Climate and soil stressed elevation patterns of plant species to determine the aboveground biomass distributions in a valley-type Savanna

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1324841
• Publication Date: 2024-03-27T04:27:56Z
• Authors: Guangxiong He; Zhengtao Shi; Haidong Fang; Liangtao Shi; Yandan Wang; Haozhou Yang; Bangguo Yan; Chaolei Yang; Jianlin Yu; Qiaoling Liang; Lei Zhao; Qin Jiang
• Keywords: Herbaceous plant; Elevation (ballistics); Vegetation types

Introduction Extreme environments such as prolonged high temperatures and droughts can cause vulnerability of vegetation ecosystems. The dry-hot valleys Southwestern China, known for their extremely annual temperature, lack water, unique non-zonal “hot island” habitat in the global temperate zone, provide exceptional sites studying how plant adapts to dry hot environment. However, specific local biotic-environment relationships these regions remain incompletely elucidated. study aims evaluate valley-type Savanna species communities adapt long-term drought high-temperature stress environments. Methods investigated changes diversity communities’ aboveground biomass a along an elevation gradient Yuanmou valley Jinsha River basin, southwest China. Subsequently, general linear model was utilized simulate distribution pattern diversities constituent gradient. Finally, RDA VPH mothed were used impacts contributions environmental factors or variables on patterns. Results discussion field survey reveals altitudinal effect Savanna, with dominant shrubs herbs plants below 1700m, significant positive relationship between SR , Shannon-Wiener Simpson Pielou indices altitudes. Relatively, community did not increase significantly elevation, which mainly due decreased herbaceous elevation. Different regulators shrub-herbaceous functional groups made different patterns Savannas. Herbaceous are responsible maintaining ensuring stability vegetation. influence became more pronounced conditions varied Furthermore, influenced by soil climatic factors, whereas regulated groups. demonstrates that spatial formed result responses productive capacity retained climate-soil highlighting value Valley microcosm exploring intricate interactions evolution factors.