1
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Pearse IS, LoPresti E, Baldwin BG, Krimmel B. The evolution of glandularity as a defense against herbivores in the tarweed clade. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16281. [PMID: 38334065 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Glandular trichomes are implicated in direct and indirect defense of plants. However, the degree to which glandular and non-glandular trichomes have evolved as a consequence of herbivory remains unclear, because their heritability, their association with herbivore resistance, their trade-offs with one another, and their association with other functions are rarely quantified. METHODS We conducted a phylogenetic comparison of trichomes and herbivore resistance against the generalist caterpillar, Heliothis virescens, among tarweed species (Asteraceae: Madiinae) and a genetic correlation study comparing those same traits among maternal half-sibs of three tarweed species. RESULTS Within a tarweed species, we found no evidence that herbivore growth rate decreased on tarweed individuals or maternal sib groups with more glandularity or denser trichomes. However, tarweed species with more glandularity and fewer non-glandular trichomes resulted in slower-growing herbivores. Likewise, a trade-off between glandular and non-glandular trichomes was apparent among tarweed species, but not among individuals or sib groups within a species. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that this key herbivore does not select for trichomes as a direct defense in tarweed species. However, trichomes differed substantially among species and likely affect herbivore pressure on those species. Our results demonstrate that trade-offs among plant traits, as well as inference on the function of those traits, can depend on scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S Pearse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Eric LoPresti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Bruce G Baldwin
- University of California-Berkeley, Jepson Herbarium and Department of Integrative Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
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2
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Islam T, Hamid M, Nawchoo IA, Khuroo AA. Leaf functional traits vary among growth forms and vegetation zones in the Himalaya. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167274. [PMID: 37741392 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Compression of life zones along elevational gradients in mountains supports diverse vegetation types, and therefore offers ideal setting to study plant functional traits. Functional traits, the features that enable plants to live in varied environmental conditions, help in understanding ecological interactions, evolutionary adaptations, and predicting plant response to global change drivers. To date, little is known how the trait diversity varies across different growth forms and vegetation zones in mountains. Here, we aimed to investigate interspecific leaf trait variability among different growth forms and vegetation zones along a wide elevation gradient (2000-4200 m) in Kashmir Himalaya. We measured leaf functional traits (specific leaf area-SLA, leaf thickness - LT, leaf dry matter content -LDMC) of 76 plant species corresponding to three growth forms (trees, shrubs and herbs) and three vegetation zones (Himalayan dry temperate forests, subalpine forests and alpine grasslands). Our results revealed high trait variability across the regional species pool studied. We found significant variation in leaf functional traits among the different growth forms, with higher values of LT and LDMC recorded for woody species than herbaceous ones. Among different vegetation zones, the SLA was found to be significantly higher at lower to middle elevations, while the other leaf traits (LT and LDMC) showed an opposite trend. Across all the vegetative zones, we also found a negative correlation between SLA and the other leaf traits, and the latter showed a positive trait-trait correlation. Overall, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of trait-trait, trait-growth form and trait-vegetation zone relationships. Our findings suggest that the variation in leaf functional traits among different growth forms seems to be a trade-off mechanism between resource acquisition and leaf construction, and also help in identifying species' adaptive functional traits that are critical for plant survival in the face of ongoing climate change in the Himalaya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tajamul Islam
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India; Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Maroof Hamid
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Irshad A Nawchoo
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Anzar Ahmad Khuroo
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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3
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Zhang C, Huang N, Zhang F, Wu T, He X, Wang J, Li Y. Intraspecific variations of leaf hydraulic, economic, and anatomical traits in Cinnamomum camphora along an urban-rural gradient. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166741. [PMID: 37659523 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization brings numerous benefits to residents, but it also introduces complex, variable, and heterogeneous habitat conditions to urban plants, resulting in an arid and hot urban environment that decreases tree growth and the ecological service capacity of trees. In this study, we evaluated leaf hydraulic, economic, and anatomical traits and their covariations of Cinnamomum camphora along an urban-rural gradient in Hefei, Eastern China. We found that Cinnamomum camphora in urban adopted a conservative hydraulic strategy with low leaf turgor loss point (Tlp), leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf), and leaf water potential resulting in 50 % loss of hydraulic conductance (P50), as well as a quick investment-return economic strategy with low unit leaf dry matter content (LMA) and high leaf nitrogen content (Leaf N). P50, Kleaf and LMA were significantly positively correlated with the urban-rural gradient (PC1urban-rural gradient), while Leaf N exhibited a negative correlation with it. The results showed a trade-off between intraspecific safety and efficiency in leaf hydraulic traits along the urban-rural gradient and an intraspecific coordinated variation in leaf hydraulic and economic traits. In addition, based on the analysis of a trait coordination network, it was revealed that leaf mesophyll and stomata were key structures for trait adjustment and coordination. Furthermore, our findings offer a significant theoretical underpinning for the effective management of landscape trees and the strategic planning of urban tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Nuo Huang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Fengyu Zhang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; Global Centre for Land-based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Xianjin He
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette 91191, France
| | - Jianan Wang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Hefei Urban Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Yiyong Li
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Hefei Urban Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changjiang West Road 130, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, China.
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4
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Umaña MN. The interplay of drought and hurricanes on tree recovery: insights from dynamic and weak functional responses. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231732. [PMID: 37727090 PMCID: PMC10509583 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the functional traits that enable recovery after extreme events is necessary for assessing forest persistence and functioning. However, the variability of traits mediating responses to disturbances presents a significant limitation, as these relationships may be contingent on the type of disturbance and change over time. This study investigates the effects of traits on tree growth-for short and longer terms-in response to two vastly different extreme climatic events (droughts and hurricanes) in a Puerto Rican forest. I found that trees display a dynamic functional response to extreme climatic events. Leaf traits associated with efficient photosynthesis mediated faster tree growth after hurricanes, while trees with low wood density and high water use efficiency displayed faster growth after drought. In the longer term, over both drought and hurricanes, tree size was the only significant predictor of growth, with faster growth for smaller trees. However, despite finding significant trait-growth relationships, the predictive power of traits was overall low. As the frequency of extreme events increases due to climate change, understanding the dynamic relationships between traits and tree growth is necessary for identifying strategies for recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Natalia Umaña
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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5
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Deschamps L, Proulx R, Rheault G, Gross N, Watson C, Maire V. Species richness drives selection of individuals within wetlands based on traits related to acquisition and utilization of light. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9959. [PMID: 37038518 PMCID: PMC10082176 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Selection within natural communities has mainly been studied along large abiotic gradients, while the selection of individuals within populations should occur locally in response to biotic filters. To better leverage the role of the latter, we considered the hierarchal nature of environmental selection for the multiple dimensions of the trait space across biological levels, that is, from the species to the community and the ecosystem levels. We replicated a natural species richness gradient where communities included from two to 16 species within four wetlands (bog, fen, meadow, and marsh) contrasting in plant productivity. We sampled functional traits from individuals in each community and used hierarchical distributional modeling in order to analyze the independent variation of the mean and dispersion of functional trait space at ecosystem, community, and species levels. The plant productivity gradient observed between wetlands led to species turnover and selection of traits related to leaf nutrient conservation/acquisition strategy. Within wetlands, plant species richness drove trait variation across both communities and species. Among communities, variation of species richness correlated with the selection of individuals according to their use of vertical space and leaf adaptations to light conditions. Within species, intraspecific light-related trait variation in response to species richness was associated with stable population density for some species, while others reached low population density in more diverse communities. Within ecosystems, variation in biotic conditions selects individuals along functional dimensions that are independent of those selected across ecosystems. Within-species variations of light-related traits are related to demographic responses, linking biotic selection of individuals within communities to eco-evolutionary dynamics of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Deschamps
- Département des sciences de l'environnementUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois RivièresCanada
| | - Raphaël Proulx
- Département des sciences de l'environnementUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois RivièresCanada
| | - Guillaume Rheault
- Département des sciences de l'environnementUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois RivièresCanada
| | - Nicolas Gross
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupUnité Mixte de Recherche Ecosystème PrairialClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Christopher Watson
- Département des sciences de l'environnementUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois RivièresCanada
| | - Vincent Maire
- Département des sciences de l'environnementUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois RivièresCanada
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6
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Krishnadas M. Climate and forest loss interactively restructure trait composition across a human‐modified landscape. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9361. [PMID: 36329815 PMCID: PMC9618670 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits determine species response to climate conditions and the match between phenotypes and climate mediates spatial variation in species composition. These trait–climate linkages can be disrupted in human‐modified landscapes. Human land use creates forest fragments where dispersal limitation or edge effects exclude species that may otherwise suit a given macroclimate. Furthermore, stressful macroclimate can limit viable trait combinations such that only a subset of values of any given trait occurs with respect to another trait, resulting in stronger trait covariance. Because forest loss can compound climatic stress, trait covariance from benign to harsher climates is expected to be stronger in fragments compared to contiguous forests. In a wet tropical forest landscape in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of peninsular India, I compared fragments with adjacent contiguous forests for signatures of trait‐mediated assembly of tree communities. Using four key plant traits—seed size, specific leaf area (SLA), wood density, and maximum height—I evaluated trait–abundance associations and trait covariance across climate, soil, and elevation gradients. In the contiguous forest, smaller‐seeded, shorter, thinner‐leaved species became more abundant from low to high elevations. In fragments, species with higher SLA were more abundant at sites with more seasonal climates and lower precipitation, and larger seeded species were less abundant at warmer sites. However, traits only weakly predicted abundances in both habitats. Moreover, only contiguous forests exhibited significant compositional change via traits, driven by trait syndromes varying along a composite gradient defined by elevation, water deficit, and soil C:N ratio. Site‐level trait covariance revealed that warmer, wetter conditions in fragments favored taller species for given seed size, as compared to similar conditions in contiguous forests. Overall, trait syndromes and trait covariance, rather than single traits, determined the phenotypes best suited to macroclimate conditions and should inform management or restoration goals in fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghna Krishnadas
- CSIR‐ Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyHyderabadTelanganaIndia
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7
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Duan X, Jia Z, Li J, Wu S. The influencing factors of leaf functional traits variation of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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8
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Jiang F, Cadotte MW, Jin G. Size- and environment-driven seedling survival and growth are mediated by leaf functional traits. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221400. [PMID: 36168755 PMCID: PMC9515624 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecologists usually find that plant demography (e.g. survival and growth) changes along with plant size and environmental gradients, which suggests the effects of ontogeny-related processes and abiotic filtering. However, the role of functional traits underlying the size– and environment–demography relationships is usually overlooked. By measuring individual-level leaf traits of more than 2700 seedlings in a temperate forest, we evaluated how seedling traits mediated the size– and environment–demography relationships. We found leaves were larger for taller seedlings; leaf economics traits were more conservative in taller seedlings and under high-light and low-elevation conditions. Structural equation modelling showed that a higher survival probability for taller seedlings was indirectly driven by their larger leaf area. Although taller seedlings had lower growth rates, larger and more resource-conservative leaves could promote the growth of these tall seedlings. Environmental variables did not influence seedling survival and growth directly but did influence growth indirectly by mediating trait variation. Finally, species-specific variation in traits along with size and environments was associated with the species-specific variation in seedling survival and growth. Our study suggests that not only plant ontogeny- and environment-related ecological processes, but functional traits are also important intermediary agents underlying plant size– and environment–demography relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Jiang
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marc W Cadotte
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guangze Jin
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.,Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China
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9
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Vicente E, Didion-Gency M, Morcillo L, Morin X, Vilagrosa A, Grossiord C. Aridity and cold temperatures drive divergent adjustments of European beech xylem anatomy, hydraulics and leaf physiological traits. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:1720-1735. [PMID: 35285500 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding plant trait coordination and variance across climatic gradients is critical for assessing forests' adaptive potential to climate change. We measured 11 hydraulic, anatomical and leaf-level physiological traits in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along a moisture and temperature gradient in the French Alps. We assessed how traits covaried, and how their population-level variances shifted along the gradient. The intrapopulation variances of vessel size and xylem-specific conductivity reduced in colder locations as narrow vessels were observed in response to low temperature. This decreased individual-level water transport capacity compared with the warmer and more xeric sites. Conversely, the maximum stomatal conductance and Huber value variances were constrained in the arid and warm locations, where trees showed restricted gas exchange and higher xylem-specific conductivity. The populations growing under drier and warmer conditions presented wide variance for the xylem anatomical and hydraulic traits. Our results suggest that short-term physiological acclimation to raising aridity and heat in southern beech populations may occur mainly at the leaf level. Furthermore, the wide variance of the xylem anatomical and hydraulic traits at these sites may be advantageous since more heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity could imply populations' greater tree-tree complementarity and resilience against climatic variability. Our study highlights that both intrapopulation trait variance and trait network analysis are key approaches for understanding species adaptation and the acclimation potential to a shifting environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Vicente
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, IMEM Ramón Margalef, University of Alicante, C. San Vicente del Raspeig, s/n, Alicante 03080, Spain
- CEAM Foundation, Joint Research Unit University of Alicante-CEAM, Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, C. San Vicente del Raspeig, s/n, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Margaux Didion-Gency
- Ecosystem Ecology, Forest Dynamics Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| | - Luna Morcillo
- CEAM Foundation, Joint Research Unit University of Alicante-CEAM, Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, C. San Vicente del Raspeig, s/n, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Xavier Morin
- CEFE UMR 5175 (CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, EPHE, IRD), 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier Cedex 5 F-34293, France
| | - Alberto Vilagrosa
- CEAM Foundation, Joint Research Unit University of Alicante-CEAM, Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, C. San Vicente del Raspeig, s/n, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Charlotte Grossiord
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, PO box 96, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
- Functional Plant Ecology, Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, PO box 96, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
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10
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Rubio‐Ríos J, Pérez J, Salinas MJ, Fenoy E, Boyero L, Casas JJ. Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Rubio‐Ríos
- Department of Biology and Geology University of Almeria (UAL) Almería Spain
- Andalusian Centre for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Global Change CAESCG Almería Spain
| | - Javier Pérez
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Leioa Spain
| | - María J. Salinas
- Department of Biology and Geology University of Almeria (UAL) Almería Spain
- Andalusian Centre for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Global Change CAESCG Almería Spain
| | - Encarnación Fenoy
- Department of Biology and Geology University of Almeria (UAL) Almería Spain
- Andalusian Centre for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Global Change CAESCG Almería Spain
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Leioa Spain
| | - José Jesús Casas
- Department of Biology and Geology University of Almeria (UAL) Almería Spain
- Andalusian Centre for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Global Change CAESCG Almería Spain
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11
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Ulrich W, Zaplata MK, Gotelli NJ. Reconsidering the Price equation: a new partitioning based on species abundances and trait expression. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Werner Ulrich
- Dept of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ. in Torun Toruń Poland
| | - Markus Klemens Zaplata
- Faculty Environment and Natural Sciences, Brandenburg Univ. of Technology Cottbus‐Senftenberg Cottbus Germany
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12
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Gomaa NH, Picó FX. Depicting the phenotypic space of the annual plant Diplotaxis acris in hyperarid deserts. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15708-15719. [PMID: 34824784 PMCID: PMC8601918 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic space encompasses the assemblage of trait combinations yielding well-suited integrated phenotypes. At the population level, understanding the phenotypic space structure requires the quantification of among- and within-population variations in traits and the correlation pattern among them. Here, we studied the phenotypic space of the annual plant Diplotaxis acris occurring in hyperarid deserts. Given the advance of warming and aridity in vast regions occupied by drylands, D. acris can indicate the successful evolutionary trajectory that many other annual plant species may follow in expanding drylands. To this end, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 176 D. acris individuals from five Saudi populations to quantify the genetic component of variation in architectural and life history traits. We found low among-population divergence but high among-individual variation in all traits. In addition, all traits showed a high degree of genetic determination in our study experimental conditions. We did not find significant effects of recruitment and fecundity on fitness. Finally, all architectural traits exhibited a strong correlation pattern among them, whereas for life history traits, only higher seed germination implied earlier flowering. Seed weight appeared to be an important trait in D. acris as individuals with heavier seeds tended to advance flowering and have a more vigorous branching pattern, which led to higher fecundity. Population divergence in D. acris might be constrained by the severity of the hyperarid environment, but populations maintain high among-individual genetic variation in all traits. Furthermore, D. acris showed phenotypic integration for architectural traits and, to a lesser extent, for life history traits. Overall, we hypothesize that D. acris may be fine-tuned to its demanding extreme environments. Evolutionary speaking, annual plants facing increasing warming, aridity, and environmental seasonality might modify their phenotypic spaces toward new phenotypic configurations strongly dominated by correlated architectural traits enhancing fecundity and seed-related traits advancing flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasr H. Gomaa
- Department of Botany and MicrobiologyFaculty of ScienceBeni‐Suef UniversityBeni‐SuefEgypt
- Biology DepartmentCollege of ScienceJouf UniversitySakakaSaudi Arabia
| | - F. Xavier Picó
- Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)SevillaSpain
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13
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Homeier J, Seeler T, Pierick K, Leuschner C. Leaf trait variation in species-rich tropical Andean forests. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9993. [PMID: 33976239 PMCID: PMC8113502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Screening species-rich communities for the variation in functional traits along environmental gradients may help understanding the abiotic drivers of plant performance in a mechanistic way. We investigated tree leaf trait variation along an elevation gradient (1000-3000 m) in highly diverse neotropical montane forests to test the hypothesis that elevational trait change reflects a trend toward more conservative resource use strategies at higher elevations, with interspecific trait variation decreasing and trait integration increasing due to environmental filtering. Analysis of trait variance partitioning across the 52 tree species revealed for most traits a dominant influence of phylogeny, except for SLA, leaf thickness and foliar Ca, where elevation was most influential. The community-level means of SLA, foliar N and Ca, and foliar N/P ratio decreased with elevation, while leaf thickness and toughness increased. The contribution of intraspecific variation was substantial at the community level in most traits, yet smaller than the interspecific component. Both within-species and between-species trait variation did not change systematically with elevation. High phylogenetic diversity, together with small-scale edaphic heterogeneity, cause large interspecific leaf trait variation in these hyper-diverse Andean forests. Trait network analysis revealed increasing leaf trait integration with elevation, suggesting stronger environmental filtering at colder and nutrient-poorer sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Goettingen, Germany.
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Tabea Seeler
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Pierick
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
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Jiang F, Cadotte MW, Jin G. Individual-level leaf trait variation and correlation across biological and spatial scales. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5344-5354. [PMID: 34026011 PMCID: PMC8131770 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Even with increasing interest in the ecological importance of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) for better understanding ecological processes, few studies have quantified ITV in seedlings and assessed constraints imposed by trade-offs and correlations among individual-level leaf traits. Estimating the amount and role of ITV in seedlings is important to understand tree recruitment and long-term forest dynamics. We measured ten different size, economics, and whole leaf traits (lamina and petiole) for more than 2,800 seedlings (height ≥ 10 cm and diameter at breast height < 1 cm) in 283 seedling plots and then quantified the amount of ITV and trait correlations across two biological (intraspecific and interspecific) and spatial (within and among plots) scales. Finally, we explored the effects of trait variance and sample size on the strength of trait correlations. We found about 40% (6%-63%) variation in leaf-level traits was explained by ITV across all traits. Lamina and petiole traits were correlated across biological and spatial scales, whereas leaf size traits (e.g., lamina area) were weakly correlated with economics traits (e.g., specific lamina area); lamina mass ratio was strongly related to the petiole length. Trait correlations varied among species, plots, and different scales but there was no evidence that the strength of trait relationships was stronger at broader than finer biological and spatial scales. While larger trait variance increased the strength of correlations, the sample size was the most important factor that was negatively related to the strength of trait correlations. Our results showed that a large amount of trait variation was explained by ITV, which highlighted the importance of considering ITV when using trait-based approaches in seedling ecology. In addition, sample size was an important factor that influenced the strength of trait correlations, which suggests that comparing trait correlations across studies should consider the differences in sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Jiang
- Center for Ecological ResearchNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughTorontoONCanada
| | - Marc W. Cadotte
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughTorontoONCanada
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Guangze Jin
- Center for Ecological ResearchNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management‐Ministry of EducationNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
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15
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Westerband AC, Funk JL, Barton KE. Intraspecific trait variation in plants: a renewed focus on its role in ecological processes. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 127:397-410. [PMID: 33507251 PMCID: PMC7988520 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigating the causes and consequences of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in plants is not novel, as it has long been recognized that such variation shapes biotic and abiotic interactions. While evolutionary and population biology have extensively investigated ITV, only in the last 10 years has interest in ITV surged within community and comparative ecology. SCOPE Despite this recent interest, still lacking are thorough descriptions of ITV's extent, the spatial and temporal structure of ITV, and stronger connections between ITV and community and ecosystem properties. Our primary aim in this review is to synthesize the recent literature and ask: (1) How extensive is intraspecific variation in traits across scales, and what underlying mechanisms drive this variation? (2) How does this variation impact higher-order ecological processes (e.g. population dynamics, community assembly, invasion, ecosystem productivity)? (3) What are the consequences of ignoring ITV and how can these be mitigated? and (4) What are the most pressing research questions, and how can current practices be modified to suit our research needs? Our secondary aim is to target diverse and underrepresented traits and plant organs, including anatomy, wood, roots, hydraulics, reproduction and secondary chemistry. In addressing these aims, we showcase papers from the Special Issue. CONCLUSIONS Plant ITV plays a key role in determining individual and population performance, species interactions, community structure and assembly, and ecosystem properties. Its extent varies widely across species, traits and environments, and it remains difficult to develop a predictive model for ITV that is broadly applicable. Systematically characterizing the sources (e.g. ontogeny, population differences) of ITV will be a vital step forward towards identifying generalities and the underlying mechanisms that shape ITV. While the use of species means to link traits to higher-order processes may be appropriate in many cases, such approaches can obscure potentially meaningful variation. We urge the reporting of individual replicates and population means in online data repositories, a greater consideration of the mechanisms that enhance and constrain ITV's extent, and studies that span sub-disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Westerband
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - J L Funk
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - K E Barton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Carvalho B, Bastias CC, Escudero A, Valladares F, Benavides R. Intraspecific perspective of phenotypic coordination of functional traits in Scots pine. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228539. [PMID: 32053614 PMCID: PMC7018023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional traits have emerged as a key to understand species responses to environmental conditions. The concerted expression of multiple traits gives rise to the phenotype of each individual, which is the one interacting with the environment and evolving. However, patterns of trait covariation and how they vary in response to environmental conditions remain poorly understood, particularly at the intraspecific scale. Here, we have measured traits at different scales and in different organs, and analysed their covariation in a large number of conspecifics distributed in two contrasting environments. We expected significant correlations among traits, not only within clusters of traits as found in global, multispecies studies, but also among clusters, with more relationships within clusters, due to genetic constraints, and among clusters due to more coordinated phenotypes than community level, multispecies studies. We surveyed 100 Pinus sylvestris trees in a Mediterranean mountainous area distributed in two contrasting elevations. We measured 13 functional traits, in three clusters (leaf, stem and whole-plant traits), and analysed their variation and coordination. We found significant coordination among traits belonging to different clusters that reveals coordinated phenotypes. However, we found fewer correlations within trait clusters than initially expected. Trait correlation structures (number, intensity and type of correlations among traits) differed among individuals at different elevations. We observed more correlations within trait clusters at low elevation compared to those at high elevation. Moreover, the higher number of correlations among different trait clusters and the lower trait variation at the higher elevation suggests that variability decreases under more stressful conditions. Altogether, our results reveal that traits at intraspecific scale are coordinated in a broad network and not only within clusters of traits but also that this trait covariation is significantly affected by environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Carvalho
- Departamento Biogeografía y Cambio Global, LINCGlobal, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina C. Bastias
- Departamento Biogeografía y Cambio Global, LINCGlobal, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Escudero
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Valladares
- Departamento Biogeografía y Cambio Global, LINCGlobal, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Benavides
- Departamento Biogeografía y Cambio Global, LINCGlobal, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Umaña MN, Arellano G, Forero‐Montaña J, Nytch CJ, Swenson NG, Thompson J, Uriarte M, Zimmerman JK. Large‐ and small‐seeded species have contrasting functional neighborhoods in a subtropical forest. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- María Natalia Umaña
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Gabriel Arellano
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
- ForestGEO Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Washington D.C. 20013 USA
| | | | - Christopher J. Nytch
- Department of Biology University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Puerto Rico 00931 USA
| | - Nathan G. Swenson
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland 20742 USA
| | - Jill Thompson
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Bush Estate Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0QB UK
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution& Environmental Biology Columbia University New York New York 10027 USA
| | - Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Biology University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Puerto Rico 00931 USA
- Department of Environmental Science University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Puerto Rico 00936 USA
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Subedi SC, Hogan JA, Ross MS, Sah JP, Baraloto C. Evidence for trait‐based community assembly patterns in hardwood hammock forests. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Suresh C. Subedi
- Department of Earth and Environment Florida International University Miami Florida USA
- Wetland and Aquatic Center USGS Gainesville Florida USA
| | - J. Aaron Hogan
- International Center for Tropical Botany Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Michael S. Ross
- Department of Earth and Environment Florida International University Miami Florida USA
- Southeast Environmental Research Center Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Jay P. Sah
- Southeast Environmental Research Center Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Christopher Baraloto
- International Center for Tropical Botany Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University Miami Florida USA
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