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Discovery of C4 species at high altitude in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Plant specimens are collected from the areas between latitude 27 ° 42′N and 40 ° 57′N, and longitude 88 ° 93′E and 103 ° 24′E, with an altitudinal range from 2210 to 5050 m above the sea level in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The stable carbon isotope analysis indicates that two of Chenopodiaceae and six of Poaceae in the samples are C4 plants. Four of the C4 plants are found in 11 spots with altitudes above 3800 m, and Pennisetum centrasiaticum, Arundinella yunnanensis and Orinus thoroldii are present in six spots above 4000 m, even up to 4520 m. At low CO2 partial pressure, that sufficient energy of high light improving C4 plant’s tolerance of low temperature and precipitations concentrating in growing season probably are favorable for C4 plants growing at high altitude in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China

    Luo Wang, Houyuan Lü, Naiqin Wu, Jiamao Han & Zhaoyan Gu

  2. Tibet Institute of Plateau Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 850000, Lhasa, China

    Duo Chu

  3. Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 810000, Xining, China

    Yuhu Wu

  4. Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 710075, Xi’an, China

    Haibin Wu

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  1. Luo Wang
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  2. Houyuan Lü
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  3. Naiqin Wu
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  4. Duo Chu
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  6. Yuhu Wu
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  7. Haibin Wu
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  8. Zhaoyan Gu
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Correspondence to Luo Wang.

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Wang, L., Lü, H., Wu, N. et al. Discovery of C4 species at high altitude in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Chin. Sci. Bull. 49, 1392–1396 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03036887

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03036887

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