Diversity components and assembly patterns of plant functional traits determine community spatial stability under resource gradients in a desert steppe
Zhao Na A B D , Wang Zhengwen C , Shao Xinqing B and Wang Kun B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, P.R. China.
B Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China.
C Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China.
D Guyuan State Key Monitoring and Research Station of Grassland Ecosystem, Guyuan 076550, P.R. China.
E Corresponding author. Email: wangkun@cau.edu.cn
The Rangeland Journal 38(5) 511-521 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ15094
Submitted: 10 September 2015 Accepted: 20 September 2016 Published: 21 October 2016
Abstract
The diversity–stability relationship has been addressed and debated for decades, but how this relationship is affected by nutrient availability remains contentious. In the present study we assessed the effects of plant diversity, in terms of species richness, functional group composition and functional trait diversity, on the spatial stability of net primary productivity (NPP) following nitrogen and phosphorus application. In addition, we explored how functional traits at the species level contribute to the spatial stability of NPP. The results support the hypothesis that greater diversity leads to higher spatial stability. This relationship was highly dependent on soil nutrient availability, and increasing species richness or functional trait diversity significantly increased spatial variation of NPP under a high N fertilisation level. The effects of high mineral fertilisation rates may perhaps have masked the effects of plant diversity. Although species richness or functional trait diversity of the original and modified communities from which species with particular functional traits had been removed were significantly different, there were no differences in the coefficients of variation in the NPP of those communities. The lack of difference demonstrated that the relationship between spatial variability and biodiversity depended on the measure of diversity applied and that the functional group composition exerted a stronger effect than other diversity measures. Further analyses revealed that spatial stability of NPP was enhanced with increased diversity in vegetative plant height, rooting depth and the presence of legume, and diminished with diversity in the root system type and life cycle under some fertilisation treatments. The present study demonstrates that the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is variable with different diversity, identity and environmental factors. Evaluating the contribution of particular traits to community stability will ultimately help us better understand the mechanisms underlying the diversity–stability relationship.
Additional keywords: diversity identity, soil fertility, spatial variability.
References
Aguiar, M., and Sala, O. E. (1994). Competition, facilitation, seed distribution, and the origin of patches in a Patagonian steppe. Oikos 70, 26–34.| Competition, facilitation, seed distribution, and the origin of patches in a Patagonian steppe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bai, Y. F., Han, X. G., Wu, J. G., Chen, Z. Z., and Li, L. H. (2004). Ecosystem stability and compensatory effects in the Inner Mongolia grassland. Nature 431, 181–184.
| Ecosystem stability and compensatory effects in the Inner Mongolia grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXntlGks7w%3D&md5=468f10c4bfbcfac76cc858d124e43637CAS |
Bärlocher, F., and Corkum, M. (2003). Nutrient enrichment overwhelms diversity effects in leaf decomposition by stream fungi. Oikos 101, 247–252.
| Nutrient enrichment overwhelms diversity effects in leaf decomposition by stream fungi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bates, T. R., and Lynch, J. P. (2000). Plant growth and phosphorus accumulation of wild-type and two root hair mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae). American Journal of Botany 87, 958–963.
| Plant growth and phosphorus accumulation of wild-type and two root hair mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlvVemsb0%3D&md5=0d68343e21e61b069e708cdcba9d5772CAS | 10898772PubMed |
Bordeleau, L. M., and Prévost, D. (1994). Nodulation and nitrogen fixation in extreme environments. Plant and Soil 161, 115–125.
| Nodulation and nitrogen fixation in extreme environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXlt12rt7Y%3D&md5=1c5d6af65f3d73b0105870d404b47141CAS |
Castro, H., Lehsten, V., Lavorel, S., and Freitas, H. (2010). Functional response traits in relation to land use change in the Montado. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 137, 183–191.
| Functional response traits in relation to land use change in the Montado.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clark, C. M., Cleland, E. E., Collins, S. L., Fargione, J. E., Gough, L., Gross, K. L., Pennings, S. C., Suding, K. N., and Grace, J. B. (2007). Environmental and plant community determinants of species loss following nitrogen enrichment. Ecology Letters 10, 596–607.
| Environmental and plant community determinants of species loss following nitrogen enrichment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17542938PubMed |
Cortina, J., Green, J. J., Baddeley, J. A., and Watson, C. A. (2008). Root morphology and water transport of Pistacia lentiscus seedlings under contrasting water supply: a test of the pipe stem theory. Environmental and Experimental Botany 62, 343–350.
| Root morphology and water transport of Pistacia lentiscus seedlings under contrasting water supply: a test of the pipe stem theory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cui, M., and Caldwell, M. M. (1997). Shading reduces exploitation of soil nitrate and phosphate by Agropyron desertorum and Artemisia tridentate from soils with patchy and uniform nutrient distributions. Oecologia 109, 177–183.
| Shading reduces exploitation of soil nitrate and phosphate by Agropyron desertorum and Artemisia tridentate from soils with patchy and uniform nutrient distributions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Daufresne, T., and Loreau, M. (2001). Ecological stoichiometry, primary producer–decomposer interactions and ecosystem persistence. Ecology 82, 3069–3082.
Díaz, S., and Cabido, M. (2001). Vive la difference: plant functional diversity matters to ecosystem processes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 16, 646–655.
| Vive la difference: plant functional diversity matters to ecosystem processes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fargione, J., and Tilman, D. (2005). Niche differences in phenology and rooting depth promote coexistence with a dominant C4 bunchgrass. Oecologia 143, 598–606.
| Niche differences in phenology and rooting depth promote coexistence with a dominant C4 bunchgrass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15791430PubMed |
Farley, R. A., and Fitter, A. H. (1999). The response of seven co-occurring woodland herbaceous perennials to localized nutrient-rich patches. Journal of Ecology 87, 849–859.
| The response of seven co-occurring woodland herbaceous perennials to localized nutrient-rich patches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fridley, F. D. (2002). Resource availability dominates and alters the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem productivity in experimental plant communities. Oecologia 132, 271–277.
| Resource availability dominates and alters the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem productivity in experimental plant communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garnier, E., Lavorel, S., Ansquer, P., Castro, H., Cruz, P., Dolezal, J., Eriksson, O., Fortunel, C., Freitas, H., Golodets, C., Grigulis, K., Jouany, C., Kazakou, E., Kigel, J., Kleyer, M., Lehsten, V., Leps, J., Meier, T., Pakeman, R., Papadimitrious, M., Papanastasis, V. P., Quested, H., Quetier, F., Robson, M., Roumet, C., Rusch, G., Skarpe, C., Sternberg, M., Theau, J. P., Thebault, A., Vile, D., and Zarovali, M. P. (2007). Assessing the effects of land-use change on plant traits, communities and ecosystem functioning in grasslands: a standardized methodology and lessons from an application to 11 European Sites. Annals of Botany 99, 967–985.
| Assessing the effects of land-use change on plant traits, communities and ecosystem functioning in grasslands: a standardized methodology and lessons from an application to 11 European Sites.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17085470PubMed |
Gastal, F., Dawson, L. A., and Thornton, B. (2010). Responses of plant traits of four grasses from contrasting habitats to defoliation and N supply. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 88, 245–258.
| Responses of plant traits of four grasses from contrasting habitats to defoliation and N supply.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gaudet, C. L., and Keddy, P. A. (1988). A comparative approach to predicting competitive ability from plant traits. Nature 334, 242–243.
| A comparative approach to predicting competitive ability from plant traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gupta, S. C., Sharma, P. P., and DeFranchi, S. A. (1989). Compaction effects on soil structure. Advances in Agronomy 42, 311–338.
| Compaction effects on soil structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXksl2ksb4%3D&md5=2efaf6d20ef4a89aa3430d49549f80b2CAS |
Harpole, W. S., Potts, D. L., and Suding, K. N. (2007). Ecosystem responses to water and nitrogen amendment in a California grassland. Global Change Biology 13, 2341–2348.
| Ecosystem responses to water and nitrogen amendment in a California grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hillebrand, H., and Matthiessen, B. (2009). Biodiversity in a complex world: consolidation and progress in functional biodiversity research. Ecology Letters 12, 1405–1419.
| Biodiversity in a complex world: consolidation and progress in functional biodiversity research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19849711PubMed |
Hodge, A. (2004). The plastic plant: root responses to heterogeneous supplies of nutrients. New Phytologist 162, 9–24.
| The plastic plant: root responses to heterogeneous supplies of nutrients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huang, J. Y., Zhu, X. G., Yuan, Z. Y., Song, S. H., Li, X., and Li, L. H. (2008). Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient. Plant and Soil 306, 149–158.
| Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXksFansbk%3D&md5=b2bd26ea93bceeb5f50d174c0562f925CAS |
IPNI (2016). International Plant Names Index. Available at: www.ipni.org/ipni/plantnamesearchpage.do (accessed 4 August 2016).
Isbell, F. I., Polley, H. W., and Wilsey, B. J. (2009). Biodiversity, productivity and the temporal stability of productivity: patterns and processes. Ecology Letters 12, 443–451.
| Biodiversity, productivity and the temporal stability of productivity: patterns and processes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19379138PubMed |
Jackson, R. B., and Caldwell, M. M. (1989). Shading and the capture of localized soil nutrients: nutrient contents, carbohydrates, and root uptake kinetics of a perennial tussock grass. Oecologia 81, 149–153.
| Shading and the capture of localized soil nutrients: nutrient contents, carbohydrates, and root uptake kinetics of a perennial tussock grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson, K. H., Vogt, K. A., Clark, H. J., Schmitz, J., and Vogt, J. (1996). Biodiversity and the productivity and stability of ecosystems. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 11, 372–377.
| Biodiversity and the productivity and stability of ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M7itFGjtA%3D%3D&md5=0527019fee5be9ff08e5417d72cc717dCAS |
Kelly, C. K. (1996). Identifying plant functional types using floristic data bases: ecological correlates of plant range size. Journal of Vegetation Science 7, 417–424.
| Identifying plant functional types using floristic data bases: ecological correlates of plant range size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirkham, F. W., Tallowin, J. R. B., Sanderson, R. A., Bhogal, A., Chambers, B. J., and Stevens, D. P. (2008). The impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers and lime on the species-richness and plant functional characteristics of hay meadow communities. Biological Conservation 141, 1411–1427.
| The impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers and lime on the species-richness and plant functional characteristics of hay meadow communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kleyer, M. (1999). The distribution of plant functional types on gradients of disturbance intensity and resource supply in an agricultural landscape. Journal of Vegetation Science 10, 697–708.
| The distribution of plant functional types on gradients of disturbance intensity and resource supply in an agricultural landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kollmann, J. (2000). Dispersal of fleshy-fruited species: a matter of spatial scale? Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 3, 29–51.
| Dispersal of fleshy-fruited species: a matter of spatial scale?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavorel, S., and Grigulis, K. (2012). How fundamental plant functional trait relationships scale-up to trade-offs and synergies in ecosystem services. Journal of Ecology 100, 128–140.
| How fundamental plant functional trait relationships scale-up to trade-offs and synergies in ecosystem services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lehman, C. L., and Tilman, D. (2000). Biodiversity, stability and productivity in competitive communities. American Naturalist 156, 534–552.
| Biodiversity, stability and productivity in competitive communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mamolos, A. P., and Veresoglou, D. S. (2000). Patterns of root activity and responses of species to nutrients in vegetation of fertile alluvial soil. Plant Ecology 148, 245–253.
| Patterns of root activity and responses of species to nutrients in vegetation of fertile alluvial soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marschner, H. (1995). ‘Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants.’ 2nd edn. (Academic Press: London.)
McCann, K. S. (2000). The diversity–stability debate. Nature 405, 228–233.
| The diversity–stability debate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjsFyjs7k%3D&md5=c6ad73cc48e4cd573afad16440f2b77bCAS | 10821283PubMed |
McGrady-Steed, J., Harris, P. M., and Morin, P. J. (1997). Biodiversity regulates ecosystem predictability. Nature 390, 162–165.
| Biodiversity regulates ecosystem predictability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnsVOhtb8%3D&md5=c800ad4a83011a6ff498917de3bef3f1CAS |
McKie, B. G., Schindler, M., Gessner, M. O., and Malmqvist, B. (2009). Placing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in context: environmental perturbations and the effects of species richness in a stream field experiment. Oecologia 160, 757–770.
| Placing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in context: environmental perturbations and the effects of species richness in a stream field experiment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19390869PubMed |
Morgan Ernest, S. K., and Brown, J. H. (2001). Delayed compensation for missing keystone species by colonization. Science 292, 101–104.
| Delayed compensation for missing keystone species by colonization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mulder, C. P. H., Uliassi, D. D., and Doak, D. F. (2001). Physical stress and diversity–productivity relationships: the role of positive interactions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98, 6704–6708.
| Physical stress and diversity–productivity relationships: the role of positive interactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXksVOkur0%3D&md5=d09e227836d543970db103b45c424140CAS |
Pausas, J. G., and Lavorel, S. (2003). A hierarchical deductive approach for functional types in disturbed ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science 14, 409–416.
| A hierarchical deductive approach for functional types in disturbed ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petchey, O. L., and Gaston, K. J. (2006). Functional trait diversity: back to basics and looking forward. Ecology Letters 9, 741–758.
| Functional trait diversity: back to basics and looking forward.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16706917PubMed |
Ren, J. Z. (2008). ‘Grass Industry Dictionary.’ (China Agriculture Press: Beijing.)
Roscher, C., Schumacher, J., Baade, J., Wilcke, W., Gleixner, G., Weisser, W. W., Schmid, B., and Schulze, E. D. (2004). The role of biodiversity for element cycling and trophic interactions: an experimental approach in a grassland community. Basic and Applied Ecology 5, 107–121.
| The role of biodiversity for element cycling and trophic interactions: an experimental approach in a grassland community.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schumacher, J., and Roscher, C. (2009). Differential effects of functional traits on aboveground biomass in semi-natural grasslands. Oikos 118, 1659–1668.
| Differential effects of functional traits on aboveground biomass in semi-natural grasslands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsFCktrrM&md5=3923be5d44c47153b871c8b8b3a206c6CAS |
Spehn, E. M., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmid, B., Hector, A., Caldeira, M. C., Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., Finn, J. A., Jumpponen, A., O’Donnovan, G., Pereira, S., Schulze, E.-D., Troumbis, A. Y., and Korner, C. (2002). The role of legumes as a component of biodiversity in a cross-European study of grassland biomass nitrogen. Oikos 98, 205–218.
| The role of legumes as a component of biodiversity in a cross-European study of grassland biomass nitrogen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Suding, K. N., Collins, S. L., Gough, L., Clark, C., Cleland, E. E., Gross, K. L., Milchunas, D. G., and Pennings, S. (2005). Functional- and abundance-based mechanisms explain diversity loss due to N fertilization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 102, 4387–4392.
| Functional- and abundance-based mechanisms explain diversity loss due to N fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXivFCrtbg%3D&md5=a315b68ddbb50076853bb979551b48baCAS | 15755810PubMed |
Thórhallsdóttir, T. E. (1990). The dynamics of a grassland community: a simultaneous investigation of spatial and temporal heterogeneity at various scales. Journal of Ecology 78, 884–908.
| The dynamics of a grassland community: a simultaneous investigation of spatial and temporal heterogeneity at various scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tilman, D. (1999). The ecological consequences of changes in biodiversity: a search for general principles. Ecology 80, 1455–1474.
Wacker, L., Baudois, O., Eichenberger-Glinz, S., and Schmid, B. (2009). Diversity effects in early- and mid-successional species pools along a nitrogen gradient. Ecology 90, 637–648.
| Diversity effects in early- and mid-successional species pools along a nitrogen gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19341135PubMed |
Wardle, D. A., Bonner, K. I., Barker, G. M., Yeates, G. W., Nicholson, K. S., Bardgett, R. D., Watson, R. N., and Ghani, A. (1999). Plant removals in perennial grassland: vegetation dynamics, decomposers, soil biodiversity, and ecosystem properties. Ecological Monographs 69, 535–568.
| Plant removals in perennial grassland: vegetation dynamics, decomposers, soil biodiversity, and ecosystem properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weigelt, A., Schumacher, J., Roscher, C., and Schmid, B. (2008). Does biodiversity increase spatial stability in community biomass? Ecology Letters 11, 338–347.
| Does biodiversity increase spatial stability in community biomass?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18190524PubMed |
Yang, D. M., Zhang, J. J., Zhou, D., Qian, M. J., Zheng, Y., and Jin, L. M. (2012). Leaf and twig functional traits of woody plants and their relationships with environmental change: a review. Chinese Journal of Ecology 31, 702–713.
Zhao, W., Zhang, T. H., Liu, X. P., Wang, S. K., and Luo, Y. Y. (2008). Spatiotemporal variation of soil moisture and its relations with Artemisia halodendron root water content as affected by rainfall. Chinese Journal of Ecology 27, 151–156.
Zhou, Y. S., and Wang, L. Q. (2011). Ecological adaptation of root architecture to grassland degradation in Potentilla acaulis. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology 35, 490–499.
| Ecological adaptation of root architecture to grassland degradation in Potentilla acaulis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
