Variation and potential influence factors of foliar pH in land-water ecozones of three small plateau lakes. (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Sining; An, Shenqun; Yan, Zhengbing; Ren, Junpeng; Lu, Xiaoqian; Ge, Feiyang; Han, Wenxuan
• Editors: Aarssen, Lonnie
• Is Part Of: Journal of plant ecology. Volume 14:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 504
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: aquatic macrophyte -- foliar acidity -- functional trait -- helophyte -- waterfront plant community -- water gradient; 大型水生植物 -- 叶片酸度 -- 功能属性 -- 沼生植物 -- 滨水植物群落 -- 水分梯度; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Phytogeography -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtab003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-9921

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: Foliar pH of terrestrial plants, a trait tightly associated with plant physiology and nutrient utilization, varies with plant functional types (PFTs) and environmental changes. However, it is yet unclear about the variation in foliar pH of aquatic plants, and the difference between aquatic and terrestrial plants. Methods: Foliar pH, leaf carbon, nitrogen content of plants along the lakeshore zones and the environmental conditions (water or soil pH, water status) of the corresponding vegetation of three small plateau lakes were investigated, to determine the variation and potential influence factors of foliar pH at both PFT and community levels. Important Findings: Foliar pH varied largely among aquatic plants, and across aquatic, helophytic and terrestrial plants. Floating-leaved macrophytes had more acidic foliage (pH = 4.21 ± 0.05) than emergent (5.71 ± 0.07) and submerged macrophytes (5.82 ± 0.06). Foliar pH of aquatic herbs (5.43 ± 0.10) was lower than that of helophytic (6.12 ± 0.07) and terrestrial herbs (5.74 ± 0.05). Terrestrial herbs had significantly higher foliar pH than woody plants. The variation in foliar pH across PFTs may be mainly ascribed to leaf structure, light utilization and nutrient characteristics. Consistent with the pattern on PFT level, aquatic communities had more acidic foliage than terrestrial communities, which was mainly shaped by species composition, water status and environmental pH. This study documented the first-time foliar pH of aquatic plants, and comparison of foliar pH among various plant types at a landscape scale. Our results provide bases for further exploration of the underlying mechanism and its ecological significance for wetland ecosystems. Graphical Abstract: