Abstract
Functional traits are predictors of plants in response to environmental stimuli. They represent specific functional adaptations to various environmental stresses. This study deals with the variation in plant functional traits along elevation gradient and land-use types in Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. Two field investigations in April and September, 2011 were made to collect samples. Sampling was done from 2200 - 3800 m asl varying approx. 400 m. East and west facing aspects of each valley were chosen. In each aspect four land-use type categories including disturbed (cultivated land, exploited forest and meadow) and less disturbed natural forest were selected. A transect of 25 m long and 2.5 m wide was laid. Different eight traits of plants including lifeform, plant height, clonality, spinescence, leaf dry matter content, stem specific density, twig dry matter content and twig drying time were examined for 60 plant species belonging to 31 families, collected from 40 sampled plots. Nine different types of growth forms were recorded. Plant height of the investigated species ranged from 0.03 - 15 m. The stolon consisting species were dominant in exploited forests. Diversity of clonal species was more in meadow and non-clonal species were dominant in all the altitudes. Only eight species consisted of spines. In the disturbed land-use categories, we found high variation in a particular trait. Correlation analyses revealed the significant relationship (p < 0.01) among different traits. Herbs and shrubs were dominant at higher elevation and in disturbed land-use categories. Species from high altitude were mostly short basal herbs, while spinescence and tall trees were observed at lower altitudes. Species recorded in meadows and exploited forests showed high variation in traits due to disturbance mainly grazing, fire, litter collection and trampling. Altitudinal variation, climatic conditions and disturbance most strongly influence trait expression in the study area.
Highlights
Functional traits are those properties of an organism or a part of an organism which strongly influences fitness through their effects on growth, reproduction and survival [1]
Sixty dominant species belonging to 31 families including five gymnosperms were selected in the 40 sampled plots of which 28 species were observed in other altitudinal as well as land-use gradients
Trees and erect leafy herbs decreased in number in comparison to other growth forms
Summary
Functional traits are those properties of an organism or a part of an organism which strongly influences fitness through their effects on growth, reproduction and survival [1]. They are biological attributes of a species that respond to the environmental conditions or processes in an ecosystem [2] [3]. Plant eco-physiological traits are clearly linked with biotic interactions involving plants, and ecosystem level properties and processes [4]. Plant functional trait (PFT) are very useful in predicting changes in vegetation and biodiversity as an effect of environmental and disturbance changes and land-use shifts at regional and global scales [5]. A functional analysis between key traits is necessary [8]
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