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. 2017 Nov 10;120(5):755-764.
doi: 10.1093/aob/mcx072.

Differences in below-ground bud bank density and composition along a climatic gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China

Jianqiang Qian  1   2 , Zhengwen Wang  1 , Jitka Klimešová  3 , Xiaotao Lü  1 , Wennong Kuang  1 , Zhimin Liu  1 , Xingguo Han  1
Affiliations

Differences in below-ground bud bank density and composition along a climatic gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China

Jianqiang Qian et al. Ann Bot. .

Abstract

Background and aims: Understanding the changes in below-ground bud bank density and composition along a climatic gradient is essential for the exploration of species distribution pattern and vegetation composition in response to climatic changes. Nevertheless, investigations on bud banks along climatic gradients are still scarce. The below-ground bud bank is expected to be reduced in size in arid conditions, and costly, bud-bearing organs with long spacers would be replaced by more compact forms with buds that are better protected than those found in moist conditions.

Methods: How total bud density and composition (different bud bank types) change with aridity (calculated value 0·43-0·91), mean annual precipitation (MAP; 93-420 mm) and mean annual temperature (MAT; -1·51 to 6·93 °C) was tested at 21 sites along a 2500-km climatic gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China.

Conclusions: Belowground bud bank density decreases towards the dry, hot end of the climatic gradient. Based on the distribution of bud types along the climatic gradient, bulb buds and tiller buds of tussock grasses seem to be more resistant to environmental stress than rhizome buds. The dominance of annual species and smaller bud banks in arid region implies that plant reproductive strategies and vegetation composition will be shifted in scenarios of increased drought under future climate change.

Keywords: Adaptive strategy; aridification; climate change; clonal traits; community dynamics; precipitation gradient.

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Figures

F<sc>ig</sc>. 1.
Fig. 1.
Distribution of sampling sites in the temperate steppe of northern China.
F<sc>ig</sc>. 2.
Fig. 2.
Changes in total bud bank density (mean±s.e.) along the climatic gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China. (A) Mean annual temperature. (B) Mean annual precipitation. (C) Aridity.
F<sc>ig</sc>. 3.
Fig. 3.
Changes in the proportion (mean±s.e.) of four bud bank types across the aridity gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China. (A) Tiller buds. (B) Rhizome buds. (C) Bulb buds. (D) Dicot buds.
F<sc>ig</sc>. 4.
Fig. 4.
Changes in bud density (mean±s.e.) of different bud bank types along the temperature gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China. (A) Tiller buds. (B) Rhizome buds. (C) Bulb buds. (D) Dicot buds.
F<sc>ig</sc>. 5.
Fig. 5.
Changes in bud density (mean±s.e.) of different bud bank types along the precipitation gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China. (A) Tiller buds. (B) Rhizome buds. (C) Bulb buds. (D) Dicot buds.
F<sc>ig</sc>. 6.
Fig. 6.
Changes in vegetation coverage (A), relative richness (B) and biomass proportion (C) (mean±s.e.) of annuals along the aridity gradient in the temperate steppe of northern China.
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