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Fernández-de-Uña L, Martínez-Vilalta J, Poyatos R, Mencuccini M, McDowell NG. The role of height-driven constraints and compensations on tree vulnerability to drought. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 239:2083-2098. [PMID: 37485545 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19130] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Frequent observations of higher mortality in larger trees than in smaller ones during droughts have sparked an increasing interest in size-dependent drought-induced mortality. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well understood, with height-associated hydraulic constraints often being implied as the potential mechanism driving increased drought vulnerability. We performed a quantitative synthesis on how key traits that drive plant water and carbon economy change with tree height within species and assessed the implications that the different constraints and compensations may have on the interacting mechanisms (hydraulic failure, carbon starvation and/or biotic-agent attacks) affecting tree vulnerability to drought. While xylem tension increases with tree height, taller trees present a range of structural and functional adjustments, including more efficient water use and transport and greater water uptake and storage capacity, that mitigate the path-length-associated drop in water potential. These adaptations allow taller trees to withstand episodic water stress. Conclusive evidence for height-dependent increased vulnerability to hydraulic failure and carbon starvation, and their coupling to defence mechanisms and pest and pathogen dynamics, is still lacking. Further research is needed, particularly at the intraspecific level, to ascertain the specific conditions and thresholds above which height hinders tree survival under drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fernández-de-Uña
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Jordi Martínez-Vilalta
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
| | - Rafael Poyatos
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
| | - Maurizio Mencuccini
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, 08193, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Nate G McDowell
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Zhang X, Hu H, Li F, Huang L, Bao W. Within leaf nitrogen allocation regulates the photosynthetic behavior of xerophytes in response to increased soil rock fragment content. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 200:107753. [PMID: 37243998 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There is limited information on how plant functional traits vary with soil rock fragment content (RFC), especially for xerophytes growing in stony soils. We examined leaf functional traits of three xerophytes (Sophora davidii; Cotinus szechuanensi; and Artemisia vestita) grown under an RFC gradient in a heavy loamy soil. Our results show that photosynthetic capacity increased linearly with RFC in S. davidii, whereas unimodal patterns were observed for the other two species. The RFC that maximized photosynthetic capacity (Asat) and photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) were achieved by allocating more N to photosynthetic apparatus at the expense of cell walls. For C. szechuanensis, the increased fraction of photosynthetic N allocated to carboxylation (PC) bioenergetics (PB), and thylakoid light-harvesting components (PL) together contributed to the higher Asat and PNUE values. As for S. davidii, both PC and PB mainly contributed to higher Asat and PNUE, whereas for A. vestita only PB was the main contributor. Our results suggest that increased non-capillary porosity of high RFC soil conditions through promoting the root growth of S. davidii and C. szechuanensis ensures sufficient water and N supply for photosynthetic capacity. In shallow-rooted species A. vestita, low RFC soil maintained higher nitrate N in the topsoil, enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity. We conclude that rock fragments promoted leaf photosynthetic capacity in the studied loamy soil system, but the promoting effect was species-specific. The results highlight the relevance of consideration of soil rock fraction in evaluation of photosynthetic behavior of xerophytes in heterogeneous rocky soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulong Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fanglan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Long Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Weikai Bao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Bin Y, Li Y, Russo SE, Cao H, Ni Y, Ye W, Lian J. Leaf trait expression varies with tree size and ecological strategy in a subtropical forest. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Bin
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou 510650 China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou 511458 China
| | - Yanpeng Li
- Forest Ecology Research Center Research Institute of Tropical Forestry Chinese Academy of Forestry Guangzhou 510520 USA
| | - Sabrina E. Russo
- School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska Lincoln NE USA 68588‐0118
- Center for Plant Science Innovation University of Nebraska Lincoln NE USA 68588‐0660
| | - Honglin Cao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou 510650 China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou 511458 China
| | - Yunlong Ni
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou 510650 China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou 511458 China
| | - Wanhui Ye
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou 510650 China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou 511458 China
| | - Juyu Lian
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou 510650 China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou 511458 China
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Puglielli G, Laanisto L, Poorter H, Niinemets Ü. Global patterns of biomass allocation in woody species with different tolerances of shade and drought: evidence for multiple strategies. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:308-322. [PMID: 33411342 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The optimal partitioning theory predicts that plants of a given species acclimate to different environments by allocating a larger proportion of biomass to the organs acquiring the most limiting resource. Are similar patterns found across species adapted to environments with contrasting levels of abiotic stress? We tested the optimal partitioning theory by analysing how fractional biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots differed between woody species with different tolerances of shade and drought in plants of different age and size (seedlings to mature trees) using a global dataset including 604 species. No overarching biomass allocation patterns at different tolerance values across species were found. Biomass allocation varied among functional types as a result of phenological (deciduous vs evergreen broad-leaved species) and broad phylogenetical (angiosperms vs gymnosperms) differences. Furthermore, the direction of biomass allocation responses between tolerant and intolerant species was often opposite to that predicted by the optimal partitioning theory. We conclude that plant functional type is the major determinant of biomass allocation in woody species. We propose that interactions between plant functional type, ontogeny and species-specific stress tolerance adaptations allow woody species with different shade and drought tolerances to display multiple biomass partitioning strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Puglielli
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
| | - Lauri Laanisto
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, D-52425, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, 10130, Estonia
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Comparison of the Scaling Relationships of Leaf Biomass versus Surface Area between Spring and Summer for Two Deciduous Tree Species. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11091010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The scaling relationship between either leaf dry or fresh mass (M) and surface area (A) can reflect the photosynthetic potential and efficiency of light harvesting in different broad-leaved plants. In growing leaves, lamina area expansion is typically finished before the completion of leaf biomass accumulation, thereby affecting the M vs. A scaling relationship at different developmental stages of leaves (e.g., young vs. adult leaves). In addition, growing plants can have different-sized leaves at different plant ages, potentially also changing M vs. A scaling. Furthermore, leaf shape can also change during the course of ontogeny and modify the M vs. A scaling relationship. Indeed, the effect of seasonal changes in leaf shape on M vs. A scaling has not been examined in any previous studies known to us. The study presented here was conducted using two deciduous tree species: Alangium chinense (saplings forming leaves through the growing season) and Liquidambar formosana (adult trees producing only one leaf flush in spring) that both have complex but nearly bilaterally symmetrical leaf shapes. We determined (i) whether leaf shapes differed in spring versus summer; (ii) whether the M vs. A scaling relationship varied over time; and (iii) whether there is a link between leaf shape and the scaling exponent governing the M vs. A scaling relationship. The data indicated that (i) the leaf dissection index in spring was higher than that in summer for both species (i.e., leaf-shape complexity decreased from young to adult leaves); (ii) there was a significant difference in the numerical value of the scaling exponent of leaf perimeter vs. area between leaves sampled at the two dates; (iii) spring leaves had a higher water content than summer leaves, and the scaling exponents of dry mass vs. area and fresh mass vs. area were all greater than unity; (iv) the scaling relationship between fresh mass and area was statistically more robust than that between leaf dry mass and area; (v) the scaling exponents of leaf dry and fresh mass vs. area of A. chinense leaves in spring were greater than those in summer (i.e., leaves in younger plants tend to be larger than leaves in older plants), whereas, for the adult trees of L. formosana, the scaling exponent in spring was smaller than that in summer, indicating increases in leaf dry mass per unit area with increasing leaf age; and (vi) leaf shape appears not to be related to the scaling relationship between either leaf dry or fresh mass and area, but is correlated with the scaling exponent of leaf perimeter vs. area (which tends to be a ½ power function). These trends indicate that studies of leaf morphometrics and scaling relationships must consider the influence of seasonality and plant age in sampling of leaves and the interpretation of data.
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Liu Z, Hikosaka K, Li F, Jin G. Variations in leaf economics spectrum traits for an evergreen coniferous species: Tree size dominates over environment factors. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhili Liu
- Center for Ecological Research Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management‐Ministry of Education Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
| | - Kouki Hikosaka
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Tohoku University Sendai Miyagi Japan
| | - Fengri Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management‐Ministry of Education Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
- School of Forestry Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
| | - Guangze Jin
- Center for Ecological Research Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management‐Ministry of Education Northeast Forestry University Harbin China
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Park M, Cho S, Park J, Lee H, Song W, Park IK, Kim HS. Size-dependent variation in leaf functional traits and nitrogen allocation trade-offs in Robinia pseudoacacia and Cornus controversa. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 39:755-766. [PMID: 30924868 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpy150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tree species vary in how they invest resources to different functions throughout their life histories, and investigating the detailed patterns of ontogenetic changes in key functional traits will aid in predicting forest dynamics and ecosystem processes. In this context, we investigated size-dependent changes in key leaf functional traits and nitrogen (N) allocation trade-offs in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., an N-fixing pioneer species) and giant dogwood (Cornus controversa Hemsl., a mid-successional species), which have different life-history strategies, especially in their light use. We found that the leaf mass per area and leaf carbon concentrations increased linearly with tree size (diameter at breast height, DBH), whereas leaf N concentrations decreased nonlinearly, with U- and hump-shaped patterns in black locust and giant dogwood, respectively. We also discovered large differences in N allocation between the two species. The fraction of leaf N invested in cell walls was much higher in black locust than in giant dogwood, while the opposite was true for the light harvesting N fraction. Furthermore, these fractions were related to DBH to varying degrees: the cell wall N fraction increased with DBH for both species, whereas the light harvesting N fraction of giant dogwood decreased nonlinearly and that of black locust remained constant. Instead, black locust reduced the fraction of leaf N invested in other N pools, resulting in a smaller fraction compared to that of giant dogwood. On the other hand, both species had similar fraction of leaf N invested in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase across tree size. This study indicated that both species increased leaf mechanical toughness through characteristic changes in N allocation trade-offs over the lifetimes of the trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjee Park
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsik Cho
- Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- National Center for Agro Meteorology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhan Park
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- National Center for Agro Meteorology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - HoonTaek Lee
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wookyung Song
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Kwon Park
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Seok Kim
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- National Center for Agro Meteorology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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8
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Azuma W, Ishii HR, Masaki T. Height-related variations of leaf traits reflect strategies for maintaining photosynthetic and hydraulic homeostasis in mature and old Pinus densiflora trees. Oecologia 2019; 189:317-328. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4325-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Hayes FJ, Buchanan SW, Coleman B, Gordon AM, Reich PB, Thevathasan NV, Wright IJ, Martin AR. Intraspecific variation in soy across the leaf economics spectrum. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 123:107-120. [PMID: 30107396 PMCID: PMC6344108 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) is an important dimension of plant ecological diversity, particularly in agroecosystems, where phenotypic ITV (within crop genotypes) is an important correlate of key agroecosystem processes including yield. There are few studies that have evaluated whether plants of the same genotype vary along well-defined axes of biological variation, such as the leaf economics spectrum (LES). There is even less information disentangling environmental and ontogenetic determinants of crop ITV along an intraspecific LES, and whether or not a plant's position along an intraspecific LES is correlated with reproductive output. Methods We sought to capture the extent of phenotypic ITV within a single cultivar of soy (Glycine max) - the world's most commonly cultivated legume - using a data set of nine leaf traits measured on 402 leaves, sampled from 134 plants in both agroforestry and monoculture management systems, across three distinct whole-plant ontogenetic stages (while holding leaf age and canopy position stable). Key Results Leaf traits covaried strongly along an intraspecific LES, in patterns that were largely statistically indistinguishable from the 'universal LES' observed across non-domesticated plants. Whole-plant ontogenetic stage explained the highest proportion of phenotypic ITV in LES traits, with plants progressively expressing more 'resource-conservative' LES syndromes throughout development. Within ontogenetic stages, leaf traits differed systematically across management systems, with plants growing in monoculture expressing more 'resource-conservative' trait syndromes: trends largely owing to an approximately ≥50% increases in leaf mass per area (LMA) in high-light monoculture vs. shaded agroforestry systems. Certain traits, particularly LMA, leaf area and maximum photosynthetic rates, correlated closely with plant-level reproductive output. Conclusions Phenotypic ITV in soy is governed by constraints in trait trade-offs along an intraspecific LES, which in turn (1) underpins plant responses to managed environmental gradients, and (2) reflects shifts in plant functional biology and resource allocation that occur throughout whole-plant ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fallon J Hayes
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada
| | - Serra W Buchanan
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada
| | - Brent Coleman
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew M Gordon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Ian J Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adam R Martin
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada
- Centre for Critical Development Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada
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He D, Yan ER. Size-dependent variations in individual traits and trait scaling relationships within a shade-tolerant evergreen tree species. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2018; 105:1165-1174. [PMID: 30070684 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF STUDY The plant size-trait relationship is a fundamental dimension in the spectrum of plant form and function. However, it remains unclear whether the trait scaling relationship within species is modified by tree size. Investigating size-dependent trait covariations within species is crucial for understanding the ontogenetic constraints on the intraspecific economic spectrum and, more broadly, the structure and causes of intraspecific trait variations. METHODS We measured eight morphological, stoichiometric, and hydraulic traits for 604 individual plants of a shade-tolerant evergreen tree species, Litsea elongata, in a subtropical evergreen forest of eastern China. Individual trait values were regressed against tree basal diameter to evaluate size-dependent trait variations. Standardized major axis regression was employed to examine trait scaling relationships and to test whether there was a common slope and elevation in the trait scaling relationship across size classes. KEY RESULTS Small trees tended to have larger, thinner leaves and longer, slenderer stems than larger trees, which indicates an acquisitive economic strategy in juvenile trees. Leaf nitrogen concentrations increased with plant size, which was likely due to a high ratio of structural to photosynthetic nitrogen in the evergreen leaves of large trees. Bivariate trait scaling was minimally modified by tree size, although the elevation of some relationships differed between size classes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that there are common economic and biophysical constraints on intraspecific trait covariation, independent of tree size. Small and large trees tend to be located at opposite ends of an intraspecific plant economic spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong He
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island, Tiantong National Station for Forest Ecosystem Research, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration; School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - En-Rong Yan
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island, Tiantong National Station for Forest Ecosystem Research, and Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration; School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
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Robakowski P, Bielinis E, Sendall K. Light energy partitioning, photosynthetic efficiency and biomass allocation in invasive Prunus serotina and native Quercus petraea in relation to light environment, competition and allelopathy. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2018; 131:505-523. [PMID: 29417301 PMCID: PMC5916994 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-018-1009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study addressed whether competition under different light environments was reflected by changes in leaf absorbed light energy partitioning, photosynthetic efficiency, relative growth rate and biomass allocation in invasive and native competitors. Additionally, a potential allelopathic effect of mulching with invasive Prunus serotina leaves on native Quercus petraea growth and photosynthesis was tested. The effect of light environment on leaf absorbed light energy partitioning and photosynthetic characteristics was more pronounced than the effects of interspecific competition and allelopathy. The quantum yield of PSII of invasive P. serotina increased in the presence of a competitor, indicating a higher plasticity in energy partitioning for the invasive over the native Q. petraea, giving it a competitive advantage. The most striking difference between the two study species was the higher crown-level net CO2 assimilation rates (Acrown) of P. serotina compared with Q. petraea. At the juvenile life stage, higher relative growth rate and higher biomass allocation to foliage allowed P. serotina to absorb and use light energy for photosynthesis more efficiently than Q. petraea. Species-specific strategies of growth, biomass allocation, light energy partitioning and photosynthetic efficiency varied with the light environment and gave an advantage to the invader over its native competitor in competition for light. However, higher biomass allocation to roots in Q. petraea allows for greater belowground competition for water and nutrients as compared to P. serotina. This niche differentiation may compensate for the lower aboveground competitiveness of the native species and explain its ability to co-occur with the invasive competitor in natural forest settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Robakowski
- Department of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71E St., 60-625, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Ernest Bielinis
- Department of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71E St., 60-625, Poznan, Poland
- Unit of Forestry and Forest Ecology, Department of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, PL Lodzki 2, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Kerrie Sendall
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8042, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
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Contrasting patterns of leaf trait variation among and within species during tropical dry forest succession in Costa Rica. Sci Rep 2018; 8:285. [PMID: 29321479 PMCID: PMC5762662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A coordinated response to environmental drivers amongst individual functional traits is central to the plant strategy concept. However, whether the trait co-ordination observed at the global scale occurs at other ecological scales (especially within species) remains an open question. Here, for sapling communities of two tropical dry forest types in Costa Rica, we show large differences amongst traits in the relative contribution of species turnover and intraspecific variation to their directional changes in response to environmental changes along a successional gradient. We studied the response of functional traits associated with the leaf economics spectrum and drought tolerance using intensive sampling to analyse inter- and intra-specific responses to environmental changes and ontogeny. Although the overall functional composition of the sapling communities changed during succession more through species turnover than through intraspecific trait variation, their relative contributions differed greatly amongst traits. For instance, community mean specific leaf area changed mostly due to intraspecific variation. Traits of the leaf economics spectrum showed decoupled responses to environmental drivers and ontogeny. These findings emphasise how divergent ecological mechanisms combine to cause great differences in changes of individual functional traits over environmental gradients and ecological scales.
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Light-exposed shoots of seven coexisting deciduous species show common photosynthetic responses to tree height. Oecologia 2016; 182:373-83. [PMID: 27262582 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3664-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Functional traits of light-exposed leaves have been reported to show tree height-dependent change. However, it remains unknown how plastic response of leaf traits to tree height is linked with shoot-level carbon gain. To answer this question, we examined the photosynthetic properties of fully lit current-year shoots in crown tops with various heights for seven deciduous broad-leaved species dominated in a cool-temperate forest in northern Japan. We measured leaf mass, stomatal conductance, nitrogen content, light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (all per leaf lamina area), foliar stable carbon isotope ratio, and shoot mass allocation to leaf laminae. We employed hierarchical Bayesian models to simultaneously quantify inter-trait relationships for all species. We found that leaf and shoot traits were co-varied in association with height, and that there was no quantitative inter-specific difference in leaf- and shoot-level plastic responses to height. Nitrogen content increased and stomatal conductance decreased with height. Reflecting these antagonistic responses to height, photosynthetic rate was almost unchanged with height. Photosynthetic rate divided by stomatal conductance as a proxy of photosynthetic water use efficiency sufficiently explained the variation of foliar carbon isotope ratio. The increase in mass allocation to leaves in a shoot compensated for the height-dependent decline in photosynthetic rate per leaf lamina mass. Consequently, photosynthetic gain at the scale of current-year shoot mass was kept unchanged with tree height. We suggest that the convergent responses of shoot functional traits across species reflect common requirements for trees coexisting in a forest.
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Sendall KM, Lusk CH, Reich PB. Trade‐offs in juvenile growth potential vs. shade tolerance among subtropical rain forest trees on soils of contrasting fertility. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kerrie M. Sendall
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota 1530 Cleveland Avenue N St. Paul MN 55108 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Christopher H. Lusk
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
- Environmental Research Institute University of Waikato Private Bag 3105 Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Peter B. Reich
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota 1530 Cleveland Avenue N St. Paul MN 55108 USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment University of Western Sydney Penrith NSW 2753 Australia
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15
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Sendall KM, Lusk CH, Reich PB. Becoming less tolerant with age: sugar maple, shade, and ontogeny. Oecologia 2015; 179:1011-21. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3428-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Atkin OK, Bloomfield KJ, Reich PB, Tjoelker MG, Asner GP, Bonal D, Bönisch G, Bradford MG, Cernusak LA, Cosio EG, Creek D, Crous KY, Domingues TF, Dukes JS, Egerton JJG, Evans JR, Farquhar GD, Fyllas NM, Gauthier PPG, Gloor E, Gimeno TE, Griffin KL, Guerrieri R, Heskel MA, Huntingford C, Ishida FY, Kattge J, Lambers H, Liddell MJ, Lloyd J, Lusk CH, Martin RE, Maksimov AP, Maximov TC, Malhi Y, Medlyn BE, Meir P, Mercado LM, Mirotchnick N, Ng D, Niinemets Ü, O'Sullivan OS, Phillips OL, Poorter L, Poot P, Prentice IC, Salinas N, Rowland LM, Ryan MG, Sitch S, Slot M, Smith NG, Turnbull MH, VanderWel MC, Valladares F, Veneklaas EJ, Weerasinghe LK, Wirth C, Wright IJ, Wythers KR, Xiang J, Xiang S, Zaragoza-Castells J. Global variability in leaf respiration in relation to climate, plant functional types and leaf traits. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 206:614-36. [PMID: 25581061 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Leaf dark respiration (Rdark ) is an important yet poorly quantified component of the global carbon cycle. Given this, we analyzed a new global database of Rdark and associated leaf traits. Data for 899 species were compiled from 100 sites (from the Arctic to the tropics). Several woody and nonwoody plant functional types (PFTs) were represented. Mixed-effects models were used to disentangle sources of variation in Rdark . Area-based Rdark at the prevailing average daily growth temperature (T) of each site increased only twofold from the Arctic to the tropics, despite a 20°C increase in growing T (8-28°C). By contrast, Rdark at a standard T (25°C, Rdark (25) ) was threefold higher in the Arctic than in the tropics, and twofold higher at arid than at mesic sites. Species and PFTs at cold sites exhibited higher Rdark (25) at a given photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax (25) ) or leaf nitrogen concentration ([N]) than species at warmer sites. Rdark (25) values at any given Vcmax (25) or [N] were higher in herbs than in woody plants. The results highlight variation in Rdark among species and across global gradients in T and aridity. In addition to their ecological significance, the results provide a framework for improving representation of Rdark in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) and associated land-surface components of Earth system models (ESMs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen K Atkin
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Building 134, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia; Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Building 46, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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Kenzo T, Inoue Y, Yoshimura M, Yamashita M, Tanaka-Oda A, Ichie T. Height-related changes in leaf photosynthetic traits in diverse Bornean tropical rain forest trees. Oecologia 2014; 177:191-202. [PMID: 25362582 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3126-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of variations in morphophysiological leaf traits with forest height is essential for quantifying carbon and water fluxes from forest ecosystems. Here, we examined changes in leaf traits with forest height in diverse tree species and their role in environmental acclimation in a tropical rain forest in Borneo that does not experience dry spells. Height-related changes in leaf physiological and morphological traits [e.g., maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax), stomatal conductance (gs), dark respiration rate (Rd), carbon isotope ratio (δ(13)C), nitrogen (N) content, and leaf mass per area (LMA)] from understory to emergent trees were investigated in 104 species in 29 families. We found that many leaf area-based physiological traits (e.g., A(max-area), Rd, gs), N, δ(13)C, and LMA increased linearly with tree height, while leaf mass-based physiological traits (e.g., A(max-mass)) only increased slightly. These patterns differed from other biomes such as temperate and tropical dry forests, where trees usually show decreased photosynthetic capacity (e.g., A(max-area), A(max-mass)) with height. Increases in photosynthetic capacity, LMA, and δ(13)C are favored under bright and dry upper canopy conditions with higher photosynthetic productivity and drought tolerance, whereas lower R d and LMA may improve shade tolerance in lower canopy trees. Rapid recovery of leaf midday water potential to theoretical gravity potential during the night supports the idea that the majority of trees do not suffer from strong drought stress. Overall, leaf area-based photosynthetic traits were associated with tree height and the degree of leaf drought stress, even in diverse tropical rain forest trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanaka Kenzo
- Department of Plant Ecology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Matsunosato 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan,
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Price CA, Wright IJ, Ackerly DD, Niinemets Ü, Reich PB, Veneklaas EJ. Are leaf functional traits ‘invariant’ with plant size and what is ‘invariance’ anyway? Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Price
- School of Plant Biology; University of Western Australia; Perth Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Ian J. Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - David D. Ackerly
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of California; 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley California 94720-3140 USA
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Estonian University of Life Sciences; Kreutzwaldi 1 Tartu 51014 Estonia
| | - Peter B. Reich
- Department of Forest Resources; University of Minnesotam; 1530 Cleveland Avenue North St. Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment; University of Western Sydney; Locked Bag 1797 Penrith New South Wales 2751 Australia
| | - Erik J. Veneklaas
- School of Plant Biology; University of Western Australia; Perth Western Australia 6009 Australia
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19
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Martin AR, Thomas SC. Size-dependent changes in leaf and wood chemical traits in two Caribbean rainforest trees. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 33:1338-1353. [PMID: 24336517 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpt085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Tree functional traits and their link to patterns of growth and demography are central to informing trait-based analyses of forest communities, and mechanistic models of forest dynamics. However, few data are available on how functional traits in trees vary through ontogeny, particularly in tropical species; and less is known about how patterns of size-dependent changes in traits may differ across species of contrasting life-history strategies. Here we describe size-dependent variation in seven leaf functional traits and four wood chemical traits, in two Dominican rainforest tree species (Dacryodes excelsa Vahl. and Miconia mirabilis (Aubl.) L.O. Williams), ranging from small saplings to the largest canopy trees. With one exception, all traits showed pronounced variation with tree size (diameter at breast height, DBH). Leaf mass per area (LMA), thickness and tissue density increased monotonically with DBH in both species. Leaf area, leaf nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) : nitrogen (N) ratios also varied significantly with DBH; however, these patterns were unimodal, with peak trait values preceding the DBH at reproductive onset in both species. Size-dependent changes in leaf structural traits (LMA and leaf thickness) were generally similar in both species, while traits associated with leaf-level investment in C gain (leaf area, leaf C : N ratio) showed contrasting ontogenetic trends between species. Wood starch concentration varied with DBH in both species, also showing unimodal patterns with peaks preceding size at reproductive onset. Wood C concentration increased linearly with DBH in both species, though significantly only in M. mirabilis. Size-dependent patterns in wood chemical traits were similar between both species. Our data demonstrate pronounced variation in functional traits through tree ontogeny, probably due to a combination of environmental factors and shifts in resource allocation. Such ontogenetic variation is comparable in magnitude with interspecific variation, and so should be accounted for in trait-based studies of forest dynamics, structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam R Martin
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Earth Sciences Building, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, Canada
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