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Plant Functional Traits and Interrelationships of Dominant Species on Typical Grassland in Horqin Sandy Land, China

ZHANG Jing1,2, ZUO Xiao-an1, LV Peng1,2, YUE Xi-yuan1,2, ZHANG Jing1,2   

  1. (1.Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environmental and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou Gansu 730000; 2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049)

  • Received:2017-03-16 Revised:2017-05-31 Online:2018-01-15 Published:2018-02-06

Abstract: Base on the nineteen dominant species in Horqin sandy land under enclosure, five functional traits of height (Height), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf carbon content (LNC) and leaf nitrogen content (LNN) were measured. The functional traits differ in two kinds of life forms (annual/biennial plants, perennial plants) and two kinds of photosynthetic pathways (C3 plants and C4 plants). We compared and analyzed the discrepancy in functional traits between different life forms and photosynthetic. Furthermore, the inter relationship of functional traits and their adaptability to the environment in typical grassland were discussed. The results showed that the LDMC of perennial plants was significantly higher than that of annual/biennial plants. Regarding to the perennial plants, the Height of C3 plants was significantly higher than that of the C4 plants. For the annual/biennial plants, the LNC of C3 plants was significantly higher than that of the C4 plants. Relative to the C4 plants, the LDMC and LNC of the perennial plants were significantly higher than that of the annual/biennial plants. Correlation analyses showed that SLA and LDMC were extremely significantly negatively correlated, while, LNC and LNN were extremely significantly positive correlated. Based on the above results, we concluded the following conclusion: there are obvious discrepancy in the plant functional traits between different life forms and photosynthetic in enclosure grassland ecosystem. Perennial C4 plants have stronger adaptability to drought environment.

Key words: grassland plant, functional traits, life form, photosynthetic, Horqin sandy land