Chen et al. (2025) Spatiotemporal patterns of coexisting plant water uptake in ecologically vulnerable areas along the southeast margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-26
• Authors: Guo Chen, Peng Wang, Xiang Wang, Yan Wang, Jinzhao Liu, Xiaolu Tang, Ci Song
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134645

Research Groups

• College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• Research Institute for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, Chengdu, China
• College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• State Key Laboratory of Loess Science, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China
• College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Short Summary

This study investigated plant water uptake patterns and the influence of belowground and aboveground stresses, including human activities like tunneling, across an elevation gradient in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It revealed varied water uptake strategies among plant growth forms and highlighted the impact of tunneling on hydrological changes and plant water sources.

Objective

• To improve the understanding of plant water uptake strategies and the underlying mechanisms in ecologically vulnerable regions, specifically focusing on water uptake patterns of different growth forms and the relative importance of belowground and aboveground stresses under the dual influences of human activities (e.g., tunneling) and environment.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Four areas (low elevation, middle elevation with tunneling, intermediate elevation without tunneling, and high elevation) along a southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
• Temporal Scale: Early growth season (May) and the period of tunneling.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated.
• Data sources: Stable isotopes, soil water content, and chlorophyll fluorescence indicator (Fv/Fm).

Main Results

• In low and high elevation areas, plants utilized a high proportion (55.1 %) of shallow water during the early growth season (May).
• In intermediate elevation areas, the contribution of shallow water was low (30.4 %) during the early growth season.
• An average 11.4 % higher contribution from shallow soil water and 5.1 % lower contribution from groundwater was observed in intermediate elevation areas without tunneling compared to those with tunneling during the tunneling period, attributed to hydrological changes induced by tunneling.
• Belowground stress significantly correlated with the contribution of the 0–40 cm soil layer for herbs.
• Aboveground stress significantly correlated with the contribution of a deeper layer (40–80 cm) for trees.
• Links between niche overlap and belowground stress explained the varied water uptake proportions for different plant forms.

Contributions

• Emphasizes the effect of tunneling on plant water uptake strategies in ecologically vulnerable areas.
• Provides insights into varied adaptation strategies of coexisting plants to belowground and aboveground stresses.
• Enhances understanding of eco-hydrological processes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, contributing to local ecological protection and hydrological management.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Chen2025Spatiotemporal,
  author = {Chen, Guo and Wang, Peng and Wang, Xiang and Wang, Yan and Liu, Jinzhao and Tang, Xiaolu and Song, Ci},
  title = {Spatiotemporal patterns of coexisting plant water uptake in ecologically vulnerable areas along the southeast margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134645},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134645}
}