A Trade‐Off Between Leaf Carbon Economics and Plant Size Among Mangrove Species in Dongzhaigang, China DOI Creative Commons
Dalong Jiang,

Tao Nie,

Qiuyu He

et al.

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Plant size is closely linked to its leaf trait characteristics, which are essential for determining form and function. These relationships constitute a fundamental component of the global spectrum plant diversity. Despite this, size–trait in coastal mangroves have often been overlooked, with common assumption that they would mirror those found terrestrial tropical trees. However, recent studies begun challenge this assumption, revealing unique adaptations variations influenced by their specific environmental conditions, such as salinity nutrient availability. In research, we investigated structural traits, height, diameter at breast height or basal (DBH) 10 shrub tree species. This study was carried out along an intertidal gradient within mangrove forest located Southeast China. We traits differed significantly between shrubs trees response gradients, indicating different species evolved thrive respective zones. insight can help us decipher selective pressures shaped evolution. Among all species, carbon (C) economics (leaf dry mass content, per area, density) decreased increasing DBH. For each growth zone, (height DBH) C were consistent pooled dataset. Our reveals plants exhibit size‐related adjustments economic strategies, potentially acts proxy “slow–fast” continuum performance. discovery pivotal advancing our understanding functional ecology enhancing precision cycle models, highly responsive perturbations atmospheric CO 2 climate change.

Language: Английский

Precision water recharge facilitates spikelet development and seed growth in Carex schmidtii: Implications for near-natural restoration of degraded semi-arid wetlands DOI

Mingye Zhang,

Shuchen Liu, Guodong Wang

et al.

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 375, P. 124338 - 124338

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands DOI Creative Commons
Raissa I. L. Jardim, Márcia C. M. Marques, Marta Regina Barrotto do Carmo

et al.

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

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Abstract Forests and grasslands often occur side by in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged efficiently coordinate functioning strategy dimensions above‐ below‐ground. We tested hypotheses related structural changes vegetation associated shifts community‐level trait patterns during woody plant encroachment. surveyed 60 permanent plots forest‐grassland mosaics at two times (2012–2022) obtain data on structure, composition, abundance after 10 years without disturbance, capturing from open plant‐encroached closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used assess variation, including below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem root strategies. encroachment led substantial increase density former grasslands, transforming their structure resemble young Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between traits among species. On one hand, occurring grassland had conservative leaves, for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage drought, roots ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency acquisition nutrients water nutrient‐limited soils, thick bark fire resistance. other forest were usually taller acquisitive indicating highly competitive ability light‐limited forests, whereas an ‘outsourcing’ resource uptake mycorrhizal fungi nutrient‐rich soils Synthesis: advanced current understanding showing underlying trait‐based enable transition through space time. Importantly, have shown how important explaining strategies, negative covariance Our integrative will be helpful better managing southern Brazil analogous patchy ecosystems around world.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Revisiting the root economics space—its applications, extensions and nuances advance our understanding of fine-root functioning DOI Creative Commons
Elsa Matthus, Marie J. Zwetsloot, Benjamin M. Delory

et al.

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

Published: March 24, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Dense roots with low specific root length underpin performance of dryland restoration species under two types of drought DOI Open Access
Magda Garbowski,

Albert Kline,

A. D. Lowe

et al.

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

Published: March 9, 2025

Trait‐based approaches may improve plant performance in the restoration of drought‐prone landscapes. However, because plants use diverse strategies to cope with drought, traits that underpin differ by drought context. In addition, alter via phenotypic plasticity but whether these adjustments during remains unknown. We completed a greenhouse experiment using five grass and three forb species to: (1) assess how individual multivariate bivariate trait relationships respond moderate severe drought; (2) identify which or axes are associated under both conditions; (3) determine good candidates for settings. Plants reduced root diameter increased tissue density dry matter content response drought. Despite adjustments, was not an important predictor either scenario. Rather, we found high low specific length (i.e., roots per unit mass) performed best conditions. also observed unexpected decoupling aboveground belowground traits; conservative content) were coupled acquisitive leaf area). Our results suggest dryland exhibit unique aboveground–belowground dense be particularly increasingly arid ecosystems.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Plant functional traits and the entangled phenotype DOI Creative Commons
Sandra Dı́az

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

Published: March 19, 2025

Abstract Integrated phenotypes consist of multiple traits with enough coordination within and across organs to result in viable individuals, which not only respond the surrounding environment but also modify it myriad ways. It is individual organisms that are target ecological sorting evolutionary selection ones affect other organisms, ecosystem properties benefits detriments people. These hardly controversial statements at basis trait‐based plant functional ecology biology, notion effect arguably implicit concepts extended phenotype, niche construction indirect genetic effects developed context biology. Yet, practices have remained largely disconnected. In addition, despite abundant evidence trait whole‐organism level, an important portion now focusing on isolated traits, response particular. Here, I revisit specific functions (SEFs) (SRFs), previously ecology, light ‘genes ecosystems’ approaches argue SEFs can be fruitfully integrated concept ‘extended phenotype sensu lato’, relaxes requirement being heritable traditional sense or feeding back onto fitness organism bears genes responsible for it. discuss connections gaps between bodies literature phenotypic integration propose explore ‘entangled’ perspective: Within integuments a (or organism), coordinated restricted phenotypes. beyond their integuments, plants co‐determine immediate environments via SEFs. This lato interweaves those co‐existing different species, co‐constructing maintaining structures microenvironments conceived as joint multispecies lato. Finally, point directions tighter links among these fields would fruitful few ways start incorporating perspective nature stewardship climate change mitigation adaptation. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Plant Acquisitive Strategies Promote Resistance and Temporal Stability of Semiarid Grasslands DOI Creative Commons
Pu Yan, Nianpeng He, Marcos Fernández‐Martínez

et al.

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Among ecologists, it is widely believed that conservative growth strategies of plants are crucial for sustaining ecosystem stability, while the potential stabilising role acquisitive has received little attention. We investigated relationships between plant traits and three stability dimensions-temporal resistance resilience-using two complementary datasets from drought-affected semi-arid grasslands: a temporal community survey single site 1000-km transect with satellite-derived productivity estimates. found strikingly consistent patterns datasets, grasslands dominated by exhibiting greater productivity. Acquisitive enhance facilitating drought escape avoidance, rather than tolerance typically associated strategies. These results highlight important but underappreciated in enhancing to disturbances maintaining grasslands.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Trait coordination and trade-offs constrain the diversity of water use strategies in Mediterranean woody plants DOI Creative Commons
Francisco Javier Muñoz Gálvez, José Ignacio Querejeta, Cristina Moreno‐Gutiérrez

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: May 2, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Coordinated variation in elemental composition and morphology in leaves, but independence in roots across Chinese grasslands DOI Open Access
Chao Wang, Yan Geng, Jordi Sardans

et al.

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 9, 2024

Abstract The biogeochemical niche (BN) hypothesis, which states that each species has a specific elemental concentration and stoichiometric proportions, yet to be tested in different organs from plants spanning broad environmental spectrum grasslands. As novel aspect, we the BN hypothesis by analysing leaf root composition (i.e. carbon, nitrogen phosphorus concentrations its ratios), as well morphological traits thickness, area, tissue density, diameter, length density) 139 across 82 sampling sites northern China's We also investigated relationships of BN, determined stoichiometry, with (MN), defined these found substantial amount variance concentrations, their ratios was explained legacy effects (phylogenetic + species). This demonstrates both morphology can serve valuable tools for identifying niches. Additionally, highly associated BN. These findings introduce new potential paradigm understanding highlighting significant connection between species‐specific compositions organs. Leaf MN were strongly correlated, supporting economics spectrum. However, independent other, indicating presence multidimensional Synthesis. Our demonstrate applicability relationship plant In this regard, our results suggest co‐evolve leaves but evolve differently roots among

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Relations between root anatomical traits and leaf resource-use efficiency in alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau DOI
Zhi Zheng, Cong Wang,

Yurui Zhang

et al.

Plant and Soil, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 17, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Soil water status dominates growth and nitrogen acquisition strategy of Carex thunbergii in response to nitrogen and water additions DOI

Wuqiong Hu,

Dafeng Hui, Chaohe Huangfu

et al.

Journal of Soils and Sediments, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 2623 - 2637

Published: June 25, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

1