Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (12): 1996-2006.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.12.12

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differences and spatial variation in the stem xylem structural traits of Reaumuria soongarica and Calligonum mongolicum

SHEN Hui1,2(),ZHANG Jing1,3,PENG Lan1,4,TAO Ye1,3,ZANG Yongxin1,3,ZHANG Yuanming1,3()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100093, China
    3. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    4. College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-04-06 Revised:2023-06-21 Online:2023-12-15 Published:2023-12-18

Abstract:

Xylem structure traits are the basis for plant adaptation to different water conditions and are core plant traits in response to changes in environmental conditions. The typical shrubs Reaumuria soongarica and Calligonum mongolicum in the northwest desert region were selected as the subjects for comparison between stem xylem structure and functional traits to understand the differences or similarities of different species in the same habitat and the xylem structure plasticity of the same species under different environmental conditions. The results showed that (1) Xylem structure traits of R. soongarica and C. mongolicum were significantly different. The mean vessel diameter and vulnerability index of C. mongolicum were significantly higher than those of R. soongarica, whereas the opposite was true for vessel density and vessel grouping index. (2) The patterns of xylem structure traits in response to climate change differed between R. soongarica and C. mongolicum. The mean vessel diameter and vessel thickness-to-span ratio of C. mongolicum significantly reduced with increasing mean annual precipitation and aridity index, whereas that of R. soongarica were unrelated, and only the theoretical hydraulic conductivity had a significant positive correlation with the mean annual precipitation and aridity index. (3) There was a trade-off between efficiency and safety in the xylem hydraulic conductivity system of R. soongarica, whereas none was observed in C. mongolicum. (4) The trait network analysis results indicated that the central traits of both R. soongarica and C. mongolicum were mean vessel diameters. Changes in mean vessel diameter mediate changes in the trait network. Xylem structure traits between R. soongarica and C. mongolicum were significantly different, with R. soongarica having a more conservative water use strategy than C. mongolicum.

Key words: tapical shrub, Reaumuria soongarica, Calligonum mongolicum, xylem structure, plant trait networks, climatic factors, ecological adaptation strategy