Abstract
Leaf ecological stoichiometry not only reflects the plasticity and adaptability, but also the growth of plants within environments where temperature, precipitation, and soil properties vary across an elevation gradient. Ligularia virgaurea (Maxim.) Mattf. ex Rehder & Kobuski — an invasive poisonous plant — is common in the northeast portion of China’s Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its presence greatly affects the native ecosystem. Based on L. virgaurea leaf carbon ([C]leaf), nitrogen ([N]leaf) and phosphorus ([P]leaf) concentrations, and their ratios, the species’ coping strategies across an elevation gradient (2,600 m, 3,000 m, and 3,300 m) were identified, and served to inform the development of improved management strategies. Mean [C]leaf, [N]leaf and [P]leaf in L. virgaurea across all elevations were 413.14 g·kg−1, 22.76 g·kg−1, and 1.34 g·kg−1, respectively, while [C]leaf: [N]leaf, [C]leaf: [P]leaf, and [N]leaf: [P]leaf were 18.27, 328.76, and 17.93. With an increase in precipitation and decrease in temperature from 2,600 m to 3,000 m–3,300 m, [C]leaf, [C]leaf: [N]leaf and [C]leaf: [P]leaf of L. virgaurea decreased at first and then increased. The [N]leaf and [P]leaf gradually increased, whereas [N]leaf: [P]leaf showed little change. Although temperature, precipitation and soil water content were the main factors affecting the ecological stoichiometry of L. virgaurea leaves, their roles in influencing leaf elements were different. The [C]leaf was mainly influenced by soil water content, [N]leaf by temperature and soil water content, and [P]leaf by all of them. With potential future climate change in the study area, L. virgaurea may grow faster than at present, although soil P may still be a growth-limiting element. As L. virgaurea can reduce plant diversity and the quality of forage, while increasing biomass, management of L. virgaurea should receive greater attention.
Highlights
Invasion by toxic weeds has become one of the critical causes of serious grassland degradation around the world (Goslee et al, 2001; Kleijn and Müller-Schärer, 2006; Timsina et al, 2011)
The linear mixed model (LMM) showed that the effect of plot on leaf ecological stoichiometry of L. virgaurea was not significant, while except for [P]leaf and [N]leaf: [P]leaf, elevation exerted a significant effect on leaf ecological stoichiometry of L. virgaurea (Table 2)
Based on field sampling in the northeast QinghaiTibetan Plateau (QTP) and subsequent experimental analysis, L. virgaurea [N]leaf: [P]leaf showed no significant changes with elevation; [C]leaf, [N]leaf, [P]leaf and [C]leaf: [N]leaf, [C]leaf: [P]leaf fluctuated with rising elevation, confirming the fact that L. virgaurea can adjust its internal physiological characteristics or adopt different resource utilization strategies to adapt to environmental changes
Summary
Invasion by toxic weeds has become one of the critical causes of serious grassland degradation around the world (Goslee et al, 2001; Kleijn and Müller-Schärer, 2006; Timsina et al, 2011). Ex Rehder & Kobuski, an increase in other poisonous and weedy plants (e.g., Stellera chamaejasme L., Thermopsis lanceolata R.Br., Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge, Gentiana straminea Maxim., and Potentilla bifurca L.) has exacerbated grassland degradation on the QTP (Wu et al, 2012; Li et al, 2013; Xue et al, 2017). On the eastern QTP L. virgaurea is a poisonous and invasive grassland weed that is becoming increasingly common. It is found in Bhutan and Nepal (Liu, 1989). While its chemical composition (Tori et al, 2006), seed germination and impact on soil biochemical factors (Shi et al, 2011; Shi et al, 2018) have been studied, its leaf ecological stoichiometry remains undocumented
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