Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands
Plant belowground buds are important agents for examining the effects of small semi-fossorial herbivores on plant population regeneration in perennial grasslands. In this study, we used the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) as a focally small semi-fossorial herbivore to investigate its effects on ti...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1567822/full |
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| author | Ni Wang Qian Wang Xiao Pan Pang Zheng Gang Guo |
| author_facet | Ni Wang Qian Wang Xiao Pan Pang Zheng Gang Guo |
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| description | Plant belowground buds are important agents for examining the effects of small semi-fossorial herbivores on plant population regeneration in perennial grasslands. In this study, we used the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) as a focally small semi-fossorial herbivore to investigate its effects on tiller, rhizome, and root-derived bud densities. The study was conducted in alpine grasslands from Gangcha County to Gonghe County in Qinghai Province, China. A paired experimental design was employed, with 20 plots established in areas with plateau pikas and 20 plots plateau pikas established in without plateau pikas. The results indicated that total belowground, rhizome, and root-derived bud densities were 49.31%, 84.68%, and 91.73% higher in the presence than in absence of plateau pikas, respectively. The contributions of rhizome and root-derived buds to total belowground buds were 8% and 3% higher in the presence than in the absence of plateau pikas, respectively, whereas the contribution of tiller buds to total belowground buds was 11% lower in the presence than in the absence of plateau pikas. Total belowground buds were positively correlated with soil moisture and negatively correlated with plant aboveground biomass in the absence of plateau pikas. In contrast, they were positively correlated with total soil phosphorus and rhizome biomass in the presence of plateau pikas. These results suggested that the phosphorus supplementation is an alternative way to improve plant population regeneration and facilitate alpine grassland sustainability when plateau pikas are present in alpine grasslands. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e260449931ae4addbeb3a3ad4a8f88082025-08-20T03:07:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15678221567822Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslandsNi Wang0Qian Wang1Xiao Pan Pang2Zheng Gang Guo3Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaPlant belowground buds are important agents for examining the effects of small semi-fossorial herbivores on plant population regeneration in perennial grasslands. In this study, we used the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) as a focally small semi-fossorial herbivore to investigate its effects on tiller, rhizome, and root-derived bud densities. The study was conducted in alpine grasslands from Gangcha County to Gonghe County in Qinghai Province, China. A paired experimental design was employed, with 20 plots established in areas with plateau pikas and 20 plots plateau pikas established in without plateau pikas. The results indicated that total belowground, rhizome, and root-derived bud densities were 49.31%, 84.68%, and 91.73% higher in the presence than in absence of plateau pikas, respectively. The contributions of rhizome and root-derived buds to total belowground buds were 8% and 3% higher in the presence than in the absence of plateau pikas, respectively, whereas the contribution of tiller buds to total belowground buds was 11% lower in the presence than in the absence of plateau pikas. Total belowground buds were positively correlated with soil moisture and negatively correlated with plant aboveground biomass in the absence of plateau pikas. In contrast, they were positively correlated with total soil phosphorus and rhizome biomass in the presence of plateau pikas. These results suggested that the phosphorus supplementation is an alternative way to improve plant population regeneration and facilitate alpine grassland sustainability when plateau pikas are present in alpine grasslands.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1567822/fulltiller budrhizome budroot-derived budtotal belowground budsmall semi-fossorial herbivores |
| spellingShingle | Ni Wang Qian Wang Xiao Pan Pang Zheng Gang Guo Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands Frontiers in Plant Science tiller bud rhizome bud root-derived bud total belowground bud small semi-fossorial herbivores |
| title | Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| title_full | Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| title_short | Plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root-derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| title_sort | plateau pikas lead to higher rhizome and root derived bud densities and their contribution to total belowground bud density in alpine grasslands |
| topic | tiller bud rhizome bud root-derived bud total belowground bud small semi-fossorial herbivores |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1567822/full |
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