IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i11p8458-d1153522.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Stoichiometric Characteristics of Abies georgei var. smithii Plants in Southeast Tibet

Author

Listed:
  • Yueyao Li

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

  • Fangwei Fu

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

  • Jiangrong Li

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

  • Wensheng Chen

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

  • Huihui Ding

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

  • Siying Xiao

    (Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
    National Forest Ecosystem Observation & Research Station of Nyingchi Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China
    Key Laboratory of Alpine Vegetation Ecological Security in Tibet, Nyingchi 860000, China)

Abstract

In order to elucidate the adaptation mechanisms of the stoichiometric characteristics of Abies georgei var. smithii in southeastern Tibet to different habitats, the spatial and temporal dynamics of the nutrient contents and stoichiometric ratios among the leaf, branch, stem, and root organs were analyzed on Sejila Mountain in southeastern Tibet at different elevations (3500 m, 3900 m, and 4300 m). The results show that (1) the C and K contents of the fir organs did not change significantly with increasing elevation in the same season, while the N and P contents showed an overall increasing trend with increasing elevation, with the C and N contents being the highest in the leaves. The distribution order was leaves > branches > roots > stem; the P and K content order in each organ was branches > leaves > roots > stem. (2) At the same elevation and in different seasons, the Abies georgei var. smithii organs showed a similar convergence in terms of nutrient storage and utilization strategies, and more nutrients were optimally allocated between the assimilated and stored organs in the alpine habitats, which represents a “trade-off” strategy. (3) Compared to the findings of the global-scale studies, this study area has low N, P, and K contents, and its growth is limited by both N and P. Due to physiological and nutrient balance constraints, the content of the N-limited elements in the plants is relatively stable, which is in line with the “limiting element stability hypothesis”. (4) Principal component analysis showed that the influence of environmental factors on the stoichiometric characteristics of the different organs of Abies georgei var. smithii had a spatial scale effect, and that Abies georgei var. smithii demonstrated increased accumulation of N and P contents when subjected to environmental stress, which promoted the domestication and adaptation of the plant, enabling it to show good nutrient accumulation capacity and good adaptation strategies even at high elevation; thus, it has become a pioneer tree species at high elevations. This research work shows that the resilient adaptation of Abies georgei var. smithiir to environmental change has led to differences in the nutrient uptake and use efficiency and the adaptation patterns of the organs at different altitudinal gradients, with each organ adapting to habitat changes by adjusting its nutrient storage strategy between habitats.

Suggested Citation

  • Yueyao Li & Fangwei Fu & Jiangrong Li & Wensheng Chen & Huihui Ding & Siying Xiao, 2023. "Stoichiometric Characteristics of Abies georgei var. smithii Plants in Southeast Tibet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8458-:d:1153522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8458/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8458/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8458-:d:1153522. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.