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Manzi OJL, Wittemann M, Dusenge ME, Habimana J, Manishimwe A, Mujawamariya M, Ntirugulirwa B, Zibera E, Tarvainen L, Nsabimana D, Wallin G, Uddling J. Canopy temperatures strongly overestimate leaf thermal safety margins of tropical trees. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 39073111 DOI: 10.1111/nph.20013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Current estimates of temperature effects on plants mostly rely on air temperature, although it can significantly deviate from leaf temperature (Tleaf). To address this, some studies have used canopy temperature (Tcan). However, Tcan fails to capture the fine-scale variation in Tleaf among leaves and species in diverse canopies. We used infrared radiometers to study Tleaf and Tcan and how they deviate from air temperature (ΔTleaf and ΔTcan) in multispecies tropical tree plantations at three sites along an elevation and temperature gradient in Rwanda. Our results showed high Tleaf (up to c. 50°C) and ΔTleaf (on average 8-10°C and up to c. 20°C) of sun-exposed leaves during 10:00 h-15:00 h, being close to or exceeding photosynthetic heat tolerance thresholds. These values greatly exceeded simultaneously measured values of Tcan and ΔTcan, respectively, leading to strongly overestimated leaf thermal safety margins if basing those on Tcan data. Stomatal conductance and leaf size affected Tleaf and Tcan in line with their expected influences on leaf energy balance. Our findings highlight the importance of leaf traits for leaf thermoregulation and show that monitoring Tcan is not enough to capture the peak temperatures and heat stress experienced by individual leaves of different species in tropical forest canopies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Jean Leonce Manzi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- Integrated Polytechnic Regional College-Kitabi, Rwanda Polytechnic, PO Box 330, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Maria Wittemann
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Mirindi Eric Dusenge
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, E4L 1E4, Canada
| | - Jacques Habimana
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Aloysie Manishimwe
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, PO Box 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Myriam Mujawamariya
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, PO Box 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Bonaventure Ntirugulirwa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, PO Box 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
- Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, PO Box 5016, Kigali, Rwanda
- Rwanda Forestry Authority, PO Box 46, Muhanga, Rwanda
| | - Etienne Zibera
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, PO Box 210, Musanze, Rwanda
| | - Lasse Tarvainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Donat Nsabimana
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, PO Box 210, Musanze, Rwanda
| | - Göran Wallin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Johan Uddling
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 463, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
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Wittemann M, Mujawamariya M, Ntirugulirwa B, Uwizeye FK, Zibera E, Manzi OJL, Nsabimana D, Wallin G, Uddling J. Plasticity and implications of water-use traits in contrasting tropical tree species under climate change. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14326. [PMID: 38708565 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Plants face a trade-off between hydraulic safety and growth, leading to a range of water-use strategies in different species. However, little is known about such strategies in tropical trees and whether different water-use traits can acclimate to warming. We studied five water-use traits in 20 tropical tree species grown at three different altitudes in Rwanda (RwandaTREE): stomatal conductance (gs), leaf minimum conductance (gmin), plant hydraulic conductance (Kplant), leaf osmotic potential (ψo) and net defoliation during drought. We also explored the links between these traits and growth and mortality data. Late successional (LS) species had low Kplant, gs and gmin and, thus, low water loss, while low ψo helped improve leaf water status during drought. Early successional (ES) species, on the contrary, used more water during both moist and dry conditions and exhibited pronounced drought defoliation. The ES strategy was associated with lower mortality and more pronounced growth enhancement at the warmer sites compared to LS species. While Kplant and gmin showed downward acclimation in warmer climates, ψo did not acclimate and gs measured at prevailing temperature did not change. Due to distinctly different water use strategies between successional groups, ES species may be better equipped for a warmer climate as long as defoliation can bridge drought periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wittemann
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Myriam Mujawamariya
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Bonaventure Ntirugulirwa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Kigali, Rwanda
- Rwanda Forestry Authority, Muhanga, Rwanda
| | - Felicien K Uwizeye
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity and Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda
| | - Etienne Zibera
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity and Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda
| | - Olivier Jean Leonce Manzi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Integrated Polytechnic Regional College-Kitabi, Rwanda Polytechnic, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Donat Nsabimana
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity and Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda
| | - Göran Wallin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Uddling
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Cox AJF, González-Caro S, Meir P, Hartley IP, Restrepo Z, Villegas JC, Sanchez A, Mercado LM. Variable thermal plasticity of leaf functional traits in Andean tropical montane forests. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:731-750. [PMID: 38047584 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14778] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Tropical montane forests (TMFs) are biodiversity hotspots and provide vital ecosystem services, but they are disproportionately vulnerable to climate warming. In the Andes, cold-affiliated species from high elevations are being displaced at the hot end of their thermal distributions by warm-affiliated species migrating upwards from lower elevations, leading to compositional shifts. Leaf functional traits are strong indicators of plant performance and at the community level have been shown to vary along elevation gradients, reflecting plant adaptations to different environmental niches. However, the plastic response of such traits to relatively rapid temperature change in Andean TMF species remains unknown. We used three common garden plantations within a thermosequence in the Colombian Andes to investigate the warming and cooling responses of key leaf functional traits in eight cold- and warm-affiliated species with variable thermal niches. Cold-affiliated species shifted their foliar nutrient concentrations when exposed to warming, while all other traits did not significantly change; contrastingly, warm-affiliated species were able to adjust structural, nutrient and water-use efficiency traits from acquisitive to conservative strategies in response to cooling. Our findings suggest that cold-affiliated species will struggle to acclimate functional traits to warming, conferring warm-affiliated species a competitive advantage under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J F Cox
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Sebastián González-Caro
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Patrick Meir
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Iain P Hartley
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Zorayda Restrepo
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Aplicada, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Grupo de Servicios Ecositémicos y Cambio Climático, Corporación, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan C Villegas
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Aplicada, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Adriana Sanchez
- Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lina M Mercado
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Crowmarsh-Gifford, Wallingford, UK
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Ndah FA, Maljanen M, Kasurinen A, Rinnan R, Michelsen A, Kotilainen T, Kivimäenpää M. Acclimation of subarctic vegetation to warming and increased cloudiness. PLANT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2024; 5:e10130. [PMID: 38323130 PMCID: PMC10840376 DOI: 10.1002/pei3.10130] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Subarctic ecosystems are exposed to elevated temperatures and increased cloudiness in a changing climate with potentially important effects on vegetation structure, composition, and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the individual and combined effects of warming and increased cloudiness on vegetation greenness and cover in mesocosms from two tundra and one palsa mire ecosystems kept under strict environmental control in climate chambers. We also investigated leaf anatomical and biochemical traits of four dominant vascular plant species (Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and Rubus chamaemorus). Vegetation greenness increased in response to warming in all sites and in response to increased cloudiness in the tundra sites but without associated increases in vegetation cover or biomass, except that E. hermaphroditum biomass increased under warming. The combined warming and increased cloudiness treatment had an additive effect on vegetation greenness in all sites. It also increased the cover of graminoids and forbs in one of the tundra sites. Warming increased leaf dry mass per area of V. myrtillus and R. chamaemorus, and glandular trichome density of V. myrtillus and decreased spongy intercellular space of E. hermaphroditum and V. vitis-idaea. Increased cloudiness decreased leaf dry mass per area of V. myrtillus, palisade thickness of E. hermaphroditum, and stomata density of E. hermaphroditum and V. vitis-idaea, and increased leaf area and epidermis thickness of V. myrtillus, leaf shape index and nitrogen of E. hermaphroditum, and palisade intercellular space of V. vitis-idaea. The combined treatment caused thinner leaves and decreased leaf carbon for V. myrtillus, and increased leaf chlorophyll of E. hermaphroditum. We show that under future warmer increased cloudiness conditions in the Subarctic (as simulated in our experiment), vegetation composition and distribution will change, mostly dominated by graminoids and forbs. These changes will depend on the responses of leaf anatomical and biochemical traits and will likely impact carbon gain and primary productivity and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flobert A. Ndah
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Marja Maljanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Anne Kasurinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Riikka Rinnan
- Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen ØDenmark
- Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen ØDenmark
| | - Anders Michelsen
- Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen ØDenmark
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDenmark
| | | | - Minna Kivimäenpää
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
- Natural Resources Institute FinlandSuonenjokiFinland
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Feeley KJ, Bernal-Escobar M, Fortier R, Kullberg AT. Tropical Trees Will Need to Acclimate to Rising Temperatures-But Can They? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3142. [PMID: 37687387 PMCID: PMC10490527 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
For tropical forests to survive anthropogenic global warming, trees will need to avoid rising temperatures through range shifts and "species migrations" or tolerate the newly emerging conditions through adaptation and/or acclimation. In this literature review, we synthesize the available knowledge to show that although many tropical tree species are shifting their distributions to higher, cooler elevations, the rates of these migrations are too slow to offset ongoing changes in temperatures, especially in lowland tropical rainforests where thermal gradients are shallow or nonexistent. We also show that the rapidity and severity of global warming make it unlikely that tropical tree species can adapt (with some possible exceptions). We argue that the best hope for tropical tree species to avoid becoming "committed to extinction" is individual-level acclimation. Although several new methods are being used to test for acclimation, we unfortunately still do not know if tropical tree species can acclimate, how acclimation abilities vary between species, or what factors may prevent or facilitate acclimation. Until all of these questions are answered, our ability to predict the fate of tropical species and tropical forests-and the many services that they provide to humanity-remains critically impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth J. Feeley
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA; (M.B.-E.); (R.F.); (A.T.K.)
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Mujawamariya M, Wittemann M, Dusenge ME, Manishimwe A, Ntirugulirwa B, Zibera E, Nsabimana D, Wallin G, Uddling J. Contrasting warming responses of photosynthesis in early- and late-successional tropical trees. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023:tpad035. [PMID: 36971469 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The productivity and climate feedbacks of tropical forests depend on tree physiological responses to warmer and, over large areas, seasonally drier conditions. However, knowledge regarding such responses is limited due to data scarcity. We studied the impact of growth temperature on net photosynthesis (An), maximum rates of Rubisco carboxylation at 25°C (Vcmax25), stomatal conductance (gs) and the slope parameter of the stomatal conductance-photosynthesis model (g1), in ten early- (ES) and eight late-successional (LS) tropical tree species grown at three sites along an elevation gradient in Rwanda, differing by 6.8°C in daytime ambient air temperature. The effect of seasonal drought on An was also investigated. We found that warm climate decreased wet-season An in LS species, but not in ES species. Values of Vcmax25 were lower at the warmest site across both successional groups, and An and Vcmax25 were higher in ES compared to LS species. Stomatal conductance exhibited no significant site differences and g1 was similar across both sites and successional groups. Drought strongly reduced An at warmer sites but not at the coolest montane site and this response was similar in both ES and LS species. Our results suggest that warming has negative effects on leaf-level photosynthesis in LS species, while both LS and ES species suffer photosynthesis declines in a warmer climate with more pronounced droughts. The contrasting responses of An between successional groups may lead to shifts in species' competitive balance in a warmer world, to the disadvantage of LS trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Mujawamariya
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria Wittemann
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mirindi Eric Dusenge
- Western Center for Climate Change, Sustainable Livelihoods and Health, Department of Geography, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom
| | - Aloysie Manishimwe
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bonaventure Ntirugulirwa
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Rwanda Forestry Authority, Muhanga P.O. Box 46, Rwanda
| | - Etienne Zibera
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, Rwanda
| | - Donat Nsabimana
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l'Armée, Kigali P.O.Box 3900, Rwanda
- School of Forestry and Biodiversity, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, Rwanda
| | - Göran Wallin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - Johan Uddling
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 461, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Sun J, Li J, Koyama K, Hu D, Zhong Q, Cheng D. The morphology and nutrient content drive the leaf carbon capture and economic trait variations in subtropical bamboo forest. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1137487. [PMID: 37082346 PMCID: PMC10110945 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1137487] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Carbon absorption capability and morphological traits are crucial for plant leaf function performance. Here, we investigated the five bamboos at different elevations in Wuyi Mountain to clarify how the leaf trait responds to the elevational gradient and drives the photosynthetic capacity variations. The Standardized Major Axis Regression (SMA) analyses and the Structural Equation Model (SEM) are applied to identify how the bamboo leaf trait, including the ratio of leaf width to length (W/L), leaf mass per area (LMA), photosynthesis rates (Pn), leaf nitrogen, and phosphorus concentration (Leaf N and Leaf P) response to elevation environment, and the driving mechanism of Pn changes. Across the five bamboo species, our results revealed that leaf P scaled isometrically with respect to W/L, leaf N scaled allometrically as the 0.80-power of leaf P, and leaf N and leaf P scaled allometrically to Pn, with the exponents of 0.58 and 0.73, respectively. Besides, the SEM result showed altitude, morphological trait (W/L and LMA), and chemical trait (leaf N and leaf P) could together explain the 44% variations of Pn, with a standard total effect value of 70.0%, 38.5%, 23.6% to leaf P, leaf N, and W/L, respectively. The five bamboo species along the different elevational share an isometric scaling relationship between their leaf P and W/L, providing partial support for the general rule and operating between morphological and chemical traits. More importantly, the leaf W/L and leaf P as the main trait that affects leaf area and P utilization in growth and thus drives bamboo leaf photosynthetic capacity variations in different elevations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Aqueous Environment Protection and Pollution Control of Yangtze River in Anhui of Anhui Provincial Education Department, School of Resources and Environment, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jinlong Li
- Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Kohei Koyama
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Hokkaido University of Education, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Dandan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Quanlin Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dongliang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- *Correspondence: Dongliang Cheng,
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Population Variability of Almond-Leaved Willow (Salix triandra L.) Based on the Leaf Morphometry: Isolation by Distance and Environment Explain Phenotypic Diversity. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13030420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Almond-leaved willow (Salix triandra L., Salicaceae) is a dioecious shrub, rarely a small tree that grows under various environmental conditions. We examined the population structure of 12 populations of almond-leaved willow using nine leaf morphological traits and specific leaf area. Populations were selected from a range of habitats, from continental to the sub-Mediterranean zone, to examine the influence of environmental conditions (climate and altitude) and geographic distance on leaf variability. Significant differences were confirmed among all populations for all traits, with significant correlations between geographic location of populations and morphological traits, and between environmental conditions and morphological traits. Large-leaved populations were found in continental and sub-Mediterranean climates, while small-leaved populations were found in higher elevations and smaller karstic rivers. In addition, populations from floodplains showed greater variability than populations from the karstic habitats, indicating a positive influence of lowland habitats and possible underlying differences in gene pool size. In conclusion, we found that environmental conditions and geographical distances in addition to genetic drift, are the main influences on the variability in almond-leaved willow, with the species showing a high level of plasticity and adaptation to local environmental conditions.
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