Habitat fragmentation reduced plant functional diversity in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia

作者：Jiawei Yu, Yongzhi Yan, Guowei Wang, Qing Zhang · 发表于：Ecological Indicators · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112975 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology、Forest, Soil, and Plant Ecology in China、Plant Ecology and Soil Science

• Habitat fragmentation reduced plant functional diversity. • This study supported the Functional Diversity-Area Relationship (FDAR). • The landscape emerged as the primary influencing factor on functional diversity. Habitat fragmentation was widely recognized as a critical factor influencing biodiversity. Current research primarily focused on the taxonomic dimensions of biodiversity; however, the impact of habitat fragmentation on plant functional diversity remains less understood. Our study examined 82 remnant grassland patches in the Tabu River Basin, located in the typical agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China. We employed Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and Structural Equation Model (SEM) to explore the effects of predictive variables (landscape variables and environmental variables) on plant leaf functional traits and functional diversity within fragmented landscapes in this region. The results showed that significant correlations were observed among leaf functional traits of 158 species in the study area, suggesting the existence of a trade-off strategy, which is consistent with the leaf economic spectrum theory. Patch area, patch isolation, mean annual precipitation and slope were identified as primary influences on leaf functional traits. Furthermore, the landscape significantly influenced functional diversity, directly or indirectly through microclimate variation. Additionally, this study supported the Functional Diversity-Area Relationship (FDAR), where we found p...