Human‐Climate Coupled Changes in Vegetation Community Complexity of China Since 1980s. Issue 7 (19th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Yanjun; Guo, Qinghua; Guan, Hongcan; Hu, Tianyu; Jin, Shichao; Wang, Zhiheng; Liu, Lingli; Jiang, Lin; Guo, Ke; Xie, Zongqiang; An, Shazhou; Chen, Xuelin; Hao, Zhanqing; Hu, Yuanman; Huang, Yongmei; Jiang, Mingxi; Li, Jiaxiang; Li, Zhenji; Li, Xiankun; Li, Xiaowei; Liang, Cunzhu; Liu, Renlin; Liu, Qing; Ni, Hongwei; Peng, Shaolin; Shen, Zehao; Tang, Zhiyao; Tian, Xingjun; Wang, Xihua; Wang, Renqing; Xie, Yingzhong; Xu, Xiaoniu; Yang, Xiaobo; Yang, Yongchuan; Yu, Lifei; Yue, Ming; Zhang, Feng; Chen, Jun; Ma, Keping;
• Is Part Of: Earth's future. Volume 10:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-07-19
• Subjects: vegetation community complexity -- human activities -- climate change -- vegetation map; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2021EF002553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-4277

Abstract

Abstract: Vegetation community complexity is a critical factor influencing terrestrial ecosystem stability. China, the country leading the world in vegetation greening resulting from human activities, has experienced dramatic changes in vegetation community composition during the past 30 years. However, how China's vegetation community complexity varies spatially and temporally remains unclear. Here, we examined the spatial pattern of China's vegetation community complexity and its temporal changes from the 1980s to 2015 using two vegetation maps of China as well as more than half a million field samples. Spatially, China's vegetation community complexity distribution is primarily dominated by elevation, although temperature and precipitation can be locally more influential than elevation when they become the factors limiting plant growth. Temporally, China's vegetation community complexity shows a significant decreasing trend during the past 30 years, despite the observed vegetation greening trend. Prevailing climate warming across China exhibits a significant negative correlation with the decrease in vegetation community complexity, but this correlation varies with biogeographical regions. The intensity of human activities have an overall negative influence on vegetation community complexity, but vegetation conservation and restoration efforts can have a positive effect on maintaining vegetation composition complexity, informing the critical role of vegetation management policies in achieving the sustainable development goal. Plain Language Summary: China, as a country leading in vegetation greening, has experienced remarkable changes in vegetation community compositions. However, its vegetation community complexity, as an important factor indicating terrestrial ecosystem stability and sustainability, has been rarely studied. This study provides a comprehensive understanding on the spatial and temporal changes in China's vegetation community complexity from the1980s to 2015, and highlights a significant decreasing trend despite observable vegetation greening. Climate warming has an overall significant negative correlation with the decrease in vegetation community complexity, but their correlation varies with biogeographical regions. The intensity of human activities have an overall negative influence on vegetation community complexity, but vegetation conservation and restoration efforts can exhibit a positive effect on maintaining vegetation composition complexity, informing the critical role of vegetation management policies in achieving the sustainable development goal. Key Points: The spatial pattern and temporal changes of China's vegetation community complexity were examined using over half a million field samples Despite China is getting greener, China's vegetation community complexity decreased during the past 30 years With proper vegetation conservation efforts, human activities can have a positive effect on maintaining vegetation composition complexity