Functional Trait Diversity Research Articles

Bark characteristics of Betula platyphylla at different heights and their environmental interpretation under fire disturbance

Betula platyphylla is a pioneer tree species after fire disturbance in forest communities in the Daxing'an Mountains of China. Bark, as an external structure of vascular cambium, plays an important role in protection and transport. To understand the survival strategy of B. platyphylla under fire disturbance, we analyzed the functional traits of inner and outer bark of B. platyphylla at different heights (0.3, 0.8 and 1.3 m) in natural secondary forest of the Daxing'an Mountains. We further quantified the explanation of three environmental factors (stand, topography and soil) and identified the key factors driving the changes in those traits. The results showed that the relative inner bark thickness of B. platyphylla in burned plot followed an order of 0.3 m (4.7%) > 0.8 m (3.8%) > 1.3 m (3.3%), which was 28.6%, 14.4% and 3.1% higher than that in the unburned plot (30-35 years without fire disturbance), respectively. The relative outer bark thickness and the relative total bark thickness showed similar pattern with tree height. Fire had different effects on other bark functional traits of B. platyphylla. The inner bark density of B. platyphylla in burned plot was significantly decreased by 3.8%-5.6% and water content was significantly increased by 11.0%-12.2%, compared with that in unburned plot across the three heights. However, the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in inner (or outer) bark were not significantly affected by fire. Further, the mean inner bark nitrogen content at 0.3 m in burned plot (5.24 g·kg-1) was significantly higher than that at the other two heights (4.56-4.76 g·kg-1). Environmental factors explained 49.6% and 28.1% of the total variation in inner and outer bark functional traits, respectively, with the highest single explanation (18.9% or 9.9%) of soil factors. Diameter at breast height was the most important factor affecting the growth of inner and outer barks. In summary, fire affected survival strategies of B. platyphylla (e.g., increased the resource allocation to the base bark) via changing the environment factors, which would help improve their defense ability under fire disturbance.

Effect of Slope Aspect on Plant Above‐ and Belowground Functional Traits of Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, China

AbstractSlope aspects could cause significant differences in microclimate (e.g., radiation and moisture) and edaphic properties (e.g., soil nutrients content) in rugged landscapes. Therefore, understanding the variations of the above‐ and belowground functional traits on hillslope scales and their driving factors are essential for disentangling the plant adaptive strategies to local environmental factors. Based on the measurements of community weighted mean traits of alpine meadow from 15 hillslopes (eight south‐facing and seven north‐facing) in the Qinghai Lake watershed, northeastern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, China, we found that the aboveground morphological traits that is, specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content, and belowground stoichiometric traits, that is, root carbon content (RCC), root nitrogen content (RNC), root phosphorus content (RPC) and RCC: RNC, varied significantly between slope aspects. Hierarchical partitioning indicated that the slope aspect contributed the most to the variations of aboveground morphological and belowground stoichiometric traits, whereas soil properties were the major contributor to aboveground phosphorous‐related traits and belowground morphological traits. Both above‐ and belowground traits displayed a two‐dimensional variation on the hillslope scale. Additionally, the above‐ and belowground traits were weakly coordinated. In general, alpine meadow on the south‐facing slopes tended to adopt the conservative strategy, while acquisitive strategy was preferred by that on the north‐facing slopes. These findings can improve our understanding of spatial variations of functional traits at fine scales, and we highlighted that it is helpful to integrate both above‐ and belowground traits dimensions in disentangling the ecological process and predicting ecosystem function under changing climate.

Positive shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades coincide with community-wide phenotypic trait homogenisation

While some species rapidly decline, compromising vital ecosystem services, others are stable or even increasing in abundance. We studied shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades in Central Sweden and examined whether and how changes were associated with phenotypic traits. We combined information from captures in a light trap in historical time (the 1970s) and contemporarily (2019) with provincial colonisation records. Both community species richness and the abundance of moths increased between the time periods. A large fraction (38%) of the 410 species were not present in both periods, 101 species had colonised the area (an estimated influx of about 2.5 new species per year), and 51 species had disappeared (an estimated local extinction rate of about 1.16 species per year). Abundance increased with an increasing number of host plants and with increasing colour pattern variation. The composition of the community shifted towards species characterised by smaller wingspan and larger ranges. The functional trait variability of the moth community was homogenised from the historical to the contemporary period, in line with reports from other species communities in modern landscapes. However, our finding of a concomitant increase in species richness and total abundance differs from the results of many recent studies of insect communities in other geographic regions.Implication for insect conservationWe conclude that the entire boreal moth fauna is undergoing a substantial biogeographical shift, changing to the moth species historically occurring at more southern latitudes. The alterations in species composition, overall abundance, and community-wide trait distribution described here may cascade up and down in the ecosystem because moths are important pollinators, herbivores, and prey.

Taxonomic Diversity and Selection of Functional Traits in Novel Ecosystems Developing on Coal-Mine Sedimentation Pools

Coal-mine sedimentation pools are extrazonal habitats in which the anthropogenic changes of all historic, abiotic, and biotic components, followed by conditions of extreme environmental stress, lead to the formation of novel ecosystems. Our study aims to (i) classify the vegetation on the basis of floristic and ecological criteria, (ii) detect the main environmental gradients responsible for the diversity of vegetation, and (iii) present the selection of species’ functional traits along environmental gradients. A cluster analysis of the floristic data revealed 14 distinct combinations of species. Short- and long-lived ruderals, meadow, xerothermic, and psammophilous species make up the floristic composition of vegetation. A canonical correspondence analysis on the floristic data and average Ellenberg’s indicator values confirmed moisture, soil reaction, and salinity as the main gradients, while fertility and insolation were secondary gradients shaping the diversity of vegetation. A RLQ with a subsequent cluster analysis revealed four groups of species traits selected along environmental gradients. These differed with reference to morphological (canopy height) and physiological traits (specific leaf area, or SLA), as well as persistence (life span), regeneration (reproduction by seeds or vegetative reproduction), and dispersal functional traits. This knowledge can be crucial when planning the restoration of these sites by using spontaneous succession and learning how the various environmental resources can be used to restore or provide new ecosystem services.

Slope position- mediated soil environmental filtering drives plant community assembly processes in hilly shrublands of Guilin, China.

A major goal of community ecology focuses on trying to understand how environmental filter on plant functional traits drive plant community assembly. However, slopes positions- mediated soil environmental factors on community-weighted mean (CWM) plant traits in shrub community has not been extensively explored to analyze and distinguish assembly processes. Here, we surveyed woody shrub plant communities from three slope positions (foot, middle, and upper) in a low hilly area of Guilin, China to assess differences in functional trait CWMs and environmental factors across these positions. We also measured the CWMs of four plant functional traits including specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf thickness and nine abiotic environmental factors, including soil water content, soil organic content, soil pH, soil total nitrogen, soil total phosphorus, soil total potassium, soil available nitrogen, soil available phosphorus, and soil available potassium. We used ANOVA and Tukey HSD multiple comparisons to assess differences in functional trait CWMs and environmental factors across the three slope positions. We used redundancy analysis (RDA) to compare the relationships between CWMs trait and environmental factors along three slope positions, and also quantified slope position-mediated soil environmental filtering on these traits with a three-step trait-based null model approach. The CWMs of three leaf functional traits and all soil environmental factors except soil pH showed significant differences across the three slope positions. Soil total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available potassium, and soil organic matter were positively correlated with the CWM specific leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content along the first RDA axis and soil total potassium, total phosphorous, and soil water content were positively correlated with the CWM leaf dry matter content along the second RDA axis. Environmental filtering was detected for the CWM specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf chlorophyll content but not leaf thickness at all three slope positions. Ultimately, we found that soil environmental factors vary along slope positions and can cause variability in plant functional traits in shrub communities. Deciduous shrub species with high specific leaf area, low leaf dry matter content, and moderate leaf chlorophyll content dominated at the middle slope position, whereas evergreen species with low specific leaf area and high leaf dry matter content dominated in slope positions with infertile soils, steeper slopes, and more extreme soil water contents. Altogether, our null model approach allowed us to detect patterns of environmental filtering, which differed between traits and can be applied in the future to understand community assembly changes in Chinese hilly forest ecosystems.

Altitudinal Variations in Leaf Functional Traits of some Woody Species in the Savannahs of Ngaoundere (Adamaoua, Cameroon)

In order to contribute to the sustainable management of the Ngaoundere savannahs, experiments in natural environments were carried out to assess interspecific and altitudinal variations in leaf functional traits. To do this, 20 leaves per plant were collected from 7 individuals per species, giving a total of 140 leaves per species for each of the three sites (Dang, Tchabbal and the Cliff) in the Ngaoundere Cameroon savannahs. The leaves were photographed and the images were processed using image j software to estimate leaf area. The data obtained related to certain traits such as dry mass, leaf area, thickness, leaf specific area, specific mass, dry matter content and leaf density. For each of the three sites, dry mass decreased significantly with increasing altitude, from 1.12 g at the Dang site to 0.68 g at the Cliff site. Overall, the water content is higher at the Cliff (47.33%) and lower at Tchabbal (41.93%). Thickness increases with altitude, rising from 0.20 mm at low altitudes (Dang) to 0.30 mm at high altitudes (at the Cliff) and intermediate (0.25 mm) at medium altitudes (Tchabbal). Leaf area decreased significantly with increasing altitude, from 70.45 cm2 at low altitudes (Dang) to 53.05 cm2 at high altitudes (at the Cliff) and intermediate (57.70 cm2) at medium altitudes (Tchabbal). The leaf specific area decreases significantly with altitude, from 115.95 cm2/g at the Dang site to 78.16 cm2/g at the Cliff. Dry matter content increased with altitude, rising from 0.30 g/g at Dang to 0.58 g/g at the Cliff. Specific mass increased with altitude, rising from 0.00 g/cm2 at Dang to 0.02 g/cm2 at the Cliff. Leaf density increased with altitude, from Dang (0.06 g/mm3) to the Cliff (0.10 g/mm3). Finally, the height of the woody plants decreased with altitude, from 5.08 m at Dang to 3.80 m at the Cliff. Overall, leaf traits decreased with altitude, except for thickness and density. These results would thus contribute to an understanding of the functioning of savannah ecosystems in general, and those of Ngaoundere in particular, with a view to their sustainable management.

Functional traits in Myrteae species: the role of habitat heterogeneity and genus in humid and seasonal tropical environments

Context Morphological traits allow for plant persistence in various environments differing in edaphic and climatic aspects, and their values are normally the result of the diversity of genera and species occurring in a certain region. Myrteae, a widespread tribe of Myrtaceae, is found in varied environmental conditions ranging from dry to wet environments; thus, it is a potential study group for understanding trait variation. Aims Considering that functional-trait variation can be selected by environmental filters, and also be affected by phylogenetic aspects, we used the diversity of the Myrteae group present in different vegetation types in north-eastern Brazil to understand the role of the environment and genus in trait variation. Methods Two morphological traits, namely, wood density and specific leaf area, were sampled in 29 species from 6 genera in the following four vegetation types: savanna, seasonally dry tropical forest, rupestrian grassland and humid forest. We assessed how variation in the two traits was related to genus and environmental conditions. Key results The studied species showed trait variation depending on the environment and genus. Wood density was mainly determined by genus, whereas specific leaf area was mostly influenced by the environment. Conclusion The most important determinant of interspecific trait variation differed between wood density and specific leaf area in this study. Wood density was strongly related to genus, suggesting it is a conserved trait in Myrteae, whereas specific leaf area tended to be more variable. Implications Our results contribute to understanding the causes of morphological and genetic variability in Myrteae.

物种多样性和功能性状驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期禁牧的响应

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 物种多样性和功能性状驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期禁牧的响应 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202203070549 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中国科学院战略性先导科技专项(A类)(XDA26020201-2);青海省自然科学基金项目(2019-ZJ-910) Diversity of species and functional traits drive jointly responses of aboveground biomass to long-term grazing exclusion at alpine steppe Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:围封对草地生物多样性和初级生产力的影响是草地生态学研究的热点问题之一。基于2013-2021年在青藏高原东北部紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)高寒草原围栏内外植物群落长期调查数据,从物种多样性、功能性状的角度解析了高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的生态响应过程。结果表明:(1) 围封处理对高寒草原物种多样性的负效应具有强烈的时间依赖性。围封处理显著提高地上生物量,但也显著降低了生物量稳定性和异步性,意味着高寒草原稳定的、可持续的生态系统服务功能被长期围封处理削弱。(2) 植物功能性状对长期围封处理表现出差异性响应模式;与叶绿素性状相比,叶形态性状对长期围封处理表现出更强的敏感性。(3) 物种多样性和功能性状与地上生物量之间均存在显著相关关系,并且物种多样性的影响被功能性状调控进而对地上生物量发挥间接效应,群落加权性状和功能分异度共同对草地生物量发挥直接的主导效应。研究结果证明了植物功能性状通过介导物种多样性与其共同驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的响应。因此,在未来草地管理过程中,同步研究植物物种和功能属性对于全面揭示生态系统的响应机制至关重要。 Abstract:Responses of biodiversity and productivity at grassland to fencing have been a hotspot in grassland ecology for a long period. In this study, long-term field investigation along inside and outside of the fence at Stipa purpurea alpine steppe in northeastern of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2013 to 2021 was used to elucidate ecological responses processes of aboveground biomass of alpine steppe to long-term fencing from perspectives of species diversity and plant functional traits. The main results showed as follows: (1) the negative effects of fencing treatment on species diversity presented strong time-dependence, and the aboveground biomass increased but both stability and asynchrony of biomass decreased after experiencing long-term fencing, suggesting that potential of stable and sustainable provision of eco-services were eroded by the fencing treatment; (2) Responses of plant functional traits to long period fencing were different. Specifically, the sensitivity to the fencing was stronger in morphological trait than that in chlorophyll traits; (3) The significant relationships between the biomass and species, functional traits diversity were also detected, and effects of species diversity regulated by functional traits played indirect roles to aboveground biomass, specially community-weighted traits and functional divergence index jointly played directly dominant effects on biomass. The study demonstrates that plant functional traits through mediating species diversity drive jointly responses of aboveground biomass to long-term grazing exclusion at alpine steppe. Therefore, evaluating the plant species and functional trait factors simultaneously would be all-important for revealing comprehensively ecosystem responses to environmental perturbations at grassland managements in the future. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Diversity of beetle species and functional traits along gradients of deadwood suggests weak environmental filtering

BackgroundGradients in local environmental characteristics may favour the abundance of species with particular traits, while other species decline, or favour species with different traits at the same time, without an increase in average species abundances. Therefore, we asked: do variations in species and traits differ along gradients of deadwood variables? Do species abundance and trait occurrence change with species richness within or between functional groups? Thus, we analysed the beetle assemblages of five forest sites located in Italy, along the Apennines mountains. MethodsFrom 2012 to 2018 we sampled beetles and five deadwood types in 193 plots to characterise the deadwood gradient: standing dead trees, snags, dead downed trees, coarse woody debris, and stumps. We modelled beetle species relative abundances and trophic traits occurrences against the deadwood variables using joint species distribution models. ResultsOut of 462 species, only 77 showed significant responses to at least one deadwood type, with a weak mean response across species. Trophic groups showed mostly negative responses to deadwood variables. Species abundance increased with species richness among sites only for phytophagous and saproxylophagous. Trait occurrence did not increase with species richness among sites, except for phytophagous and saproxylophagous. However, trait occurrence changed significantly with species richness of several trophic groups within some sites. We found that increases in species richness do not result in decreases in species abundance of a given trophic group, but rather null or positive relationships were found suggesting low interspecific competition. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that in Mediterranean mountain forests there is still room for increasing the level of naturalness, at least for what concerns deadwood management. On one side, our findings suggest that competition for deadwood substrates is still low, on the other side they indicate that increasing deadwood volume and types to improve overall beetle richness may increase also beetle abundances.

Intraspecific variations in plant functional traits of four common herbaceous species under different abandoned years and their relevant driving factors in Lijiang River Basin, China

Intraspecific variations in plant functional traits of four common herbaceous species under different abandoned years and their relevant driving factors in Lijiang River Basin, China

Variability in bat morphology is influenced by temperature and forest cover and their interactions.

Multiple climatic and landscape drivers have been linked to variations in bat body size and wing functional traits. Most previous studies used proxies rather than actual climate and land-use data, and their interactions are rarely explored. We investigate whether higher summer average temperatures are driving decreasing bat body size as predicted by Bergmann's rule or increasing appendage size as per Allen's rule. We also explore whether temperature or resource availability (namely forest cover) is responsible for changes in wing functional traits. Using land-use data from historical maps and national statistics combined with climatic data, we assessed the effect of temperature and resource availability on bat morphology. We used 464 museum specimens of three bat species (Eptesicus nilssonii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, and Plecotus auritus), spanning 180 years, across a 1200 km latitudinal gradient. We found no evidence of higher summer average temperatures driving decreases in body size in bats. Jaw sizes of P. auritus and P. pygmaeus changed over time but in different directions. The geographical variation of forest cover was also related to differences in wing functional traits in two species. Crucially, there was a significant antagonistic interactive effect of forest and temperature on tip index in P. pygmaeus whereby above 14.5°C the relationship between forest and tip index actually reversed. This could indicate that higher temperatures promote more pointed wings, which may provide energetic benefits. Our results show the importance of including both climatic and land-use variables when assessing trends in bat morphology and exploring interactions. Encouragingly, all three species have shown an ability to adapt their body size and functional traits to different conditions, and it could demonstrate their potential to overcome future negative impacts of climate and land-use change.

祁连山中部优势灌木物种叶功能性状参数变化特征

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 祁连山中部优势灌木物种叶功能性状参数变化特征 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202104020859 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（31901130）；重点生态保护修复治理专项资金（张山水胡办【2018】20号）；甘肃省引导科技创新发展专项资金（2017zx-10）；甘肃省自然科学基金（20JR5RA277） Temporal variation of leaf functional traits of dominant shrub species in the middle section of Qilian Mountains Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:植物叶功能性状是连接植物与外界环境的重要桥梁，是探索植物适应环境、进行全球气候变化研究的指标，也是生态水文模型重要的输入参数。通过高时间分辨率样品的采集结合图像处理技术，对祁连山中部优势物种金露梅（Dasiphora fruticosa）和鬼箭锦鸡儿（Caragana jubata）叶功能性状变化特征进行研究，结果表明：叶面积（LA）从生长初期到生长末期发生明显变化，且2020年6-7月初灌木叶面积变化最为明显；比叶面积（SLA）分别在76-157 cm2/g之间和120-217 cm2/g之间，金露梅SLA平均值（123 cm2/g）<鬼箭锦锦鸡儿SLA平均值（176 cm2/g）；在生长初期金露梅的叶面积指数（LAI）明显大于鬼箭锦鸡儿，金露梅和鬼箭锦鸡儿的叶面积指数随时间的变化都符合三次函数；生物量与基径和高度的乘积呈显著性相关，最优回归模型均为幂函数；地上生物量与叶功能性状参数在不同阶段的模拟方程均不同，地上总生物量与叶生物量在生长期的最优选择模型分别呈S型函数和幂函数，金露梅的单株地上生物量在不同阶段与SLA的最优模型均为对数函数。 Abstract:Leaf functional traits are important bridge between plants and their external environment. They are not only indexes to explore the adaptation of plants to the environment and to study global climate changes, but also important input variables for eco-hydrological models. We selected dominant shrub species Dasiphora fruticosa and Caragana jubata in the middle section of Qilian Mountains as our study objects. The change characteristics of leaf functional traits were studied by collecting lead sample in high time resolution. Results showed that the leaf area (LA) changed significantly from early June to early July 2020, The specific leaf area (SLA) of Dasiphora fruticosa and Caragana jubata was between 76-157 cm2/g and 120-217 cm2/g, respectively. The mean SLA of Dasiphora fruticosa (123 cm2/g) was less than that of Caragana jubata (176 cm2/g). The leaf area index (LAI) of Dasiphora fruticosa was significantly higher than that of Caragana jubata during the growing period. The changes of leaf area index of them with time was optimally expressed by the cubic function. The optimal relationship between biomass of shrub and the product of base diameter and height was power function. Expressions of aboveground biomass per plant and leaf functional parameters in different growing phases were different, the optimal model selected between aboveground biomass per plant and leaves biomass was S function for Dasiphora fruticosa and power function for Caragana jubata. Aboveground biomass per plant of Dasiphora fruticosa with of the SLA in different stages could be simulated by logarithmic function, while other leaf functional traits could be simulated by cubic functions. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Hydraulic role in differential stomatal behaviors at two contrasting elevations in three dominant tree species of a mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest in low subtropical China

Quantifying the variation in stomatal behavior and functional traits of trees with elevation can provide a better understanding of the adaptative strategies to a changing climate. In this study, six water- and carbon-related functional traits were examined for three dominant tree species, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana and Castanopsis chinensis, in a mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest at two elevations (70 and 360 ​m above sea level, respectively) in low subtropical China. We hypothesized that trees at higher elevations would develop more efficient strategies of stomatal regulations and greater water transport capacity to cope with more variable hydrothermal conditions than those at lower elevations. Results show that the hydraulic conductivity did not differ between trees at the two elevations, contrary to our expectation. The C. chinensis trees had greater values of leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and the S. superba and C. chinensis trees had greater values of wood density (WD), relative stem water content (RWC), and ratio of sapwood area to leaf area (Hv) at the 360-m elevation than at 70-m elevation. The mean canopy stomatal conductance was greater and more sensitive to vapor deficit pressure at 360 ​m than at 70 ​m for both S. superba and C. chinensis, while stomatal sensitivity did not differ between the two contrasting elevations for P. massoniana. The midday leaf water potential (ψL) in P. massoniana was significantly more negative at 360 ​m than at 70 ​m, but did not vary with increasing elevation in both S. superba and C. chinensis. Variations in Hv can be related to the differential stomatal behaviors between the two elevations. The variations of stomatal behavior and ψL with elevation suggested the isohydric strategy for the two broad-leaved species and the anisohydric strategy for the conifer species. The species-specific differences in LMA, WD, RWC, and Hv between the two elevations may reflect conservative resource use strategies at the higher elevation. Our findings revealed a close relationship between hydraulic and stomatal behavior and may help better understand the functional responses of forests to changing environmental conditions.

Vertical variations in leaf functional traits of three typical ferns in mixed broadleaved- Korean pine forest

Vertical variations in leaf functional traits of three typical ferns in mixed broadleaved- Korean pine forest

Plant functional trait diversity and structural diversity co-underpin ecosystem multifunctionality in subtropical forests

Tree species diversity is assumed to be an important component in managing forest ecosystems because of effects on multiple functions or ecosystem multifunctionality. However, the importance of tree diversity in determining multifunctionality in structurally complex subtropical forests relative to other regulators (e.g., soil microbial diversity, stand structure, and environmental conditions) remains uncertain. In this study, effects of aboveground (species richness and functional and structural diversity) and belowground (bacterial and fungal diversity) biodiversity, functional composition (community-weighted means of species traits), stand structure (diameter at breast height and stand density), and soil factors (pH and bulk density) on multifunctionality (including biomass production, carbon stock, and nutrient cycling) were examined along a tree diversity gradient in subtropical forests. The community-weighted mean of tree maximum height was the best predictor of ecosystem multifunctionality. Functional diversity explained a higher proportion of the variation in multifunctionality than that of species richness and fungal diversity. Stand structure -played an important role in modulating the effects of tree diversity on multifunctionality. The work highlights that species composition and maximizing forest structural complexity are effective strategies to increase forest multifunctionality while also conserving biodiversity in the management of multifunctional forests under global environmental changes.

极端干旱区多枝柽柳叶片功能性状及其与土壤理化因子的关系

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 极端干旱区多枝柽柳叶片功能性状及其与土壤理化因子的关系 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202204070904 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 新疆维吾尔自治区自然科学基金(2020D01C053);国家自然科学基金(32001145);新疆维吾尔自治区教育厅"天池博士计划"(TCBS202054) Leaf functional traits of Tamarix ramosissima in extremely arid region and their relationship with soil physicochemical factors Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:叶片是植物获取资源的重要器官,研究其功能性状与环境因子的关系,有助于更好地了解植物对环境要素变化的生态适应性。以塔里木盆地北缘不同生境下(绿洲、过渡带、荒漠)典型荒漠植物多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)为研究对象,分析其叶片结构和生理性状在不同生境间的差异,建立叶片性状与土壤理化因子的相关关系,解析荒漠植物的生态适应性并揭示影响荒漠植物叶片功能性状的关键环境因子。结果表明:(1)多枝柽柳叶片功能性状具有不同程度的变异,其中叶片面积变异幅度最大(40%),比叶面积、可溶性蛋白含量等变异幅度最小(均为15%)。(2)多枝柽柳叶片厚度和叶片面积等结构性状以及叶片可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸、淀粉含量等生理性状在不同生境中均具有显著差异(P<0.05),其中可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸含量均在荒漠生境中达到最高。(3)多枝柽柳叶片部分功能性状之间存在显著的相关关系,其中叶片厚度、淀粉含量等与叶组织密度呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),而叶片厚度与淀粉含量之间、可溶性糖含量与非结构性碳水化合物含量之间均呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。(4)通过RDA排序分析发现,土壤速效磷含量、土壤含水量、pH、容重等土壤环境因子影响较大,对多枝柽柳叶片功能性状有较好的解释。研究表明多枝柽柳通过叶片功能性状变化以及性状之间协同-权衡的生态对策来适应极端干旱环境,土壤水分和速效磷含量是影响其叶片功能性状最关键的土壤环境因子,研究可为极端干旱区荒漠植被的科学管理、保护和恢复提供理论依据。 Abstract:Leaf is an important organ for plants to obtain resources. Studying the relationships between its functional traits and environmental factors helps to better understand the ecological adaptability of plants to environmental changes. In this study, with the aim of determining the ecological adaptations of desert plants and revealing the environmental factors that influencing the functional traits of them, we investigated a typical desert plant, Tamarix ramosissima, in different habitats (oasis, transition zone and desert) at the northern edge of the Tarim Basin, analyzed the differences in its leaf structure and physiological traits, and established the correlation between them with soil physicochemical factors. The results showed that: (1) the functional traits of Tamarix ramosissima leaves exhibited different degrees of variation, with the greatest variation in leaf area (40%) and the least variation in specific leaf area and soluble protein content (both 15%). (2) The structural traits including leaf thickness and leaf area, as well as physiological traits including leaf soluble protein, proline, and starch contents of Tamarix ramosissima were significantly different among the three habitats (P<0.05), with soluble protein and proline contents reaching the highest levels in desert habitats. (3) There were significant correlations between several functional traits of Tamarix ramosissima leaves. Leaf thickness and starch content were significantly negatively correlated with leaf tissue density (P<0.05), while the correlations between leaf thickness and starch content, soluble sugar content and non-structural carbohydrate content were significantly positive (P<0.01). (4) The RDA analysis revealed that soil environmental factors including soil available phosphorus content, soil water content, pH and bulk density had the greatest influence, and could explain the leaf functional trait variations of Tamarix ramosissima better. This study indicates that Tamarix ramosissima adapts to extreme arid environment by developing ecological responses that varying in leaf functional traits and forming synergistic trade-offs between them. Soil available phosphorus content and soil water content are the most critical soil environmental factors affecting leaf functional traits of Tamarix ramosissima. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the scientific management, conservation, and restoration of desert vegetation in extreme arid region. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Relationships between land-use intensity, woody species diversity, and carbon storage in an arid woodland ecosystem

Forest ecosystems play a key role in providing multiple ecosystem services, such as carbon fixation and storage, but face pressures from human development that jeopardize their integrity and functioning. Accurately understanding the relationships between land use-intensity, biodiversity, and carbon storage is important for developing viable strategies to promote carbon sequestration. Here, we analyzed the effect of land-use intensity on the relationship between woody plant functional diversity and carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands of the central Monte desert of Argentina. We worked in sixteen 900 m2 square plots along disturbance gradients, eight located in highly disturbed woodlands close to livestock settlements and eight in slightly disturbed woodlands ca. 2 km away from settlements. We measured woody plant taxonomic and functional diversity and dominance metrics, and estimated carbon stocks in biomass, necromass and soil organic compartments. Our study shows that increasing land-use intensity erodes taxonomic and functional diversities and, ultimately, carbon storage. We found that lower carbon stocks around livestock settlements were driven by shrubs, trees, roots, litter, and dead plants, but were unaffected by the herb, woody debris, and soil compartments. Furthermore, positive relationships among woody species richness and functional trait diversity seem more important than the existence of few highly dominant species in determining carbon storage, providing stronger evidence for niche complementary than for mass ratio effects. We hope our study contributes to the understanding how livestock management practices influence carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands.

Mycorrhizae influence plant vegetative and floral traits and intraspecific trait variation.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can strongly influence host plant vegetative growth, but less is known about AMF effects on other plant traits, the relative impacts of AMF on vegetative growth versus floral traits, or AMF-induced intraspecific variation in traits. In an experimental greenhouse study, we inoculated seven species of wildflowers with six species of AMF in a factorial design. We assessed how the AMF-forb combinations influenced plant survival, vegetative biomass, and floral traits and whether AMF effects on floral traits were similar in magnitude and direction to effects on vegetative biomass. For one forb species, we investigated intraspecific plant trait variation within and across AMF treatments. AMF species varied from negative to positive in their effects on host plants. AMF often had inconsistent effects on vegetative biomass versus floral traits, and therefore, quantifying one or the other may provide a misleading representation of potential AMF effects. AMF treatments generated key variation in plant traits, especially floral traits, with potential consequences for plant-pollinator interactions. Given increased intraspecific trait variation in Linum lewisii plants across AMF species compared to uninoculated individuals or single AMF treatments, local AMF diversity and their host plant associations may scale up to influence community-wide patterns of trait variation and species interactions. These results have implications for predicting how aboveground communities are affected by belowground communities. Including AMF effects on not just host plant biomass but also functional traits and trait variation will deepen our understanding of community structure and function, including pollination.

Coordination of economics spectra in leaf, stem and root within the genus Artemisia along a large environmental gradient in China

AbstractAimThe plant economics spectrum provides a fundamental framework for understanding functional trait variation along environmental gradients. However, it is unclear whether there is a general whole‐plant economics spectrum across organs at the finer taxonomic scale (e.g. within genera), and if there is, which factors affect the trait coordination of the different organs. Here, we examined whether resource economics spectra of different organs (i.e. leaf, stem and root) can be integrated at the whole‐plant level within a single genus, and how environment, intraspecific variation and taxonomic scale shape the whole‐plant spectrum.LocationChina.Time period2018.Major taxa studiedArtemisia.MethodsWe sampled 1,022 individuals of 62 Artemisia species in central and eastern China to test trait coordination patterns from organ to whole‐plant level. From the resource economics spectrum perspective, 15 traits were chosen to represent the trade‐off between structural and nutrient investments, including organs’ C, N, P and dry matter content, specific leaf area, specific stem length and specific root length.ResultsPairwise trait correlations and the trade‐off patterns along the resource economic axis were consistent at both organ and whole‐plant levels. Environmental gradients did not strongly affect the correlations among leaf, stem and root economics spectra, that is, the intraspecific variation weakened but did not mask this coordination. Taxonomic scale did not affect the degree of trait coordination as the genus‐wide whole‐plant economics spectrum also emerged within each of the three subgenera.Main conclusionsOur results support the hypothesis that the coordination of economics spectra across organs forms a whole‐plant economics spectrum representing a ‘fast–slow’ resource management strategy, which is robust to recent evolution (genotypic variation, even for species within a single genus) and present‐day environmental variation. Further studies should elucidate in which circumstances or phylogenetic branches the coordinated pattern found for Artemisia is representative of other widely distributed genera.

Biomass and nitrogen content of petiole and rachis predict leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves of plants

Leaf functional traits play a significant role in the functioning and services of all terrestrial ecosystems. Compound pinnate leaves are divided into smaller leaflets in plants. A better prediction of leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves can help to understand fundamental functional mechanisms for plant leaf evolution and ecosystem from the perspective of compound pinnate leaves. Here, we explored leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves of plants based on biomass and nitrogen content of both petiole and rachis. A detailed field evaluation of leaflet, petiole and rachis from 63 plant species in 364 study plots was conducted across 92 sites along an altitudinal gradient of 1700 m to 4000 m. A generalized hierarchical and variation partitioning in linear mixed modelling was utilized to explore the relationships between leaflet trait variation (i.e., leaflet area, leaflet dry mass, specific leaflet area, and leaflet nitrogen content per unit dry mass) and biomass or nitrogen content of linear elements (i.e., both petiole and rachis). The results showed that the biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements can predict leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves depending on climate and phylogeny. Biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements had the strongest prediction performance on leaflet area and mass in regions with low temperature and high precipitation. Our results showed weak phylogenetic conservatism for the prediction performance of leaf trait variation based on biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements. A potential model was developed to assess leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves based on biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements. These findings will improve our understanding of functional trait variation, climate change impacts on biogeochemical cycles, and plant leaf evolution.