Below‐ground competition drives the self‐thinning process of Stipa purpurea populations in northern Tibet

Abstract

AbstractQuestionsAbove‐ground, below‐ground and individual mass–density relationships for perennial herbs were examined along a natural precipitation gradient in northern Tibet. We asked: (1) how do the self‐thinning exponents respond to variation in precipitation; and (2) what mechanisms drive the observed population self‐thinning?LocationThe alpine grassland of northern Tibet.MethodsForty‐seven fenced sites along a precipitation gradient were established and surveyed in 2011 and 2012. Data (geographic coordinates, elevation, and vegetation information) were collected for Stipa purpurea populations at each site. Population self‐thinning exponents were estimated using reduced major axis regression.ResultsThe self‐thinning exponents for below‐ground (−1.27, −0.47) and individual biomass (−1.26, −0.46) increased with increasing mean annual precipitation, but those for above‐ground biomass decreased with precipitation (0.18, −0.25). Soil resources (moisture and nutrients) are a more important constraining factor for below‐ground components than light is for above‐ground components. Root competition for below‐ground resources dominated in S. purpurea population self‐thinning. The driving force of density regulation changed from above‐ground competition to below‐ground competition with increased drought stress. Our results indicate that an increased root/shoot ratio was linked to enhanced below‐ground competition and weakened above‐ground competition. Our study further confirmed the hypothesis that plant populations in different environments exhibit different biomass allocation patterns, which, in turn, leads to different biomass–density relationships.ConclusionsOur study revealed the mechanisms of population self‐thinning for perennial herbs in the extreme environment of northern Tibet, where below‐ground processes play a critical role in regulating population self‐thinning. Our study also advances understanding of the interactions between above‐ and below‐ground processes, providing baseline knowledge useful for local grassland management.