Photosynthetica 2002, 40(1):57-61 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1020185906183

Photosynthetic Pathway Types of Forage Species Along Grazing Gradient from the Songnen Grassland, Northeastern China

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

Photosynthetic pathway types (C3 and C4 species) and their dynamics along grazing gradient were determined for 42 plant species in 30 genera and 13 families from the Songnen grassland, Northeastern China. Of the total, 10 species in 9 genera and 4 families had C4 photosynthesis; 32 species in 21 genera and 12 families had C3 photosynthesis. The proportion of C4 species in total plants and C4/C3 increased with grazing intensity, and peaked in overgrazed plot. Most of the increased C4 species (6 of 10) along the grazed gradient were annual grasses and halophytes. This indicated that the C4 species had greater capacity to tolerate environmental stresses (e.g. drought and saline) caused by animal grazing in the Songnen grassland, Northeastern China.

Additional key words: C3 and C4 species; grazing intensity

Published: March 1, 2002  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Wang, R.Z. (2002). Photosynthetic Pathway Types of Forage Species Along Grazing Gradient from the Songnen Grassland, Northeastern China. Photosynthetica, 40(1), 57-61. doi: 10.1023/A:1020185906183
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. Collins, R.P., Jones, M.B.: The influence of climate factors on the distribution of C4 species in Europe.-Vegetatio 64: 121-129, 1985. Go to original source...
    3. Downton, W.J.S.: The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.-Photosynthetica 9: 96-105, 1975.
    4. 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...
    5. Kitagawa, M.: Neo-Lineamenta Florae Manshuricae.-J. Cramer, Vaduz 1979.
    6. Li, M.: [List of plants with C4 photosynthesis.]-Plant Physiol. Commun. 29: 148-159, 221-240, 1993. [In Chin.]
    7. Mateu Andrés, A.T.: A revised list of the European C4 plants.-Photosynthetica 26: 323-331, 1993.
    8. Raghavendra, A.S., Das, V.S.R.: The occurrence of C4-photosynthesis: A supplementary list of C4 plants reported during late 1974-mid 1977.-Photosynthetica 12: 200-208, 1978.
    9. Redmann, R.E, Yin, L., Wang, P.: Photosynthetic pathway types in grassland plant species from Northeast China.-Photosynthetica 31: 251-255, 1995.
    10. Ripley, E.A., Wang, R.Z., Zhu, T.C.: The climate of the Songnen plain, Northeast China.-Int. J. Ecol. environ. Sci. 22: 1-22, 1996.
    11. Sayed, O.H., Mohamed, M.K.: Altitudinal changes in photosynthetic pathways of floristic elements in souther Sinai, Egypt.-Photosynthetica 38: 367-372, 2000. Go to original source...
    12. Takeda, T., Hakoyama, S.: Studies on the ecology and geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses. 2. Geographical 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...
    13. Tang, H.P., Zhang, X.S.: A new approach to distinguishing photosynthetic types of plants. A case study in Northeast China Transect (NECT) platform.-Photosynthetica 37: 97-106, 1999. Go to original source...
    14. 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...
    15. 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...
    16. Ueno, J.A., Takeda, T.: Photosynthetic pathway, ecological characteristics, and the geographical distribution of the Cyperaceae in Japan.-Oecologia 89: 195-203, 1992. Go to original source...
    17. 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...
    18. Wang, P., Yin, L., Li, J.: Ecological distribution and physiological adaptation to saline-alkali environment of C3 and C4 plants in Northeastern China prairie area.-Chin. J. appl. Ecol. 8: 407-411, 1997. [In Chin.]
    19. Wang, R.Z.: [The niche breadths and niche overlaps of main plant populations in Leymus chinensis grassland for grazing.]-Acta phytoecol. sin. 21: 304-311, 1997. [In Chin.]
    20. Wang, R.Z., Ripley, E.A.: Effects of grazing on a Leymus chinensis grassland on the Songnen plain of northeastern China.-J. Arid Environ. 36: 307-318, 1997. Go to original source...
    21. Williams, G.J., III, Markley, J.L.: The photosynthetic pathway type of North American shortgrass prairie species and some ecological implications.-Photosynthetica 7: 262-270, 1973.
    22. 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 climate condition.-Acta ecol. sin. 17: 350-363, 1997. [In Chin.]
    23. Yin, L., Wang, P.: Distribution of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways of plants on the steppe of Northeastern China.-Acta ecol. sin. 17: 113-122, 1997. [In Chin.]

    Return to the content