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Griffith DM, Quigley KM, Anderson TM. Leaf thickness controls variation in leaf mass per area (LMA) among grazing-adapted grasses in Serengeti. Oecologia 2016; 181:1035-40. [PMID: 27098527 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3632-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a primary plant functional trait that represents the cost of constructing a leaf. Ultimately, plants modify LMA by altering leaf thickness (LT), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), or both. While LMA can be modified through both of these constituents, studies of LMA have found that there is variation in whether LT or LDMC changes are responsible for LMA-and the relationships change depending on the species or functional groups being compared. In this study, we used a phylogenetic framework to determine that evolutionary shifts in LMA are driven by LT, and not LDMC, among 45 Serengeti grass species. We considered two alternative hypotheses that could result in evolutionary correlation of LMA on LT but not LDMC: either (1) LT is more labile than LDMC-and is therefore a less costly means to change LMA or (2) LDMC is tightly coupled to a different dimension of leaf variation (e.g., leaf hydraulics), leaving LT as the source of variation in LMA. LT was not more labile than LDMC, leading us to conclude that the evolution of LMA has been shaped by LT because LDMC is responding to other demands on leaf physiology. We speculate that leaf hydraulics provide this constraint on LDMC. The decoupling of LDMC from LT may allow plants to better optimize resource allocation in ecosystems where gradients in light competition, herbivory, and aridity place competing demands on leaf economics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Griffith
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Quigley
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - T Michael Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
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102
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Díaz S, Kattge J, Cornelissen JHC, Wright IJ, Lavorel S, Dray S, Reu B, Kleyer M, Wirth C, Prentice IC, Garnier E, Bönisch G, Westoby M, Poorter H, Reich PB, Moles AT, Dickie J, Gillison AN, Zanne AE, Chave J, Wright SJ, Sheremet'ev SN, Jactel H, Baraloto C, Cerabolini B, Pierce S, Shipley B, Kirkup D, Casanoves F, Joswig JS, Günther A, Falczuk V, Rüger N, Mahecha MD, Gorné LD. The global spectrum of plant form and function. Nature 2015; 529:167-71. [PMID: 26700811 DOI: 10.1038/nature16489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1049] [Impact Index Per Article: 116.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Earth is home to a remarkable diversity of plant forms and life histories, yet comparatively few essential trait combinations have proved evolutionarily viable in today's terrestrial biosphere. By analysing worldwide variation in six major traits critical to growth, survival and reproduction within the largest sample of vascular plant species ever compiled, we found that occupancy of six-dimensional trait space is strongly concentrated, indicating coordination and trade-offs. Three-quarters of trait variation is captured in a two-dimensional global spectrum of plant form and function. One major dimension within this plane reflects the size of whole plants and their parts; the other represents the leaf economics spectrum, which balances leaf construction costs against growth potential. The global plant trait spectrum provides a backdrop for elucidating constraints on evolution, for functionally qualifying species and ecosystems, and for improving models that predict future vegetation based on continuous variation in plant form and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Díaz
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Jens Kattge
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes H C Cornelissen
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ian J Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Sandra Lavorel
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR 5553, CNRS - Université Grenoble Alpes, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Stéphane Dray
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Björn Reu
- Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra. 27 Calle 9, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Michael Kleyer
- Landscape Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christian Wirth
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - I Colin Prentice
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.,AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts, Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment and Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Eric Garnier
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (UMR 5175), CNRS-Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Gerhard Bönisch
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Mark Westoby
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Penrith New South Wales 2751, Australia
| | - Angela T Moles
- Evolution &Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - John Dickie
- Collections , The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN, UK
| | - Andrew N Gillison
- Center for Biodiversity Management, P.O. Box 120, Yungaburra, Queensland 4884, Australia
| | - Amy E Zanne
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052, USA.,Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, Missouri 63121, USA
| | - Jérôme Chave
- UMR 5174 Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS &Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 31062, France
| | - S Joseph Wright
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Serge N Sheremet'ev
- Komarov Botanical Institute, Prof. Popov Street 2, St Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Hervé Jactel
- INRA, UMR1202 BIOGECO, F-33610 Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Christopher Baraloto
- International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA.,INRA, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, 97310 Kourou, French Guiana
| | - Bruno Cerabolini
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 3, I-21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Simon Pierce
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DiSAA), University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Bill Shipley
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Donald Kirkup
- Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis, Jodrell Building, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB, UK
| | - Fernando Casanoves
- Unidad de Bioestadística, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), 7170 Turrialba, 30501, Costa Rica
| | - Julia S Joswig
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Angela Günther
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Valeria Falczuk
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nadja Rüger
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Miguel D Mahecha
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lucas D Gorné
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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