Comparing plant functional types in an old-field and a natural rangeland vegetation

Jankju, Mohammad; Noedoost, Fariba; Rafiei, Fahimeh

doi:10.22059/jrwm.2015.56965

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Mohammad Jankju, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

² Fariba Noedoost, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khatam Alanbia Industrial University of Behbahan, Behbahan, Iran

³ MSc Graduated, Department of Biology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2015.56965

Abstract

This research was conducted to compare plant functional types (PFT) and traits in an old-field (abandoned for 28 years) and a control site, in the Baharkish rangelands, Quchan, Iran. In the both sites, 40 randomized quadrates were established. Floristic list, frequency, canopy cover and 20 vegetative, phenological and morphological plant traits were measured for all plant species, within each quadrate. According to the Pearson correlation analysis, and by using R software, 9 plant traits including life form, plant canopy, reproduction mode, reserve organ, root type, leaf phenology, growth form, life cycle, and regeneration mode, were known as the major plant functional traits. Data classification and ordination were applied on a matrix of 9 traits ×112 species, by using CANOCO and TWINSPAN softwares. It led to identification of 5 plant functional types. Total canopy cover of two PFT was significantly (70%) reduced and that of three PFT’s were relatively (10-20%) increased in the abandoned field. In conclusions, plants being annual, therophyte, geophytes, and rhizomatus are tolerant, whereas those being perennial (phaneropyte, chemaphyte, hemicryptophyte), having tap root system, and wide canopy cover are known as sensitive to ploughing disturbance.

Keywords

References

[1] Castro, H., Lehsten, V., Lavorel S. and Freitas, H. (2010). Functional response traits in relation to land use change in the Montado, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environmen, 137, 183-191.

[2] Cornelissen, J.H.C., Larovel, S., Garnier, E., Diaz, N., Buchman, N., Gurrich, D.E., Reich, P.B., ter Steege, N., Morgan, H.D., Vander Heijden, M.G.A., Pausas, J.G. and Poorter, H. (2003). A handbook of protocols for standardized and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide, Journal of Botany, 51, 335-380.

[3] Deng, F., Zang, R. and chen, B. (2008). Identification of functional groups in an old-growth tropical montane rain forest on Hainan Island ,China, Forest Ecology management, 255, 1820-1830.

[4] Doll, M., Bernhatdt-ro, M., Parth, A. and Schmidt, W. ( 2008). Changes in life history trait composition during undisturbed old-field succession, Flora, 203, 508-522.

[5] Feng, D., Hong-bo, S. Lun, S., Zong-suo, L. and Ming-An, S. (2007). Secondary successtion and its effects on soil moisture and nutrition in abandoned old-fields of hilly region of loess plataa, China Colloids and Surfaces B. Biointerfaces, 58, 278-285.

[6] Hooper, D.U. and Vitousek, P.M. (1997). The effect of plant composition and diversity on ecosystem processes, Science, 277, 1302-1305.

[7] Jankju, M. (2009). Range improvement and development, Jihad Daneshgahi Mashhad Press, Mashhad, Iran, 225 pp.

[8] Kelly, C.K. and Bowler, M.G. (2002). Coexistence and relative abundance in forest trees, Nature, 417, 437-440.

[9] Kent, M. and Cocker, P. (2001). Vegetation description and analysis; a practical approach, Willey-Blackwell, London.

[10] Lavorel, S. and Garnier, E. (2002). Predicting changes in community composition and ecosystem functioning from plant traits: revisiting the Holy Grail, Functional Ecology, 16, 545-556.

[11] Lehsten, V. and Kleyer, M. (2007). Turnover of plant trait hierarchies in simulated community assembly in respons to fertility and disturbance, Ecological Modelling, 203, 270-278.

[12] Lemonet, B.B., Perry, G.L.W., Schurr, F.M. and Jeltsch, F. (2008). Assessing the importance of seed immigration on coexistence of plant functional types in a species-rich ecosystem, Ecological Modelling, 213, 402-416.

[13] Leva, P.E., Aguiar, M.R. and Oesterheld, M. (2009). Underground ecology in a Pategonian steppe: Root triats permit identification of gramonoid species and classification in to functional types, Journal of Arid Enviromentals, 73, 428-434.

[14] Lloret, F. and vila, M. (2003). Diversity patterns of plant functional types in relation to fire regime and previous land use in Mediterranean woodlands, Journal of Vegetation Science, 14, 387-398.

[15] Mcgill, B.J., Enquist, B.J., Weiher, E. and Westoby, M.( 2006). Rebuiding community ecology from functional traits, Trends ecological Evolut, 21, 178-185.

[16] Moghaddam, M.R. (1997). Range land and rangeland management, Tehran University Press, Tehran, Iran, 330p.(In Persian).

[17] Naeem, S. and Wright J.P. (2003). Disentangling biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning: deriving solutions to a seemingly insurmountable problem, Ecological Lett, 6, 567-579.

[18] Nikan, M. (2010). Grazing Effects on Plant functional Types in Baharkish of Quchan. MSc thesis, Ferdowsi Univerdity, Mashhad, Iran,130p. (In Persian).

[19] Otto, R., Kru, B.O., Burga, C.A. and Frena, J.M. (2006). Old-fiela succession along a precipitation gradient in the semi-arid coastal region of Tenerife, Journal of Arid Environments, 65, 156-178.

[20] Poorter, L., Bongers, L. and Bongers, F. (2006). Architecture of 54 moist-forest tree species: traits, trade –off, and functional groups, Ecology, 87, 1289-1301.

[21] Rafiee, F. (2011). Investigation effect of fire on Plant functional type and secondary successtion in semi-arid rangeland Jowzak in provence North Khorasan. MSc thesis, Ferdowsi Univerdity, Mashhad, Iran,130p. (In Persian).

[22] Reich, P.B., Tilman, D., Naeem, S., Ellsworth, D.S., Knops, J., Wedin, D. and Trost, J. (2004). Species and functional groups diversity independently influence biomas accumulation and its response to co₂ and N. Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 101, 10101-10106.

[23] Rusch, G.M., Pausas, J.G. and Lepš, J. (2003). Plant Functional Types in relation to disturbance and land use: Introduction, Journal of Vegetation Science, 14, 307-310.

[24] Shariatmadari, H. (2011). Effect of fire on Plant functional type in two arid and semi-arid rangeland (Bazangan and Jowzak). MSc thesis, Ferdowsi Univerdity, Mashhad, Iran,130p. (In Persian).

[25] Webb, W.M. and Guthery, F.S. (1983). Response of wildlife food plants to spring discing of mesquite rangeland in northwest Texas, Journal of Range Management, 36, 351-353.

[26] Wright, J.P., Naeem, S., Hector, A., Lehman, C., Reich, P.B., Schmid, B. and Tilman, D. (2006). Covenyional functional classification schemes underestimate the relationship with ecosystem functioning, Ecol. Lett., 9, 111-120.

Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Comparing plant functional types in an old-field and a natural rangeland vegetation

References

References

Volume 68, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2016
Pages 835-851

Comparing plant functional types in an old-field and a natural rangeland vegetation

References

References

Volume 68, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4January 2016Pages 835-851

Volume 68, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2016
Pages 835-851