Roots of forbs sense climate fluctuations in the semi-arid Loess Plateau: Herb-chronology based analysis.

ABSTRACT: Growth of herbaceous plants responds sensitively and rapidly to climate variability. Yet, little is known regarding how climate warming influences the growth of herbaceous plants, particularly in semi-arid sites. This contrasts with widely reported tree growth decline and even mortality in response to severe water deficits due to climate warming around the world. Here, we use the relatively novel approach of herb-chronology to analyze the correlation between climatic factors and annual ring width in the root xylem of two perennial forb species (Medicago sativa, Potentilla chinensis) in the Loess Plateau of China. We show that warming-induced water deficit has a significant negative effect on the growth of herbaceous plants in the Loess Plateau. Our results indicate that the growth of forbs

SUBMITTER: Shi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4914992 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature