Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)

Vegetation restoration is a pivotal component in the restoration and management of desert. But shifts in the ecological strategies of established plant species, and how that may impact desert restoration, are both largely unknown. Here, we studied changes to the leaf economic strategy spectra (ESS),...

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Main Authors: Jun Yang, Xiaowei Li, Junlong Yang, Shuang Yu, Hongmei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424004955
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author Jun Yang
Xiaowei Li
Junlong Yang
Shuang Yu
Hongmei Zhang
author_facet Jun Yang
Xiaowei Li
Junlong Yang
Shuang Yu
Hongmei Zhang
author_sort Jun Yang
collection DOAJ
description Vegetation restoration is a pivotal component in the restoration and management of desert. But shifts in the ecological strategies of established plant species, and how that may impact desert restoration, are both largely unknown. Here, we studied changes to the leaf economic strategy spectra (ESS), hydraulic strategy spectra (HSS) and soil strategy spectra (SSS) of the legume Caragana korshinskii in 3-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, and 70-year restoration in Baijitan area of the MuUs desert, and investigated the relationship of these spectrums for enhancing desert restoration. The results showed that, over the years, both spectra changed significantly. The economic strategy of this plant shifted from a ‘fast investment-return’ to a more conservative ‘slow investment-return’ strategy. Concurrently, its hydraulic strategy transitioned from an isohydric to an anisohydric behavior. Along the restoration chronosequence, the resource acquisition strategy spectra declined in its effect and importance while the carbon investment in leaf construction increased. In this way, the drought tolerance and embolic resistance of plants were enhanced over time. We identify a coupling relationship between the economic and hydraulic strategy spectra. Furthermore, changed in the ESS and HSS influence the SSS over restoration years, ultimately favoring ecological restoration. This research provides foundational data for optimizing the cultivation management of Caragana korshinskii in terms of restoration years, enhancing ecosystem stability and productivity, and protecting and restoring the ecological environment.
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spelling doaj-art-2a0120f6abe842bc8fb826ba7c7b5b4c2025-08-20T02:49:05ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-12-0156e0329110.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03291Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)Jun Yang0Xiaowei Li1Junlong Yang2Shuang Yu3Hongmei Zhang4College of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration of Northwest China, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; Corresponding author at: College of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.College of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Pratacuture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaVegetation restoration is a pivotal component in the restoration and management of desert. But shifts in the ecological strategies of established plant species, and how that may impact desert restoration, are both largely unknown. Here, we studied changes to the leaf economic strategy spectra (ESS), hydraulic strategy spectra (HSS) and soil strategy spectra (SSS) of the legume Caragana korshinskii in 3-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, and 70-year restoration in Baijitan area of the MuUs desert, and investigated the relationship of these spectrums for enhancing desert restoration. The results showed that, over the years, both spectra changed significantly. The economic strategy of this plant shifted from a ‘fast investment-return’ to a more conservative ‘slow investment-return’ strategy. Concurrently, its hydraulic strategy transitioned from an isohydric to an anisohydric behavior. Along the restoration chronosequence, the resource acquisition strategy spectra declined in its effect and importance while the carbon investment in leaf construction increased. In this way, the drought tolerance and embolic resistance of plants were enhanced over time. We identify a coupling relationship between the economic and hydraulic strategy spectra. Furthermore, changed in the ESS and HSS influence the SSS over restoration years, ultimately favoring ecological restoration. This research provides foundational data for optimizing the cultivation management of Caragana korshinskii in terms of restoration years, enhancing ecosystem stability and productivity, and protecting and restoring the ecological environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424004955Desert restorationEconomic strategy spectrumHydraulic strategy spectrumMu Us Desert
spellingShingle Jun Yang
Xiaowei Li
Junlong Yang
Shuang Yu
Hongmei Zhang
Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
Global Ecology and Conservation
Desert restoration
Economic strategy spectrum
Hydraulic strategy spectrum
Mu Us Desert
title Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
title_full Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
title_fullStr Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
title_full_unstemmed Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
title_short Coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration: A 70-year chronosequence study of Korshinks peashrub (Caragana korshinskii)
title_sort coupling of leaf economic and hydraulic strategy spectra facilitates desert restoration a 70 year chronosequence study of korshinks peashrub caragana korshinskii
topic Desert restoration
Economic strategy spectrum
Hydraulic strategy spectrum
Mu Us Desert
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424004955
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