Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary

IntroductionThe Liaohe Estuary, a representative estuarine ecosystem in eastern China, has experienced significant shifts in plant community characteristics due to climate change and anthropogenic influences in recent decades.MethodsThis study employed sediment 210Pb dating, pollen analysis, and env...

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Main Authors: Haoran Liu, Weiwei Liu, Jinzhi Wang, Wei Li, Jingwen Zhang, Jian Gong, Lijuan Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1578390/full
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author Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Wei Li
Wei Li
Wei Li
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
author_facet Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Wei Li
Wei Li
Wei Li
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
author_sort Haoran Liu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe Liaohe Estuary, a representative estuarine ecosystem in eastern China, has experienced significant shifts in plant community characteristics due to climate change and anthropogenic influences in recent decades.MethodsThis study employed sediment 210Pb dating, pollen analysis, and environmental factor indicators to comprehensively assess the composition, trends, and drivers of plant communities in the Liaohe Estuary from 1944 to 2022.ResultsThe findings revealed that herbaceous plants dominated the estuary's vegetation under a cool and humid climate, though humidity exhibited a declining trend over time. Between 2001 and 2022, pollen concentration and herbaceous plant prevalence increased significantly. Key environmental drivers—mean annual temperature (MAT), salinity, grain size, pH, and agricultural production—were strongly correlated (p < 0.001) with plant community dynamics. Natural factors (grain size, salinity) enhanced the dominance of key species but reduced overall pollen concentration. Conversely, agricultural activities diminished dominant species proportions while increasing pollen concentration.DiscussionThese results highlight the dual influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors on estuarine vegetation. The study provides a theoretical basis for restoring degraded estuarine ecosystems.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-4f9d6eaa45bb42e9ae7b5538133e29b82025-08-20T02:19:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-04-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15783901578390Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe EstuaryHaoran Liu0Haoran Liu1Haoran Liu2Weiwei Liu3Weiwei Liu4Weiwei Liu5Jinzhi Wang6Jinzhi Wang7Jinzhi Wang8Wei Li9Wei Li10Wei Li11Jingwen Zhang12Jingwen Zhang13Jingwen Zhang14Jian Gong15Jian Gong16Jian Gong17Lijuan Cui18Lijuan Cui19Lijuan Cui20Key Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Ecological Protection and Restoration Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaIntroductionThe Liaohe Estuary, a representative estuarine ecosystem in eastern China, has experienced significant shifts in plant community characteristics due to climate change and anthropogenic influences in recent decades.MethodsThis study employed sediment 210Pb dating, pollen analysis, and environmental factor indicators to comprehensively assess the composition, trends, and drivers of plant communities in the Liaohe Estuary from 1944 to 2022.ResultsThe findings revealed that herbaceous plants dominated the estuary's vegetation under a cool and humid climate, though humidity exhibited a declining trend over time. Between 2001 and 2022, pollen concentration and herbaceous plant prevalence increased significantly. Key environmental drivers—mean annual temperature (MAT), salinity, grain size, pH, and agricultural production—were strongly correlated (p < 0.001) with plant community dynamics. Natural factors (grain size, salinity) enhanced the dominance of key species but reduced overall pollen concentration. Conversely, agricultural activities diminished dominant species proportions while increasing pollen concentration.DiscussionThese results highlight the dual influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors on estuarine vegetation. The study provides a theoretical basis for restoring degraded estuarine ecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1578390/fullplant community characteristicsestuarypollen analysisenvironmental factorshuman activities
spellingShingle Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Haoran Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Weiwei Liu
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Jinzhi Wang
Wei Li
Wei Li
Wei Li
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jingwen Zhang
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Jian Gong
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
Lijuan Cui
Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
Frontiers in Plant Science
plant community characteristics
estuary
pollen analysis
environmental factors
human activities
title Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
title_full Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
title_fullStr Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
title_full_unstemmed Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
title_short Long-term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern China based on pollen analysis: a case study of the Liaohe Estuary
title_sort long term dynamics and driving mechanisms of plant communities in a temperate estuary in eastern china based on pollen analysis a case study of the liaohe estuary
topic plant community characteristics
estuary
pollen analysis
environmental factors
human activities
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1578390/full
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