[1]SHI Yu,WEN Zhong-ming,GONG Shi-hui,et al.Trait Variations along a Climatic Gradient in Hilly Area of Loess Plateau[J].Research of Soil and Water Conservation,2012,19(01):107-111,116.
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Research of Soil and Water Conservation[ISSN 1005-3409/CN 61-1272/P] Volume:
19
Number of periods:
2012 01
Page number:
107-111,116
Column:
Public date:
2012-02-20
- Title:
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Trait Variations along a Climatic Gradient in Hilly Area of Loess Plateau
- Author(s):
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SHI Yu1, WEN Zhong-ming2, GONG Shi-hui1, SONG Guang1, ZHENG Ying1, DING Man1
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1. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China;
2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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- Keywords:
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plant functional trait; growth form; adaptive strategies; Loess Plateau
- CLC:
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Q948
- DOI:
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- Abstract:
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More than 147 plant species in Yanhe River catchment in hilly area of Loess Plateau were selected and leaf area(LA), leaf length/leaf width(LW), leaf thickness(LT), leaf dry mass(DM), specific leaf area(SLA), leaf tissue density(LTD), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD) and root nitrogen concentration (RNC)) of 10 plant traits were determinated. Correlation analyses were used for quantifying relationships between plant traits and site climate. The results showed that: (1) functional traits of all species changed with environmental factors, and preciatation rather than temperature is the main control of trait differences along the gradient. As temperature index increased, LNC becomed higher; (2) large trait differences existed in growth forms. Grasses had higher mean LA, SLA, LNC, RNC, SRL and lower LTD than woody species, reflecting the adaptive differences of growth forms to environment; (3) trait variations of growth forms along a climatic gradient demonstrated an overall adaptation to environment, which were the combination strategies of co-evolution and divergent. The results of this research will provide basis for knowing adaptive mechanisms of plants to environment in hilly area of Loess Plateau.