Mean annual temperature mainly drives spatial pattern of plant functional traits in inland arid and semi-arid areas
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The aim of this study is to elucidate the spatial distribution patterns of four key plant functional traits and the effects of environmental factors on their variation in inland arid and semi-arid areas and thus provide a reference for the prediction of species distribution and biodiversity conservation in this region. The county-level distribution data sets of 3,953 seed plants species, traits data sets, and environmental variables data sets were collected in Xinjiang, China. We focused on four plant functional traits: maximum plant height, leaf size, first flowering time and flowering duration. The spatial distribution patterns of plant traits in 50 × 50 km grid cells were detected. The spatial variation in different functional traits was explored and environmental drivers were identified. The results showed that there were significant latitudinal and altitudinal gradient patterns of plant functional traits, and there were significant spatial correlations between different traits. These four traits showed a significant and strong effect of environmental interpretation. Among the three types of environmental factors (climate, soil and habitat heterogeneity), climate factors played the most pronounced role in explaining functional traits. Mean annual temperature (MAT) being the most important driver of the spatial distribution patterns of each trait, and its effect on different traits varies. Overall, vegetative and reproductive growth of plants is more favorable in areas with higher temperatures, abundant precipitation, fertile soils and high habitat heterogeneity, which is mainly reflected in higher plant height, larger leaves, earlier flowering time and longer flowering duration.
Source: Annals of Forest Research
Authors: Menglin Li, Xinbing Zhang, Yao Tong, Zhe Cao, Jihong Huang, Shichen Zhang, Shuyi Xu, Yi Ding, Wendong Wang, Alimu Maimaiti, Liping Wang, Runguo Zang
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Award: G6730851705
OpenAlex ID: W4407082339