Photosynthetica 2003, 41(1):43-48 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1025800226867

Natural Occurrence and Backwater Infection of C4 Plants in the Vegetation of the Yangtze Hydropower Three Gorges Project Region

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

Natural occurrence of C4 species, life form, altitude pattern, and infection by the Three Gorges Project (TGP) were studied in the TGP region. 76 species (about 2.5 % of the total 2 685 vascular plant species in the region), in 6 families and 42 genera, were identified with C4 photosynthesis. 91 % of these C4 species belong to Monocotyledoneae, e.g. Cyperaceae (14 species), Gramineae (54 species), and Commelinaceae (1 species). Of these C4 species, Gramineae was the leading C4 family: 54 C4 grass species (71 % of the total C4 species), about 36 % of the total grasses, were identified in the TGP region. 98 % C4 species was found in therophyte (55 %) and hemicryptophyte (43 %). This is consistent with high grass and sedge compositions in the region. Most habitats of more than a half of these C4 species (65 %) will be submerged permanently, but no species will be endangered or extinct, because 95 % C4 species can be found from 500 to 800 m above sea level. The abundance of some C4 species will be dropped due to the reduction of distribution scope. It will take a long-term to explore the effects of the TGP on plants, vegetation, and environment.

Additional key words: altitude pattern; geophytes; hemicryptophytes; life form; therophytes

Published: March 1, 2003  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Wang, R.Z. (2003). Natural Occurrence and Backwater Infection of C4 Plants in the Vegetation of the Yangtze Hydropower Three Gorges Project Region. Photosynthetica, 41(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1023/A:1025800226867
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Black, C.C.: Ecological implications of dividing plants into groups with distinct photosynthetic production capacities.-In: Cragg, J.B. (ed.): Advances in Ecological Research. Pp. 87-114. Academic Press, New York-London 1971. Go to original source...
    2. Chen, G.J. (ed.): [The Three Gorge Project and Ecology/Environment.]-Science Press, Beijing 1994. [In Chin.]
    3. Chen, W.L., Zhang, X.Q., Liang, S.J., Jin, Y.X., Yang, Q.X.: [Plants and Compound Agric-Ecosystems in the Three Gorge Area.]-Science Press, Beijing 1994. [In Chin.]
    4. Collatz, G.J., Berry, J.A., Clark, J.S.: Effects of climate and atmospheric CO2 partial pressure on the global distribution of C4 grasses: present, past, and further.-Oecologia 114: 441-454, 1998. Go to original source...
    5. Collins, R.P., Jones, M.B.: The influence of climatic factors on the distribution of C4 species in Europe.-Vegetatio 64: 121-129, 1985. Go to original source...
    6. Delectis Florae Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Agendae Academiae Sinicae Edita: Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. Vol. 9-11.-Science Press, Beijing 1987-1991. [In Chin.]
    7. Downton, W.J.S.: The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.-Photosynthetica 9: 96-105, 1975.
    8. Downton, W.J.S., Tregunna, E.B.: Carbon dioxide compensation - its relation to photosynthetic carboxylation reactions, systematics of the Gramineae, and leaf anatomy.-Can. J. Bot. 46: 207-215, 1968. Go to original source...
    9. Editoral Board of the Flora Sichuanica: Flora Sichuanica, Tomus 1.-Sichuan People Press, Chengdu 1981.
    10. Ehleringer, J.R., Cerling, T.E., Helliker, B.R.: C4 photosynthesis, atmospheric CO2, and climate.-Oecologia 112: 285-299, 1997. Go to original source...
    11. Jin, Y.X., Chen, Z.L., Zheng, Z., Xu, T.Q.: [A report on the expedition of vegetation and environment in Changjiang Sanxia (Gorge of Yangtze river) reservoir region.]-WuHan bot. Res. 2: 1-100, 1984. [In Chin.]
    12. Keeley, J.E.: C4 photosynthetic modifications in the evolutionary transition from land to water in aquatic grasses.-Oecologia 116: 85-97, 1998. Go to original source...
    13. Li, M.: [List of plants with C4 photosynthesis.]-Plant Physiol. Commun. 29: 148-159, 221-240, 1993. [In Chin.]
    14. Pyankov, V.I., Gunin, P.D., Tsoog, S., Black, C.C.: C4 plants in the vegetation of Mongolia: their natural occurrence and geographical distribution in relation to climate.-Oecologia 123: 15-31, 2000. Go to original source...
    15. Redmann, R.E., Yin, L., Wang, P.: Photosynthetic pathway types in grassland plant species from Northeast China.-Photosynthetica 31: 251-255, 1995.
    16. Sayed, O.H., Mohamed, M.K.: Altitudinal changes in photosynthetic pathways of floristic elements in southern Sinai, Egypt.-Photosynthetica 38: 367-372, 2000. Go to original source...
    17. Takeda, T., Hakoyama, S.: Studies on the ecology and geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses. 2. Geo-graphical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in far east and south east Asia.-Jap. J. Crop Sci. 54: 65-71, 1985. Go to original source...
    18. Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G.: Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America.-Oecologia 23: 1-12, 1976. Go to original source...
    19. Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G., Livingstone, D.A.: The distribution of C4 species of the Cyperaceae in North America in relation to climate.-Oecologia 47: 307-310, 1980. Go to original source...
    20. Ueno, O., Takeda, T.: Photosynthetic pathway, ecological characteristics, and the geographical distribution of the Cyperaceae in Japan.-Oecologia 89: 195-203, 1992. Go to original source...
    21. Waller, S.S., Lewis, J.K.: Occurrence of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathway in North American grasses.-J. Range Manage. 32: 12-28, 1979. Go to original source...
    22. Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathway types of forage species along grazing gradient from the Songnen grassland, Northeastern China.-Photosynthetica 40: 57-61, 2002a. Go to original source...
    23. Wang, R.Z.: The C4 photosynthetic pathway and life forms in grassland species from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 97-102, 2002b. Go to original source...
    24. Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathways and life forms in different grassland types from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 243-250, 2002c. Go to original source...
    25. Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathways, life forms and reproductive types for forage species along desertification gradient on Hunshandake desert, North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 321-329, 2002d. Go to original source...
    26. Williams, G.J., III, Markley, J.L.: The photosynthetic pathway type of North American shortgrass prairie species and some ecological implications.-Photosynthetica 7: 62-270, 1973.
    27. Yin, L., Li, M.: A study on the geographic distribution and ecology of C4 plants in China. C4 plant distribution in China and their relation with regional climatic condition.-Acta ecol. sin. 17: 350-363, 1997. [In Chin.]

    Return to the content