植物功能性状反映了植物对生长环境的响应和适应,将环境、植物个体和生态系统结构、过程与功能联系起来,而放牧是草原生态系统的主要土地利用方式,对草原生态系统的群落结构和生态系统功能的改变起着重要作用。该研究测定了内蒙古四子王旗长期不同放牧强度下草原建群种短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)的功能性状,探讨放牧对草原群落结构的影响。研究发现:(1)随放牧强度增加,叶片各性状指标、个体生物量、植株高度、冠(丛)幅均有显著变小、变矮的趋势。(2)通过排序构建的短花针茅性状可塑性变化谱显示,各功能性状指标的可塑性指数均在重牧区最高,轻牧区最低;茎质量、叶质量、全株地上生物量对放牧响应敏感,而茎基部直径、冠(丛)幅和比叶质量响应不敏感。(3)短花针茅对长期放牧的变异系数(CV)与其响应程度(PI)之间符合指数方程y=0.08+0.18e^(1.61 x)(R^2=0.53,P〈0.05),植物功能性状的变异性与性状对放牧的响应强度呈正相关关系。(4)影响地上生物量的因子中,表型功能性状中的冠(丛)幅、平均叶长、叶片数量和总叶面积的贡献率之和达到72.93%。研究认为,随着放牧强度增强,短花针茅的变异性增大、可塑性增强,这可能是短花针茅能够成为建群种的生态响应机制。
Plant functional traits reflect the response and adaptation of plants to the growth environment, linking the environment, plant individuals and ecosystem structures, processes and functions. Grazing as the main land use of grassland ecosystems, play an important role in community structure of grassland eco- systems and changes in ecosystem functions. In this study, the functional traits of Stipa breviflore were studied under different grazing intensities of Siziwang banner, Inner Mongolia. Meanwhile the effects of grazing on grassland community structure were discussed. The results showed that: (1) with the increase of grazing intensity, the traits, individual biomass, plant height and breadth of crown were significantly smaller and shorter. (2) Through the trait plasticity change spectrum, we found that the plasticity indices of the functional traits were the highest in the heavy grazing area and the lowest in the light grazing area.The plasticity responses of stem mass, leaf mass, biomass of whole plant to grazing were the sensitive, but that of stem base diameter, crown and leaf mass were inert. (3) The variability of plant functional traits increased with grazing response intensity, the coefficient of variation (CV) and response degree (PI) of S. breviflora were consistent with the exponential equation y= 0. 08 +0.18e1.61x(R2= 0.53, P〈0.05), the variability of plant functional traits and the response intensity of traits to grazing were proportional. (4) Among the factors affecting aboveground biomass, phenotypic functional traits including width of clump crown, average lea{ length, leave number and total leaf area contribute to 72.93%. With the increase of grazing intensity, the variability of S. breviflora increased, and the plasticity was enhanced, which pro- vided a mechanical explanation for the reason why Stipa breviflora is still a constructive species under the conditions of long-term grazing.