significant differences in the survival and trait expression of seedlings of different species. These results suggest that root mycorrhizae may affect the performance of plants at different succession stages through interaction with soil microorganisms. Therefore, measures to promote the restoration of tropical forest vegetation using mycorrhizal fungi need to take into account mycorrhizal types, forest restoration stages, planting densities and even tree species, in order to minimize the adverse effects of soil microorganisms as much as possible.

Aims Nematodes are an important component of below-ground communities and play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem structure and function. Global environmental changes, such as shrub encroachment and nitrogen deposition, have become important drivers of community structure and function. The interactions between different environmental factors together affect biodiversity, but the effects of the interaction between shrub encroachment and nitrogen deposition on soil nematode functional diversity remain unclear. Methods In this study, we conducted field control experiments of shrub removal and nitrogen addition on the eastern edge of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. We used kernel density n-dimensional hypervolumes to calculate the functional diversity of nematode communities and to explore the response of nematodes to shrubs, nitrogen deposition and their interactions. Important findings Shrubs significantly increased nematode taxonomic and functional diversity, while nitrogen addition mitigated the positive shrub effects on functional diversity. Shrubs significantly increased the proportion of herbivore, bacterivore, and fungivore nematodes, while decreasing the proportion of predator nematodes. Moreover, nitrogen addition had a little effect on nematode community composition but exacerbated the positive effects of shrub on lower trophic level nematodes and the negative effects on higher trophic level nematodes. Correlation and RDA analyses indicated that plant biomass and soil moisture were key factors driving nematode community composition and functional traits. In the context of future nitrogen deposition and shrub encroachment, nematode functional diversity becomes more similar, but nematode function tends to specialize in different environments.

Aims The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibits deficient soil available nutrients, and nutrient addition is commonly employed to alleviate nutrient limitations in alpine meadows. However, previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent effects of nutrient addition on community diversity. The aim of this study was to investigate more accurately that the effects of nutrient addition on the biodiversity and community composition of alpine meadow communities at different altitudes. Methods From 2021 to 2024, we added nitrogen, phosphorus and both nitrogen and phosphorus at three altitudes (3200 m,3700 m and 4050 m), and conducted community surveys at the peak of growing season each year. We calculated α-diversity index (species richness, Shannon-Weiner index, Insimpson index and Pielou evenness index) and β-diversity index (Bray-Curits distance and Jaccard distance), and quantified the relative abundance and species richness of different functional groups. Important findings (1) The α-diversity of low elevation communities is insensitive to nutrient addition, but of middle elevation decreases with nitrogen addition, remains unchanged with phosphorus addition, and increases with both nitrogen and phosphorus additions. High elevation communities exhibit a highly significant positive effect on nutrient addition. The differences in the response of α-diversity to nutrient addition are mainly due to the abundance and diversity of different functional species affected by nutrient addition, in particular, the colonization and local extinction of some rare species in different eleevation. (2) nutrient additions enhanced β-diversity at low and middle elevations but induced community homogenization at high elevations. Taken together, this study revealed the differential response of different elevations of alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau to nutrient addition, and clarified the effects of nutrient addition on community diversity and composition.

Abstract Aims Understanding how nutrient addition influences community assembly is essential for predicting the responses of alpine grassland ecosystems to eutrophication. However, the relative importance of deterministic versus stochastic processes following nutrient addition remains debated. Methods We conducted a nutrient-addition experiment in the Bayanbulak alpine grassland on the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, with four treatments: control, nitrogen addition, phosphorus addition, and combined nitrogen and phosphorus addition. We measured species relative abundance (SRA), aboveground biomass, and plant functional traits. Using trait-abundance relationships, the β Raup–Crick index, functional diversity metrics, niche overlap, and the responses of soil physicochemical properties to fertilization, we evaluated how nutrient addition alters the balance between deterministic and stochastic assembly, and further assessed the relative importance of environmental filtering versus limiting similarity. Important findings Following N addition, SRA exhibited a significant positive linear relationship with plant height, while under N and NP additions SRA showed a significant negative linear relationship with seed size, indicating that taller species and species with smaller seeds became dominant via advantages in light competition and rapid colonization, respectively—consistent with trait-based niche assembly. Null-model analyses (β Raup–Crick) further revealed that between-community dissimilarity under nutrient addition was significantly lower than expected by randomization, indicating a shift from stochastic to deterministic assembly. Nitrogen-containing treatments significantly increased aboveground biomass, while significantly decreasing functional richness, functional dispersion, and Rao’s Q, and increasing niche overlap. These results suggest that nutrient addition enhanced environmental filtering, promoting functional trait convergence and compositional convergence. However, short-term nutrient addition did not significantly reduce species richness, likely because the regional species pool contains a relatively low proportion of rare species. Overall, nitrogen is the primary limiting nutrient for aboveground biomass in our study area, and nutrient enrichment promotes deterministic assembly by strengthening environmental filtering. These results reveal a trend toward functional convergence under nutrient enrichment and provide theoretical support for biodiversity conservation in alpine grasslands.

Aims Peat wetlands are globally significant carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, particularly sensitive to alien plant invasions. This study focuses on the subalpine peat wetland of Dajiuhu in Shennongjia, aiming to reveal the impact of the invasion of Erigeron annuus on the structure and diversity of plant communities, and to analyze its ecological effects and potential mechanisms. Medthods By setting up invasion and control plots, conducting plant community surveys, analyzing functional group composition and 11 soil factors, and integrating indicators such as α and β diversity, comprehensively assess the effects of invasion. Important findings The results showed that the invasion led to the decline of Poaceae and Juncaceae plants, while Asteraceae and Fabaceae plants expanded. The original dominant species in the invasive plots decreased and the abundance of community species was more uniformly distributed. With increasing dominance of E. annuus, Shannon diversity index, Pielou evenness index, and species richness of the invasion plots all decreased significantly, and the overall diversity level showed a substantial decrease. β diversity analysis showed that invasion significantly reduced species turnover rate and community spatial heterogeneity, leading to homogenization in species composition and functional structure. Soil environmental analysis showed that Erigeron annuus prefers low moisture and low nutrient habitats, possibly altering microenvironment conditions through plant-soil feedback mechanisms, further excluding wetland plants and affecting the direction of community succession. This study reveals the structural reorganization and functional degradation of subalpine peat wetland communities driven by E. annuus invasion, clarifies the necessity of establishing a long-term monitoring system and formulating targeted prevention and control strategies, and provides theoretical support for the management of subalpine peat wetland invasion.

Aims As human activities continue to intensify, the strength of environmental factors affecting global ecosystems has gradually increased, and multiple factors often change simultaneously within a single ecosystem, collectively influencing plant performance. However, with the increasing number of global change factors, the trend of changes in key functional traits of mycorrhizal plants remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of multiple global change factors on the functional traits of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants. Methods This study employed a pot-controlled experimental approach, using seedlings of six locally common mycorrhizal plant species as subjects to investigate the effects of varying numbers of global change factors on the functional traits of two types of mycorrhizal plants. The experiment included a control treatment (0 factors) and four treatment gradients consisting of combinations of 1, 2, 4, and 8 factors. After one year of treatment, measurements were taken of plant photosynthetic rate, as well as leaf and root trait indicators, to evaluate the impact of the number of global change factors on plant functional traits. Important findings The results showed that, with increasing numbers of global change factors, photosynthetic, aboveground, and belowground functional traits exhibit linear or nonlinear changes depending on mycorrhizal types and plant species. The linear relationship between plant functional traits and the number of global change factors may reflect additive effects of multi-factor interactions, while nonlinear relationships likely result from non-additive interactions (synergistic or antagonistic effects) among the factors. These findings highlight the complex influence of global change factors on plant functional traits, as well as the unique responses of different species to environmental pressures. The results provide valuable experimental insights into the response patterns of plant traits under increasing numbers of global change factors, offering a basis for understanding and mitigating the impacts of intensified global change.

Plant functional traits reflect key strategies of resource acquisition, use and conservation, and play an important role in shaping plant responses to environmental change. Soil phosphorus (P) is a major limiting factor for plant growth in tropical forest ecosystems. It’s changes may affect the resource utilization strategies of plants at different growth stages. This study aimed to examine the responses of functional traits and their relationships to P addition in seedlings and saplings in a tropical montane cloud forest. Taking the seedlings and saplings of the tropical cloud forest in the Bawangling area of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest as the research objects, low, medium and high concentration phosphorus addition treatments were set up. The leaf thickness (LT), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents (LN, LP) and branch density (BD) of the plants were measured. The functional traits responses and correlation changes of the seedlings and saplings under P addition conditions were analyzed. The results show that: (1) The growth stage of plants and P concentration significantly affect the functional traits of plants. Under the CK treatment, compared with saplings, seedlings exhibit a resource acquisition strategy; as the P concentration increases, the leaves of seedlings show high SLA, LP and low LT, LDMC, while the trait changes of saplings are not significant; the two ends of the PC1 axis respectively represent the resource acquisition and conservative strategies of plants, and seedlings show a resource acquisition strategy compared to saplings. (2) BD-LDMC, SLA-LN, SLA-LP, and LN-LP of seedlings and saplings were significantly positively correlated, and BD-SLA, LDMC-SLA, LDMC-LN, LDMC-LP, and SLA-LT were significantly negatively correlated, indicating that there were generally synergies and trade-offs among plant functional traits. Under the control treatment, the slopes of BD-LDMC, BD-SLA, LDMC-LN and SLA-LN were not significantly different between seedlings and saplings, while the slopes of LDMC-LP, SLA-LP and LN-LP were significantly different between seedlings and saplings, which was opposite under P addition treatment. This indicated that P addition changed the nutrient allocation strategy between seedlings and saplings. In the low and medium P concentration conditions, the seedlings tended to invest in resource acquisition-related structures, presenting an acquisitive strategy; while in the low P condition, the young trees showed a limited resource acquisitive strategy adjustment, and their response to P addition was relatively conservative. In conclusion, the responses of tropical cloud forest plants to P addition concentrations vary at different growth stages, which is helpful for understanding the resource utilization of plants and forest regeneration under the background of atmospheric P deposition.

Aims The rough bark provides essential physical support for vascular epiphytic plants while also creating diverse microhabitats that enhance species diversity. Methods Vascular epiphyte diversity and spore colonization were studied in 21 20m×20m plots in the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, examining the effects of host tree bark roughness and diameter at breast height，the effects of bark roughness of host tree on the diversity and spore colonization of epiphytic vascular plants were studied. Important findings From sampling to adult trees, bark roughness of host trees significantly increased at different growth stages. Bark roughness significantly influenced the richness and abundance of vascular epiphytes, explaining 79.4% and 81.9% of the variance, respectively. The host tree growth stage had minimal effect on vascular epiphyte diversity, with a near-zero explained variance. However, the interaction between bark roughness and host tree growth stage explained 4% and 5.6% of the variance in epiphyte richness and abundance, respectively, suggesting that the host tree growth stage affects epiphytic plant diversity via bark roughness. Host bark roughness also significantly impacts the colonization of vascular epiphytic spores; greater roughness provides a more suitable microenvironment, significantly increasing spore attachment. In summary, rough bark provides physical support and diverse microhabitats, enhancing species diversity.

Aim Haloxylon ammodendron, a key shrub for sand fixation on parabolic dunes in the Ebinur Lake watershed, is highly resistant to wind erosion and sand burial, with strong ecological adaptability. Studying its population structure and dynamics can offer scientific insights for conserving Haloxylon ammodendron populations and promoting ecological sustainability in the watershed. Methods This study focuses on the Haloxylon ammodendron population in the Ebinur Lake watershed's parabolic dunes. Based on field surveys, it quantifies population dynamics using diameter - class substitution for age - class. It analyzes age structure via static life tables, survival curves, and survivorship functions, and forecasts future trends with time - series models. Important findings At present, the age structure of Haloxylon ammodendron populations is pyramidal, with a greater number of juvenile individuals than old ones, indicating robust regeneration. The survival curve of the population closely follows the Deevey-II type, meaning mortality risk is relatively evenly distributed across the life cycle. Fluctuations in population dynamic indices between adjacent age classes are pronounced, yet the population dynamic index that excludes external disturbances (Vpi) is higher than that which includes them (Vpi'), Vpi (35.17) > Vpi' (1.95) > 0, with Vpi' (1.95) approaching zero. Overall, the population is increasing, but its resistance to disturbance is weak. Survival rate (S(i)) declines monotonically with age, whereas cumulative mortality (F(i)) rises monotonically. Hazard rate (λ(ti)) exceeds the corresponding survival rate (S(i)) at every age, indicating a tendency toward decline in later life stages. Time-series projections show that after 2, 4, 6, and 8 age classes, the numbers of middle and high-aged individuals will rise, while younger age classes will provide ample recruitment in mid to late-growth phases. In summary, the Haloxylon ammodendron populations on parabolic dunes in the Ebinur Lake Basin are of the increasing type and possess growth potential. Their development is strongly influenced by regional environmental conditions; consequently, appropriate protective measures to enhance survival are recommended to promote natural regeneration.

Abstract Aims The study focused on Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica in the broadleaf Korean pine forest of Changbai Mountain, investigating the seasonal dynamics of radial growth in both species and their response to non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Methods Seasonal sampling was conducted during the growing season (April to October), measuring the concentrations of soluble sugars, starch, and NSC in five organs: xylem, leaves, roots, wood, and phloem. Additionally, the micro-core sampling method was used to monitor the intra-annual growth dynamics of the xylem and investigate the potential relationship between NSC concentrations and xylem cell growth. Important findings The main results are as follows: 1) There are significant differences in NSC concentrations between species, with Pinus koraiensis having higher NSC concentrations than Quercus mongolica, and the range of variation in NSC concentrations being greater in Pinus koraiensis than in Quercus mongolica. NSC concentrations in Pinus koraiensis were higher from May to September compared to March and April, while in Quercus mongolica, NSC concentrations were higher from June to September compared to March to May. There were also notable differences in NSC concentrations between organs within each species, with the pattern being phloem > leaves > branches > roots > xylem. NSC concentration changes were most pronounced during periods of significant growth rate changes in Pinus koraiensis (April to June) and Quercus mongolica (April to July), and once growth rates stabilized, NSC concentrations also became stable. 2) The intra-annual xylem cell growth dynamics of both Quercus mongolica and Pinus koraiensis follow an "S" shape, with growth rate curves exhibiting an inverted "bell" shape. The maximum growth rate of Quercus mongolica is higher than that of Pinus koraiensis, and its radial growth begins earlier (DOY 112±2 vs. DOY 120±1), ends later (DOY 252±1 vs. DOY 241±7), and has a longer growth duration (140 days vs. 121 days). 3) The radial growth rate of xylem cells in Pinus koraiensis shows a positive correlation with the NSC concentration in its organs, while in Quercus mongolica, the correlation is negative. The dynamic changes in growth rate and organ NSC concentration during different growth periods are as follows: During the early growth period (April-May), the radial growth rate of both species increases as the NSC concentration decreases. During the peak growth period (June), the xylem growth rate of Pinus koraiensis increases along with the NSC concentration, while the xylem growth rate of Quercus mongolica increases as the NSC concentration decreases. After the peak growth period (July-September), NSC concentrations begin to accumulate again in both species. In conclusion, this study explored the NSC concentrations in different organs and the intra-annual xylem growth dynamics of two major tree species, Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica, in the Changbai Mountain region, and found that NSC plays a key role in regulating xylem growth. The research revealed the coordinated relationship between NSC concentrations and xylem growth in both species, particularly the different carbon allocation patterns during the peak growth period. These findings provide new insights into the growth and carbon allocation mechanisms of trees in this region and offer important references for predicting the response of tree growth and carbon dynamics to future climate change.

Aims To comprehensively investigate the dynamics of atmospheric water vapor concentration, water vapor isotopes, and evapotranspiration components in the forest ecosystem of the Greater Khingan Mountains across different plant growing seasons and at a diurnal scale. Methods This study conducted high-frequency monitoring of water vapor concentrations and isotopes at different heights using a stable water vapor isotope analyzer, while also determining the δ18O values of plants and soil using vacuum extraction and a liquid water isotope analyzer. Additionally, evapotranspiration components in the Larix gmelinii ecosystem were partitioned and compared across different periods by applying Isotope Steady-State (ISS) and Non-Steady-State (NSS) theories. Important findings During the peak growing season of Larix gmelinii (July~August), atmospheric water vapor concentration and isotopic enrichment were elevated, whereas depletion occurred during the leaf-fall period. Diurnal variations exhibited a complex "V-shaped" cycle with high-low-high fluctuations. On the diurnal scale, the δ¹⁸O of soil evaporation vapor ranged from −27.15‰ to −18.31‰, while that of ecosystem evapotranspiration vapor varied between −15.48‰ and −8.05‰, both demonstrating unimodal trends. Under Isotope Steady-State (ISS) conditions, the δ¹⁸O of plant transpiration vapor spanned −10.83‰ to −5.31‰, contrasting with −12.21‰ to −6.63‰ under Non-Steady-State (NSS) conditions. Minimal divergence between ISS and NSS estimates occurred during 13:00~17:00, where transpiration contributions showed closest alignment. Overall, the transpiration contribution to evapotranspiration was 69.48%~85.08% (ISS) and 76.38%~91.05% (NSS), indicating substantially lower soil evaporation compared to vegetation transpiration, with plant transpiration dominating the forest ecosystem's evapotranspiration.

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) content, the changes in nutrient resorption efficiency and stoichiometric ratios of different emergent plants were studied to reveal their intrinsic. Important findings (1) The resorption efficiencies of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (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 alternifolius ssp. flabelliformis showed the lowest (46.13% and 42.78%, respectively). (2) The mean leaf N:P ratio 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 N-limited. Under these conditions, the N resorption efficiency (56.43%) of the emergent plants is 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 g·m-2 and 49.32 g·m-2, respectively) and the highest removal potential (61.19 g·m-2 and 8.63 g·m-2, respectively). Furthermore, the plant's aboveground biomass, N and P content, and nutrient resorption extent collectively determine the harvesting management strategy, which in turn affects 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 strategy. The findings reveal the characteristics and corresponding 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.

Aims Phyllosphere microorganisms are pivotal in mediating plant nutrient cycling and promoting host stress tolerance. Yet, for mangrove plants distributed along tidal gradients, the response patterns and driving mechanisms of phyllosphere microbiomes to intertidal environmental gradients remain to be deeply investigated. Methods This study focused on two mangrove species, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina, occurring across low (LT), middle (MT), and high (HT) tidal elevations in the Dongzhai Harbor National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China. We compared the community characteristics of epiphytic and endophytic bacterial and fungal assemblages in the phyllosphere across different tidal elevations, parsed the explanatory power of host identity and tidal gradients on community structural differences, and quantified the relative contributions of environmental factors versus leaf physicochemical traits to community structure. Important findings With the exception of endophytic fungi, which exhibited the highest number of unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) at HT, the other three phyllosphere communities harbored the greatest numbers of unique ASVs at LT. Richness and diversity of both bacterial and fungal communities differed significantly among tidal elevations. Community composition was dominated by the bacterial phyla Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota, and by the fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Driving mechanism analysis revealed that host identity was the primary driver of bacterial community differentiation, whereas fungal community structure was significantly shaped by the interaction between host identity and tidal elevation. Correlation analyses further indicated that leaf functional traits—particularly total calcium and total potassium—explained a significantly larger unique fraction of community variation than did environmental factors such as salinity and temperature. Furthermore, dominant genera exhibited significant associations with specific environmental variables and leaf functional traits. Collectively, these results suggest that mangrove phyllosphere microbiome assembly arises from joint effects of host traits and tidal environments: host-specific physicochemical traits determine the baseline characteristics of the community, while the tidal gradient exerts secondary regulation on community diversity through environmental filtering. These findings clarify the phyllosphere microbial adaptation strategies of different mangrove plants in response to tidal habitat heterogeneity and deepen our understanding of the “host–environment–microbe” interaction mechanisms in mangrove phyllosphere microecosystems.

Aims Exploring the high-precision distribution and influencing factors of soil organic carbon (SOC) content under different vegetation types in the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains, which is of great significance for accurately assessing the region's soil carbon pool and evaluating its ecosystem service functions. Methods Taking the typical vegetation types of broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, shrubland, grassland, and cropland in the ecological protection area of the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains as the research objects, this study evaluated the distribution patterns of SOC in the 0–100 cm soil profile across these five vegetation types based on a large amount of SOC data obtained from 431 sample points using the Kriging interpolation method. Additionally, path analysis was employed to investigate the main influencing factors of SOC pools in these five vegetation types. Important findings In the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains, the SOC content in the surface layer (0–10 cm) reaches its peak. Among the vegetation types, broadleaf forest has the highest average organic carbon content of 19.45 g/kg, while shrubland has the lowest average organic carbon content of 14.50 g/kg, which is approximately 74.6% of that in broadleaf forests. Across the entire 0–100 cm soil profile, the SOC content ranges for the five vegetation types—broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, shrubland, grassland, and cropland—are 2.60–37.27 g/kg, 3.02–14.01 g/kg, 4.41–13.38 g/kg, 4.00–10.83 g/kg, and 3.05–14.31 g/kg, respectively. The average SOC contents are 7.32 g/kg, 6.44 g/kg, 6.95 g/kg, 6.03 g/kg, and 5.90 g/kg, respectively. Cropland has the lowest average SOC content, which is approximately 80.6% of that in broadleaf forests. The influence of various factors on SOC content varied among vegetation types. Terrain features (elevation, slope, aspect), vegetation cover (NDVI), climatic conditions (mean annual temperature and precipitation), soil physicochemical properties (pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium), and soil texture (sand, silt, and clay content) collectively explained 25%, 30%, 38%, 59%, and 16% of the spatial variability in SOC content for broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, shrubland, grassland, and cropland, respectively. Climatic factors and soil physicochemical properties exerted the greatest influence, with mean annual temperature and total nitrogen being the primary affecting factors.

Hainan tropical forests boast extremely high biodiversity, yet large-scale field surveys are highly challenging due to the complex topographical conditions in tropical regions. Large-scale tree quadrat survey data of Hainan tropical forests can provide a scientific basis for the conservation of tropical forest ecosystems. Based on the results of Hainan tropical forest community surveys conducted in 2024, this dataset covers core tropical forest areas in Hainan Province, including Wuzhi Mountain, Bawangling, Diaoluo Mountain, Yinggeling, Jianfengling, and Tongguling. Individual tree surveys were conducted in 120 20 m×20 m quadrats, with Alpha diversity (including Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index, Species richness, and Pielou evenness index) and Beta diversity (including Sørensen pairwise dissimilarity index, as well as its species turnover and nestedness components) calculated. Having undergone a rigorous data quality control process, this dataset will provide data support for studies on the spatial distribution patterns of plant species composition and diversity in tropical forests.