Photosynthetica 2006, 44(2):293-298 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-006-0021-x

The occurrence of C4 plants and their morphological functional types in the vegetation of Xinjiang, China

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

Floristic composition, morphological functional types and habitat distributions for C4 species were studied in Xinjiang, North-western China. 89 species, in 9 families and 41 genera, were identified with C4 photosynthesis. 48 % of these C4 species were found in Monocotyledoneae, e.g. Cyperaceae (5 species), Gramineae (38 species), the other 52 % was in Dicotyledoneae, e.g. Chenopodiaceae (29 species), Amaranthaceae (7 species), and Polygonaceae (5 species). Compared with those in semi-arid grasslands in North China and tropical forests in South China, more plant families were found with the occurrence of C4 plants in this arid region. Relatively higher annual species (63 %), shrubs (18 %), and Chenopodiaceae C4 species (33 %) compositions were the primary characteristics for the C4 species occurring in Xinjiang, and this was remarkably related with its arid environment. More Chenopodiaceae C4 species occurring in the region suggested that this type of C4 species may have higher capacity to fit the air and soil droughts. There was a strong relationship between C4 occurrence and habitat distributions, more than half of the total 89 C4 species were found in disturbed and cultivated lands and early stages of vegetation successions, indicating C4 occurrence was not only related with climate changes, but also with land uses and vegetation dynamics.

Additional key words: annual C4 species; arid region; habitats

Received: July 7, 2005; Accepted: January 12, 2006; Published: June 1, 2006  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Wang, R.Z. (2006). The occurrence of C4 plants and their morphological functional types in the vegetation of Xinjiang, China. Photosynthetica, 44(2), 293-298. doi: 10.1007/s11099-006-0021-x
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. Vol. 7. Pp. 87-114. Academic Press, New York-London 1971. Go to original source...
    2. Chinese Central Meteorological Office (ed.): Climatological data of China, Beijing.-Meteorology Press of China, Beijing 1984.
    3. 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...
    4. 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...
    5. Commissione Redactorum Florae Xinjiangensis: Flora Xinjiangensis.-Xinjiang Science & Technology & Hygiene Publishing House, Urmqi 1996.
    6. Delectis Florae Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Agendae Academiae Sinicae Edita: Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. Vol. 9, 10, 11, 12, 25, 26, 44, and 63.-Science Press, Beijing 1977-1999.
    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. Ehleringer, J.R, Cerling, T.E., Helliker, B.R.: C4 photosynthesis, atmospheric CO2, and climate.-Oecologia 112: 285-299, 1997. Go to original source...
    10. Hattersley, P.W., Watson, L.: Diversification of photosynthesis.-In: Chapman, G.P. (ed.).: Grass Evolution and Domestication. Pp. 38-116. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1992.
    11. Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ed.): Vegetation in Xinjiang and its Use. Science Press, Beijing 1978.
    12. Mateu Andrès, I.: A revised list of European C4 plants.-Photosynthetica 26: 323-331, 1993.
    13. 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...
    14. Raghavendra, A.S., Das, V.S.: The occurrence of C4-photosynthesis: A supplementary list of C4 plants reported during late 1974-mid 1977.-Photosynthetica 12: 200-208, 1978.
    15. Redmann, R.E., Yin, L., Wang, P.: Photosynthetic pathway types in grassland plant species from Northeast China.-Photosynthetica 31: 251-255, 1995.
    16. Stowe, L.G., Teeri, J.A.: The geographic distribution of C4 species of the dicotyledonae in relation to climate.-Amer. Naturalist 112: 609-623, 1978. Go to original source...
    17. 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...
    18. 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...
    19. Waller, S.S., Lewis, J.K.: Occurrence of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in North American grasses.-J. Range Manage 32: 12-28, 1979. Go to original source...
    20. Wang, R.Z.: The C4 photosynthetic pathway and life forms in grassland species from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 97-102, 2002a. Go to original source...
    21. Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathways and life forms in different grassland types from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 243-250, 2002b. Go to original source...
    22. 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, 2002c. Go to original source...
    23. Wang, R.Z.: C4 plants in the vegetation of Tibet, China: Their natural occurrence and altitude distribution pattern.-Photosynthetica 41: 21-26, 2003a. Go to original source...
    24. Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathway and morphological functional types in the steppe vegetation from Inner Mongolia, North China.-Photosynthetica 41: 143-150, 2003b. Go to original source...
    25. Wang, R.Z.: C4 species and their response to large-scale longitudinal climate variables along the Northeast China Transect (NECT).-Photosynthetica 42: 71-79, 2004. Go to original source...

    Return to the content