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Biomass-density relationship varies with water use efficiency across an aridity gradient

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Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has shown that the scaling exponent (α) of the aboveground biomass-density relationship is not a constant value. Debate continues over what determines the variation in α. By measuring foliar stable carbon isotope, plant morphological traits and α along an aridity gradient from eastern to western China, we confirmed that the variation in α was accounted for by changes in plant morphological traits which are adaptive strategies for enhancing water use efficiency during drought stress. This information can be crucial for understanding and predicting community and ecosystem processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, CN-310058, Hangzhou, PR China

    Nan Wang, Jing Gao, Shan-Shan Xu, Wei-Ping Zhang & Gen-Xuan Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, CN-712100, Shaanxi, PR China

    Nan Wang

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  1. Nan Wang
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  2. Jing Gao
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  3. Shan-Shan Xu
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  4. Wei-Ping Zhang
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  5. Gen-Xuan Wang
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Correspondence to Nan Wang.

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Wang, N., Gao, J., Xu, SS. et al. Biomass-density relationship varies with water use efficiency across an aridity gradient. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 6, 370–373 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425513040069

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425513040069

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