J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2010, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (12): 1086-1099.DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00964.x

• Molecular Ecology and Evolution • Previous Articles     Next Articles

How do Plant Morphological Characteristics, Species Composition and Richness Regulate Eco-hydrological Function?

Zhen-Hong Wang1,2* and Chang-Qun Duan3   

  1. 1College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    2State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
    3College of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
  • Received:2009-07-02 Accepted:2010-04-23 Published:2010-12-01
  • About author:*Author for correspondence Tel: +86 851 3852 346; Fax: +86 851 3856 374; E-mail: w_zhenhong@126.com

Abstract:

Although considerable research has focused on the relationship between ecosystem structure and function, interactions of plant morphological characteristics, species composition and richness with eco-hydrological functions remain unclear. We measured water adherence (i.e. the capacity of a plant species to retain water), documented plant surface morphology and observed surface runoff at three sites in China. The adhering water ratios for each plant species differed, ranging from 17.1% to 151.5% in leaves, and from 14.4% to 41.1% in branches. Small, light-weight, soft, non-cuticularized leaves that were densely situated on small branches showed good water adherence. The next best adherence was found by branches with intermediately coarse surfaces. The plant species with high standing biomass also showed good water adherence, and the contribution of a species to total adherence was dependent upon its aboveground standing biomass. Vegetation parameters strongly affected water adherence, whereas the effect of species richness was not significant. Conversely, species richness showed a significant influence on surface runoff. The effect of plant morphological characteristics and composition constitutes a basic process in the regulation of eco-hydrological function, and vegetation parameters play somewhat different roles in that regulation. The key roles must therefore be considered from a management perspective.

Wang ZH, Duan CQ (2010) How do plant morphological characteristics, species composition and richness regulate eco-hydrological function? J. Integr. Plant Biol. 52(12), 1086–1099.

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