Zeng Zhefei, Liang Ziyi, Chen Yan, Shu Qi, Li Junru, Tso Norzin, Chen Mengyan, Zhang Shutong, Tan Xin, Qiong La, Wang Junwei
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, China.
Yani Observation and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystem of the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region, Tibet University, Nyingchi, China.
PeerJ. 2025 Jul 7;13:e19667. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19667. eCollection 2025.
Invasive plants pose a major threat to global ecosystems, especially in ecologically fragile high-altitude regions. Due to its unique geographical and climatic conditions, the Tibetan Plateau is considered highly susceptible to biological invasions. This study investigates the germination capacity and early growth performance of two invasive species, and , under the natural climatic conditions of Lhasa, Tibet. We assessed how seed burial depth, geographical provenance, and climatic variables affect their establishment potential. The results showed that exhibited the highest germination rate in shallow soil layers, especially for seeds originating from Kunming (KM). However, seeds from the same source that matured in Lhasa following one local growing season (LS), showed a significant reduction in germination capacity, indicating the negative effects of high-altitude stress on maternal seed quality. Seeds from different altitudes displayed varied adaptive performance, with high-altitude provenances showing greater plant height in Lhasa's cold, dry environment. Although exhibited generally low germination rates across all burial depths, the individuals that successfully emerged demonstrated vigorous early growth, particularly under deeper burial conditions. This suggests that once established, the species may possess strong potential for rapid population expansion and severe invasion. Climate data over the past three years showed that the growing season from May to October in Lhasa-characterized by increased temperature and precipitation-provided a favorable climate window for both species. Our findings suggest that the ongoing warming and humidification trend on the Tibetan Plateau, driven by global climate change, may further facilitate the expansion and establishment of these invasive species. This study provides essential insights for risk assessment and management of invasive plants in Lhasa and other high-altitude regions, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring and targeted early-warning strategies in response to shifting environmental conditions.
入侵植物对全球生态系统构成重大威胁，尤其是在生态脆弱的高海拔地区。由于其独特的地理和气候条件，青藏高原被认为极易受到生物入侵。本研究调查了两种入侵物种在西藏拉萨自然气候条件下的发芽能力和早期生长表现。我们评估了种子埋藏深度、地理种源和气候变量如何影响它们的定植潜力。结果表明，在浅层土壤中发芽率最高，尤其是来自昆明（KM）的种子。然而，在当地一个生长季节（LS）后于拉萨成熟的同一来源种子，发芽能力显著降低，表明高海拔胁迫对母本种子质量有负面影响。来自不同海拔的种子表现出不同的适应性能，高海拔种源在拉萨寒冷干燥的环境中植株更高。尽管在所有埋藏深度下发芽率普遍较低，但成功出土的个体早期生长旺盛，尤其是在更深的埋藏条件下。这表明一旦定植，该物种可能具有迅速种群扩张和严重入侵的强大潜力。过去三年的气候数据显示，拉萨5月至10月的生长季节——以气温升高和降水增加为特征——为这两个物种提供了有利的气候窗口。我们的研究结果表明，由全球气候变化驱动的青藏高原持续变暖和湿润趋势可能会进一步促进这些入侵物种的扩张和定植。本研究为拉萨和其他高海拔地区入侵植物的风险评估和管理提供了重要见解，强调了长期监测和针对性预警策略以应对不断变化的环境条件的重要性。
