The storage and utilization of carbohydrates in response to elevation mediated by tree organs in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests

Bin Xu; Xueli Jiang; Yingying Zong; G. Geoff Wang; Fusheng Chen; Zhenyu Zhao; Xiangmin Fang

Forest Ecosystems (Jan 2024)

The storage and utilization of carbohydrates in response to elevation mediated by tree organs in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests

Bin Xu,
Xueli Jiang,
Yingying Zong,
G. Geoff Wang,
Fusheng Chen,
Zhenyu Zhao,
Xiangmin Fang

Affiliations

Bin Xu: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China; Jiulianshan National Observation and Research Station of Chinese Forest Ecosystem, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
Xueli Jiang: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
Yingying Zong: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
G. Geoff Wang: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
Fusheng Chen: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China; Jiulianshan National Observation and Research Station of Chinese Forest Ecosystem, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
Zhenyu Zhao: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
Xiangmin Fang: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China; Jiulianshan National Observation and Research Station of Chinese Forest Ecosystem, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11
p. 100167

Abstract

Read online

Global climate change can affect tree growth and carbon sink function by influencing plant carbohydrate synthesis and utilization, while elevation can be used as an ideal setting under natural conditions to simulate climate change effects. The effect of elevation on tree growth may depend on organ type. However, the allocation patterns of nonstructural and structural carbohydrates (NSCs and SCs, respectively) in different tree organs and their response to elevation remain unclear. We selected four dominant tree species, Schima superba, Castanopsis eyrei, Castanopsis fargesii and Michelia maudiae, along an elevation gradient from 609 to 1,207 m in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and analyzed leaf, trunk, and fine root NSCs, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and the relative abundance of SCs. Leaf NSCs increased initially and then decreased, and trunk NSCs increased with increasing elevation. However, root NSCs decreased with increasing elevation. The relative abundance of SCs in leaves and trunks decreased, while the relative abundance of root SCs increased with increasing elevation. No significant correlations between SCs and NSCs in leaves were detected, while there were negative correlations between SCs and NSCs in trunks, roots, and all organs. Hierarchical partitioning analysis indicated that plant C/N and C/P were the main predictors of changes in SCs and NSCs. Our results suggest that tree organs have divergent responses to elevation and that increasing elevation will inhibit the aboveground part growth and enhance the root growth of trees. A tradeoff between the C distribution used for growth and storage was confirmed along the elevation gradient, which is mainly manifested in the “sink” organs of NSCs. Our results provide insight into tree growth in the context of global climate change scenarios in subtropical forest ecosystems.

Published in Forest Ecosystems

ISSN: 2095-6355 (Print); 2197-5620 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/forest-ecosystems/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords