Mechanism of the effect caused by highway construction on plant biomass in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region

Abstract

Taking Dabao (from Dali City to Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, China) and Sixiao (from Simao City to Xiaomengyang Town, Yunnan Province, China) highways in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region as examples. Biomass, coverage and photosynthesis rate of different plant types on sampling points (at the distances from road of 5, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 200 m) and their control points were estimated on ground. The relations among biomass, coverage, photosynthesis rate were analyzed with an aim to explore the mechanism of the effect caused by highway construction on plant biomass. The results show, i) the impacts of highway construction on plant biomass are both positive and negative. Arbor is mainly negatively impacted, while shrub and herbage are mainly positively impacted. The effect of highway construction decrease with the increase of distance from the road; ii) highway construction exert obvious influence on plant biomass through altering the physiologic processes (reflected by the plant number) and photosynthesis, iii) highway construction will result in the decrease of arbor number, photosynthesis rate and biomass, and increase of plant number, photosynthesis rate and biomass of shrub and herbage.