Zhang Huayong, Chen Hao, Zhang Yihe, Wang Zhongyu, Liu Zhao
Research Center for Engineering Ecology and Nonlinear Science, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
Theoretical Ecology and Engineering Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 250100, China.
Life (Basel). 2025 Apr 1;15(4):572. doi: 10.3390/life15040572.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau represents a highly sensitive region to global climate change. Understanding Holocene climate variations and vegetation responses in this area holds significant value for predicting future climate patterns, vegetation distribution changes, and biodiversity loss. Here, we aim to reconstruct Holocene climate conditions in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using modern and Holocene pollen records through weighted averaging-partial least squares (WA-PLS) analysis, and to examine the spatial-temporal relationship between vegetation dynamics and climate change during different characteristic periods. The results indicate that: (1) During the Holocene, the climate generally tended toward warmth and humidity with increased extremity. Based on temperature variations, it can be divided into ten characteristic periods. (2) The Holocene saw an increase in maximum temperature, average temperature, and precipitation, while minimum temperature decreased. (3) Forest decreased, undergoing three stages: expansion, contraction, and continuous contraction leading to stabilization. Grassland increased, following the stages of full expansion, localized expansion, and contraction with stabilization. (4) Under climatic influence, forest areas slightly expanded, while grassland areas slightly contracted. Meanwhile, land salinization intensified. We aim to enhance the understanding of climate change and vegetation evolution, providing a theoretical basis for addressing future climate change and biodiversity loss.
青藏高原是对全球气候变化高度敏感的地区。了解该地区全新世气候变化和植被响应对于预测未来气候模式、植被分布变化和生物多样性丧失具有重要价值。在此，我们旨在通过加权平均偏最小二乘法（WA-PLS）分析，利用现代和全新世花粉记录重建青藏高原东北部全新世气候条件，并研究不同特征时期植被动态与气候变化之间的时空关系。结果表明：（1）全新世期间，气候总体趋于温暖湿润，极端性增强。根据温度变化，可分为十个特征时期。（2）全新世期间，最高温度、平均温度和降水量增加，而最低温度下降。（3）森林减少，经历了三个阶段：扩张、收缩以及持续收缩直至稳定。草原增加，经历了全面扩张、局部扩张以及收缩并稳定的阶段。（4）在气候影响下，森林面积略有扩张，而草原面积略有收缩。与此同时，土地盐碱化加剧。我们旨在增进对气候变化和植被演化的理解，为应对未来气候变化和生物多样性丧失提供理论依据。
