Abstract
Many studies reported the effect on plant functional groups and plant diversity under discontinuous slope gradient. However, studies on the effect of continuous slope gradient on plant functional groups and plant diversity in alpine meadows have rarely been conducted. We studied the effect of a continuous slope gradient on the dominance characteristics of plant functional groups and plant diversity of alpine meadows on the Tibetan plateau—in Hezuo area of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Altogether, 84 samples of alpine meadows grass and 84 soil samples from seven slope gradients at sunlit slopes were collected. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient, this study revealed: (1) Continuous slope gradient is an important factor affecting plant communities in alpine meadows, due to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and water content. The number of families, genera, and species increased first then decreased at the different slope gradient levels, respectively; (2) there is a close relationship between the soil and plant functional groups, and plant diversity. In other words, the slope determines the functional groups of plants and the soil nutrients; and (3) soil characteristics (pH value, Soil Total Nitrogen, Soil Water Content) are the determining factors of the plant community characteristics at each slope gradient level. To conclude, a continuous slope gradient is an important factor that affects plant communities in alpine meadows.
Highlights
The distribution and functional characteristics of vegetation are determined by zonal climatic conditions at regional and even global scales [1,2]
There were 27 families, 101 genera and 134 species distributed in sunny slope survey plots, among which 11 species were sedge family herbage (SH), nine species were Perennial Bunch-grass (PB), 10 species were Perennial Rhizome forbs (PR), 76 species were Perennial Forbs (PF), 21 species were Annuals/Biennials (AB), and 4 species were Shrubs/Subshrubs (SS)
E. nutans was a sub-dominant species at each slope gradient level, but it was dominant at level IV
Summary
The distribution and functional characteristics of vegetation are determined by zonal climatic conditions at regional and even global scales [1,2]. The topography redistributes water, heat and soil nutrients [3,4], and affects the patterns and characteristics of vegetation at the landscape scales [5,6]. Topographic factors play an important part in effecting the functional characteristics and diversity of vegetation. The effects of slope on plant communities are mainly reflected in the growth conditions and soil erosion of plant communities [7], common plants [8], species numbers [9], plant community characteristics, community diversity [10], and vegetation distribution patterns [11], and so on. Using slope to study vegetation characteristics and diversity distribution has become a prerequisite for revealing the relationship between topography and vegetation
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