Alpine gravelization compromises ecosystem multifunctionality through vegetation loss and soil nutrient depletion
文献类型：期刊论文
| 作者 | Li, Shan; Su, Hongye; Ma, Li; Zhang, Zhonghua; Zhang, Qiang; Wu, Faliang; Ade, Haze; Hu, Xue; Chang, Tao; Wang, Zhen |
| 刊名 | CATENA
 |
| 出版日期 | 2025 |
| 卷号 | 261 |
| 关键词 | Alpine gravelization Gravel cover Alpine meadow Ecosystem multifunctionality Ecological thresholds Community structure |
| 英文摘要 | Alpine grasslands are increasingly threatened by gravelization, a land degradation process characterized by surface gravel accumulation and vegetation loss, particularly under intensified climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. Despite its prevalence, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how gravel cover affects plant-soil interactions and overall ecosystem functioning. In this study, we investigated how varying levels of gravel cover affect plant community structure, soil physicochemical properties, and ecosystem functions in a typical alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and assessed the nonlinear responses of aboveground ecosystem function index (AEMF) and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) to increasing gravel coverage by generalized additive models (GAMs). Our results revealed that gravelization led to a marked decline in plant species richness, functional group composition, and biomass, especially belowground. Soil water content, nutrient availability, and porosity significantly decreased, while bulk density increased with gravel cover. Both AEMF and the belowground ecosystem function index (BEMF) declined significantly, with BEMF exhibiting a more sensitive response. PiecewiseSEM analysis indicated that gravel cover influenced EMF through both direct and indirect pathways, with soil nutrients and plant diversity as key mediators. A critical threshold was identified at 22% gravel coverage, EMF declined sharply. These findings demonstrate that alpine gravelization substantially impairs EMF through vegetation suppression and soil degradation. Our study provides empirical evidence for threshold-based management and highlights the importance of maintaining plant-soil integrity to safeguard ecosystem functions. The identification of a 22% gravel cover threshold further provides a quantitative earlywarning indicator for conservation and restoration planning in alpine grasslands, with broader implications for ecosystem resilience under climate change and land-use intensification. |
| 源URL | [http://210.75.249.4/handle/363003/62343]  |
| 专题 | 西北高原生物研究所_中国科学院西北高原生物研究所 |
| 推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Li, Shan,Su, Hongye,Ma, Li,et al. Alpine gravelization compromises ecosystem multifunctionality through vegetation loss and soil nutrient depletion[J]. CATENA,2025,261. |
| APA | Li, Shan.,Su, Hongye.,Ma, Li.,Zhang, Zhonghua.,Zhang, Qiang.,...&Zhou, Huakun.(2025).Alpine gravelization compromises ecosystem multifunctionality through vegetation loss and soil nutrient depletion.CATENA,261. |
| MLA | Li, Shan,et al."Alpine gravelization compromises ecosystem multifunctionality through vegetation loss and soil nutrient depletion".CATENA 261(2025). |
入库方式： OAI收割
来源：西北高原生物研究所
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