Photosynthetica 2004, 42(4):511-519 | DOI: 10.1007/S11099-005-0006-1

Plant functional types and their ecological responses to salinization in saline grasslands, Northeastern China

R.Z. Wang1
1 Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Photosynthetic pathways (C3, C4, and CAM) and morphological functional types (e.g. shrubs, high perennial grasses, short perennial graminaceous plants, annual grasses, annual forbs, perennial forbs, halophytes, and hydrophytes) were identified for the species from salinity grasslands in Northeastern China, using the data from both stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) and from the references published between 1993 and 2002. 150 species, in 99 genera and 37 families, were found with C3 photosynthesis, and most of these species are dominants [e.g. Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., Calamagrostis epigeios (L.), Suaeda corniculata (C.A. Mey.) Bunge]. 40 species in 25 genera and 8 families were identified with C4 photosynthesis [e.g. Chloris virgata Sw., Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parlat] and 1 species with CAM photosynthesis. Gramineae is the leading family with C4 photosynthesis (27 species), Chenopodiaceae ranks the second (5 species). The significant increase of C4 proportions with intense salinity suggested this type plant is remarkable response to the grassland salinization in the region. 191 species were classified into eight morphological functional types and the changes of most of these types (e.g. PEF, HAL, and HPG) were consistent with habitats and vegetation dynamics in the saline grassland. My findings suggest that the photosynthetic pathways, combined with morphological functional types, are efficient means for studying the linkage between species and ecosystems in this type of saline grassland in Northeastern China.

Additional key words: C3, C4, CAM species; ecological responses; morphological functional types; saline grasslands

Received: May 7, 2004; Accepted: July 1, 2004; Published: December 1, 2004  Show citation

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Wang, R.Z. (2004). Plant functional types and their ecological responses to salinization in saline grasslands, Northeastern China. Photosynthetica, 42(4), 511-519. doi: 10.1007/S11099-005-0006-1
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