How do Plant Morphological Characteristics, SpeciesComposition and Richness Regulate Eco-hydrological Function?

编号 zgly0001392017

文献类型 期刊论文

文献题名 How do Plant Morphological Characteristics, SpeciesComposition and Richness Regulate Eco-hydrological Function?

母体文献 Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 

年卷期 2010年12期

年份 2010 

分类号 Q948 

关键词 vegetation  richness  branches  shrub  ecosystem  morphological  runoff  biomass  somewhat  Species 

文摘内容 Although considerable research has focused on the relationship between ecosystem structure and function, interactions of plant morphological characteristics, species composition and richness with eco-hydrological functions remain unclear. We measured water adherence (i.e. the capacity of a plant species to retain water), documented plant surface morphology and observed surface runoff at three sites in China. The adhering water ratios for each plant species differed, ranging from 17.1% to 151.5% in leaves, and from 14.4% to 41.1% in branches. Small, light-weight, soft, non-cuticularized leaves that were densely situated on small branches showed good water adherence. The next best adherence was found by branches with intermediately coarse surfaces. The plant species with high standing biomass also showed good water adherence, and the contribution of a species to total adherence was dependent upon its aboveground standing biomass. Vegetation parameters strongly affected water adherence, whereas the effect of species richness was not significant. Conversely, species richness showed a significant influence on surface runoff. The effect of plant morphological characteristics and composition constitutes a basic process in the regulation of eco-hydrological function, and vegetation parameters play somewhat different roles in that regulation. The key roles must therefore be considered from a management perspective.