通过测定中国境内红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)主要分布区21个自然种群407个植株叶片氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)含量、叶片含水量和稳定碳同位素组成等叶片特征,分析不同自然种群红砂叶片特征与环境气候因子之间的关系。研究结果表明,随着年平均最低温度的升高,红砂叶片N、P含量、叶片含水量和稳定碳同位素值显著升高。年平均温度和红砂叶片含水量、年平均最高温度和红砂叶片稳定碳同位素值显著正相关。不同生长区年平均降雨量和平均湿度对红砂叶片特征的影响一致,与红砂叶片P、K含量和叶片稳定碳同位素值显著负相关,与叶片N含量和叶片含水量显著正相关。不同生长区平均日照时数和蒸发量对红砂叶片特征的影响一致,与红砂叶片P、K含量和叶片稳定碳同位素值显著正相关,与叶片含水量显著负相关。说明不同自然种群中红砂叶片特征受气候条件的影响显著,不同气候因子对红砂叶片特征的贡献显著不同。不同种群间红砂叶片N含量的变化是各气象因子均衡作用的结果,年平均湿度是影响红砂叶片K含量和稳定碳同位素值的主要限制因子,蒸发量是影响红砂叶片P含量的关键因子,平均日照时数是影响红砂叶片含水量的关键因子。红砂叶片特征对不同环境条件下气候因子的这种响应模式在一定程度上反映和指示了以红砂为建群种荒漠生态系统的环境状况和稳定程度。
Aims Reaumuria soongorica is a major dominant of desert shrub vegetation in arid regions of China. Our objectives were to investigate correlations between foliar characteristics of this desert plant and meteorological factors and to identify the major factor influencing variations in different environments. Methods We collected 407 individuals ofR. soongorica from 21 natural populations in its major area of distribution in northwestern China and measured the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and leaf water content and stable carbon isotope composition in leaves. Meteorological data, including mean annual precipitation and temperature, evaporation, mean relative humidity and duration of sunshine, were collected from the Cold and Arid Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The relationships between foliar characteristics and meteorological factors were analyzed by simple linear regression and Pearson's correlation. Important findings Variation of leaf nitrogen content in R. soongorica was due to the complex effect of meteorological factors. Mean relative humidity was the limiting factor that affected leaf potassium content and stable carbon isotope composition. Evaporation and duration of sunshine were the key factors influencing leaf phosphorus content and water content, respectively. The impacts of climate conditions on foliar characteristics of R. soongorica were notable, and the contributions of different meteorological factors to foliar characteristics differed significantly. This pattern of variation in foliar characteristics responded to different meteorological conditions, reflecting the environmental status and the stable extent of desert ecosystems dominated by R. soongorica.