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Kurmi B, Nath AJ, Sileshi GW, Pandey R, Das AK. Impact of progressive and retrogressive land use changes on ecosystem multifunctionality: Implications for land restoration in the Indian Eastern Himalayan region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169197. [PMID: 38101647 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Land use change, anthropogenic exploitation and climate change have impacted the flow of services in the Himalayan region. The dominant land uses in the region including natural forest, degraded forest, rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations, Areca catechu plantations, Areca agroforestry and Piper agroforestry were considered for the study. A progressive shift in land use was defined as the conversion and restoration of a less productive system like degraded land to plantations or agroforestry systems. A land use shift was considered retrogressive when it entails the establishment of plantations after clearing natural forests or anthropogenic disturbance of natural forests resulting in forest degradation. The objectives of the current study were to estimate changes in soil properties, stand structure, tree biomass, fine root production and carbon storage following a progressive and retrogressive shift in land usage. The aboveground biomass (105.9 Mg ha-1) was highest in the natural forest, followed by Areca agroforestry (100.2 Mg ha-1) and least in the degraded forest (55.3 Mg ha-1). The aboveground biomass carbon (47.1 Mg ha-1) of Areca agroforestry was comparable with that of natural forest (51.3 Mg ha-1). The highest proportion of passive carbon concentrations was observed under Areca agroforestry, whereas the lowest (4.13 g kg-1) was found under Areca plantations in the 0-25 cm soil depth. With the progressive shift in land use from degraded forest to agroforestry, SOC stocks increased by 27.6 % and 3 % under Piper and Areca agroforests, respectively. SOC stocks decreased by 8.5 % with a shift in land use from natural forests to Areca plantations. The production of fine roots was maximum in the Areca agroforest (13.2 Mg ha-1) and lowest under rubber plantations (4.2 Mg ha-1). The results show that progressive shifts from degraded forest to agroforestry can considerably increase carbon stocks, plant species diversity and multifunctionality than shifts to monoculture plantations thereby supporting improved biodiversity and mitigation of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bandana Kurmi
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, India
| | - Arun Jyoti Nath
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, India.
| | - Gudeta W Sileshi
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Rajiv Pandey
- Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, India
| | - Ashesh Kumar Das
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, India
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2
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Zhao C, Liu J, Mou W, Zhao W, Zhou Z, Ta F, Lei L, Li C. Topography shapes the carbon allocation patterns of alpine forests. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165542. [PMID: 37454841 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165542] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Topography plays a crucial role in determining the structure of alpine forests, as it restricts the availability of nutrients and water necessary for plant growth. Nevertheless, our information on how variations in forest carbon allocation patterns driven by fine-scale topography are influenced by broader-scale environmental contexts is limited. In the northern Tibetan Plateau, we combined field data from 89 forest plots with a high-resolution (1 m2) digital elevation model (DEM) and utilized a linear mixed-effects model to investigate how microtopography (characterized by slope, aspect, and topographic wetness index (TWI)) and broader-scale environmental context (characterized by elevation) and their interactions affect the carbon allocation patterns of alpine forest. Our results revealed that at low and high elevations with pronounced subsurface resource limitations, plants tend to allocate a higher proportion of carbon to the root system and have lower aboveground carbon stocks (ACS). Microtopographic heterogeneity significantly influenced the carbon allocation patterns of forest, with the intensity and direction of these effects varying across the environmental gradient. At low elevations, topographically wetter and northerly microhabitats had higher ACS and lower ratios of below- and aboveground carbon stocks (RBA); however, at high elevations, topographically drier and southerly microhabitats had higher ACS and lower RBA. TWI and aspect had the weakest effect on ACS and RBA in the mid-elevations. The relationship between slope and ACS and RBA was significantly positive but not evidently related to the broader-scale environmental gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jinrong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Wenbo Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Weijun Zhao
- Academy of Water Resources Conservation Forests in Qilian Mountains of Gansu Province, Zhangye 734000, China
| | - Ziqiang Zhou
- Institute of Geological Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Gansu Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Feng Ta
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Longju Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chaonan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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3
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Alvarez P, Velescu A, Pierick K, Homeier J, Wilcke W. Carbon Stable Isotope Ratio of Dissolved Organic Matter as a Tool To Identify Its Sources and Transformations in a Tropical Montane Forest in Ecuador. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14983-14993. [PMID: 37774105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) contributes to forest C cycling. We assessed temporal variability, sources, and transformations of DOM during four years in a tropical montane forest with the help of stable C isotope ratios (δ13C values). We measured δ13C values of DOM in rainfall (RF), throughfall (TF), stemflow (SF), litter leachate (LL), soil solutions at the 0.15 and 0.30 m depths (SS15, SS30), and streamflow (ST) with TOC-IRMS. The δ13C values of DOM did not vary seasonally. We detected an event with a high δ13C value likely attributable to black carbon from local pasture fires. The mean δ13C values of DOM outside the event decreased in the order, RF (-26.0 ± 1.3‰) > TF (-28.7 ± 0.3‰) > SF (-29.2 ± 0.2‰) > LL (-29.6 ± 0.2‰) because of increasing leaching of C-isotopically light compounds. The higher δ13C values of DOM in SS15 (-27.8 ± 1.0‰), SS30 (-27.6 ± 1.1‰), and ST (-27.9 ± 1.1‰) than in the above-ground solutions suggested that roots and root exudates are major belowground DOM sources. Although in DOM the C/N ratios correlated with the δ13C values when all solutions were considered, this was not the case for SS15, SS30, and ST alone. Thus, the δ13C values of DOM provide an additional tool to assess the sources and turnover of DOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Alvarez
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Loja, Reinaldo Espinoza Avenue s/n, 110103 Loja, Ecuador
| | - Andre Velescu
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Kerstin Pierick
- Spatial Structures and Digitization of Forests/Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, Georg August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Faculty of Resource Management, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research, Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wilcke
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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4
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Da R, Fan C, Zhang C, Zhao X, von Gadow K. Are absorptive root traits good predictors of ecosystem functioning? A test in a natural temperate forest. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 239:75-86. [PMID: 36978285 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Trait-based approaches provide a useful framework to predict ecosystem functions under intensifying global change. However, our current understanding of trait-functioning relationships mainly relies on aboveground traits. Belowground traits (e.g. absorptive root traits) are rarely studied although these traits are related to important plant functions. We analyzed four pairs of analogous leaf and absorptive root traits of woody plants in a temperate forest and examined how these traits are coordinated at the community-level, and to what extent the trait covariation depends on local-scale environmental conditions. We then quantified the contributions of leaf and absorptive root traits and the environmental conditions in determining two important forest ecosystem functions, aboveground carbon storage, and woody biomass productivity. The results showed that both morphological trait pairs and chemical trait pairs exhibited positive correlations at the community level. Absorptive root traits show a strong response to environmental conditions compared to leaf traits. We also found that absorptive root traits were better predictors of the two forest ecosystem functions than leaf traits and environmental conditions. Our study confirms the important role of belowground traits in modulating ecosystem functions and deepens our understanding of belowground responses to changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rihan Da
- Research Center of Forest Management Engineering of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunyu Fan
- Research Center of Forest Management Engineering of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- Research Center of Forest Management Engineering of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiuhai Zhao
- Research Center of Forest Management Engineering of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Klaus von Gadow
- Faculty of Forestry and Forest Ecology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 5, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
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5
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McNichol BH, Russo SE. Plant Species' Capacity for Range Shifts at the Habitat and Geographic Scales: A Trade-Off-Based Framework. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1248. [PMID: 36986935 PMCID: PMC10056461 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is causing rapid shifts in the abiotic and biotic environmental conditions experienced by plant populations, but we lack generalizable frameworks for predicting the consequences for species. These changes may cause individuals to become poorly matched to their environments, potentially inducing shifts in the distributions of populations and altering species' habitat and geographic ranges. We present a trade-off-based framework for understanding and predicting whether plant species may undergo range shifts, based on ecological strategies defined by functional trait variation. We define a species' capacity for undergoing range shifts as the product of its colonization ability and the ability to express a phenotype well-suited to the environment across life stages (phenotype-environment matching), which are both strongly influenced by a species' ecological strategy and unavoidable trade-offs in function. While numerous strategies may be successful in an environment, severe phenotype-environment mismatches result in habitat filtering: propagules reach a site but cannot establish there. Operating within individuals and populations, these processes will affect species' habitat ranges at small scales, and aggregated across populations, will determine whether species track climatic changes and undergo geographic range shifts. This trade-off-based framework can provide a conceptual basis for species distribution models that are generalizable across plant species, aiding in the prediction of shifts in plant species' ranges in response to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey H. McNichol
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1101 T Street, 402 Manter Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA;
| | - Sabrina E. Russo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1101 T Street, 402 Manter Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA;
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1901 Vine Street, N300 Beadle Center, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA
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6
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Zhou T, Du W, Wang J, Zhang L, Gao J, Shi N, Wang L, Wu Y, Tian B. Divergent responses of plant functional traits and biomass allocation to slope aspects in four perennial herbs of the alpine meadow ecosystem. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1092821. [PMID: 36938032 PMCID: PMC10016094 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1092821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Slope aspect can cause environmental heterogeneity over relatively short distances, which in turn affects plant distribution, community structure, and ecosystem function. However, the response and adaptation strategies of plants to slope aspects via regulating their physiological and morphological properties still remain poorly understood, especially in alpine ecosystems. Here, we selected four common species, including Bistorta macrophylla, Bistorta vivipara, Cremanthodium discoideum, and Deschampsia littoralis, to test how biomass allocation and functional traits of height, individual leaf area, individual leaf mass, and specific leaf area (SLA) respond to variation in slope aspect in the Minshan Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau. We found that the slope aspect affected SLA and stem, flower mass fraction with higher values at southwest slope aspect, which is potentially related to light environment. The low-temperature environment caused by the slope aspect facilitates the accumulation of root biomass especially at the northeast slope aspect. Cremanthodium discoideum and D. littoralis invested more in belowground biomass in southeast and southwest slope aspects, although a large number of significant isometric allocations were found in B. macrophylla and B. vivipara. Finally, we found that both biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for the variation in total biomass with contrasting effects across different species. These results suggest that slope aspect, as an important topographic variable, strongly influences plant survival, growth, and propagation. Therefore, habitat heterogeneity stemming from topographic factors (slope aspect) can prevent biotic homogenization and thus contribute to the improvement of diverse ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyang Zhou
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Wentao Du
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinniu Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Mangkang Biodiversity and Ecological Station, Tibet Ecological Safety Monitor Network, Changdu, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Yangtze Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Shi
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Mangkang Biodiversity and Ecological Station, Tibet Ecological Safety Monitor Network, Changdu, China
| | - Lihua Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Aba Teachers University, Wenchuan, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Binghui Tian
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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7
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Wu S, Wang R, Zhu H, Wang Y, Du Y, Zhu S, Zhao N. Changes in root chemical diversity along an elevation gradient of Changbai Mountain, China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:897838. [PMID: 36420024 PMCID: PMC9676470 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.897838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Root chemical traits play a critical role in plant resource use strategies and ecosystem nutrient cycling; however, the chemical diversity of multiple elements of fine root and community chemical assembly belowground are poorly understood. Here, we measured 13 elements (C, N, K, Ca, Mg, S, P, Al, Fe, Na, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in the fine roots of 204 plant species along elevational transect from 540 to 2357 m of Changbai Mountain, China to explore the variation, diversity, and community assembly of root chemical traits. At the species level, the concentrations of macronutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg, S, and P) decreased, whereas the trace metals (Fe, Mn, and Zn) increased with elevation. Root chemical traits at the community level systematically shifted along elevational gradients showing a pattern similar to that at the species level, which were mainly influenced by climate and soil rather than species diversity. In general, the interactions of climate and soil were the main drivers of root chemical assembly for woody layers, whereas soil factors played significant role for root chemical assembly for herb layer. The chemical assembly of rock-derived element P was mainly driven by soil factors. Meanwhile, root chemical diversities were mainly regulated by species diversity, the interactions of climate and soil, and soil factors in the tree, shrub, and herb layers, respectively. A better understanding of plant root chemical diversity and community chemical assembly will help to reveal the role of chemical traits in ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruili Wang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Haihua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanyan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sihao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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8
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Pierick K, Link RM, Leuschner C, Homeier J. Elevational trends of tree fine root traits in species‐rich tropical Andean forests. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Pierick
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Roman M. Link
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius‐von‐Sachs‐Inst. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
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9
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Kotowska MM, Samhita S, Hertel D, Triadiati T, Beyer F, Allen K, Link RM, Leuschner C. Consequences of tropical rainforest conversion to tree plantations on fine root dynamics and functional traits. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martyna M. Kotowska
- Dept of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Albrecht‐von‐Haller Inst. for Plant Sciences, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Sasya Samhita
- Dept of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Albrecht‐von‐Haller Inst. for Plant Sciences, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Dietrich Hertel
- Dept of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Albrecht‐von‐Haller Inst. for Plant Sciences, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Triadiati Triadiati
- Dept of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB Univ. Bogor Indonesia
| | - Friderike Beyer
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Kara Allen
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
| | - Roman M. Link
- Chair of Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius von Sachs Inst. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Dept of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Albrecht‐von‐Haller Inst. for Plant Sciences, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
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10
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Báez S, Fadrique B, Feeley K, Homeier J. Changes in tree functional composition across topographic gradients and through time in a tropical montane forest. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263508. [PMID: 35442987 PMCID: PMC9020722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding variation in tree functional traits along topographic gradients and through time provides insights into the processes that will shape community composition and determine ecosystem functioning. In montane environments, complex topography is known to affect forest structure and composition, yet its role in determining trait composition, indices on community climatic tolerances, and responses to changing environmental conditions has not been fully explored. This study investigates how functional trait composition (characterized as community-weighted moments) and community climatic indices vary for the tree community as a whole and for its separate demographic components (i.e., dying, surviving, recruiting trees) over eight years in a topographically complex tropical Andean forest in southern Ecuador. We identified a strong influence of topography on functional composition and on species' climatic optima, such that communities at lower topographic positions were dominated by acquisitive species adapted to both warmer and wetter conditions compared to communities at upper topographic positions which were dominated by conservative cold adapted species, possibly due to differences in soil conditions and hydrology. Forest functional and climatic composition remained stable through time; and we found limited evidence for trait-based responses to environmental change among demographic groups. Our findings confirm that fine-scale environmental conditions are a critical factor structuring plant communities in tropical forests, and suggest that slow environmental warming and community-based processes may promote short-term community functional stability. This study highlights the need to explore how diverse aspects of community trait composition vary in tropical montane forests, and to further investigate thresholds of forest response to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Báez
- Departamento de Biología, Escuela Politécnica Nacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Belén Fadrique
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth Feeley
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Department of Plant Ecology, University of Goettingen. Goettingen, Germany
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11
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Yang Y, McCormack ML, Hu H, Bao W, Li F. Linking fine‐root architecture, vertical distribution and growth rate in temperate mountain shrubs. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Inst. of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | | | - Hui Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Inst. of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Weikai Bao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Inst. of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Fanglan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Inst. of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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12
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Dantas de Paula M, Forrest M, Langan L, Bendix J, Homeier J, Velescu A, Wilcke W, Hickler T. Nutrient cycling drives plant community trait assembly and ecosystem functioning in a tropical mountain biodiversity hotspot. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:551-566. [PMID: 34228829 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Community trait assembly in highly diverse tropical rainforests is still poorly understood. Based on more than a decade of field measurements in a biodiversity hotspot of southern Ecuador, we implemented plant trait variation and improved soil organic matter dynamics in a widely used dynamic vegetation model (the Lund-Potsdam-Jena General Ecosystem Simulator, LPJ-GUESS) to explore the main drivers of community assembly along an elevational gradient. In the model used here (LPJ-GUESS-NTD, where NTD stands for nutrient-trait dynamics), each plant individual can possess different trait combinations, and the community trait composition emerges via ecological sorting. Further model developments include plant growth limitation by phosphorous (P) and mycorrhizal nutrient uptake. The new model version reproduced the main observed community trait shift and related vegetation processes along the elevational gradient, but only if nutrient limitations to plant growth were activated. In turn, when traits were fixed, low productivity communities emerged due to reduced nutrient-use efficiency. Mycorrhizal nutrient uptake, when deactivated, reduced net primary production (NPP) by 61-72% along the gradient. Our results strongly suggest that the elevational temperature gradient drives community assembly and ecosystem functioning indirectly through its effect on soil nutrient dynamics and vegetation traits. This illustrates the importance of considering these processes to yield realistic model predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Dantas de Paula
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Matthew Forrest
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Liam Langan
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Jörg Bendix
- Department of Geography, University of Marburg, Marburg, 35037, Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Goettingen, 37073, Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37073, Germany
| | - Andre Velescu
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wilcke
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
| | - Thomas Hickler
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Department of Physical Geography, Geosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
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Iversen CM, McCormack ML. Filling gaps in our understanding of belowground plant traits across the world: an introduction to a Virtual Issue. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:2097-2103. [PMID: 34405907 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830-6301, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Liesle, IL, 60515, USA
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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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