Whole-soil warming shifts species composition without affecting diversity, biomass and productivity of the plant community in an alpine meadow.

ABSTRACT: The structure and function of plant communities in alpine meadow ecosystems are potentially susceptible to climate warming. Here, we utilized a unique field manipulation experiment in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and investigated the responses of plant species diversity, composition, biomass, and net primary productivity (NPP) at both community and functional group levels to whole-soil-profile warming (3-4 °C across 0-100 cm) during 2018-2021. Plant species diversity, biomass and NPP (both above- and belowground) at the community level showed remarkable resistance to warming. However, plant community composition gradually shifted over time. Over the whole experimental warming period, aboveground biomass of legumes significantly decreased by 45%. Conversely, warming signi

SUBMITTER: Qin W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11197663 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature