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Thomas HJD, Bjorkman AD, Myers-Smith IH, Elmendorf SC, Kattge J, Diaz S, Vellend M, Blok D, Cornelissen JHC, Forbes BC, Henry GHR, Hollister RD, Normand S, Prevéy JS, Rixen C, Schaepman-Strub G, Wilmking M, Wipf S, Cornwell WK, Beck PSA, Georges D, Goetz SJ, Guay KC, Rüger N, Soudzilovskaia NA, Spasojevic MJ, Alatalo JM, Alexander HD, Anadon-Rosell A, Angers-Blondin S, Te Beest M, Berner LT, Björk RG, Buchwal A, Buras A, Carbognani M, Christie KS, Collier LS, Cooper EJ, Elberling B, Eskelinen A, Frei ER, Grau O, Grogan P, Hallinger M, Heijmans MMPD, Hermanutz L, Hudson JMG, Johnstone JF, Hülber K, Iturrate-Garcia M, Iversen CM, Jaroszynska F, Kaarlejarvi E, Kulonen A, Lamarque LJ, Lantz TC, Lévesque E, Little CJ, Michelsen A, Milbau A, Nabe-Nielsen J, Nielsen SS, Ninot JM, Oberbauer SF, Olofsson J, Onipchenko VG, Petraglia A, Rumpf SB, Shetti R, Speed JDM, Suding KN, Tape KD, Tomaselli M, Trant AJ, Treier UA, Tremblay M, Venn SE, Vowles T, Weijers S, Wookey PA, Zamin TJ, Bahn M, Blonder B, van Bodegom PM, Bond-Lamberty B, Campetella G, Cerabolini BEL, Chapin FS, Craine JM, Dainese M, Green WA, Jansen S, Kleyer M, Manning P, Niinemets Ü, Onoda Y, Ozinga WA, Peñuelas J, Poschlod P, Reich PB, Sandel B, Schamp BS, Sheremetiev SN, de Vries FT. Global plant trait relationships extend to the climatic extremes of the tundra biome. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1351. [PMID: 32165619 PMCID: PMC7067758 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15014-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of variation in six traits critical to the growth, survival and reproduction of plant species is thought to be organised along just two dimensions, corresponding to strategies of plant size and resource acquisition. However, it is unknown whether global plant trait relationships extend to climatic extremes, and if these interspecific relationships are confounded by trait variation within species. We test whether trait relationships extend to the cold extremes of life on Earth using the largest database of tundra plant traits yet compiled. We show that tundra plants demonstrate remarkably similar resource economic traits, but not size traits, compared to global distributions, and exhibit the same two dimensions of trait variation. Three quarters of trait variation occurs among species, mirroring global estimates of interspecific trait variation. Plant trait relationships are thus generalizable to the edge of global trait-space, informing prediction of plant community change in a warming world.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J D Thomas
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Scotland, UK.
| | - A D Bjorkman
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Scotland, UK
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 18, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 41319, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - I H Myers-Smith
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Scotland, UK
| | - S C Elmendorf
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0450, USA
| | - J Kattge
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07701, Jena, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - S Diaz
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET, Av.Velez Sarsfield 299, Cordoba, Argentina
- FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - M Vellend
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, boul. de l'Université Sherbrooke, Québec, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - D Blok
- Dutch Research Council, (NWO), Postbus 93460, 2509 AL, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - J H C Cornelissen
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B C Forbes
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, 96101, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - G H R Henry
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 1984 West Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - R D Hollister
- Biology Department, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, 3300a Kindschi Hall of Science, Allendale, Michigan, USA
| | - S Normand
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - J S Prevéy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
| | - C Rixen
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
| | - G Schaepman-Strub
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Wilmking
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald University, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - S Wipf
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
- Swiss National Park, Runatsch 124, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - W K Cornwell
- Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - P S A Beck
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via Enrico Fermi, 2749, Ispra, 21027, Italy
| | - D Georges
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Scotland, UK
- International Agency for Research in Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon, France
| | - S J Goetz
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 1295S Knoles Dr, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - K C Guay
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Dr, East Boothbay, Maine, 04544, USA
| | - N Rüger
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement Avenue, Bldg. 401 Tupper, Balboa Ancón, Panama
| | - N A Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M J Spasojevic
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Life Sciences Building, Eucalyptus Dr #2710, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - J M Alatalo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - H D Alexander
- Department of Forestry, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, 39762, USA
| | - A Anadon-Rosell
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald University, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal, 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Angers-Blondin
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Scotland, UK
| | - M Te Beest
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - L T Berner
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 1295S Knoles Dr, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - R G Björk
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - A Buchwal
- Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Geoecology and Geoinformation, B. Krygowskiego 10, 61-680, Poznan, Poland
- University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Dr, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - A Buras
- Land Surface-Atmosphere Interactions, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - M Carbognani
- Deptartment of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - K S Christie
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK, 99518, USA
| | - L S Collier
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - E J Cooper
- Deptartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Bioscences Fisheries and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - B Elberling
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - A Eskelinen
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, Linnanmaa, Oulu, Finland
| | - E R Frei
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 1984 West Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z2, Canada
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - O Grau
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
- Cirad, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParisTech, CNRS, Inra, Univ Antilles, Univ Guyane), Campus Agronomique, 97310, Kourou, French Guiana
| | - P Grogan
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Biosciences Complex, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - M Hallinger
- Biology Department, Swedish Agricultural University (SLU), SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M M P D Heijmans
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - L Hermanutz
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - J M G Hudson
- British Columbia Public Service, Vancouver, Canada
| | - J F Johnstone
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - K Hülber
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Iturrate-Garcia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C M Iversen
- Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-6134, USA
| | - F Jaroszynska
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, Scotland, UK
| | - E Kaarlejarvi
- Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Brussles, Belgium
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, PO Box, 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Kulonen
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
| | - L J Lamarque
- Département des Sciences de l'environnement et Centre d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351, boul. des Forges, Québec, Canada
| | - T C Lantz
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, David Turpin Building, B243, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - E Lévesque
- Département des Sciences de l'environnement et Centre d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351, boul. des Forges, Québec, Canada
| | - C J Little
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - A Michelsen
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Terrestrial Ecology Section, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - A Milbau
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Havenlaan 88 bus 73, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Nabe-Nielsen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - S S Nielsen
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - J M Ninot
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal, 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S F Oberbauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - J Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - V G Onipchenko
- Department of Ecology and Plant Geography, Moscow State Lomonosov University, 119234, Moscow, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, Russia
| | - A Petraglia
- Deptartment of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - S B Rumpf
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Bâtiment Biophore, Quartier UNIL-Sorge, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - R Shetti
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald University, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - J D M Speed
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - K N Suding
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0450, USA
| | - K D Tape
- Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska, Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility (ELIF), Suite 240, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-5910, USA
| | - M Tomaselli
- Deptartment of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - A J Trant
- School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - U A Treier
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - M Tremblay
- Département des Sciences de l'environnement et Centre d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351, boul. des Forges, Québec, Canada
| | - S E Venn
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - T Vowles
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Weijers
- Department of Geography, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 166, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - P A Wookey
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - T J Zamin
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Biosciences Complex, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - M Bahn
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - B Blonder
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, 3 South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, 8000 Co Rd 317, Crested Butte, CO, 81224, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94706, USA
| | - P M van Bodegom
- Environmental Biology Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - B Bond-Lamberty
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Joint Global Change Research Institute, 5825 University Research Ct, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - G Campetella
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine-Plant Diversity and Ecosystems Management Unit, Univeristy of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - B E L Cerabolini
- DBSV-University of Insubria, Via Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - F S Chapin
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - J M Craine
- Jonah Ventures, 1600 Range Street Suite 201, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA
| | - M Dainese
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research, Viale Druso, 1, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - W A Green
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - S Jansen
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - M Kleyer
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Strasse 9-11, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - P Manning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ü Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr.R.Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Y Onoda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - W A Ozinga
- Vegetation, Forest and Landscape Ecology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - P Poschlod
- Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - P B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Ave. N., St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - B Sandel
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 95053, USA
| | - B S Schamp
- Department of Biology, Algoma University, 1520 Queen Street East, Sault Ste., Marie, ON, P6A 2G4, Canada
| | - S N Sheremetiev
- Komarov Botanical Institute, Professor Popova Street, 2, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - F T de Vries
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 94240, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Thomas HJD, Myers‐Smith IH, Bjorkman AD, Elmendorf SC, Blok D, Cornelissen JHC, Forbes BC, Hollister RD, Normand S, Prevéy JS, Rixen C, Schaepman‐Strub G, Wilmking M, Wipf S, Cornwell WK, Kattge J, Goetz SJ, Guay KC, Alatalo JM, Anadon‐Rosell A, Angers‐Blondin S, Berner LT, Björk RG, Buchwal A, Buras A, Carbognani M, Christie K, Siegwart Collier L, Cooper EJ, Eskelinen A, Frei ER, Grau O, Grogan P, Hallinger M, Heijmans MMPD, Hermanutz L, Hudson JMG, Hülber K, Iturrate‐Garcia M, Iversen CM, Jaroszynska F, Johnstone JF, Kaarlejärvi E, Kulonen A, Lamarque LJ, Lévesque E, Little CJ, Michelsen A, Milbau A, Nabe‐Nielsen J, Nielsen SS, Ninot JM, Oberbauer SF, Olofsson J, Onipchenko VG, Petraglia A, Rumpf SB, Semenchuk PR, Soudzilovskaia NA, Spasojevic MJ, Speed JDM, Tape KD, te Beest M, Tomaselli M, Trant A, Treier UA, Venn S, Vowles T, Weijers S, Zamin T, Atkin OK, Bahn M, Blonder B, Campetella G, Cerabolini BEL, Chapin III FS, Dainese M, de Vries FT, Díaz S, Green W, Jackson RB, Manning P, Niinemets Ü, Ozinga WA, Peñuelas J, Reich PB, Schamp B, Sheremetev S, van Bodegom PM. Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size-related traits across the tundra biome. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 2019; 28:78-95. [PMID: 31007605 PMCID: PMC6472633 DOI: 10.1111/geb.12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
AIM Plant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within and across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that functional groups explain a large proportion of trait variation among species. We test whether four commonly used plant functional groups represent variation in six ecologically important plant traits. LOCATION Tundra biome. TIME PERIOD Data collected between 1964 and 2016. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED 295 tundra vascular plant species. METHODS We compiled a database of six plant traits (plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, seed mass) for tundra species. We examined the variation in species-level trait expression explained by four traditional functional groups (evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs, graminoids, forbs), and whether variation explained was dependent upon the traits included in analysis. We further compared the explanatory power and species composition of functional groups to alternative classifications generated using post hoc clustering of species-level traits. RESULTS Traditional functional groups explained significant differences in trait expression, particularly amongst traits associated with resource economics, which were consistent across sites and at the biome scale. However, functional groups explained 19% of overall trait variation and poorly represented differences in traits associated with plant size. Post hoc classification of species did not correspond well with traditional functional groups, and explained twice as much variation in species-level trait expression. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Traditional functional groups only coarsely represent variation in well-measured traits within tundra plant communities, and better explain resource economic traits than size-related traits. We recommend caution when using functional group approaches to predict tundra vegetation change, or ecosystem functions relating to plant size, such as albedo or carbon storage. We argue that alternative classifications or direct use of specific plant traits could provide new insights for ecological prediction and modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. J. D. Thomas
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | | | - A. D. Bjorkman
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)FrankfurtGermany
| | - S. C. Elmendorf
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of ColoradoBoulderColorado
| | - D. Blok
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund UniversityLundSweden
| | | | - B. C. Forbes
- Arctic Centre, University of LaplandRovaniemiFinland
| | - R. D. Hollister
- Biology Department, Grand Valley State UniversityAllendaleMichigan
| | - S. Normand
- Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - J. S. Prevéy
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFDavosSwitzerland
| | - C. Rixen
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFDavosSwitzerland
| | - G. Schaepman‐Strub
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - M. Wilmking
- Institute for Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald UniversityGreifswaldGermany
| | - S. Wipf
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFDavosSwitzerland
| | - W. K. Cornwell
- School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - J. Kattge
- Max Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryJenaGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigGermany
| | - S. J. Goetz
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizona
| | - K. C. Guay
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesBoothbayMaine
| | - J. M. Alatalo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar UniversityDohaQatar
| | - A. Anadon‐Rosell
- Institute for Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald UniversityGreifswaldGermany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Biodiversity Research InstituteUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - L. T. Berner
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizona
| | - R. G. Björk
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity CentreGothenburgSweden
| | - A. Buchwal
- Institute of Geoecology and Geoinformation, Adam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznanPoland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorageAlaska
| | - A. Buras
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management, Wageningen University and Research, WageningenNetherlands
| | - M. Carbognani
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - K. Christie
- The Alaska Department of Fish and GameJuneauAlaska
| | - L. Siegwart Collier
- Department of Biology, Memorial UniversitySt John’s, Newfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - E. J. Cooper
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT‐The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - A. Eskelinen
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigGermany
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZLeipzigGermany
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of OuluOuluFinland
| | - E. R. Frei
- Department of Geography, University of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - O. Grau
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB‐UBBellaterraSpain
| | - P. Grogan
- Department of Biology, Queen's UniversityKingston, OntarioCanada
| | - M. Hallinger
- Biology Department, Swedish Agricultural University (SLU)UppsalaSweden
| | - M. M. P. D. Heijmans
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - L. Hermanutz
- Department of Biology, Memorial UniversitySt John’s, Newfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | | | - K. Hülber
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - M. Iturrate‐Garcia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - C. M. Iversen
- Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTennessee
| | | | - J. F. Johnstone
- Department of Biology, University of SaskatchewanSaskatoonCanada
| | - E. Kaarlejärvi
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)BrusselsBelgium
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - A. Kulonen
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFDavosSwitzerland
- Department of Biology, University of BergenBergenNorway
| | - L. J. Lamarque
- Département des Sciences de l'Environnement and Centres d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois‐RivièresQuebecCanada
| | - E. Lévesque
- Département des Sciences de l'Environnement and Centres d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois‐RivièresQuebecCanada
| | - C. J. Little
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Eawag Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & TechnologyDubendorfSwitzerland
| | - A. Michelsen
- Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - A. Milbau
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)BrusselsBelgium
| | - J. Nabe‐Nielsen
- Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - S. S. Nielsen
- Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - J. M. Ninot
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Biodiversity Research InstituteUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - S. F. Oberbauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityMiamiFlorida
| | - J. Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - V. G. Onipchenko
- Department of Geobotany, Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityMoscowRussia
| | - A. Petraglia
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - S. B. Rumpf
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - P. R. Semenchuk
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT‐The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - N. A. Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology, Department Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, Leiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - M. J. Spasojevic
- Department of Biology, University of California RiversideRiversideCalifornia
| | - J. D. M. Speed
- NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - K. D. Tape
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of AlaskaFairbanksAlaska
| | - M. te Beest
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - M. Tomaselli
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of ParmaParmaItaly
| | - A. Trant
- Department of Biology, Memorial UniversitySt John’s, Newfoundland and LabradorCanada
- School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - U. A. Treier
- Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - S. Venn
- Research School of Biology, Australian National UniversityActon, ACTAustralia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin UniversityBurwoodVictoriaAustralia
| | - T. Vowles
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - S. Weijers
- Department of Geography, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - T. Zamin
- Department of Biology, Queen's UniversityKingston, OntarioCanada
| | - O. K. Atkin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National UniversityActon, ACTAustralia
| | - M. Bahn
- Department of Ecology, University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - B. Blonder
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Rocky Mountain Biological LaboratoryCrested ButteColorado
| | - G. Campetella
- School of Biosciences & Veterinary Medicine ‐ Plant Diversity and Ecosystems Management Unit, University of CamerinoCamerinoItaly
| | | | - F. S. Chapin III
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of AlaskaFairbanksAlaska
| | - M. Dainese
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - F. T. de Vries
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - S. Díaz
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de CórdobaCórdobaArgentina
| | - W. Green
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - R. B. Jackson
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford UniversityStanford, California
| | - P. Manning
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)FrankfurtGermany
| | - Ü. Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | - W. A. Ozinga
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - J. Peñuelas
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB‐UBBellaterraSpain
- CREAFCerdanyola del VallèsSpain
| | - P. B. Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MinneapolisMinnesota
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityPenrith, NSWAustralia
| | - B. Schamp
- Department of Biology, Algoma UniversitySault Ste. MarieOntarioCanada
| | | | - P. M. van Bodegom
- Environmental Biology, Department Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, Leiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
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