Climate change will result in variation of rain frequency and amount and warming in arid zones, which is expected to affect seed germination and seedling emergence in desert ecosystems. However, the effects of unpredictable rainfall and increasing temperature on seed germination and seedling emergence of dominant desert plants remain unclear across different deserts, which are important for population regeneration and community succession in desert ecosystems. Seed germination and seedling emergence of across four deserts in Northwest China were examined at different rain frequencies with same total amount, and constant and alternating temperatures, to investigate their response to climate change. Rain frequency determined seed germination and seedling emergence of in the Tengger Desert, Badain Jaran Desert, Gurbantonggut Desert and Mutthar Desert, which was maximal at rain frequency of 10 times per month and decreased with a decrease of rain frequency. Temperature was not a restricting factor for seed germination of in the Tengger Desert, Badain Jaran Desert and Gurbantonggut Desert, varying from 10 °C to 25 °C and from 20/10 °C to 30/15 °C, respectively. However, the highest temperature of 25 °C and 30/15 °C inhibited seed germination of in the Mutthar Desert. Thus, has an opportunistic germination strategy. Under climate change in the future, seed germination and seedling emergence of would be restricted by the combination of less frequent rainfall and increased temperature in desert ecosystems. The regeneration of the community should be promoted by irrigation and seedling transplant.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10071049PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plac048DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

seed germination
32
germination seedling
24
seedling emergence
24
rain frequency
20
desert ecosystems
16
desert
13
climate change
12
germination
9
frequency temperature
8
northwest china
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!