Soil microorganisms are major regulators of ecosystem functioning and under threat from human-induced disturbances. Among these threats is grassland degradation, which estimated to affect 49% the area worldwide, threatening biodiversity functioning. Yet, we currently lack an understanding how degradation influences belowground microbial communities, their stability, functioning, effective restoration efforts for recovery important properties. Here, assessed soil fungal network complexity a...

Ca2+ is absorbed by roots and transported upward through the xylem to apoplastic space of leaf, after which it deposited into leaf cell. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), tonoplast-localized Ca2+/H+ transporters CATION EXCHANGER1 (CAX1) CAX3 sequester from cytosol vacuole, but not known what transporter mediates initial influx apoplast cytosol. Here, we report that CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNEL2 (CNGC2) encodes a protein with channel activity expressed in areas surrounding free...

In the context of climate change, frequency and intensity extreme weather events are increasing, environmental pollution global warming exacerbated by anthropogenic activities, plants will experience a more complex variable environment stress combinations. Research on plant responses to combinations is crucial for development utilization climate-adaptive plants. Recently, concept has been expanded from simple multifactorial (MFSCs). Researchers have realized complexity necessity combination...

Herders’ living strategy is a function of the capitals at their disposal which also serve as buffering mechanism when shocks arise. An insight into connection between livelihood strategies and owned by herders provides guidance to recognize situation. This study evaluated different across five ecological types (meadow, typical, desert, sandy, desert steppe) in Inner Mongolia region China, using sustainable framework approach. evaluation index was developed used investigate how affects...

Grassland degradation is a serious ecological issue in the farming–pastoral ecotone of northern China. Utilizing native grasses for restoration degraded grasslands an effective technological approach. Leymus secalinus superior indigenous grass species grassland Therefore, excavation potential distribution areas L. and important factors affecting its crucial conservation grasslands. Based on 357 data points collected natural secalinus, this study employs jackknife method Pearson correlation...

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of severe droughts, but it remains unclear whether soil biotic conditioning by plant communities with varying species richness or functional group diversity moderate plant-soil feedback (PSF)-an important ecosystem process driving community dynamics-under altered rainfall regimes. We conducted a two-phase PSF experiment test how affects under different In Phase 1, we set up mesocosms 15 assemblages composed two grasses, forbs and...

Grasslands are the most extensive terrestrial landscapes and ecosystems in China face growing degradation. A policy to protect grasslands established 2001 (the Grassland Ban Policy [GBP]), involves four management practices including grazing bans, keeping fallow, rotations rearing livestock sheds. questionnaire was developed used establish attitudes towards beliefs about GBP different sectors (farming households, local officials extension workers), assess problems with implementation...

Herbivory creates conflicts between a plant's need to allocate resources for growth and defense. It is not yet clear how plants rebalance resource utilization defense in response increasing grazing intensity. We measured characteristics of the primary secondary metabolism Leymus chinensis at five levels intensity (control, light, moderate, heavy extremely heavy). Furthermore, we evaluated hormone signaling by quantifying impact key hormones on plant Under light intensity, indole‐3‐acetic...

This study was carried out to evaluate the vulnerability of herders in grassland areas Northern China. The results showed that, as a consequence less capital accumulation, this area were vulnerable whole, and that gender, area, livestock numbers net incomes have significant effects on grazer households. families with female householders tended be more they characterised owning grassland, smaller houses, fewer or no vehicles, young slaughtered annually, whereas low had higher income....

Insects are important components of biodiversity and play significant roles in the steppe ecosystem. They abundant, easy to sample, sensitive changing conditions, making them useful indicators environmental changes. This study aims describe patterns (α β) insect diversity across two types (a typical a desert steppe) along Eastern Eurasian Steppe Transect (EEST), as well evaluate effects variables determining these influence plant alterations on effects. To this end, we collected 5244...

Climate change related abiotic stress has been potentially impacting the quantity and quality of forage grass. Melatonin, a multifunctional molecule that found to be present in all plants examined date, plays crucial role improving grass tolerance both biotic stresses. However, research on melatonin’s is still developing. In this review, effects melatonin application are primary topic, we try find relative mechanisms. order determine whether good effect grass, compared summarized adapting...

Vegetation succession is one of the major driving processes grassland degradation. Stoichiometry significantly contributes to vegetation dynamics. However, a knowledge gap exists in how soil nutrients and root enzymes influence stoichiometric ratio affect dynamics.To address these questions, we selected dominant species (Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.) degraded-dominant (Artemisia frigida Willd.) under different management regimes (enclosure grazing) on Inner Mongolia steppe. We measured...

Stipa grandis P. Smirn. is a dominant plant species in the typical steppe of Xilingole Plateau Inner Mongolia. Selection suitable reference genes for quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) important gene expression analysis and research into molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses S. grandis. In present study, 15 candidate (EF1 beta, ACT, GAPDH, SamDC, CUL4, CAP, SNF2, SKIP1, SKIP5, SKIP11, UBC2, UBC15, UBC17, UCH, HERC2) were evaluated...

Background Stipa grandis (Poaceae) is one of the dominant species in a typical steppe Inner Mongolian Plateau. However, primarily due to heavy grazing, grasslands have become seriously degraded, and S. has developed special growth-inhibition phenotype against stressful habitat. Because lack transcriptomic genomic information, understanding molecular mechanisms underlying grazing response been prohibited. Results Using Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform, two libraries prepared from non-grazing (FS)...

Abstract Cuticular wax covering the leaf surface plays important roles in protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding way which plant cuticles reflect their growing environment could give an insight into resilience to future climate change. Here, we analyzed variations of cuticular waxes among 59 populations Leymus chinensis a common garden experiment, aiming verify how environmental conditions influence chemical profiles waxes. In total, eight classes were identified,...

The objectives of this study were to explore the impact climate change and human activities on annual production aboveground biomass vegetation during past 31 years at a county scale in typical steppe region Inner Mongolia. changes three banners (Abag Banner, Xilinhaote City, Xiwuzhumuqin Banner) analysed. potential grassland (net primary productivity) vegetation, as sum consumption by livestock, estimated for each year. A comparison changing rates net productivity over was used distinguish...

Understanding the changes in herders’ adaptation to environmental change can provide insight into humans’ adaptive mechanisms different social–ecological systems, and is also important for optimal management of grasslands. However, existing emerging patterns systems across types grasslands are poorly understood. This paper presents a systematic participatory investigation that was conducted comprehensively understand this context over past three decades. Three counties Inner Mongolia were...

Leymus chinensis is a perennial rhizomatous clone plant. It exhibits strong tillering and clonal growth through asexual reproduction. The root system interdependent with aboveground can regulate photosynthesis. Melatonin has been shown to promote However, it remains unclear whether melatonin affects photosynthesis by regulating rhizome growth. To address this gap, we studied nine from different geographical locations, all grown under the same conditions. We selected two materials (LC19) weak...

Abstract Aims To explore whether grazing-induced legacy effects on plants could benefit adaptation to drought. Methods A water-controlled experiment was conducted in the greenhouse, which with Agropyron cristatum and Carex korshinskyi collected from free-grazing enclosed plots a typical grassland Inner Mongolia. Important Findings We found that A. C. plot were less affected by drought terms of ramet biomass, number total biomass than those plot. The enhanced for should partly be ascribed...

Abstract While most studies yield positive relationships between biodiversity (B) and ecosystem functioning (EF), awareness is growing that BEF can vary with ecological context. The has led to increased efforts understand how contemporary environmental context modifies relationships, but the role of historical context, mechanisms by which it may influence effects, remains poorly understood. We examined alters plant diversity–community productivity via species interactions in alpine...

Abstract Sheepgrass ( Leymus chinensis ) is one of the dominant grass species present on typical steppes Inner Mongolia Plateau. However, L . has developed a dwarfing phenotype in response to stressful habitat grasslands that are severely degraded due heavy grazing. The lack transcriptomic and genomic information prohibited understanding transgenerational effect physiological alterations clonal at molecular level livestock To solve this problem, from leaves obtained overgrazed (GR)...