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Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in plant science

Seasonal and regional divergence in snow-regulated early-season vegetation productivity on the Tibetan Plateau

  • Qianqian Ma1
  • Xiangyi Li2
  • Ji Liu3
  • Qilong Tian1
  • Zhaobin Mu2
  1. 1College of Ecology and Environment, Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, Xinjiang University , ,
  2. 2Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences , ,
  3. 3State Key Laboratory of Loess Science, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , ,
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Abstract

Introduction: Seasonal snow significantly regulates vegetation productivity on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), but its pathways and seasonal effects remain unclear.

Methods: Using multi-source remote sensing datasets and long-term field observations, this study employed a structural equation model to disentangle the dual-pathway regulatory mechanisms—specifically the soil moisture and growing-season effects—through which snow influences net primary productivity (NPP) across spring and summer on the TP.

Results: Snow regulation of vegetation NPP exhibited significant seasonal and spatial differentiation. Spring (March-May) NPP was primarily influenced by the growing-season effect (GS effect), where changes in snow depth were linked to shifts in the start of the growing season (SOS), thereby modulating NPP; this relationship intensified with increasing elevation. In contrast, summer (June-August) NPP was primarily influenced by the soil moisture effect, whereby increased/decreased snow depth was associated with increased/decreased soil moisture, which may subsequently contribute to higher/lower NPP. However, this effect weakened with elevation and even became negative above 4500 meters. Spatially, the total effect of snow depth on summer NPP was positive in the semi-humid central and eastern TP, but negative in the semi-arid southwestern TP.

Discussion: These seasonal and spatial variations highlight the importance of accounting for climatic and altitudinal modulation in carbon cycle models, providing vital insights into alpine ecosystem responses to ongoing climate change.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{ma2026seasonal,
  title = {{Seasonal and regional divergence in snow-regulated early-season vegetation productivity on the Tibetan Plateau}},
  author = {Qianqian Ma and Xiangyi Li and Ji Liu and Qilong Tian and Zhaobin Mu},
  journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1944350},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662066},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Seasonal and regional divergence in snow-regulated early-season vegetation productivity on the Tibetan Plateau
AU  - Qianqian Ma
AU  - Xiangyi Li
AU  - Ji Liu
AU  - Qilong Tian
AU  - Zhaobin Mu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Frontiers in plant science
DO  - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1944350
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662066
AB  - Introduction: Seasonal snow significantly regulates vegetation productivity on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), but its pathways and seasonal effects remain unclear.  Methods: Using multi-source remote sensing datasets and long-term field observations, this study employed a structural equation model to disentangle the dual-pathway regulatory mechanisms—specifically the soil moisture and growing-season effects—through which snow influences net primary productivity (NPP) across spring and summer on the TP.  Results: Snow regulation of vegetation NPP exhibited significant seasonal and spatial differentiation. Spring (March-May) NPP was primarily influenced by the growing-season effect (GS effect), where changes in snow depth were linked to shifts in the start of the growing season (SOS), thereby modulating NPP; this relationship intensified with increasing elevation. In contrast, summer (June-August) NPP was primarily influenced by the soil moisture effect, whereby increased/decreased snow depth was associated with increased/decreased soil moisture, which may subsequently contribute to higher/lower NPP. However, this effect weakened with elevation and even became negative above 4500 meters. Spatially, the total effect of snow depth on summer NPP was positive in the semi-humid central and eastern TP, but negative in the semi-arid southwestern TP.  Discussion: These seasonal and spatial variations highlight the importance of accounting for climatic and altitudinal modulation in carbon cycle models, providing vital insights into alpine ecosystem responses to ongoing climate change.
SN  - 1664-462X
ER  -