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Yan H, Schmid B, Xu W, Bongers FJ, Chen G, Tang T, Wang Z, Svenning J, Ma K, Liu X. The functional diversity-productivity relationship of woody plants is climatically sensitive. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11364. [PMID: 38698929 PMCID: PMC11063782 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plot-scale experiments indicate that functional diversity (FD) plays a pivotal role in sustaining ecosystem functions such as net primary productivity (NPP). However, the relationships between functional diversity and NPP across larger scale under varying climatic conditions are sparsely studied, despite its significance for understanding forest-atmosphere interactions and informing policy development. Hence, we examine the relationships of community-weighted mean (CWM) and functional dispersion (FDis) of woody plant traits on NPP across China and if such relationships are modulated by climatic conditions at the national scale. Using comprehensive datasets of distribution, functional traits, and productivity for 9120 Chinese woody plant species, we evaluated the distribution pattern of community-weighted mean and functional dispersion (including three orthogonal trait indicators: plant size, leaf morphology, and flower duration) and its relationships with NPP. Finally, we tested the effects of climatic conditions on community-weighted mean/functional dispersion-NPP relationships. We first found overall functional diversity-NPP relationships, but also that the magnitude of these relationships was sensitive to climate, with plant size community-weighted mean promoting NPP in warm regions and plant size functional dispersion promoting NPP in wet regions. Second, warm and wet conditions indirectly increased NPP by its positive effects on community-weighted mean or functional dispersion, particularly through mean plant size and leaf morphology. Our study provides comprehensive evidence for the relationships between functional diversity and NPP under varying climates at a large scale. Importantly, our results indicate a broadening significance of multidimensional plant functional traits for woody vegetation NPP in response to rising temperatures and wetter climates. Restoration, reforestation actions and natural capital accounting need to carefully consider not only community-weighted mean and functional dispersion but also their interactions with climate, to predict how functional diversity may promote ecosystem functioning under future climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoru Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing LaboratoriesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Wubing Xu
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Franca J. Bongers
- Centre for Crop Systems AnalysisWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Guoke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
| | - Ting Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhiheng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jens‐Christian Svenning
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of BiologyAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of BiologyAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
| | - Xiaojuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Zhejiang Qianjiangyuan Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research StationInstitute of BotanyBeijingChina
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An N, Lu N, Wang M, Chen Y, Wu F, Fu B. Plant size traits are key contributors in the spatial variation of net primary productivity across terrestrial biomes in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171412. [PMID: 38447733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the spatial variability of ecosystem functions is an important step forward in predicting changes in ecosystems under global transformations. Plant functional traits are important drivers of ecosystem functions such as net primary productivity (NPP). Although trait-based approaches have advanced rapidly, the extent to which specific plant functional traits are linked to the spatial diversity of NPP at a regional scale remains uncertain. Here, we used structural equation models (SEMs) to disentangle the relative effects of abiotic variables (i.e., climate, soil, nitrogen deposition, and human footprint) and biotic variables (i.e., plant functional traits and community structure) on the spatial variation of NPP across China and its eight biomes. Additionally, we investigated the indirect influence of climate and soil on the spatial variation of NPP by directly affecting plant functional traits. Abiotic and biotic variables collectively explained 62.6 % of the spatial differences of NPP within China, and 28.0 %-69.4 % across the eight distinct biomes. The most important abiotic factors, temperature and precipitation, had positive effects for NPP spatial variation. Interestingly, plant functional traits associated with the size of plant organs (i.e., plant height, leaf area, seed mass, and wood density) were the primary biotic drivers, and their positive effects were independent of biome type. Incorporating plant functional traits improved predictions of NPP by 6.7 %-50.2 %, except for the alpine tundra on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our study identifies the principal factors regulating NPP spatial variation and highlights the importance of plant size traits in predictions of NPP variation at a large scale. These results provide new insights for involving plant size traits in carbon process models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan An
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Nan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
| | - Mengyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Library, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China
| | - Yongzhe Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hongkong 999077, China
| | - Fuzhong Wu
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Bojie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
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Wang B. Disentangling the relative contributions of variables determining the divergence of hoarding strategies of rodents. Curr Zool 2024; 70:270-272. [PMID: 38726251 PMCID: PMC11078034 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-Term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, Anhui 247230, China
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4
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Suonan J, Lu X, Li X, Hautier Y, Wang C. Nitrogen addition strengthens the stabilizing effect of biodiversity on productivity by increasing plant trait diversity and species asynchrony in the artificial grassland communities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1301461. [PMID: 38053765 PMCID: PMC10694273 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1301461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims Nitrogen (N) enrichment usually weakens the stabilizing effect of biodiversity on productivity. However, previous studies focused on plant species richness and thus largely ignored the potential contributions of plant functional traits to stability, even though evidence is increasing that functional traits are stronger predictors than species richness of ecosystem functions. Methods We conducted a common garden experiment manipulating plant species richness and N addition levels to quantify effects of N addition on relations between species richness and functional trait identity and diversity underpinning the 'fast-slow' economics spectrum and community stability. Results Nitrogen addition had a minor effect on community stability but increased the positive effects of species richness on community stability. Increasing community stability was found in the species-rich communities dominated by fast species due to substantially increasing temporal mean productivity relative to its standard deviation. Furthermore, enhancement in 'fast-slow' functional diversity in species-rich communities dominated by fast species under N addition increased species asynchrony, resulting in a robust biodiversity-stability relationship under N addition the artificial grassland communities. Conclusion The findings demonstrate mechanistic links between plant species richness, 'fast-slow' functional traits, and community stability under N addition, suggesting that dynamics of biodiversity-stability relations under global changes are the results of species-specific responses of 'fast-slow' traits on the plant economics spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Suonan
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, China
| | - Xuwei Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yann Hautier
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Chao Wang
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
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Liu C, Sack L, Li Y, Zhang J, Yu K, Zhang Q, He N, Yu G. Relationships of stomatal morphology to the environment across plant communities. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6629. [PMID: 37857672 PMCID: PMC10587080 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between stomatal traits and environmental drivers across plant communities has important implications for ecosystem carbon and water fluxes, but it has remained unclear. Here, we measure the stomatal morphology of 4492 species-site combinations in 340 vegetation plots across China and calculate their community-weighted values for mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. We demonstrate a trade-off between stomatal density and size at the community level. The community-weighted mean and variance of stomatal density are mainly associated with precipitation, while that of stomatal size is mainly associated with temperature, and the skewness and kurtosis of stomatal traits are less related to climatic and soil variables. Beyond mean climate variables, stomatal trait moments also vary with climatic seasonality and extreme conditions. Our findings extend the knowledge of stomatal trait-environment relationships to the ecosystem scale, with applications in predicting future water and carbon cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, 100081, Beijing, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, 100081, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90025, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Kailiang Yu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, USA
| | - Qiongyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, 150040, Harbin, China.
- Earth Critical Zone and Flux Research Station of Xing'an Mountains, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 165200, Daxing'anling, China.
| | - Guirui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
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Yu X, Ji R, Li M, Xia X, Yin W, Liu C. Geographical variation in functional traits of leaves of Caryopteris mongholica and the role of climate. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:394. [PMID: 37580656 PMCID: PMC10426221 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04410-9] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantifying intra-specific variation in leaf functional traits along environmental gradients is important for understanding species' responses to climate change. In this study, we assessed the degree of among and within populations variation in leaf functional traits and explored leaf response to geographic and climate change using Caryopteris mongholica as material, which has a wide range of distribution environments. RESULTS We selected 40 natural populations of C. mongholica, measured 8 leaf functional traits, analyzed the extent of trait variation among and within populations, and developed geographic and climatic models to explain trait variation between populations. Our results showed that the variation in leaf functional traits of C. mongholica was primarily lower within populations compared to among populations. Specifically, the leaf area (LA) exhibited higher variability both among and within populations, whereas leaf carbon content (LC) exhibited lower variation within populations but greater variation among populations. We observed a specific covariation pattern among traits and a strong linkage between morphological, economic, and mechanical traits. Increasing minimum temperature, precipitation of month, and seasonal precipitation differences all limited the growth and development of C. mongholica. However, it was observed that an increase in mean annual precipitation positively influenced the morphological development of its leaf. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the response of intra-specific trait variation to the environment and provide valuable insights into the adaptation of intra-specific leaf functional traits under changing climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yu
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ruoxuan Ji
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Mingming Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xinli Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Weilun Yin
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chao Liu
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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Wang C, Hou Y, Hu Y, Zheng R, Li X. Plant diversity increases above- and below-ground biomass by regulating multidimensional functional trait characteristics. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 131:1001-1010. [PMID: 37119271 PMCID: PMC10332393 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad058] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Nitrogen enrichment affects biodiversity, plant functional traits and ecosystem functions. However, the direct and indirect effects of nitrogen addition and biodiversity on the links between plant traits and ecosystem functions have been largely overlooked, even though multidimensional characteristics of plant functional traits are probably critical predictors of ecosystem functions. METHODS To investigate the mechanism underlying the links between plant trait identity, diversity, network topology and above- and below-ground biomass along a plant species richness gradient under different nitrogen addition levels, a common garden experiment was conducted in which those driving factors were manipulated. KEY RESULTS The study found that nitrogen addition increased above-ground biomass but not below-ground biomass, while species richness was positively associated with above- and below-ground biomass. Nitrogen addition had minor effects on plant trait identity and diversity, and on the connectivity and complexity of the trait networks. However, species richness increased above-ground biomass mainly by increasing leaf trait diversity and network modularity, and enhanced below-ground biomass through an increase in root nitrogen concentration and network modularity. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the mechanistic links between community biomass and plant trait identity, diversity and network topology, and show that the trait network architecture could be an indicator of the effects of global changes on ecosystem functions as importantly as trait identity and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yanhui Hou
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yanxia Hu
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Ruilun Zheng
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
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8
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Huang L, Jin C, Pan Y, Zhou L, Hu S, Guo Y, Meng Y, Song K, Pang M, Li H, Lin D, Xu X, Minor J, Coggins C, Jim CY, Yan E, Yang Y, Tang Z, Lindenmayer DB. Human activities and species biological traits drive the long-term persistence of old trees in human-dominated landscapes. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:898-907. [PMID: 37169855 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01412-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Old trees have many ecological and socio-cultural values. However, knowledge of the factors influencing their long-term persistence in human-dominated landscapes is limited. Here, using an extensive database (nearly 1.8 million individual old trees belonging to 1,580 species) from China, we identified which species were most likely to persist as old trees in human-dominated landscapes and where they were most likely to occur. We found that species with greater potential height, smaller leaf size and diverse human utilization attributes had the highest probability of long-term persistence. The persistence probabilities of human-associated species (taxa with diverse human utilization attributes) were relatively high in intensively cultivated areas. Conversely, the persistence probabilities of spontaneous species (taxa with no human utilization attributes and which are not cultivated) were relatively high in mountainous areas or regions inhabited by ethnic minorities. The distinctly different geographic patterns of persistence probabilities of the two groups of species were related to their dissimilar responses to heterogeneous human activities and site conditions. A small number of human-associated species dominated the current cohort of old trees, while most spontaneous species were rare and endemic. Our study revealed the potential impacts of human activities on the long-term persistence of trees and the associated shifts in species composition in human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Huang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingji Pan
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siwei Hu
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanpei Guo
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Meng
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Song
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyue Pang
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dunmei Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jesse Minor
- Department of Geography and Environmental Planning, University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, ME, USA
| | - Chris Coggins
- Faculty in Geography and Asian Studies, Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington, MA, USA
| | - C Y Jim
- Department of Social Sciences, Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, China
| | - Enrong Yan
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongchuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Zhiyao Tang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
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Yan P, He N, Yu K, Xu L, Van Meerbeek K. Integrating multiple plant functional traits to predict ecosystem productivity. Commun Biol 2023; 6:239. [PMID: 36869238 PMCID: PMC9984401 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04626-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying and predicting variation in gross primary productivity (GPP) is important for accurate assessment of the ecosystem carbon budget under global change. Scaling traits to community scales for predicting ecosystem functions (i.e., GPP) remain challenging, while it is promising and well appreciated with the rapid development of trait-based ecology. In this study, we aim to integrate multiple plant traits with the recently developed trait-based productivity (TBP) theory, verify it via Bayesian structural equation modeling (SEM) and complementary independent effect analysis. We further distinguish the relative importance of different traits in explaining the variation in GPP. We apply the TBP theory based on plant community traits to a multi-trait dataset containing more than 13,000 measurements of approximately 2,500 species in Chinese forest and grassland systems. Remarkably, our SEM accurately predicts variation in annual and monthly GPP across China (R2 values of 0.87 and 0.73, respectively). Plant community traits play a key role. This study shows that integrating multiple plant functional traits into the TBP theory strengthens the quantification of ecosystem primary productivity variability and further advances understanding of the trait-productivity relationship. Our findings facilitate integration of the growing plant trait data into future ecological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
| | - Kailiang Yu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Earth Critical Zone and Flux Research Station of Xing'an Mountains, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Daxing'anling, 165200, China
| | - Koenraad Van Meerbeek
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Portela AP, Durance I, Vieira C, Honrado J. Response-effect trait overlap and correlation in riparian plant communities suggests sensitivity of ecosystem functioning and services to environmental change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160549. [PMID: 36455733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental changes and biodiversity loss have emphasized the need to understand how communities affect ecosystem functioning and services. In riparian ecosystems, integrative, generalizable, broad-scale models of ecosystem functioning are still required to fulfill this need. However, few studies have explored the links between functional traits, ecosystem functions, and the services of riparian vegetation. Here we adapt the response-effect trait framework to link drivers, traits, ecosystem functions, and services in riparian ecosystems and assess ecosystem functioning sensitivity to environmental changes. The response-effect trait framework distinguishes between traits related to responses to the environment (response traits) and effects on ecosystem functioning (effect traits). The framework predicts that if response and effect traits are tightly linked, shifts in environmental drivers may alter communities' traits and ecosystem functioning. We adapted the response-effect trait framework for riparian plant communities and used it to assess the overlap between response and effect traits. We tested for correlation among traits identified in the framework and for community functional responses to climatic, topographic, soil, and land cover factors using riparian plant communities along a Temperate-Mediterranean climate gradient in North Portugal. We found a high overlap between response and effect traits, with seven out of thirteen traits identified as both response and effect. Additionally, we found trait linkages in four groups of positively correlated community mean traits. Precipitation and aridity were the most predictive drivers of community functional structure, and life form and leaf area were the most responsive traits. Overall, our findings suggest riparian plant communities are likely to propagate the effects of environmental changes to ecosystem functioning and services, affecting several regulation ecosystem services. This work highlights the sensitivity of riparian ecosystems to environmental changes and how it can affect ecosystem services. Similar functional approaches can be useful for adaptive ecosystem management to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Portela
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP/UPorto/PRISC), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Honrado
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
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11
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He N, Yan P, Liu C, Xu L, Li M, Van Meerbeek K, Zhou G, Zhou G, Liu S, Zhou X, Li S, Niu S, Han X, Buckley TN, Sack L, Yu G. Predicting ecosystem productivity based on plant community traits. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:43-53. [PMID: 36115777 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid accumulation of plant trait data, major opportunities have arisen for the integration of these data into predicting ecosystem primary productivity across a range of spatial extents. Traditionally, traits have been used to explain physiological productivity at cell, organ, or plant scales, but scaling up to the ecosystem scale has remained challenging. Here, we show the need to combine measures of community-level traits and environmental factors to predict ecosystem productivity at landscape or biogeographic scales. We show how theory can extend the production ecology equation to enormous potential for integrating traits into ecological models that estimate productivity-related ecosystem functions across ecological scales and to anticipate the response of terrestrial ecosystems to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Pu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mingxu Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Koenraad Van Meerbeek
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guangsheng Zhou
- Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Guoyi Zhou
- Institute of Ecology, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Shirong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Xuhui Zhou
- School of Ecological and Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenggong Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Thomas N Buckley
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Guirui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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12
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Liu C, Sack L, Li Y, He N. Contrasting adaptation and optimization of stomatal traits across communities at continental scale. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:6405-6416. [PMID: 35716087 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Shifts in stomatal trait distributions across contrasting environments and their linkage with ecosystem productivity at large spatial scales have been unclear. Here, we measured the maximum stomatal conductance (g), stomatal area fraction (f), and stomatal space-use efficiency (e, the ratio of g to f) of 800 plant species ranging from tropical to cold-temperate forests, and determined their values for community-weighted mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. We found that the community-weighted means of g and f were higher in drier sites, and thus, that drought 'avoidance' by water availability-driven growth pulses was the dominant mode of adaptation for communities at sites with low water availability. Additionally, the variance of g and f was also higher at arid sites, indicating greater functional niche differentiation, whereas that for e was lower, indicating the convergence in efficiency. When all other stomatal trait distributions were held constant, increasing kurtosis or decreasing skewness of g would improve ecosystem productivity, whereas f showed the opposite patterns, suggesting that the distributions of inter-related traits can play contrasting roles in regulating ecosystem productivity. These findings demonstrate the climatic trends of stomatal trait distributions and their significance in the prediction of ecosystem productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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13
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Wang X, Wang R, Gao J. Precipitation and soil nutrients determine the spatial variability of grassland productivity at large scales in China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:996313. [PMID: 36160972 PMCID: PMC9505511 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.996313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Changes in net primary productivity (NPP) to global change have been studied, yet the relative impacts of global change on grassland productivity at large scales remain poorly understood. Using 182 grassland samples established in 17 alpine meadows (AM) and 21 desert steppes (DS) in China, we show that NPP of AM was significantly higher than that of DS. NPP increased significantly with increasing leaf nitrogen content (LN) and leaf phosphorus content (LP) but decreased significantly with increasing leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Among all abiotic factors, soil nutrient factor was the dominant factor affecting the variation of NPP of AM, while the NPP of DS was mainly influenced by the changing of precipitation. All abiotic factors accounted for 62.4% of the spatial variation in the NPP of AM, which was higher than the ability to explain the spatial variation in the NPP of DS (43.5%). Leaf traits together with soil nutrients and climatic factors determined the changes of the grassland productivity, but the relative contributions varied somewhat among different grassland types. We quantified the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on grassland NPP, and provided theoretical guidance for predicting the impacts of global change on the NPP of grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianxian Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - Ru Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jie Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes of Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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14
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Rickenback J, Pennington RT, Lehmann CER. Diversity in habit expands the environmental niche of
Ziziphus
(Rhamnaceae). Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jess Rickenback
- School of Geosciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- Tropical Diversity Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - R. Toby Pennington
- Tropical Diversity Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Caroline E. R. Lehmann
- School of Geosciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- Tropical Diversity Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
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15
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Yang Y, Chen Z, Xu B, Wei J, Zhu X, Yao H, Wen Z. Using Trait-Based Methods to Study the Response of Grassland to Fertilization in the Grassland in Semiarid Areas in the Loess Plateau of China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2045. [PMID: 35956523 PMCID: PMC9370584 DOI: 10.3390/plants11152045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Grassland is the dominant vegetation type in the Loess Plateau, and grassland productivity and processes are limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Studies have shown that productivity would change following fertilization in the grassland. The response of productivity to fertilization mainly depends on the dominant species traits. Trait-based methods provide a useful tool for explaining the variations in grassland productivity following fertilization. However, the relative contribution of plant functional traits to grassland productivity under N and P addition in the Loess Plateau is not clear. We measured aboveground biomass (AGB) and leaf N content (LN), leaf P content (LP), leaf N/P ratio (LN/P), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf tissue density (LTD), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and maximum plant height (Hmax) to study how these plant functional traits regulate the relative biomass of different species and grassland productivity following fertilization. Our results showed, that under different nutrient addition levels, the linkages between plant functional traits and the relative biomass of different species were different. Community AGB was positively related to community-weighted mean LN (CWM_LN), CWM_LN/P, CWM_SLA, and CWM_Hmax, but negatively related to CWM_LTD and CWM_LDMC. Dominant species traits largely determined grassland productivity, in line with the mass ratio hypothesis. These findings further highlight the close linkages between community-level functional traits and grassland productivity. Our study contributes to the mechanisms underlying biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships and has significance for guiding semiarid grassland management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Yang
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhifei Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Bingcheng Xu
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jiaqi Wei
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xiaoxu Zhu
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hongbin Yao
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhongming Wen
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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16
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Sadili A, Hidayat A, Jakalalana S, Kurniawan A, Sahroni D, Solikin, Brearley FQ. Forest composition and structure after 200 years of succession following the eruption of Mount Tambora (Indonesia). ECOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2021.2010332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asep Sadili
- Botany Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Arief Hidayat
- Research Center for Plant Conservation and Botanic Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Supardi Jakalalana
- Botany Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Adi Kurniawan
- Tambora National Park, Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, Dompu, Indonesia
| | - Deni Sahroni
- Botany Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Solikin
- Purwodadi Botanical Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Pasuruan, Indonesia
| | - Francis Q. Brearley
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
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17
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Rodríguez‐Alarcón S, Tamme R, P.Carmona C. Intraspecific trait changes in response to drought lead to trait convergence between‐ but not within species. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Riin Tamme
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2 Tartu Estonia
| | - Carlos P.Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2 Tartu Estonia
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18
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Peng G, Xiong Y, Yin M, Wang X, Zhou W, Cheng Z, Zhang YJ, Yang D. Leaf Venation Architecture in Relation to Leaf Size Across Leaf Habits and Vein Types in Subtropical Woody Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:873036. [PMID: 35599892 PMCID: PMC9121095 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.873036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaves are enormously diverse in their size and venation architecture, both of which are core determinants of plant adaptation to environments. Leaf size is an important determinant of leaf function and ecological strategy, while leaf venation, the main structure for support and transport, determines the growth, development, and performance of a leaf. The scaling relationship between venation architecture and leaf size has been explored, but the relationship within a community and its potential variations among species with different vein types and leaf habits have not been investigated. Here, we measured vein traits and leaf size across 39 broad-leaved woody species within a subtropical forest community in China and analyzed the scaling relationship using ordinary least squares and standard major axis method. Then, we compared our results with the global dataset. The major vein density, and the ratio of major (1° and 2°) to minor (3° and higher) vein density both geometrically declined with leaf size across different vein types and leaf habits. Further, palmate-veined species have higher major vein density and a higher ratio of major to minor vein density at the given leaf size than pinnate-veined species, while evergreen and deciduous species showed no difference. These robust trends were confirmed by reanalyzing the global dataset using the same major vein classification as ours. We also found a tradeoff between the cell wall mass per vein length of the major vein and the major vein density. These vein scaling relationships have important implications on the optimization of leaf size, niche differentiation of coexisting species, plant drought tolerance, and species distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoquan Peng
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yingjie Xiong
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Mengqi Yin
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Zhenfeng Cheng
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - Dongmei Yang
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
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19
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Guerin GR, Gallagher RV, Wright IJ, Andrew SC, Falster DS, Wenk E, Munroe SE, Lowe AJ, Sparrow B. Environmental associations of abundance-weighted functional traits in Australian plant communities. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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20
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Warming Responses of Leaf Morphology Are Highly Variable among Tropical Tree Species. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Leaf morphological traits vary along climate gradients, but it is currently unclear to what extent this results from acclimation rather than adaptation. Knowing so is important for predicting the functioning of long-lived organisms, such as trees, in a rapidly changing climate. We investigated the leaf morphological warming responses of 18 tropical tree species with early (ES) abd late (LS) successional strategies, planted at three sites along an elevation gradient from 2400 m a.s.l. (15.2 °C mean temperature) to 1300 m a.s.l. (20.6 °C mean temperature) in Rwanda. Leaf size expressed as leaf area (LA) and leaf mass per area (LMA) decreased, while leaf width-to-length ratio (W/L) increased with warming, but only for one third to half of the species. While LA decreased in ES species, but mostly not in LS species, changes in LMA and leaf W/L were common in both successional groups. ES species had lower LMA and higher LA and leaf W/L compared to LS species. Values of LMA and LA of juvenile trees in this study were mostly similar to corresponding data on four mature tree species in another elevation-gradient study in Rwanda, indicating that our results are applicable also to mature forest trees. We conclude that leaf morphological responses to warming differ greatly between both successional groups and individual species, with potential consequences for species competitiveness and community composition in a warmer climate.
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21
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Schrader J, Shi P, Royer DL, Peppe DJ, Gallagher RV, Li Y, Wang R, Wright IJ. Leaf size estimation based on leaf length, width and shape. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 128:395-406. [PMID: 34157097 PMCID: PMC8414912 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Leaf size has considerable ecological relevance, making it desirable to obtain leaf size estimations for as many species worldwide as possible. Current global databases, such as TRY, contain leaf size data for ~30 000 species, which is only ~8% of known species worldwide. Yet, taxonomic descriptions exist for the large majority of the remainder. Here we propose a simple method to exploit information on leaf length, width and shape from species descriptions to robustly estimate leaf areas, thus closing this considerable knowledge gap for this important plant functional trait. METHODS Using a global dataset of all major leaf shapes measured on 3125 leaves from 780 taxa, we quantified scaling functions that estimate leaf size as a product of leaf length, width and a leaf shape-specific correction factor. We validated our method by comparing leaf size estimates with those obtained from image recognition software and compared our approach with the widely used correction factor of 2/3. KEY RESULTS Correction factors ranged from 0.39 for highly dissected, lobed leaves to 0.79 for oblate leaves. Leaf size estimation using leaf shape-specific correction factors was more accurate and precise than estimates obtained from the correction factor of 2/3. CONCLUSION Our method presents a tractable solution to accurately estimate leaf size when only information on leaf length, width and shape is available or when labour and time constraints prevent usage of image recognition software. We see promise in applying our method to data from species descriptions (including from fossils), databases, field work and on herbarium vouchers, especially when non-destructive in situ measurements are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Schrader
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Peijian Shi
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China
| | - Dana L Royer
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
| | - Daniel J Peppe
- Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Rachael V Gallagher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Yirong Li
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China
| | - Rong Wang
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China
| | - Ian J Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
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22
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Desmond SC, Garner M, Flannery S, Whittemore AT, Hipp AL. Leaf shape and size variation in bur oaks: an empirical study and simulation of sampling strategies. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:1540-1554. [PMID: 34387858 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Leaf shape and size figure strongly in plants' adaptation to their environments. Among trees, oaks are notoriously variable in leaf morphology. Our study examines the degree to which within-tree, among-tree, and among-site variation contribute to latitudinal variation in leaf shape and size of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa: Fagaceae), one of North America's most geographically widespread oak species. METHODS Samples were collected from four sites each at northern, central, and southern latitudes of the bur oak range. Ten leaf size traits were measured, and variance in these traits and eight ratios based on these traits was partitioned into tree and population components. Population means were regressed on latitude. We then parameterized a series of leaf collection simulations using empirical covariance among leaves on trees and trees at sites. We used the simulations to assess the efficiency of different collecting strategies for estimating among-population differences in leaf shape and size. RESULTS Leaf size was highly responsive to latitude. Site contributed more than tree to total variation in leaf shape and size. Simulations suggest that power to detect among-site variance in leaf shape and size increases with either more leaves per tree (10-11 leaves from each of 5 trees) or more trees per site (5 leaves from each of 10+ trees). CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the utility of simulating sampling and controlling for variance in sampling for leaf morphology, whether the questions being addressed are ecological, evolutionary, or taxonomic. Simulation code is provided as an R package (traitsPopSim) to help researchers plan morphological sampling strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Desmond
- The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA
| | - Mira Garner
- The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA
| | - Seamus Flannery
- The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA
- The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 1362 East 59th St., Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Alan T Whittemore
- U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002, USA
| | - Andrew L Hipp
- The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA
- The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
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23
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Global patterns and climatic drivers of above- and belowground net primary productivity in grasslands. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:739-751. [PMID: 33216276 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1837-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding patterns and determinants of net primary productivity (NPP) in global grasslands is ongoing challenges, especially for belowground NPP (BNPP) and its fraction (fBNPP). By developing a comprehensive field-based dataset, we revealed that, along with gradients of mean annual precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, and aridity, aboveground NPP (ANPP), BNPP, and total NPP (TNPP) exhibited hump-shaped patterns, whereas fBNPP showed an opposite trend. ANPP and TNPP showed positive correlations with mean annual temperature, but fBNPP was negatively correlated with it. The relationship between BNPP and climatic factors was considerably weak, indicating that BNPP was relatively stable regardless of the climate conditions. We also observed that the sensitivities of ANPP and BNPP to interannual temperature variability and those of BNPP to interannual precipitation fluctuations exhibited large variations among different study sites, and differed from those at the spatial scale. In contrast, the temporal sensitivities of ANPP to interannual precipitation variability were highly similar across all the individual sites and much smaller than those at the spatial scale. Overall, these results highlight that precipitation, temperature and evapotranspiration all play vital roles in shaping ANPP pattern and its partitioning to belowground and that the patterns of BNPP along climatic gradients do not mirror those of the ANPP.
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24
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Zhong M, Cerabolini BEL, Castro‐Díez P, Puyravaud J, Cornelissen JHC. Allometric co-variation of xylem and stomata across diverse woody seedlings. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2020; 43:2301-2310. [PMID: 32542660 PMCID: PMC7496827 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Leaf stomatal density is known to co-vary with leaf vein density. However, the functional underpinning of this relation, and how it scales to whole-plant water transport anatomy, is still unresolved. We hypothesized that the balance of water exchange between the vapour phase (in stomata) and liquid phase (in vessels) depends on the consistent scaling between the summed stomatal areas and xylem cross-sectional areas, both at the whole-plant and single-leaf level. This predicted size co-variation should be driven by the co-variation of numbers of stomata and terminal vessels. We examined the relationships of stomatal traits and xylem anatomical traits from the entire plant to individual leaves across seedlings of 53 European woody angiosperm species. There was strong and convergent scaling between total stomatal area and stem xylem area per plant and between leaf total stomatal area and midvein xylem area per leaf across all the species, irrespective of variation in leaf habit, growth-form or relative growth rate. Moreover, strong scaling was found between stomatal number and terminal vessel number, whereas not in their respective average areas. Our findings have broad implications for integrating xylem architecture and stomatal distribution and deepen our understanding of the design rules of plants' water transport network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Zhong
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological ScienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Grassland Science Department, College of Grassland Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | | | - Pilar Castro‐Díez
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad de Alcalá, Carretera Madrid‐BarcelonaMadridSpain
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