Altitude dependence of alpine grassland ecosystem multifunctionality across the Tibetan Plateau

While altitude affects climatic characteristics, terrestrial plant habitats, and species composition, few studies considered the effects of altitude on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). Here, we teased apart the EMF at different altitude with a linear piecewise quantile regression and explore ecosystem functions and environmental factors with EMF along the altitudinal gradient across the Tibetan Plateau. Then, we estimated the response of ecosystem functions to environmental factors, and explain the impact of environmental factors on EMF through the structural equation model. Our data revealed an EMF changepoint at an altitude of about 3900 m where the EMF could be segregated into low- and high-altitude patterns. Our results indicate that water availability drives the EMF mainly through improving soil nutrients and microbe cycling functions in low-altitude regions; conversely, water-heat and phenological conditions regulate the EMF through the role of plant productivity and soil nutrients in high-altitude regions. As such, our EMF analysis suggests that to maintain the long-term stability of the grassland ecosystem, it becomes critical to fully consider the differences in the altitudinal patterns and mechanisms, particularly under the ongoing climate change.

Automated summary

This study used a linear piecewise quantile regression to explore the effect of altitude on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) and investigated the relationship between ecosystem functions and environmental factors along the altitudinal gradient. The results showed a changepoint in EMF at an altitude of approximately 3900 m, with distinct patterns in low- and high-altitude regions. Water availability primarily influenced the EMF in low-altitude areas, while water-heat and phenological conditions regulated the EMF in high-altitude areas.