Intraspecific variability of leaf form and function across habitat types

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Trait‐based ecology has already revealed main independent axes of trait variation defining spaces that summarize plant adaptive strategies, but often ignoring intraspecific variability (ITV). By using empirical ITV‐level data for two dimensions leaf form and function 167 species across five habitat types (coastal dunes, forests, grasslands, heathlands, wetlands) in the Italian peninsula, we found ITV: (i) rotated define space; (ii) increased variance explained by these (iii) affected functional structure target space. However, magnitude effects was rather small depended on type. Our results reinforce idea ITV is context‐dependent, calling careful extrapolations patterns traits spatial scales. Importantly, our study provides a framework can be used to start integrating into space analyses.

Language: Английский

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Relationships of stomatal morphology to the environment across plant communities

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 19, 2023

Abstract The relationship between stomatal traits and environmental drivers across plant communities has important implications for ecosystem carbon water fluxes, but it remained unclear. Here, we measure the morphology of 4492 species-site combinations in 340 vegetation plots China calculate their community-weighted values mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis. We demonstrate a trade-off density size at community level. mean variance are mainly associated with precipitation, while that is temperature, skewness kurtosis less related to climatic soil variables. Beyond climate variables, trait moments also vary seasonality extreme conditions. Our findings extend knowledge trait–environment relationships scale, applications predicting future cycles.

Language: Английский

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Field experiments have enhanced our understanding of drought impacts on terrestrial ecosystems—But where do we go from here?

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(1), P. 76 - 97

Published: Oct. 31, 2023

Abstract We review results from field experiments that simulate drought, an ecologically impactful global change threat is predicted to increase in magnitude, extent, duration and frequency. Our goal address, primarily ecosystem perspective, the questions ‘What have we learned drought experiments?’ ‘Where do go here?’. Drought are among most numerous climate manipulations been deployed across a wide range of biomes, although conducted short‐statured, water‐limited ecosystems. Collectively, these enabled ecologists quantify negative responses occur for aspects structure function. Multiple meta‐analyses also comparisons relative effect sizes hundreds sites, particularly carbon cycle metrics. Overall, provided strong evidence sensitivity increases with aridity, but plant traits associated aridity not necessarily predictive resistance. There intriguing as magnitude or extreme levels, strategies may shift tolerance escape/avoidance. highlight three areas where more needed advance our understanding. First, because intensifying multiple ways, address alterations versus duration, timing and/or frequency (individually interactively). Second, drivers be shifting—from precipitation deficits rising atmospheric demand water—and disentangling how ecosystems respond changes hydrological ‘supply demand’ critical understanding impacts future. Finally, attention should focussed on post‐drought recovery periods since legacies can affect functioning much longer than itself. conclude call fundamental focus those designed ‘response experiments’, quantifying function, ‘mechanistic experiments’—those explicitly manipulate ecological processes attributes thought underpin responses. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Phylogeny and climate explain contrasting hydraulic traits in different life forms of 150 woody Fabaceae species

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(4), P. 741 - 754

Published: Jan. 23, 2024

Abstract The contrasting hydraulic traits observed among different plant life forms are shaped by entangled environmental and evolutionary processes. However, we lack understanding of the relative importance form, climate phylogeny in explaining variance traits. We analysed seven eleven climatic variables 150 Fabaceae species representing three from 62 sites worldwide, using phylogenetic comparative analyses partitioning. signal found most disappeared after considering indicating that conservatism originated divergence forms. trait‐climate relationships were also phylogenetically dependent, implying trait responses driven together. Variance partitioning showed explained greater variation than form did. Synthesis . climate‐driven still existed with being considered, suggesting this large family may be particularly sensitive to change. Our results emphasise need include adaptation studies under future

Language: Английский

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Environmental versus phylogenetic controls on leaf nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in vascular plants

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: June 24, 2024

Abstract Global patterns of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry have been interpreted as reflecting phenotypic plasticity in response to the environment, or an overriding effect distribution species growing their biogeochemical niches. Here, we balance these contrasting views. We compile a global dataset 36,413 paired observations N P concentrations, taxonomy 45 environmental covariates, covering 7,549 sites 3,700 species, investigate how identity variables control variations mass-based N:P ratio. find within-species variation contributes around half total variation, with 29%, 31%, 22% N, P, respectively, explained by variables. Within-species along gradients varies across is highest for lowest N. identified effects on using random forest models, whereas were largely missed widely used linear mixed-effect models. Our analysis demonstrates substantial influence environment driving plastic responses within which challenges reports fixed niche importance distributions shaping P.

Language: Английский

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Aboveground and belowground trait coordination across twelve boreal forest tree species

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Abstract The existence of trait coordination in roots and leaves has recently been debated, with studies reaching opposing conclusions. Here, we assessed across twelve boreal tree species. We show that there is only partial evidence for above-belowground “fast-slow” economic traits species, i.e., while N content were positively correlated, as well dry matter content, root leaf had no significant relationship. For resource acquisition (i.e. related to light capture nutrient uptake) did not find strong coordination, specific length area correlated. further site explained between 0 7% the total variation, within-site variation contributed substantially a large number (1.6–96%), more so morphological than traits. This likely influences strength found species our study. Understanding sources relationships can contribute improving global regional C cycling models. However, fine-scale environmental variability should be accounted given its importance driving variation.

Language: Английский

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Unique conifer assemblage from Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous deposits (NE Brazil) unveils the paleoclimate and paleobiogeography in the interior of equatorial Gondwana

Cretaceous Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 106099 - 106099

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Functional Signatures of Surface Pollen and Vegetation Are Broadly Similar: Good News for Past Reconstructions of Vegetation

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

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Pollen assemblages are widely used to infer paleoenvironment features, aiming at reconstructing both past climates and biomes. However, the functional link between environmental conditions pollen is not straightforward requires thorough testing be confidently. Here, we use a trait‐based approach assess consistency of signatures plant assemblages. Location Arid Central Asia (ACA). Taxon Spermatophytes (pollen‐producing plants). Methods We whether trait values distributions consistent for surface samples extant vegetation in biogeographic region. A working checklist was compiled ACA order assign types taxa. This done two methods aggregation schemes (coarse fine type depend on level identification). The were compared taxon community levels, using large‐scale databases, six traits global spectrum form function (i.e., height, seed mass, leaf area, specific nitrogen content per stem‐specific density). Results Trait bivariate relationships broadly similar taxa, which also case multivariate spaces function. At scale, weighted by abundance significantly differed among biomes, these differences extant. Main Conclusions scheme does impact organisation space function, compares well with that based species actually present plots. true scale. These findings very promising improving climate biome reconstructions from pave way “pollen biogeography”.

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the root economics space—its applications, extensions and nuances advance our understanding of fine-root functioning

Plant and Soil, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

Language: Английский

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Linking plant functional traits to biodiversity under environmental change

Deleted Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 22 - 28

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Understanding the mechanisms underpinning origins, patterns and dynamics of biodiversity is fundamental in biology ecology. Trait‐based ecology emphasizes importance functional traits community assembly ecosystem properties, however, can also provide links with at broader temporal spatial scales. Here, we proposed a perspective using to analyze predict from different ecological dimensions, along influences evolution environment. We summarized current research progress on roles plant species adaptation coexistence, biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning, distribution global biodiversity, order integrate approach investigate then discussed future trends studies under environmental change.

Language: Английский

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