Effect of shrub encroachment on insect herbivory of Polygonum macrophyllum in alpine meadow of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

doi:10.17520/biods.2023417

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Shrub encroachment is ubiquitous in the alpine meadows of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, caused by global warming, increased carbon dioxide concentration, overgrazing, and human activities. Shrub encroachment has both positive and negative effects on grassland ecosystems, and the direction and intensity of these effects depend on environmental factors. Although the effect of shrub encroachment on grassland ecosystem has been demonstrated in many studies, the pattern and mechanism of these effects on insect herbivory are still unclear. In this study, Polygonum macrophyllum, a common species in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, was used to explore the effect of shrub encroachment on insect herbivory of and how the effect changed with climatic and soil factors by comparing the insect herbivory of P. macrophyllum under different Potentilla fruticosa coverages.

Methods: In this study, ten blocks were selected from four sampling sites in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau alpine meadow, and three 0.5 m × 0.5 m quadrats with 0, 50%, 100% P. fruticosa coverage were selected in each block by visual inspection. Soil samples were collected in four additional quadrats near the quadrat of each sample. In addition, we obtained the annual mean temperature, average annual precipitation, and altitude data for each sampling site.

Results: (1) The insect herbivory of P. macrophyllum increased with the increase of shrub coverage. (2) The effect of shrub encroachment on the insect herbivory of P. macrophyllum was more significant in regions with low mean annual temperature, soil available phosphorus content and high soil carbon and nitrogen content.

Conclusion: This study revealed the effect of shrub encroachment on insect herbivory of P. macrophyllum in the alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and further found that this effect was environmentally dependent. This conclusion provides evidence for exploring the effect of shrub encroachment on insect herbivory, and has important practical significance for scientific management of shrub-encroached grasslands on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Key words: shrub encroachment, insect herbivory, shelter effect, barrier effect, soil nutrient availability, fertile island effect, growth-differentiation balance

Xiaodan Tan, Peng Zhang, Sirui Zhu, Xiang Liu, Shurong Zhou, Mu Liu. Effect of shrub encroachment on insect herbivory of Polygonum macrophyllum in alpine meadow of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(1): 23417.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2023417

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I1/23417

Figures/Tables 5

References 53

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变量 Variable	分子自由度 Num df	分母自由度 Den df	估计值 Estimate	F	P
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.097	0.681	0.411
海拔 Elevation	1	105	-0.001	0.074	0.807
盖度 × 海拔 Coverage × Elevation	1	105	< 0.001	1.330	0.252
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.043	24.591	< 0.001
年均温 Mean annual temperature	1	105	-0.182	0.175	0.703
盖度 × 年均温 Coverage × Mean annual temperature	1	105	-0.008	4.604	0.034
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.297	3.342	0.070
年均降水 Mean annual precipitation	1	105	0.015	0.147	0.732
盖度 × 年均降水 Coverage × Mean annual precipitation	1	105	> -0.001	2.543	0.114
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.015	0.714	0.400
土壤含水量 Soil water content	1	105	-2.094	0.243	0.662
盖度 × 土壤含水量 Coverage × Soil water content	1	105	0.040	2.085	0.152
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.054	0.645	0.424
土壤酸碱度 Soil pH	1	105	0.447	0.075	0.805
盖度 × 土壤酸碱度 Coverage × Soil pH	1	105	-0.003	0.055	0.815
盖度 Coverage	1	105	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.983
土壤全磷含量 Soil total phosphorus	1	105	-0.434	0.004	0.954
盖度 × 土壤全磷含量 Coverage × Soil total phosphorus	1	105	0.042	0.855	0.357
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.140	12.999	< 0.001
土壤有效磷含量 Soil available phosphorus	1	105	-0.058	0.005	0.950
盖度 × 土壤有效磷含量 Coverage × Soil available phosphorus	1	105	-0.019	7.195	0.008
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.142	6.596	0.012
土壤碳含量 Soil carban content	1	105	0.035	0.534	0.467
盖度 × 土壤碳含量 Coverage × Soil carbon content	1	105	0.002	10.859	0.001
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.129	4.280	0.041
土壤氮含量 Soil nitrogen content	1	105	0.561	0.542	0.491
盖度 × 土壤氮含量 Coverage × Soil nitrogen content	1	105	0.010	7.341	0.008

变量 Variable	分子自由度 Num df	分母自由度 Den df	估计值 Estimate	F	P
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.097	0.681	0.411
海拔 Elevation	1	105	-0.001	0.074	0.807
盖度 × 海拔 Coverage × Elevation	1	105	< 0.001	1.330	0.252
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.043	24.591	< 0.001
年均温 Mean annual temperature	1	105	-0.182	0.175	0.703
盖度 × 年均温 Coverage × Mean annual temperature	1	105	-0.008	4.604	0.034
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.297	3.342	0.070
年均降水 Mean annual precipitation	1	105	0.015	0.147	0.732
盖度 × 年均降水 Coverage × Mean annual precipitation	1	105	> -0.001	2.543	0.114
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.015	0.714	0.400
土壤含水量 Soil water content	1	105	-2.094	0.243	0.662
盖度 × 土壤含水量 Coverage × Soil water content	1	105	0.040	2.085	0.152
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.054	0.645	0.424
土壤酸碱度 Soil pH	1	105	0.447	0.075	0.805
盖度 × 土壤酸碱度 Coverage × Soil pH	1	105	-0.003	0.055	0.815
盖度 Coverage	1	105	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.983
土壤全磷含量 Soil total phosphorus	1	105	-0.434	0.004	0.954
盖度 × 土壤全磷含量 Coverage × Soil total phosphorus	1	105	0.042	0.855	0.357
盖度 Coverage	1	105	0.140	12.999	< 0.001
土壤有效磷含量 Soil available phosphorus	1	105	-0.058	0.005	0.950
盖度 × 土壤有效磷含量 Coverage × Soil available phosphorus	1	105	-0.019	7.195	0.008
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.142	6.596	0.012
土壤碳含量 Soil carban content	1	105	0.035	0.534	0.467
盖度 × 土壤碳含量 Coverage × Soil carbon content	1	105	0.002	10.859	0.001
盖度 Coverage	1	105	-0.129	4.280	0.041
土壤氮含量 Soil nitrogen content	1	105	0.561	0.542	0.491
盖度 × 土壤氮含量 Coverage × Soil nitrogen content	1	105	0.010	7.341	0.008