Intraspecific trait variation in plants: a renewed focus on its role in ecological processes

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 127(4), P. 397 - 410

Published: Jan. 27, 2021

Investigating the causes and consequences of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in plants is not novel, as it has long been recognized that such shapes biotic abiotic interactions. While evolutionary population biology have extensively investigated ITV, only last 10 years interest ITV surged within community comparative ecology.

Language: Английский

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Nitrogen content of herbarium specimens from arable fields and mesic meadows reflect the intensifying agricultural management during the 20th century

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Abstract Arable fields and mesic meadows have been affected by intensifying agricultural management nutrient input during the 20th century, but direct evidence for long‐term impact of intensification on plant contents remains scarce. Non‐destructive novel spectroscopic methods can produce such data from herbarium specimens, making it possible to investigate how leaf traits, especially nitrogen phosphorus, changed over last what role habitat type practices play. We carried out a resurvey study functional traits in arable field meadow communities. used specimens two German herbaria with high coverage their local floras: Senckenberg Görlitz Haussknecht Jena. Following specimen information, same species were resampled 2022 at locations. employed near‐infrared spectroscopy predict nitrogen, phosphorus carbon content specimens. Nutrient changes time compared public records regional P N fertilization. Overall, 1270 76 both studied, oldest 19th century. Leaf nitrogen:phosphorus ratio increased significantly through time, while decreased time. showed stronger response than species. The total amount or fertilizer applied per year scale was found be correlated respective levels. Synthesis : Our shows increase studied habitats, paralleling chemical applications Germany. indicate shift predominantly N‐limited towards more P‐limited growth conditions. could faster adjustment environmental pressures. This thus also serves showcase potential combination collections NIR spectroscopy.

Language: Английский

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Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring plant species distributions along elevation gradients

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2022

Abstract Climate change and other global drivers threaten plant diversity in mountains worldwide. A widely documented response to such environmental modifications is for species their elevational ranges. Range shifts are often idiosyncratic difficult generalize, partly due variation sampling methods. There thus a need standardized monitoring strategy that can be applied across mountain regions assess distribution changes community turnover of native non‐native over space time. Here, we present conceptually intuitive protocol developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) systematically quantify patterns distributions along elevation gradients arising from interactive effects climate human disturbance. Usually repeated every five years, surveys consist 20 sample sites located at equal increments three replicate roads per region. At each site, plots extend side road into surrounding natural vegetation. The has been successfully used 18 worldwide 2007 present. Analyses one point time already generated some salient results, revealed region‐specific richness, but globally consistent decline richness. Non‐native plants were also more abundant directly adjacent edges, suggesting disturbed roadsides serve as vector invasions mountains. From upcoming analyses series, even exciting results expected, especially about range shifts. Implementing would help generate complete picture how alters distributions. This inform conservation policy ecosystems, where policies remain poorly implemented.

Language: Английский

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The ontogenetic dimension of plant functional ecology

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(1), P. 98 - 113

Published: Nov. 9, 2023

Abstract Plant functional strategies change considerably as plants develop, driven by intraindividual variability in anatomical, morphological, physiological and architectural traits. Developmental trait variation arises through the complex interplay among genetically regulated phase (i.e. ontogeny), increases plant age size, phenotypic plasticity to changing environmental conditions. Although spatial drivers of intraspecific have received extensive research attention, developmentally is largely overlooked, despite widespread occurrence. Ontogenetic regulated, leads dramatic changes phenotypes evolves response predictable conditions develop. Evidence has accumulated support a general shift from fast slow relative growth rates shade sun leaves develop highly competitive but shady juvenile niche stressful adult systems studied date. Nonetheless, there are major gaps our knowledge due examination only few factors selecting for evolution ontogenetic trajectories, how ontogeny assigned, biogeographic sampling biases on trees temperate biomes, dependencies broadly sampled leaf morphological traits lack longitudinal studies that track within individuals. Filling these will enhance understanding ecology provide framework predicting effects global threats target specific stages. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Island plant functional syndromes and competition with invasive species

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 50(4), P. 641 - 653

Published: Jan. 27, 2023

Abstract Island floras are diverse with exceptionally high rates of endemicity, and they also severely threatened. Invasive plants widespread on islands, but whether islands particularly susceptible to invasion or island species more vulnerable displacement, both, remains unclear. As part the “island plant syndrome,” it has been predicted that have convergently evolved conservative resource use, slow growth rates, weak competitive abilities in response moderate climates presumed absence competition communities relatively low richness. Yet, functional trait approaches provided mixed evidence support this prediction, direct tests as neighbour effects performance lacking. Considering extensive environmental heterogeneity exists within among seems likely strategies, spanning acquisitive, plants. Furthermore, assessing syndrome predictions through comparisons invasive species, which nonrandom subsets continental plants, is a flawed approach. Future studies compare strategies native versus for between local scale at occurs, consider non‐additivities other simultaneous global threats, urgently needed conserve these biodiversity hotspots.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic factors overrule local abiotic variables in determining non-native plant invasions in mountains

Biological Invasions, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 23(12), P. 3671 - 3686

Published: July 22, 2021

Language: Английский

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Root trait variation along a sub‐arctic tundra elevational gradient

Oikos, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2023(1)

Published: May 5, 2022

Elevational gradients are useful for predicting how plant communities respond to global warming, because at lower elevations experience warmer temperatures. Fine root traits and trait variation could play an important role in determining community responses warming cold‐climate ecosystems where a large proportion of biomass is allocated belowground. Here, we investigated the effects elevation‐associated temperature change on twelve chemical morphological fine species Swedish subarctic tundra. We also assessed relative contributions turnover intraspecific total amount community‐level explained by elevation. Several traits, both whole levels, had significant linear or quadratic relationships with elevation, but direction strength these varied among species. Further, found no support unidirectional from more acquisitive values towards associated greater nutrient conservation higher elevations, either level. On other hand, coefficients level increased elevation several traits. that was relatively than turnover, meaning plasticity driving environmental factors this tundra system. Our findings indicate progressing may drive composition not necessarily lead shifts resource–acquisition strategy all

Language: Английский

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Using near-infrared spectroscopy to predict nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of herbarium specimens under different storage conditions

Plant Methods, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Background Herbaria are becoming increasingly important as archives of biodiversity, and play a central role in taxonomic biogeographic studies. There is also an ongoing interest functional traits the way they mediate interactions between plant species its environment. Herbarium specimens allow tracking trait values over time, thus, capturing consequences anthropogenic activities such eutrophication. Here, we present open, reproducible, non-destructive workflow to collect leaf data from herbarium using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), proof concept for reliability this approach. Results We carried out three experiments test suitability NIRS methods predict both fresh dried leaves: (1) With fertilization experiment, studied whether was able capture changes N P during experiment compared contents predicted by with results obtained regular wet lab methods. Calibration models nitrogen phosphorus had quality R 2 = 0.7 0.5, respectively. fitted calibration readings on samples, which produced equally precise predictions analyses. (2) tested effect conservation simulating them through application six treatments combining freezing, drying pesticide spraying factorial scheme comparing these untreated samples. No consistent were observed spectra before after simulated conditions. (3) Finally, specimen storage duration 2018 study re-analyzed 2021. period. Conclusions The demonstrate measure Together method dataset presented here, provide toolset allowing researchers development their response environmental decades even centuries fast manner.

Language: Английский

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Intra-specific leaf trait responses to species richness at two different local scales

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55, P. 20 - 32

Published: May 5, 2021

Plant functional traits, especially leaf are accepted proxies for ecosystem properties. Typically, they measured at the species level, neglecting within-species variation. While there is extensive knowledge about trait changes (both within and across species) along abiotic gradients, little known biotic influences, in particular local scales. Here, we used a large biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiment subtropical China to investigate intra-specific of 16 tree as response richness neighbourhood. We hypothesized that because positive complementarity effects, shift their traits towards more acquisitive growth strategy, when neighbourhood higher. The should be most pronounced, focal tree's closest neighbour from different species, but still detectable directly surrounding community. Consequently, expected trees with con-specific have strongest community, i.e., steepest increase traits. Our results indicate diversity promoted reduced competition resource use both spatial scales considered. In addition, had considerably stronger effects than As expected, nearest showed shifts. However, predicted effect hetero-specificity disappeared highest levels potentially resulting higher probability meet strong competitor diverse environment. findings show same vary not only changing conditions, also richness. This highlights benefit including variation analysing relationships between plant functions.

Language: Английский

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Are plant communities on the Canary Islands resistant to plant invasion?

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 29(1), P. 51 - 60

Published: Nov. 8, 2022

Abstract Oceanic islands are renowned for their unique flora and high levels of endemism. Native island plants, however, imperilled by non‐native species that can become invasive outcompeting natives. The threat native assemblages generally increases with isolation the number endemics featured, but also human‐associated disturbance land use. Based on this, Canary Island plant systems should be highly threatened invasives, similar to other oceanic globally. However, Canarian only weakly infiltrated rarely directly plants. Further, disturbed areas, usually among first colonized invasives islands, recolonized here we postulate four hypotheses (climatic filter, well‐preservation status, human legacy permanent colonization) explaining this unusual behaviour Islands, providing an opportunity understand drivers processes behind invasion into communities islands.

Language: Английский

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