Abstract
Four different alpine meadow communities were studied to examine the effects of plant-soil-enzyme interactions on plant composition and diversity. Enzyme activities differed by meadow type, and in general were higher in the upper soil layers (0–10 and 10–20 cm) than in the 20–40 cm layer. Community differences in plant composition or functional group composition were reflected in plant biomass distribution. The identity of a species (or a functional group) was a greater determinant of ecosystem function than the number of plant species. A significant correlation was found between the coverage per functional group and the aboveground biomass of functional groups in four alpine meadows. Soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) and enzyme activity were each affected by both functional group biomass andCABin the different meadow types. The negative correlation between diversity andCABin theKTSmay be influenced by a high soil nutrients input as a result of a higher litter input because of high aboveground biomass. Soil enzyme activities have been related to soil physio-chemical characters and plant primary production to change in vegetation. The original soil conditions, plant community composition, and community productivity are very important in regulating plant community productivity and microbial biomass and activity.
Highlights
The organisms living in an ecosystem control its functioning [1], it is unclear how much of this control is determined by the identities of the species [2], the number of species present [2, 3], and the number of different functional roles that these species represent [3]
Our objectives were to (1) study the relationship between microbial biomass, soil enzyme activity, and plant aboveground biomass; (2) determine whether an increase in plant aboveground biomass is associated with greater plant species richness or functional group number; (3) assess whether community aboveground biomass correlates with soil chemical properties or soil enzyme activities
This region could be divided into four subtypes in our study sites: K. humilis meadow (KHM), K. pygmaea meadow (KPM), K. tibetica swamp meadow (KTS) and Potentilla fruticosa scrub (PFS)
Summary
The organisms living in an ecosystem control its functioning [1], it is unclear how much of this control is determined by the identities of the species [2], the number of species present [2, 3], and the number of different functional roles that these species represent [3]. Tilman [4] suggested that ecosystem processes were determined primarily by the functional characteristics of component organisms rather than by the number of individuals or species. Heterotrophic microbial communities inhabiting the soil mediate key processes that control ecosystem C, N, P, and S cycling, and they potentially represent a mechanistic link between plant diversity and ecosystem function [8]. Mediation of niche differentiation for plant resource use as well as feedback dynamics between plant and soil communities have emerged as key areas of microbial influence on plant community structure and dynamics [9]. Changes in the composition of plant species (or of functional groups) modify resource availability for heterotrophic microbial
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