How do Plant Morphological Characteristics, SpeciesComposition and Richness Regulate Eco-hydrological Function?  

Research Article How do Plant Morphological Characteristics, Species Composition and Richness Regulate Eco-hydrological Function?

作　　者：Zhen-Hong Wang Chang-Qun Duan 

机构地区：[1]College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China [2]State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China [3]College of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China

出　　处：《Journal of Integrative Plant Biology》2010年第12期1086-1099,共14页植物学报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40861015);the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry-land Farming on the Loess Plateau (10501-208);the Natural ScienceFoundation of Yunnan Province, China (2000C0001P)

摘　　要：Although considerable research has focused on the relationship between ecosystem structure and function, interactions of plant morphological characteristics, species composition and richness with eco-hydrological functions remain unclear. We measured water adherence （i.e. the capacity of a plant species to retain water）, documented plant surface morphology and observed surface runoff at three sites in China. The adhering water ratios for each plant species differed, ranging from 17.1% to 151.5% in leaves, and from 14.4% to 41.1% in branches. Small, light-weight, soft, non-cuticularized leaves that were densely situated on small branches showed good water adherence. The next best adherence was found by branches with intermediately coarse surfaces. The plant species with high standing biomass also showed good water adherence, and the contribution of a species to total adherence was dependent upon its aboveground standing biomass. Vegetation parameters strongly affected water adherence, whereas the effect of species richness was not significant. Conversely, species richness showed a significant influence on surface runoff. The effect of plant morphological characteristics and composition constitutes a basic process in the regulation of eco-hydrological function, and vegetation parameters play somewhat different roles in that regulation. The key roles must therefore be considered from a management perspective.Although considerable research has focused on the relationship between ecosystem structure and function, interactions of plant morphological characteristics, species composition and richness with eco-hydrological functions remain unclear. We measured water adherence （i.e. the capacity of a plant species to retain water）, documented plant surface morphology and observed surface runoff at three sites in China. The adhering water ratios for each plant species differed, ranging from 17.1% to 151.5% in leaves, and from 14.4% to 41.1% in branches. Small, light-weight, soft, non-cuticularized leaves that were densely situated on small branches showed good water adherence. The next best adherence was found by branches with intermediately coarse surfaces. The plant species with high standing biomass also showed good water adherence, and the contribution of a species to total adherence was dependent upon its aboveground standing biomass. Vegetation parameters strongly affected water adherence, whereas the effect of species richness was not significant. Conversely, species richness showed a significant influence on surface runoff. The effect of plant morphological characteristics and composition constitutes a basic process in the regulation of eco-hydrological function, and vegetation parameters play somewhat different roles in that regulation. The key roles must therefore be considered from a management perspective.

分 类 号：S715[农业科学—林学] Q948.524.5[生物学—植物学]