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Research Article
Miaojun Ma
Lanzhou University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-9574
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the role of seed bank during ecosystem transitions from arid grassland to shrubland.
Methods We explored the aboveground vegetation, seed bank and soil environmental factors at 29 sites along a moisture gradient that served as a space-for-time substitution in the Qaidam Basin on the Tibetan Plateau to test whether changes seed bank composition or changes in the ability of the seed bank to restore aboveground vegetation could lead to ecosystem transition.
Results We found that the composition of the aboveground vegetation presented nonlinear changes with decreased soil moisture and showed an inflection point in the threshold zone on the spatial scale of ecosystem transition from arid grassland to shrubland; however, an inflection point was not observed for the seed bank. Surprisingly, an inflection point of the similarity between the aboveground vegetation and seed bank also emerged at this threshold zone (ecosystem transition from arid grassland and shrubland).
Conclusions Our results suggest that the transition from arid grassland to shrub ecosystem is not caused by changes of the seed bank composition but by the inhibition of the seed bank's restorability to aboveground vegetation. Future work on changes in vegetation composition and species diversity with ecosystem transitions should consider the belowground seed bank.
Keywords
arid grassland, ecosystem transition, shrubland, soil seed bank, soil moisture, threshold
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
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Posted 10 Mar, 2021
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Received 08 Mar, 2021
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This preprint is under consideration at Plant and Soil. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Miaojun Ma
Lanzhou University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-9574
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 10 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Review #? received
Received 08 Mar, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 06 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 06 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 04 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the role of seed bank during ecosystem transitions from arid grassland to shrubland.
Methods We explored the aboveground vegetation, seed bank and soil environmental factors at 29 sites along a moisture gradient that served as a space-for-time substitution in the Qaidam Basin on the Tibetan Plateau to test whether changes seed bank composition or changes in the ability of the seed bank to restore aboveground vegetation could lead to ecosystem transition.
Results We found that the composition of the aboveground vegetation presented nonlinear changes with decreased soil moisture and showed an inflection point in the threshold zone on the spatial scale of ecosystem transition from arid grassland to shrubland; however, an inflection point was not observed for the seed bank. Surprisingly, an inflection point of the similarity between the aboveground vegetation and seed bank also emerged at this threshold zone (ecosystem transition from arid grassland and shrubland).
Conclusions Our results suggest that the transition from arid grassland to shrub ecosystem is not caused by changes of the seed bank composition but by the inhibition of the seed bank's restorability to aboveground vegetation. Future work on changes in vegetation composition and species diversity with ecosystem transitions should consider the belowground seed bank.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
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