Plant Growth Strategies Research Articles

Plant growth strategies and microbial contributions to ecosystem nitrogen retention along a soil acidification gradient.

Nitrogen (N) retention is a critical ecosystem function associated with sustainable N supply. Lack of experimental evidence limits our understanding of how grassland N retention can vary with soil acidification. A 15N-labeling experiment was conducted for 2 years to quantify N retention by soil pathways and plant functional groups across a soil-acidification gradient in a meadow. The 15N added to the ecosystem was mainly intercepted by the soil (up to 87.3%). Within the soil, 15N recovery in ammonium, dissolved organic N, microbial biomass, and amino sugars (a proxy for microbial necromass) represented approximately 46% of soil-retained 15N. 15N recovery in these N fractions increased with acidification, highlighting the complexity of microbial N transformations that affect ecosystem N retention. Plant 15N-retention increased in sedges, decreased in forbs, and was unaffected in grasses with acidification, reflecting their divergent associations with mycorrhizas and sensitivities to soil acidification. Soil microbial biomass was the key variable delineating soil N retention, while sedges were critical for plant N retention, resulting in a clear trade-off and competition in 15N retention between the two compartments. Overall, acidification might curb N losses by strengthening microbial retention and shifting plant N retention among different plant growth strategies.

Medicago truncatula genotype drives the plant nutritional strategy and its associated rhizosphere bacterial communities.

Harnessing the plant microbiome through plant genetics is of increasing interest to those seeking toimproveplant nutrition and health. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted to identify plant genes driving the plant microbiome, more multidisciplinary studies are required to assess the relationships among plant genetics, plant microbiome and plant fitness. Using a metabarcoding approach, we characterized the rhizosphere bacterial communities of a core collection of 155 Medicago truncatula genotypes along with the plant phenotype and investigated the plant genetic effects through GWAS. The different genotypes within the M. truncatula core collection showed contrasting growth and nutritional strategies but few loci were associated with these ecophysiological traits. To go further, we described its associated rhizosphere bacterial communities, dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and defined a core rhizosphere bacterial community. Next, the occurrences of bacterial candidates predicting plant ecophysiological traits of interest were identified using random forest analyses. Some of them were heritable and plant loci were identified, pinpointing genes related to response to hormone stimulus, systemic acquired resistance, response to stress, nutrient starvation or transport, and root development. Together, these results suggest that plant genetics can affect plant growth and nutritional strategies by harnessing keystone bacteria in a well-connected interaction network.

Assessing the effect of tissue and fire‐response traits on plant growth rates post‐disturbance in eastern Australia

Abstract Variation in plant growth strategies facilitate species' coexistence in a community. Some functional traits are predicted to influence the growth rates of developing individuals by capturing trade‐offs in resource allocation. However, despite being used broadly in community ecology, the assumed generality and predictability of trait‐growth relationships lack widespread empirical testing. The megafires of 2019–2020 burned extensive areas throughout New South Wales and were followed by high rainfall, causing the large‐scale synchronous regeneration of fire‐adapted species. We took advantage of this mass disturbance event to test hypothesised relationships between functional traits and growth across six spatially distributed sclerophyllous systems throughout NSW, in which sampled vegetation was part of the same growth cohort. We investigated whether resprouting as a trait facilitated faster initial height growth compared to reseeding and, in reseeding species, tested whether the effects of four structural functional traits—stem specific density (SSD), leaf nitrogen per area, standardised stem diameter and specific leaf area (SLA)—on height growth rates followed directions predicted by theory. Resprouters grew an average of 25.92 cm year−1 more than reseeders at 14–15 months post‐fire, indicating an advantage in light capture over reseeding species in the period soon after fire. Of the four structural functional traits tested, SSD and leaf nitrogen per area displayed evidence of relationships with height growth rate, while standardised stem diameter and SLA had no evidence of an effect. These relationships were consistent across sites. Our results indicate that (i) ontogenetic variation in growth rates should be integrated into the fast‐slow growth economics spectrum and that (ii) while some functional traits predict height growth, this is not a guarantee for all traits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Response of growth and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of mulberry seedlings to waterlogging stress

This study aimed to investigate the adaptive mechanisms of mulberry (Morus alba) to waterlogged conditions, with a specific focus on the development of adventitious roots (ARs), alteration of growth strategies, and adjustment of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. To achieve this goal, 4-year-old potted mulberry plants were selected for research, and a waterlogging simulation method was implemented. Four treatments were established to investigate the effects of varying water conditions on leaf waterlogging damage, the number of ARs, plant height, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and proton motive force (pmf) parameters in mulberry plants. These treatments included the control group (CK), shallow submerged group (SS), half-submerged group (HS) and deep submerged group (DS). Our results showed that (1) The number of ARs in each group increased with increasing waterlogging time. (2) Waterlogging stress inhibited the height growth of mulberry, and the changes in plant height in the HS and DS groups were significantly lower than those in the CK and SS groups. (3) The maximum photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm) in the HS and DS groups decreased significantly under waterlogging stress. The nonphotochemical quenching (NPQt) of mulberry leaves in the submergence group increased significantly in the early stage of waterlogging stress, and the NPQt in the submergence group increased continuously with increasing waterlogging time. (4) Thylakoid conductivity to protons (gH+) in the leaves of mulberry decreased significantly under waterlogging stress, whereas the steady-state rate of proton flux (vH+) and total electrochromic shift (ECSt) increased significantly. The morphological, physiological, and ecological responses of mulberry plants to waterlogging stress include the timely generation of ARs at the stem base, the adjustment of plant growth strategies, and the repair of photosynthetic response centers in leaves through heat dissipation and thylakoid acidification mechanisms.

Plasticity response of desert shrubs to intense drought events at different phenophases under the context of climate change

Global climate change has led to the frequent occurrence of intense drought events in mid-latitude desert ecosystems, coupled with uneven rainfall distribution across phenophases within the year. However, the impact of intense drought events at different phenophases on plant growth and drought resistance strategies still lacks clear conclusions. We selected the typical desert semi-shrubs Artemisia ordosica as our research object, and constructed a rain shelter to simulate intense drought events (without rainfall for 30 consecutive days) during the sprouting, vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting stages. Based on this, we analyzed the differential impacts of intense drought events at different phenophases on the phenotypic characteristics (e.g. shrub height, cover, volume, specific leaf area) and functional traits (ANPP accumulation and allocation) of A. ordosica. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design with three replicates for each treatment. The results indicate that: (1) Under intense drought events at different phenophases, all phenotypic characteristic indicators of A. ordosica significantly decreased. (2) Contrary to the significant negative correlation between twig number and twig size in response to rainfall variations, under intense drought conditions, there is a significant positive correlation between the two, indicating a synergistic effect. (3) The impact of intense drought events at different phenophases on the ANPP (aboveground net primary production) accumulation of A. ordosica varied significantly. The degree of impact is as follows: the flowering and fruiting stage > the sprouting stage > the vegetative growth stage. (4) A. ordosica adapted to intense drought by increasing the proportion of reproductive growth and decreasing the proportion of vegetative growth. Our results reveal the phenotypic and functional trait plasticity response mechanisms of A. ordosica to intense droughts at different phenophases, laying a foundation for predicting the impacts of climate change on desert ecosystems.

Global patterns of plant functional traits and their relationships to climate

Plant functional traits (FTs) determine growth, reproduction and survival strategies of plants adapted to their growth environment. Exploring global geographic patterns of FTs, their covariation and their relationships to climate are necessary steps towards better-founded predictions of how global environmental change will affect ecosystem composition. We compile an extensive global dataset for 16 FTs and characterise trait-trait and trait-climate relationships separately within non-woody, woody deciduous and woody evergreen plant groups, using multivariate analysis and generalised additive models (GAMs). Among the six major FTs considered, two dominant trait dimensions—representing plant size and the leaf economics spectrum (LES) respectively—are identified within all three groups. Size traits (plant height, diaspore mass) however are generally higher in warmer climates, while LES traits (leaf mass and nitrogen per area) are higher in drier climates. Larger leaves are associated principally with warmer winters in woody evergreens, but with wetter climates in non-woody plants. GAM-simulated global patterns for all 16 FTs explain up to three-quarters of global trait variation. Global maps obtained by upscaling GAMs are broadly in agreement with iNaturalist citizen-science FT data. This analysis contributes to the foundations for global trait-based ecosystem modelling by demonstrating universal relationships between FTs and climate.

Effects of plant nutrient acquisition strategies on biomass allocation patterns in wetlands along successional sequences in the semi-arid upper Yellow River basin.

The ecological environment of wetlands in semi-arid regions has deteriorated, and vegetation succession has accelerated due to climate warming-induced aridification and human interference. The nutrient acquisition strategies and biomass allocation patterns reflect plant growth strategies in response to environmental changes. However, the impact of nutrient acquisition strategies on biomass allocation in successional vegetation remains unclear. We investigated 87 plant communities from 13 wetland sites in the semi-arid upper Yellow River basin. These communities were divided into three successional sequences: the herbaceous community (HC), the herbaceous-shrub mixed community (HSC), and the shrub community (SC). The nutrient composition of stems and leaves, as well as the biomass distribution above and belowground, were investigated. Results revealed that aboveground biomass increased with succession while belowground biomass decreased. Specifically, SC exhibited the highest stem biomass of 1,194.53 g m-2, while HC had the highest belowground biomass of 2,054.37 g m-2. Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between leaf and stem biomasses in both HC and SC. The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents within aboveground parts displayed an evident upward trend along the succession sequence. The highest N and P contents were found in SC, followed by HSC, and the lowest in HC. Stem N was negatively correlated with stem, leaf, and belowground biomass but positively correlated with root-shoot ratio. Leaf P displayed positive correlations with aboveground biomass while showing negative correlations with belowground biomass and root-shoot ratio. The ratios of C:N, C:P, and N:P in stem and leaf exhibited positive correlations with belowground biomass. The random forest model further demonstrated that stem N and leaf P exerted significant effects on aboveground biomass, while leaf P, stem N and P, and leaf C:P ratio had significant effects on belowground components. Additionally, the root-shoot ratio was significantly influenced by leaf P, leaf C:P ratio, and stem N, P, and C:P ratio. Therefore, the aboveground and belowground biomasses exhibited asynchronism across successional sequences, while plant nutrient acquisition strategies, involving nutrient levels and stoichiometric ratios, determined the biomass allocation pattern. This study offers valuable insights for assessing vegetation adaptability and formulating restoration plans in the semi-arid upper Yellow River basin.

The Influence of Salinity on Plant Growth and Amendment Strategies

The Influence of Salinity on Plant Growth and Amendment Strategies

Sorbitol mediates age-dependent changes in apple plant growth strategy through gibberellin signaling.

Plants experience various age-dependent changes during juvenile to adult vegetative phase. However, the regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the changes remain largely unknown in apple (Malus domestica). This study showed that tissue-cultured apple plants at juvenile, transition, and adult phase exhibit age-dependent changes in their plant growth, photosynthetic performance, hormone levels, and carbon distribution. Moreover, this study identified an age-dependent gene, sorbitol dehydrogenase (MdSDH1), a key enzyme for sorbitol catabolism, highly expressed in the juvenile phase in apple. Silencing MdSDH1 in apple significantly decreased the plant growth and GA3 levels. However, exogenous GA3 rescued the reduced plant growth phenotype of TRV-MdSDH1. Biochemical analysis revealed that MdSPL1 interacts with MdWRKY24 and synergistically enhance the repression of MdSPL1 and MdWRKY24 on MdSDH1, thereby promoting sorbitol accumulation during vegetative phase change. Exogenous sorbitol application indicated that sorbitol promotes the transcription of MdSPL1 and MdWRKY24. Notably, MdSPL1-MdWRKY24 module functions as key repressor to regulate GA-responsive gene, Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis (MdGASA1) expression, thereby leading to a shift from the quick to the slow-growth strategy. These results reveal the pivotal role of sorbitol in controlling apple plant growth, thereby improving our understanding of vegetative phase change in apple.

The Impact of Water-Saving Irrigation on Rice Growth and Comprehensive Evaluation of Irrigation Strategies

To explore the effects of different water-saving treatments on rice plant growth and select suitable water-saving irrigation strategies for aerobic rice varieties, we conducted relevant field experiments from June to October 2023 at Jiangsu Runguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., China, which is located in a north subtropical monsoon climate where the soil is alkaline sandy loam. Four water treatments were set up, including the control of local conventional irrigation (CK, without water stress), mild water-saving treatment (W1, 20% more water saved than CK), moderate water-saving treatment (W2, 30% more water saved than CK), and severe water-saving treatment (W3, 40% more water saved than CK). The experiment results showed that rice plant heights were inhibited and leaf chlorophyll contents increased under all water-saving treatments compared to CK. Among them, the MDA content in paddy leaves under the W1 treatment decreased, while the activities of SOD and POD were enhanced and the membrane lipid peroxidation capacity of rice was also enhanced. Meanwhile, the results showed that the rice yield and quality under the W1 treatment significantly improved. Based on those experiments, a comprehensive evaluation of rice plant height, chlorophyll content, grain yield, yield components, and rice quality was conducted using the TOPSIS entropy weight method. It was preliminarily concluded that the suitable irrigation scheme for south and central Jiangsu was 20% water-saving irrigation compared with CK. In summary, under the premise of maintaining the economic yield of rice cultivation, an appropriate water irrigation plan helped save water resources and promote rice growth.

Response of the functional traits of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani to simulated warming in the Napahai wetland of northwestern Yunnan, China

The impact of climate warming on wetland ecosystems is a current focal point in ecological research. In this study, the Napahai wetland, a typical plateau wetland in northwest Yunnan Province, was selected as the study site to understand the growth and survival strategies of emergent plants in a plateau wetland under climate warming conditions. Open-top chambers (OTCs) were used to simulate warming in three treatments (i.e., control group, 2.0 ± 0.5°C, and 4.0 ± 0.5°C) in order to study the responses of the functional traits of the dominant emergent plant Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani to simulated warming. The results showed that simulated warming significantly reduced the photosynthetic carbon assimilation capacity and biomass accumulation of S. tabernaemontani, as well as its nitrogen content and vascular bundle density, while it significantly increased the vascular bundle size. The growing season accumulated temperature (AT) and the mean temperature of the hottest month (WT) were the main temperature factors influencing the functional traits of S. tabernaemontani. In summary, simulated warming significantly affected the functional traits of S. tabernaemontani, which demonstrated effective adaptation to warming conditions. As the temperature rises and the light and productivity decrease, S. tabernaemontani prioritizes the supply of limited resources to the underground part to ensure the biomass supply of the reproductive structure. This study provides a case for revealing the response patterns and ecological adaptation strategies of plateau wetland plants to climate warming.

Alpine plants exhibited deep supercooling upon exposed to episodic frost events during the growing season on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract Climatic warming has advanced the spring phenology of plants and disrupted the alignment of phenology with weather patterns. Such misalignments can cause problems as extreme weather events become more frequent and thus impact the survival, growth and reproduction of plants. To prevent freezing within their cells during the growing season, plants adopt a supercooling strategy. However, the weather event severity and seasonal timing may impact the plant’s recovery after a freezing event. We conducted experiments to investigate how extreme freezing events of four different severities impacted the supercooling points and senescence of two dominant alpine plant species, Potentilla saundersiana (mid-summer flowering) and Gentiana parvula (late-summer flowering) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). We also explored how the phenological stage impacted P. saundersiana’s response to freezing events. We found that both species exhibited supercooling upon exposed to frost damage. However, the average supercooling point for P. saundersiana was −6.9°C and was influenced by minimum temperature, duration and phenological stage. Whereas, the average supercooling point for G. parvula was −4.8°C, and neither minimum temperature nor duration had an effect on the supercooling point. In addition, the minimum temperature treatment of −10°C caused death in both plants when held constant for 4 h. Our study provides the first experimental dataset exploring the supercooling points of alpine plants on the QTP. Given the increasing probability of alpine plants encounters frost events, these results are of great significance for understanding the growth and survival strategies of alpine plants to cope with the adverse effects of extreme climate.

Heathland management affects soil response to drought

Abstract Drought can affect ecosystem functioning by altering plant–soil interactions, posing a significant threat to vulnerable ecosystems like heathlands. In heathlands, ongoing nitrogen deposition increases the dominance of fast‐growing grasses over the slow‐growing shrub Calluna vulgaris. These changes above‐ground can influence soil dynamics and heathlands' responses to drought. Here, we assessed whether the legacy effects of drought on heathland soils depended on mowing times as a management practice commonly used to regenerate Calluna and decrease the abundance of fast‐growing grasses. Using a long‐term field experiment, we investigated if soil response to drought differed under Calluna and grasses, as well as under Calluna plants of different growth stages through different mowing times. We hypothesized that drought would decrease soil C and nutrient pools underneath grasses and younger Calluna plants through its impact on soil microbial communities. Our results show that long‐term drought decreased soil C but only underneath grasses and old Calluna, while under young Calluna, soil C increased under drought when compared to control conditions. Bacterial and fungal community composition differed between drought and control and were affected by the growth stage of Calluna but not by plant growth strategies. Furthermore, drought and Calluna growth stage‐induced changes in bacterial communities directly affected total soil C and indirectly by reducing microbial C, which was positively related to total soil C. Synthesis and applications. Understanding ecosystem response to drought is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and mitigating climate change feedbacks. Heathlands are threatened by high nitrogen deposition, a lack of management and an increasing frequency of drought. Our results emphasize the importance of frequent mowing (decadal) as a management practice that promotes a younger and more Calluna‐dominated plant community for reducing soil C losses under future climate change‐induced drought conditions. The active management of heathlands is essential not only for keeping above‐ground vegetation dynamics, but also for maintaining below‐ground soil nutrient and carbon pools.

Impacts of altitude on plant green leaf, fresh litter, and soil stoichiometry in subtropical forests

BackgroundEcological stoichiometric characteristics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) serve as crucial indicators of nutrient cycling and limitation in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our current understanding of stoichiometric characteristics in subtropical forests and their response to different climate conditions is still limited.MethodsWe selected six altitudes ranging from 700 m to 1,200 m to simulate different climate conditions of an evergreen broadleaf forest in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, China. We investigated C, N, P, and K stoichiometry and homeostasis in the green leaves, newly senesced leaf litter (fresh litter), and soil of this forest.ResultsLeaf P and K levels showed a decline with increasing altitude. Notably, the stoichiometric ratios in different components exhibited a bimodal distribution along the altitudinal gradient. Additionally, a decline trend of N resorption efficiencies was observed as altitude increased. Moreover, weak homeostasis was observed in P and K in green leaves. These findings highlighted the significant impact of altitude on the stoichiometry in evergreen broadleaf forest. This study also contributed to our understanding of the nutrient cycling mechanism and plant growth strategies of evergreen forests under different climate conditions.

Fast-slow traits predict competition network structure and its response to resources and enemies.

Plants interact in complex networks but how network structure depends on resources, natural enemies and species resource-use strategy remains poorly understood. Here, we quantified competition networks among 18 plants varying in fast-slow strategy, by testing how increased nutrient availability and reduced foliar pathogens affected intra- and inter-specific interactions. Our results show that nitrogen and pathogens altered several aspects of network structure, often in unexpected ways due to fast and slow growing species responding differently. Nitrogen addition increased competition asymmetry in slow growing networks, as expected, but decreased it in fast growing networks. Pathogen reduction made networks more even and less skewed because pathogens targeted weaker competitors. Surprisingly, pathogens and nitrogen dampened each other's effect. Our results show that plant growth strategy is key to understand how competition respond to resources and enemies, a prediction from classic theories which has rarely been tested by linking functional traits to competition networks.

Auxin resistant 2 and short hypocotyl 2 regulate cotton fiber initiation and elongation.

Auxin, a pivotal regulator of diverse plant growth processes, remains central to development. The auxin-responsive genes auxin/indole-3-acetic acids (AUX/IAAs) are indispensable for auxin signal transduction, which is achieved through intricate interactions with auxin response factors (ARFs). Despite this, the potential of AUX/IAAs to govern the development of the most fundamental biological unit, the single cell, remains unclear. In this study, we harnessed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber, a classic model for plant single-cell investigation, to determine the complexities of AUX/IAAs. Our research identified 2 pivotal AUX/IAAs, auxin resistant 2 (GhAXR2) and short hypocotyl 2 (GhSHY2), which exhibit opposite control over fiber development. Notably, suppressing GhAXR2 reduced fiber elongation, while silencing GhSHY2 fostered enhanced fiber elongation. Investigating the mechanistic intricacies, we identified specific interactions between GhAXR2 and GhSHY2 with distinct ARFs. GhAXR2's interaction with GhARF6-1 and GhARF23-2 promoted fiber cell development through direct binding to the AuxRE cis-element in the constitutive triple response 1 promoter, resulting in transcriptional inhibition. In contrast, the interaction of GhSHY2 with GhARF7-1 and GhARF19-1 exerted a negative regulatory effect, inhibiting fiber cell growth by activating the transcription of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 9 and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase. Thus, our study reveals the intricate regulatory networks surrounding GhAXR2 and GhSHY2, elucidating the complex interplay of multiple ARFs in AUX/IAA-mediated fiber cell growth. This work enhances our understanding of single-cell development and has potential implications for advancing plant growth strategies and agricultural enhancements.

Seasonal variations in C/N/P/K stoichiometric characteristics in different plant organs in the various forest types of Sygera Mountain.

We explored the resource acquisition and growth strategies of plants adapting to different environments, focusing on the typical forest types of Sygera Mountain: Pinus armandii, Picea likiangensis var. Linzhiensis, Abies georgei var. Smithii, and Juniperus saltuaria. Then, we analyzed the nutrient content and stoichiometric ratios of C, N, P, and K in different plant organs (leaves, branches, trunks, and roots) to examine the stoichiometric characteristics and nutrient balance mechanisms in these forests. Results show that within the same forest type, different plant organs exhibit high C and low N, P, and K levels. N content in all organs followed the order leaves > branches > roots > trunks. During the growth phase, the concentrations of P and K in PLL and AGS follow the order branches > leaves > roots > trunks. In the dormant phase, the distribution in different organs had the order leaves > branches > roots > trunks. C content remained relatively stable over time. In the same organ across different forest types, increase in nitrogen content in plant leaves is an active adaptation of JS plants, indicating that JS has a conservative growth strategy and can adapt to environmental stress. Owing to the influence of seasons, the evolution process of N and P content fluctuates, allocating nutrients to supporting and transporting organs for resource optimization and allocation. The N and P content were lower in the growth phase than in the dormant phase. Seasonal variations in the C/N, C/P, and C/K ratios in different forests were inversely correlated with changes in N, P, and K content in plant organs, supporting the "growth rate hypothesis." Stoichiometric analysis suggests that different limiting elements exist in organs across various forest types. Principal component analysis indicates that the seasonal patterns of stoichiometric ratios in the organs of different forest types show species-specific characteristics, reflecting the evolutionary nutrient utilization strategies of plant genera. In summary, plant growth in different Sygera Mountain forest types is limited by N and P, with a high tendency toward nitrogen limitation. The nutrient utilization and distribution differences among various organs during different growth stages are primarily influenced by the limited availability of environmental nutrients and inherent physiological characteristics of the plants.

Approaching inselberg biodiversity conservation through plant growth and dispersal strategies

AbstractClimate change is promoting global declines in plant diversity, which are expected to be more critical in islands or island‐like ecosystems due to environmental constraints and isolation. The species' vulnerability to climate change (VUL) depends on their ability to cope with changes or mitigate them. Therefore, we investigate the influence of growth and dispersal strategies of species from the Sugarloaf Rock Complex, Brazil, an island‐like ecosystem, on their niche breadth (NB), long‐dispersal (LD) capacity, and geographical range (GR). Besides, we evaluate the potential use of these strategies as indicators of species' VUL. We found that rock specialists exhibit narrower NB, lower LD capacity, and a more restricted GR when compared to other species. We also found that 63% of rock specialists are found in conservation red‐lists and they are more vulnerable to climate change than woody plants. Conversely, self‐dispersed plants are expected to be less vulnerable to climate change when compared to species with other dispersal mechanisms. Species vulnerable to climate change are 14 times more likely to be included in conservation red lists, and it might indicate that the species' VUL might also describe the species' vulnerability to other anthropogenic threats. Still, we suggest conservation attention on some species that are expected to be vulnerable to climate change but were not yet included in conservation red lists. We advocate for more efforts to ensure the conservation aspects of different functional groups in which inselbergs might not only offer isolation but also a refuge opportunity.

Conservation Agriculture as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy: A Review

To enhance our comprehension of agriculture's role in addressing climate change, accurate assessment of its capacity for carbon sequestration is crucial. This assessment encompasses multiple considerations, including regional climate patterns, crop choices, soil management practices, and soil types. Climate change poses a significant threat to food and nutritional security on local, national, and global scales. The amplified concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), present immediate challenges. Vulnerable populations, especially those in impoverished conditions, face heightened risk of food insecurity due to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the conversion of non-agricultural land, like forests, into agricultural use, and human-generated emissions of greenhouse gases from agricultural activities significantly contribute to climate change. The escalating concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, in the atmosphere leads to global warming. Over the last century (1906–2005), the global mean surface temperature has risen by approximately 0.60 to 0.90°C, with the most rapid increase occurring in recent decades. The global average temperature continues to steadily climb and is projected to rise by 2°C by 2100, potentially resulting in significant global economic losses. The increasing concentration of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, is a cause for concern. This rise has fostered enhanced plant growth and productivity due to increased photosynthesis. However, the benefits of heightened photosynthesis are offset by higher temperatures, leading to increased crop respiration rates, greater evapotranspiration, heightened pest infestations, shifts in weed species, and reduced crop durations. This paper reviews the literature on climate change, its potential drivers, its effects on agriculture, and its influence on the physiological and metabolic processes of plants. It also explores potential and reported implications for plant growth, productivity, and mitigation strategies. In recent years, there has been a growing recommendation for the adoption of conservation agriculture as a more sustainable alternative to conventional farming practices. Conservation agriculture not only supports soil health but also enhances agricultural productivity, making it a crucial tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Nitrogen and phosphorus allocation in bark across diverse tree species

Understanding of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) allocation patterns among various plant organs and tissues is crucial for gaining insights into plant growth and life-history strategies, as well as ecosystem nutrient cycles. However, there is limited information available regarding allocation strategies for N and P in bark (i.e., all tissues external to the vascular cambium), which is an indispensable and specialized secondary tissue system. This study presents analyses of a newly compiled and comprehensive data set comprising 1246 pairwise N-P observations across 335 tree species spanning 557 independent sampling sites worldwide. The aim is to explore the interspecific N and P stoichiometry of bark. The global geometric means for bark N and P concentrations, as well as N:P ratios, were 3.88 mg/g, 0.2 mg/g, and 19.38, respectively. However, these values varied significantly among different functional plant-groups and biomes. Across all 335 species, the N vs. P scaling exponent was 0.69 for bark, which is similar to the 2/3-power scaling relationship observed in leaves and twigs. However, the bark N vs. P scaling exponent differed among functional plant-groups, biomes, and local sites, indicating the absence of a “canonical” scaling exponent. The interactions of soil total N and P collectively accounted for the most significant variation in the bark scaling exponent among local sites. The results indicate that there is no “canonical” bark N vs. P scaling exponent, and that soil nutrient content is the most important factor influencing N and P allocation strategies in bark. These findings may hold significant implications for predicting plant nutrient allocation strategies in response to environmental changes.