Bryophytes are primary producers in crucial global ecosystems, significantly contributing to carbon cycling through photosynthesis. Systematic understanding of photosynthesis of bryophytes and influencing factors will provide new perspectives and pathways for the ecosystem carbon cycling and carbon neutrality. However, current research on photosynthesis of bryophytes and its influencing factors remains poorly studied. Based on systematic literature search and analysis, this review indicates a mean maximum net photosynthetic rate (A_max) of 29.61 nmol CO₂ g^-1 s^-1 in bryophytes, about 20% of that in vascular plants, showing significant interspecific differences and intraspecific variations. Mass-based Amax follows the order: Thalloid liverworts > Acrocarpous mosses > Pleurocarpous mosses > Sphagnum mosses > Leafy liverworts. Key factors regulating bryophyte photosynthetic capacity are examined, including plant structure and morphology, anatomical features (e.g., cell wall thickness), environmental factors (light, water, temperature), and colony structure (numerical density, colony mass per unit area, leaf area index). Future studies are needed to investigate: (1)how photosynthetic capacity varies across the phylogenetic spectrum of bryophytes; (2) how the mechanisms underlying colony structure influence bryophyte photosynthesis can be determined; (3)how the interactive effects of multiple factors on bryophyte photosynthesis can be studied; and (4)how bryophyte photosynthesis and carbon sequestration potential vary across large spatiotemporal scales.

Aims The survival and growth of woody plant seedlings are regulated by a complex interplay of multiple environmental factors. However, how the forest canopy regulates understory herbaceous cover and microclimate to subsequently influence seedling survival and growth remains poorly understood. Methods This study investigated seedlings of three dominant species, Malus sieversii, Juglans regia, and Prunus armeniaca, in wild fruit forests in the Tianshan Mountains through five consecutive years of field surveys and microclimate monitoring. Important findings Our results show that canopy cover indirectly influenced the survival of seedlings of the three wild fruit tree species by regulating understory microclimate and herbaceous cover. Among these factors, herbaceous cover was an important determinant of seedling survival,existing negative effects on seedlings of M. sieversii and P. armeniaca, while demonstrating a positive effect on seedlings of J. regia. In terms of seedling growth, the key limiting factors differed among species. The growth of seedlings of M. sieversii was mainly affected by soil pH and herbaceous cover; the growth of seedlings of J. regia was primarily associated with herbaceous cover and mean temperature of the growing season; whereas the growth of seedlings of P. armeniaca was mainly constrained by mean temperature of the growing season. In conclusion, canopy cover regulates the survival and growth of wild fruit tree seedlings through multiple direct and indirect pathways, and the responses of seedlings of different tree species to biotic and abiotic factors differ significantly. The conservation and restoration of wild fruit forests should fully consider the differential responses of seedlings for different tree species to environmental factors and adopt targeted habitat management measures in the Tianshan Mountains.

Aim Ephemeral rivers are important ecological corridors and biological refuges in arid regions, but the interactive effects of elevation and ephemeral rivers on plant community structure and distribution in arid regions remain unclear. Therefore, this study focuses on the West Tugou and Daquan River basins within the Dunhuang Basin in the arid region of Northwest China. It investigates the differences in individual plant size, species distribution, and community structure inside and outside the ephemeral rivers, and explores whether there are interactive effects between ephemeral rivers and elevation gradients on plant communities. Method The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in plant community characteristics between the upstream and downstream of the ephemeral river. A multi-level mixed-effects model was employed to analyze and investigate the interactive effects of the river and altitude on the plant community. A generalized additive model was utilized to identify the nonlinear characteristics of the altitude response. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess whether there was a significant shift in the upper and lower limits of the distribution of common species. Important findings 1) The ephemeral river broke through the vertical zonation distribution of species under the water and heat limitations of the arid area. It not only increased the number of species (the total number of species within the river was 1.9–2.7 times that of the outside), but also significantly reduced the lower limit of species distribution in the river channel (p < 0.05) for the Xitugou river. The Daquan River also showed a downward trend, but the upper limit of species distribution in both river basins did not show a comprehensive upward movement. 2) The Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test showed that the average plant height and crown width inside both rivers were significantly higher than those outside (p < 0.05). In the West Tugou area, vegetation coverage was significantly greater inside the river than outside (p < 0.05), whereas in the Daquan River area, plant density was significantly greater outside the river than inside (p < 0.05); other community characteristics showed no statistically significant differences. 3) As the altitude increases, the average height and average canopy width of plants inside and outside the river decrease, while the vegetation coverage and plant density increase. Moreover, the decrease or increase in the river area is more significant. 4) The mixed effect model indicates that altitude and river location jointly drive the changes in vegetation coverage, plant density, and community structure. The average height is mainly influenced by altitude, reflecting the nonlinear regulation of hydrological and geomorphic processes on community formation in different altitude zones.

Aims Interspecific competition is a key process regulating plant community assembly and productivity, and nitrogen and phosphorus availability are major factors influencing interspecific competitive interactions among wetland plants. However, systematic understanding of the differences between aboveground and belowground competition, especially under nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment conditions, remains limited, hindering predictions of wetland community dynamics. Methods We conducted a greenhouse experiment with two plant species, coexisting and habitat-similar dominant perennial species in the Poyang Lake, Carex cinerascens and Phalaris arundinacea. Experimental treatments included four competition treatments (no competition, aboveground competition [AGC], belowground competition [BGC], and both competition) and four nutrient conditions (control, nitrogen addition [N], phosphorus addition [P], and combined nitrogen–phosphorus addition [NP]). Aboveground and belowground biomass of both species were measured under each treatment to evaluate biomass allocation strategies. Relative interaction index (RII) under different nutrient conditions were calculated to assess the effects of nutrient inputs on interspecific competition. Important findings 1) BGC was the primary driver of growth and biomass allocation, with C. cinerascens showing a strong BGC advantage and maintained overall dominance by allocating more biomass to aboveground parts, whereas P. arundinacea was suppressed by BGC and allocated more biomass to belowground parts to alleviate this suppression; 2) N addition reduced the BGC advantage of C. cinerascens, P addition alleviated the suppressive effects of BGC to P. arundinacea, and NP addition enhanced its competitive advantage while reducing inhibition of P. arundinacea, resulting in increased total biomass; 3) The effects of nutrient inputs on interspecific competition were primarily driven by interactive effects of AGC and P addition on belowground biomass, and by interactive effects of BGC and N addition on aboveground biomass. Conclusions Nutrient addition can alter interspecific competitive relationships between plant species, but only synchronous changes in nitrogen and phosphorus availability can enhance total biomass while maintaining table biomass proportions between the two species . Therefore, under future nutrient-enrichment scenarios, coordinated regulation of nitrogen and phosphorus is critical for sustaining productivity and diversity in wetland plant communities.

Abstract Aims The stoichiometriy of plant leaves, twigs, and fine roots are key indicators for characterizing whole-plant adaptive strategies and for revealing the mechanisms underlying plant-environment interactions. Investigating the interrelationships among leaf-twig-root stoichiometriy in desert plants, as well as their differences in environmental adaptability, is essential for advancing our understanding of plant resource allocation strategies. Methods In this study, we selected 20 desert plant species from the Baijitan region of Ningxia and measured the concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the leaves, twigs, and fine roots of 77 individuals. Important findings (1) Leaf C concentrations were significantly lower than those in twigs and fine roots, whereas the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations of twigs and fine roots were significantly lower than those of leaves. (2) Network analysis showed that the overall network parameters—edge density, average path length, diameter, average clustering coefficient, and modularity—were 0.40, 1.75, 4, 0.59, and 0.11, respectively; a total of 54 element-element pairs exhibited significant correlations. (3) Leaf K concentration and twigs C concentration exhibited the highest degree and closeness centrality, identifying them as hub elements within the network. Twigs showed the highest element degree, indicating that they function as the key hub organ. (4) Variance partitioning revealed that soil pH, total C, and total P had the strongest effects on the stoichiometry of leaves, twigs, and fine roots, respectively; soil total N had the greatest influence on leaf and twigs N concentrations, whereas soil pH most strongly affected fine-root C concentration. This study systematically uncovers the element coordination network among leaves, twigs, and roots of desert plants in the Baijitan region and elucidates their response mechanisms to soil environmental factors, providing new theoretical support for understanding desert plant ecological adaptation from a multi-element perspective. Our findings further highlight the need to incorporate key elements such as K, Ca, and Mg when examining plant stoichiometry, in order to more comprehensively reveal the coordinated regulation of C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg across different organs and their roles in environmental adaptation.

Tree height and radial growth, key to forest productivity and carbon sink capacity, however, their responses to warming may differ. Here, we review the main observation methods for tree height and radial growth, compare detection techniques employed in both warming manipulation experiments and field observations, and systematically summarize the ecological and physiological mechanisms by which warming affects these growth processes. Overall, due to technical limitations in continuous tree height measurement, most studies have focused on radial growth responses to warming, while evidence on tree height growth remains limited. Mechanistically, tree height growth is primarily regulated by hormone signaling in apical meristem and photosynthate allocation strategies. In contrast, tree radial growth depends more on cambial activity and non-structural carbohydrate storage, making it more sensitive to drought stress and carbon balance regulation. Warming primarily affects tree height and radial growth by altering carbon allocation, water-use efficiency, nutrient uptake, and phenological timing. Its effects show substantial heterogeneity across latitudes, tree functional traits, and environmental conditions. The key priority for future research is to strengthen the integration of high-resolution monitoring technologies such as LiDAR for height growth and automated dendrometers for radial growth, while emphasizing the interactions and legacy effects between warming and key limiting factors such as water and nutrient availability. These approaches will improve predictive capacity for forest productivity and offer a theoretical foundation for adaptive carbon sink management under global warming.

Aims：This study aims to elucidate the annual growth dynamics of landscape trees under urban environmental conditions in Shenyang and their response to meteorological factors, thereby providing a reference for the cultivation and maintenance of ornamental tree species in Shenyang and the Northeast China region. Methods：This study employed the micro-core technique to monitor the radial growth dynamics of two urban tree species, Picea koraiensis and Phellodendron amurense, over two consecutive growing seasons (2023-2024) in Shenyang. The growth data were analyzed alongside meteorological data to elucidate the trees' response mechanisms to environmental factors. Important findings：Our investigation yielded two principal findings: (1) Cambial reactivation in both species initiated between late April and early May. The phase of cell enlargement and subsequent secondary wall thickening commenced approximately one week post-reactivation. Radial growth culminated in July, with complete growth cessation occurring by early to mid-October. The mean annual growth duration was quantified as 176 days for Picea koraiensis and 168 days for Phellodendron amurense. (2) The onset of cambial activity was positively correlated with rising temperature and precipitation early in the growing season. In contrast, the timing of growth cessation was independent of the reactivation chronology. Temperature was identified as the predominant environmental factor governing the radial growth dynamics of both species. This research provides a systematic characterization of the sp-temporal patterns of xylem development (xylogenesis) and the associated response mechanisms to environmental cues in Picea koraiensis and Phellodendron amurense within Shenyang's urban ecosystem. The insights gained offer a scientific basis for refining cultivation protocols and implementing precision silvicultural management for urban landscape trees across Shenyang and the Northeast China region.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an important ecological security barrier in China. Its herbaceous vegetation is widely distributed, exhibits diverse alliance types, and provides essential ecological functions. Owing to the complexity of its physical geographic environment, previous vegetation surveys still left many gaps; moreover, in recent years, human activities and climate change have also caused substantial changes in the vegetation of this region. Therefore, the baseline data on herbaceous vegetation across the Plateau require urgent updating. Based on vegetation survey data from the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program, and through comparison with existing vegetation monographs and related literature, this study systematically identified 75 newly recorded alliance types of herbaceous vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Their habitat characteristics and community features are described, together with representative plot data and community photographs. These newly recorded alliance types belong to five vegetation formations and 17 vegetation subformations. Forb grasslands were the most abundant (50), most of which are concentrated in the alpine forb meadow subformation (33). This study supplements and improves the classification system of herbaceous vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, fills gaps in alliance-level surveys for local areas and special habitats, and provides fundamental data for research on grassland ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

Aims Analyzing the effects of mycorrhizal type and growth stage on fine root traits in temperate broadleaf tree species, and exploring trait trade-off strategies between two mycorrhizal types across different growth stages. Methods Five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and five ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species in the broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest of Liangshui National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province were selected. Five saplings and five mature trees of each species were chosen based on their diameter at breast height. The morphological, chemical and anatomical characteristics of their absorptive roots and transport roots were measured. Important findings The results show that: (1) The specific root length (SRL) and cortex thickness (CT) of the absorptive roots in AM tree species were significantly higher than those in EM tree species, reflecting a nutrient acquisition strategy centered on the root system itself; in contrast, EM tree species exhibited lower SRL in absorptive roots, while the stele diameter (SD) and C:N ratio in transport roots were significantly higher than those in AM tree species. The enhanced transport structure adapts to the needs of mycorrhizal fungi for long-distance nutrient transport, reflecting an “outsourced” resource acquisition strategy. (2) The N content in the absorptive roots of young trees was significantly higher than that of mature trees, while the C:N ratio was significantly lower than that of mature trees; however, there were no significant changes in morphological and anatomical traits, indicating that the effects of growth stage on absorptive roots are primarily achieved through adjustments in chemical traits. Phosphorus (P) content in the transport roots of mature trees was significantly higher than that of young trees, and the proportion of the stele in transport roots (PRS) was significantly higher than that in absorptive roots in both growth stages, demonstrating that transport roots ensure long-distance nutrient transport through the allometric growth of anatomical traits and the accumulation of phosphorus. (3) The fine root trait space of AM tree species showed a two-dimensional pattern: PC1 reflects the functional differentiation between absorptive and transport roots, while root tissue density (RTD) and N content on PC2 constitute an independent conservation dimension. Furthermore, the trait dispersion of absorptive roots in young trees is significantly higher than that in mature trees, indicating that their resource acquisition strategies possess greater plasticity; EM tree species fine root traits are highly integrated along a single dimension, RTD does not constitute an independent conservation dimension, and there is no significant difference in dispersion between young and mature trees, indicating that their resource strategies are conservation-oriented and integrated, which is conducive to long-term nutrient maintenance. The research results provide a scientific basis for understanding the nutrient acquisition strategies and growth adaptation mechanisms of the primary broadleaf tree species companion species broad-leaved Pinus koraiensis forests.