Grazing increases functional richness but not functional divergence in Tibetan alpine meadow plant communities

Plant community diversity and ecosystem function are conditioned by competition among co-occurring species for multiple resources. Previous studies suggest that removal of standing biomass by grazing decreases competition for light, but coincident grazing effects on competition for soil nutrients remain largely unknown in Tibetan rangelands where grazing tends to deplete soil phosphorus availability. We measured five functional traits indicative of plant productivity and stoichiometry leaf carbon concentration (LCC), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), leaf phosphorus concentration (LPC), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) for component species of plant communities in grazed and ungrazed plots in five Tibetan alpine meadows. We examined the diversity of traits singly Rao index of functional diversity (FDrao) and in aggregate functional richness (FRic), functional divergence (FDiv), and functional evenness (FEve) in response to grazing. We tested whether foliar trait diversity increases with nutrient competition but decreases with light competition when competitive exclusion is reduced by grazing. The FDrao of LPC significantly increased under grazing, but FDrao for LCC, LNC and SLA tended to decrease. The FDrao of LDMC increased at the drier site but decreased at the wettest site. There was a strong negative association between increase in FDrao of LPC and decrease in soil nutrients, especially soil phosphorus availability. The FRic for all five traits together increased with species diversity following grazing, but neither FDiv nor FEve differed significantly between grazed and ungrazed plots at most sites. Grazing in Tibetan alpine meadows tends to increase competition for soil phosphorus while decreasing competition for light, resulting in an increase in the functional richness in grazed plant communities without any significant changes in the overall functional diversity of foliar traits. Our study highlights the potential importance of grazing mediated competition for multiple resources in alpine meadow ecosystems.     

A community‐level test of the leaf‐height‐seed ecology strategy scheme in relation to grazing conditions

Question: Is the assumption of trait independence implied in Westoby's (1998) leaf‐height‐seed (LHS) ecology strategy scheme upheld in a Mediterranean grazing system dominated by annuals? Is the LHS approach applicable at the community level? Location: Northern Israel. Methods: LHS traits (specific leaf area [SLA], plant height and seed mass), and additional leaf traits (leaf dry matter content [LDMC], leaf area, and leaf content of nitrogen [LNC], carbon [LCC], and phosphorus [LPC]), were analyzed at the species and community levels. Treatments included manipulations of grazing intensity (moderate and heavy) and protection from grazing. We focused on species comprising 80% of biomass over all treatments, assuming that these species drive trait relationships and ecosystem processes. Results: At the species level, SLA and seed mass were negatively correlated, and plant height was positively correlated to LCC. SLA, seed mass, and LPC increased with protection from grazing. At the community level, redundancy analysis revealed one principal gradient of variation: SLA, correlated to grazing, versus seed mass and plant height, associated with protection from grazing. We divided community functional parameters into two groups according to grazing response: (1) plant height, seed mass, LDMC, and LCC, associated with protection from grazing, and (2) SLA, associated with grazing. Conclusions: The assumption of independence between LHS traits was not upheld at the species level in this Mediterranean grazing system. At the community level, the LHS approach captured most of the variation associated with protection from grazing, reflecting changes in dominance within the plant community.     

A global study of relationships between leaf traits, climate and soil measures of nutrient fertility

Aim This first global quantification of the relationship between leaf traits and soil nutrient fertility reflects the trade‐off between growth and nutrient conservation. The power of soils versus climate in predicting leaf trait values is assessed in bivariate and multivariate analyses and is compared with the distribution of growth forms (as a discrete classification of vegetation) across gradients of soil fertility and climate. Location All continents except for Antarctica. Methods Data on specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N concentration (LNC), leaf P concentration (LPC) and leaf N:P were collected for 474 species distributed across 99 sites (809 records), together with abiotic information from each study site. Individual and combined effects of soils and climate on leaf traits were quantified using maximum likelihood methods. Differences in occurrence of growth form across soil fertility and climate were determined by one‐way ANOVA. Results There was a consistent increase in SLA, LNC and LPC with increasing soil fertility. SLA was related to proxies of N supply, LNC to both soil total N and P and LPC was only related to proxies of P supply. Soil nutrient measures explained more variance in leaf traits among sites than climate in bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that climate interacted with soil nutrients for SLA and area‐based LNC. Mass‐based LNC and LPC were determined mostly by soil fertility, but soil P was highly correlated to precipitation. Relationships of leaf traits to soil nutrients were stronger than those of growth form versus soil nutrients. In contrast, climate determined distribution of growth form more strongly than it did leaf traits. Main conclusions We provide the first global quantification of the trade‐off between traits associated with growth and resource conservation ‘strategies’ in relation to soil fertility. Precipitation but not temperature affected this trade‐off. Continuous leaf traits might be better predictors of plant responses to nutrient supply than growth form, but growth forms reflect important aspects of plant species distribution with climate.     

东灵山地区不同森林群落叶功能性状比较

植物功能性状(plant functional trait)是近年来生态学研究的热点.其中叶功能性状(leaf functional trait)与植株生物量和植物对资源的获得、利用及利用效率的关系最为密切.研究了东灵山地区叶功能性状之间的关系、叶功能性状与地形因子的关系,并对不同群落叶功能性状进行了比较.通过Pearson相关分析发现,叶干物质含量(LDMC)与比叶面积(SLA)、叶氮浓度(LNC)、叶磷浓度(LPC)、叶钾浓度(LKC)负相关;叶大小与叶厚度正相关;SLA与 LNC、LPC、LKC正相关;LNC与LPC、LKC正相关;LPC与LKC正相关.通过灰色关联度分析发现,对叶大小、LNC、LKC来讲,海拔是各项地形因子中的首要影响因子;对LDMC、叶厚度来讲,坡度对其影响最大;对SLA、LPC来讲,坡位是其首要影响因子.依据乔木层的SLA和LDMC将5种群落分成3类,第一类是黑桦林和山杨林,第二类是辽东栎林,第三类是胡桃楸林和糠椴林.群落的分类情况符合该地带性植被优势度类型的分类情况,LDMC和SLA是最能体现群落间差异的叶功能性状.     

黄土高原子午岭不同森林群落叶功能性状

对黄土高原子午岭地区5种主要森林群落中重要值>0.1的物种叶功能性状进行了比较,结果表明:1)叶干物质含量(LDMC)与比叶面积(SLA)呈负相关;SLA与叶厚度(LT)呈负相关,但与叶氮含量(LNC)和叶磷含量(LPC)呈正相关;LT与LNC、LPC和叶钾含量(LKC)呈负相关;LNC、LPC和LKC三者之间均呈正相关。2)坡位是影响叶大小(LS)、LT、LNC和LKC的主要地形因子,海拔对LPC和SLA的影响最大,而坡向则是影响LDMC的主要因子。因此,叶功能性状之间所呈现的特征及其对立地条件的适应都表现出了植物的生态策略。3)各群落间的乔木层叶功能性状均有显著差异,灌木层的叶功能性状无显著差异,而草本层除了LDMC无显著差异(P>0.05)外,其他叶功能性状均有显著差异,说明群落的叶功能性状的大小取决于群落内物种的叶功能性状及其重要值。     

The effects of fertilization on the trait-abundance relationships in a Tibetan alpine meadow community

Aims Comparisons of the trait–abundance relationships from various habitat types are critical for community ecology, which can offer us insights about the mechanisms underlying the local community assembly, such as the relative role of neutral vs. niche processes in shaping community structure. Here, we explored the responses of trait–abundance relationships to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization in an alpine meadow.Methods Five fertilization treatments (an unfertilized control and additions of N, P, K and NPK respectively) were implemented using randomized block design in an alpine Tibetan meadow. Species relative abundance (SRA), plant above-ground biomass and species richness were measured in each plot. For 24 common species, we measured species functional traits: saturated height, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) in each treatment but seed size only in the unfertilized control. Standard major axis (SMA) regression and phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs) analysis were used to analyse species trait–abundance relationships in response to different fertilization treatments.Important findings Positive correlations between SRA and saturated height were raised following N, P and NPK fertilizations, which indicated an increase in light competition in these plots. In P fertilized plots, SRA was also positively correlated with LDMC because tall grasses with a nutrients conservation strategy often have a relative competitive advantage in capturing limited light and soil nutrients. In K fertilized plots, neither the trait–abundance relationships nor above-ground biomass or species richness significantly differed from that in the control, which suggests that K was not a limiting resource in our study site. These significant correlations between species traits and relative abundance in fertilized treatment suggest that trait-based selection plays an important role in determining species abundance within local communities in alpine meadows.     

松嫩草地66种草本植物叶片性状特征

植物叶片功能性状及其相互关系越来越受到关注.以松嫩草地66种草本植物为研究对象,测量叶片干物质含量、比叶面积、叶片厚度、叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、叶绿素含量和类胡萝卜素含量,检验性状间的相互关系,比较不同功能群(多年生根茎禾草,多年生丛生禾草,多年生杂类草,1年生或2年生草本)间性状的差异性.结果表明,叶片厚度变异系数最大,比叶面积、叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、叶绿素含量和类胡萝卜素含量之间存在显著的正相关关系;叶片于物质含量与叶片磷含量没有显著的相关关系,与其它叶片性状呈显著的负相关关系;叶片厚度只与叶片干物质含量和比叶面积呈显著的负相关关系,与其它叶片性状不相关.叶片干物质含量、比叶面积、叶片厚度、叶片氮、磷含量在4个功能群间差异显著,叶绿素含量和类胡萝卜素含量在各个功能群间差异不显著;多年生根茎禾草和多年生丛生禾草叶片的7个性状差异不显著;多年生根茎禾草和多年生丛生禾草的叶片干物质含量高于多年生杂类草和1年生或2年生草本,其它性状小于这两个功能群.     

Plasticity in above‐ and belowground resource acquisition traits in response to single and multiple environmental factors in three tree species

Functional trait plasticity is a major component of plant adjustment to environmental stresses. Here, we explore how multiple local environmental gradients in resources required by plants (light, water, and nutrients) and soil disturbance together influence the direction and amplitude of intraspecific changes in leaf and fine root traits that facilitate capture of these resources. We measured population‐level analogous above‐ and belowground traits related to resource acquisition, i.e. “specific leaf area”–“specific root length” (SLA–SRL), and leaf and root N, P, and dry matter content (DMC), on three dominant understory tree species with contrasting carbon and nutrient economics across 15 plots in a temperate forest influenced by burrowing seabirds. We observed similar responses of the three species to the same single environmental influences, but partially species‐specific responses to combinations of influences. The strength of intraspecific above‐ and belowground trait responses appeared unrelated to species resource acquisition strategy. Finally, most analogous leaf and root traits (SLA vs. SRL, and leaf versus root P and DMC) were controlled by contrasting environmental influences. The decoupled responses of above‐ and belowground traits to these multiple environmental factors together with partially species‐specific adjustments suggest complex responses of plant communities to environmental changes, and potentially contrasting feedbacks of plant traits with ecosystem properties. We demonstrate that despite the growing evidence for broadly consistent resource‐acquisition strategies at the whole plant level among species, plants also show partially decoupled, finely tuned strategies between above‐ and belowground parts at the intraspecific level in response to their environment. This decoupling within species suggests a need for many species‐centred ecological theories on how plants respond to their environments (e.g. competitive/stress‐tolerant/ruderal and response‐effect trait frameworks) to be adapted to account for distinct plant‐environment interactions among distinct individuals of the same species and parts of the same individual.     

摩天岭北坡森林木本植物叶性状在物种和群落水平沿海拔梯度的变化

该研究采用样线和样地相结合的方法,对甘肃省白水江国家级自然保护区摩天岭北坡大垭子梁森林不同海拔(1 600~2 100m)的植物群落进行野外调查、采样分析,并运用线性回归分析、Pearson相关性分析及曲线拟合分析方法,研究木本植物的比叶面积(SLA)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶碳氮磷含量(LCC、LNC、LPC)及其计量比(C/N、C/P、N/P)等叶性状变化特征,以及在物种和群落水平随海拔梯度的变化趋势和相关性。结果表明:(1)摩天岭北坡大垭子梁山地森林为落叶阔叶林带,共有木本植物13科23种,其中乔木6种,灌木17种,且整体上灌木种类较为丰富。此外,有些物种在不同海拔间都有分布,如华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)、胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor)等,反映出不同植物对于异质环境的适应。(2)8个叶功能性状中变异系数最小的是LCC(4.6%),属于弱变异,最大的是SLA(42.1%),其他叶性状都属于中等变异,表明在其他叶性状的协同作用下,使得木本植物的碳获取保持在一定的水平以确保群落的稳定性。(3)叶片功能性状间的关联性普遍存在,是植物适应环境的一种对策.该研究表明SLA-LNC以及LNC-LPC在物种和群落水平上的相关性及其相关程度均一致,而其他叶性状间相关关系则有所不同,这为以后进行大尺度研究时对叶性状的选择提供了一定的依据。(4)叶性状随海拔的变化趋势,除C/N和N/P在物种和群落水平上变化趋势不一致外,其他各个性状随海拔的总体变化趋势基本一致,但显著程度只有LNC一致外其他均不同,反映了木本植物的不同叶片功能性状对海拔造成的不同环境的适应。     

Survival rates indicate that correlations between community‐weighted mean traits and environments can be unreliable estimates of the adaptive value of traits

Correlations between community‐weighted mean (CWM) traits and environmental gradients are often assumed to quantify the adaptive value of traits. We tested this assumption by comparing these correlations with models of survival probability using 46 perennial species from long‐term permanent plots in pine forests of Arizona. Survival was modelled as a function of trait × environment interactions, plant size, climatic variation and neighbourhood competition. The effect of traits on survival depended on the environmental conditions, but the two statistical approaches were inconsistent. For example, CWM‐specific leaf area (SLA) and soil fertility were uncorrelated. However, survival was highest for species with low SLA in infertile soil, a result which agreed with expectations derived from the physiological trade‐off underpinning leaf economic theory. CWM trait–environment relationships were unreliable estimates of how traits affected survival, and should only be used in predictive models when there is empirical support for an evolutionary trade‐off that affects vital rates.     

重庆石灰岩地区主要木本植物叶片性状及养分再吸收特征

以重庆石灰岩地区15种常绿木本植物和14种落叶木本植物为研究对象,对两种生活型植物叶片衰老前后叶干物质含量(LDMC)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶片厚度(LT)进行了比较,并采用不同的计算方法(单位质量叶片养分含量、单位面积叶片养分含量)分析了两类植物叶片衰老前后养分含量及再吸收特征,最后对养分再吸收效率与其他叶性状因子之间的关系进行了相关分析。结果表明:常绿植物成熟叶LDMC、LT及衰老叶LT显著低于落叶植物,落叶植物成熟叶和衰老叶SLA均显著高于常绿植物(P0.05);基于单位质量叶片计算的养分含量,常绿植物成熟和衰老叶N、P量均低于落叶植物,而基于单位面积叶片计算的N、P含量则表现出相反的趋势;基于不同方法计算的N、P再吸收效率差异不明显,其中常绿植物基于单位质量叶片养分含量计算的N、P平均再吸收效率为39.42%、43.79%,落叶植物的为24.08%、33.59%;常绿和落叶植物N、P再吸收效率与LDMC、SLA、LT和成熟叶N、P含量之间没有显著相关性,但与衰老叶养分含量存在显著负相关(P0.05)。研究发现,无论是常绿植物还是落叶植物,衰老叶N、P含量均较低,表明石灰岩地区植物具有较高的养分再吸收程度。     

海岛植物不同演替阶段植物功能性状与环境因子的变化规律

植物功能性状与环境之间的关系是功能性状研究的重点,环境因子驱使植物功能性状发生变化,进而推动群落发生演替。以平潭岛4个不同演替阶段的森林植被(灌草丛、针叶林、针阔混交林、常绿阔叶林)为研究对象,结合不同群落演替阶段的物种特征和群落结构,分析海岛不同演替阶段茎、叶功能性状的变化规律,以及功能性状与环境因子的关系。结果表明:(1)随着演替的进行,土壤养分和水分逐渐增加,土壤pH逐渐下降。比叶面积(SLA)、叶片氮含量(LNC)、叶片磷含量(LPC)、茎氮含量(SNC)、茎磷含量(SPC)下降后上升,叶厚度(LT)、叶片碳含量(LCC)、茎碳含量(SCC)与之相反,叶干物质含量(LDMC)、茎组织密度(STD)逐渐上升。(2)冗余分析表明,演替早期植物主要分布在土壤pH、容重高的贫瘠环境,拥有较高SLA、SNC、SPC、LPC的性状组合;演替后期植物主要分布在土壤养分和水分高的肥沃环境,拥有较高的STD、LDMC、LCC、LNC的性状组合。其中,土壤有机质和全氮含量是影响海岛植物演替过程中功能性状变化的关键环境因子。研究海岛植物功能性状与环境之间的关系随演替的变化规律,探讨各演替阶段功能性状和环境特征,以及功能性状如何响应环境变化。旨在为今后选择合适的树种进行海岛植被修复和重建提供依据。     

Scaling‐up from leaf to canopy‐aggregate properties in sclerophyll shrub species

Abstract: Plant species vary widely in their average leaf lifespan (LL) and specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per dry mass). The negative LL–SLA relationship commonly seen among species represents an important evolutionary trade‐off, with higher SLA indicating greater potential for fast growth (higher rate of return on a given investment), but longer LL indicating a longer duration of the revenue stream from that investment. We investigated how these leaf‐economic traits related to aggregate properties of the plant crown. Across 14 Australian sclerophyll shrub species, those with long LL accumulated more leaf mass and leaf area per unit ground area. Light attenuation through their canopies was more severe. Leaf accumulation and light attenuation were more weakly related to SLA than to LL. The greater accumulation of foliage in species with longer LL and lower SLA may counterbalance their generally lower photosynthetic rates and light‐capture areas per gram of leaf.     

Potential trajectories of old‐growth Neotropical forest functional composition under climate change

Quantifying relationships between plant functional traits and abiotic gradients is valuable for evaluating potential responses of forest communities to climate change. However, the trajectories of change expected to occur in tropical forest functional characteristics as a function of future climate variation are largely unknown. We modeled community level trait values of Costa Rican rain forests as a function of current and future climate, and quantified potential changes in functional composition. We calculated per‐plot community weighted mean (CWM) trait values for leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content, and wood basic specific gravity (WSG), for tree and palm species in 127 0.25 ha plots. We modeled the response of CWM traits to current temperature and precipitation gradients using generalized additive modeling. We then predicted and mapped CWM traits values under current and future climate, and quantified potential changes under a global warming scenario (RCP8.5, year 2050). We calculated the area within the multi trait functional space occupied by forest plots under both current and future climate, and determined potential changes in functional space occupied by forest plots. Overall, precipitation predicted CWM traits better than temperature. Models indicated increases in CWM SLA, N and P, and a decrease in CWM LDMC under climate change. Lowland forest communities converged on a single direction of change towards more acquisitive CWM trait values, indicating a change in forest functional composition resulting from a changed climate. Functional space occupied by forest plots was reduced by 50% under the future climate. Functional composition changes may have further effects on forests ecosystem services. Assessing functional trait spatial‐gradients can help bridge the gap between species‐based biogeography and biogeochemical approaches to strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation efforts.     

Variations in leaf morphological and chemical traits in response to life stages,plant functional types,and habitat types in an old-growth temperate forest

Intraspecific leaf trait variations are becoming a topic of interest for many ecologists because individual-based traits are essentially the drivers of variations at the community level. Six coexisting major tree species in an old-growth temperate forest, Northeast China (i.e., Abies nephrolepis, Pinus koraiensis, Acer mono, Fraxinus mandshurica, Tilia amurensis, and Ulmus laciniata) were sampled, and three habitat types (i.e., Hab I: high soil organic carbon with a moderate slope; Hab II: low soil organic carbon with a gentle slope; and Hab III: low soil organic carbon with a strong slope) were used in the plot. We performed a two-way ANOVA to compare the specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), and leaf carbon content (LCC) between saplings (1 < DBH ≤ 5 cm) and adults (DBH ≥ 10 cm) and between habitat types within species. We simultaneously evaluated the effects of life stage, plant functional type, and habitat type on the six leaf traits. Our results showed that life stage and habitat type had varied influences on the leaf traits of the six species. Life stage was an important determinant for all leaf traits. Plant functional type was included in the best models for SLA, LNC, and LCC. Habitat type had a greater influence on LDMC than SLA. Meanwhile, habitat type had a greater influence on LNC and LPC than LCC. The correlation between leaf traits with local environmental factors varied across different plant functional types and life stages. We suggest conducting individual-based analyses of leaf trait variations according to plant functional type and life stage to understand the plant life strategies along an environmental gradient may improve understanding of the forest dynamics in an old-growth temperate forest.     

Drought responses,phenotypic plasticity and survival of Mediterranean species in two different microclimatic sites

• Climate models predict a further drying of the Mediterranean summer. One way for plant species to persist during such climate changes is through acclimation. Here, we determine the extent to which trait plasticity in response to drought differs between species and between sites, and address the question whether there is a trade‐off between drought survival and phenotypic plasticity.
• Throughout the summer we measured physiological traits (photosynthesis – A_max, stomatal conductance – g_s, transpiration – E, leaf water potential – ψl) and structural traits (specific leaf area – SLA, leaf density – LD, leaf dry matter content – LDMC, leaf relative water content – LRWC) of leaves of eight woody species in two sites with slightly different microclimate (north‐ versus south‐facing slopes) in southern Spain. Plant recovery and survival was estimated after the summer drought period.
• We found high trait variability between species. In most variables, phenotypic plasticity was lower in the drier site. Phenotypic plasticity of SLA and LDMC correlated negatively with drought survival, which suggests a trade‐off between them. On the other hand, high phenotypic plasticity of SLA and LDMC was positively related to traits associated with rapid recovery and growth after the drought period.
• Although phenotypic plasticity is generally seen as favourable during stress conditions, here it seemed beneficial for favourable conditions. We propose that in environments with fluctuating drought periods there can be a trade‐off between drought survival and growth during favourable conditions. When climate become drier, species with high drought survival but low phenotypic plasticity might be selected for.

     

Effects of forest types on leaf functional traits and their interrelationships of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests in the subtropical mountain,Southeastern China

Leaf functional traits are widely used to detect and explain adaptations that enable plants to live under various environmental conditions. This study aims to determine the difference in leaf functional traits among four forest types of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests by leaf morphological, nutrients, and stoichiometric traits in the subtropical mountain, Southeastern China. Our study indicated that the evergreen conifer species of P. massoniana had higher leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf C content, C/N and C/P ratios, while the three deciduous broad‐leaved species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea had higher specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N, leaf P nutrient contents, and N/P ratio in the three mixed forest types. The results showed that the species of P. massoniana has adapted to the nutrient‐poor environment by increasing their leaf dry matter for higher construction costs thereby reducing water loss and reflects a resource conservation strategy. In contrast, the three species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea exhibited an optimized resource acquisition strategy rather than resource conservation strategy in the subtropical mountain of southeastern China. Regarding the four forest types, the three mixed forest types displayed increased plant leaf nutrient contents when compared to the pure P. massoniana forest, especially the P. massoniana–L. formosana mixed forest type (PLM). Overall, variation in leaf functional traits among different forest types may play an adaptive role in the successful survival of plants under diverse environments because leaf functional traits can lead to significant effects on leaf function, especially for their acquisition of nutrients and use of light. The results of this study are beneficial to reveal the changes in plant leaf functional traits at the regional scale, which will provide a foundation for predicting changes in leaf traits and adaptation in the future environment.     

环境因子对海岛植物茎、叶功能性状的影响

植物功能性状与环境之间的关系是功能性状研究的重点,海岛作为独特的生态系统,其植物功能性状必然和大陆存在差异。为了明确海岛植被的生态适应机制,该文以平潭岛森林群落为研究对象,通过测定茎、叶10个功能性状,以及地形和土壤9个环境因子,探讨了植物功能性状之间的权衡关系,分析了环境因子对海岛植物功能性状的影响。结果表明:(1)比叶面积(SLA)与叶氮含量(LNC)、叶磷含量(LPC)呈正相关,与叶厚度(LT)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、茎组织密度(STD)、叶碳含量(LCC)呈负相关; LDMC与LNC、茎氮含量(SNC)呈负相关; LT与STD呈正相关,与LNC和LPC呈负相关; LPC与LNC、SNC呈正相关;茎和叶C、N含量均呈正相关。(2)土壤有机质和TN是海岛植物功能性状的主要土壤影响因子。然而,由于土壤中磷含量的缺乏,LNC、茎磷含量(SPC)、SNC均与土壤全磷呈正相关; LDMC与土壤全氮呈正相关;STD与土壤有机质呈正相关; SLA随着土壤pH的增加而增加。(3)坡位和坡度是海岛植物功能性状的主要地形影响因子。SLA、SPC随着海拔上升而下降; STD、LDMC随着海拔和坡度增大而增大; LNC、LPC阴坡大于阳坡。该研究为海岛植被修复和重建提供了参考依据。     

Contrasting effects of plant inter‐ and intraspecific variation on community trait responses to restoration of a sandy grassland ecosystem

Changes in plant community traits along an environmental gradient are caused by interspecific and intraspecific trait variation. However, little is known about the role of interspecific and intraspecific trait variation in plant community responses to the restoration of a sandy grassland ecosystem. We measured five functional traits of 34 species along a restoration gradient of sandy grassland (mobile dune, semi‐fixed dune, fixed dune, and grassland) in Horqin Sand Land, northern China. We examined how community‐level traits varied with habitat changes and soil gradients using both abundance‐weighted and non‐weighted averages of trait values. We quantified the relative contribution of inter‐ and intraspecific trait variation in specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf carbon content (LCC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and plant height to the community response to habitat changes in the restoration of sandy grassland. We found that five weighted community‐average traits varied significantly with habitat changes. Along the soil gradient in the restoration of sandy grassland, plant height, SLA, LDMC, and LCC increased, while LNC decreased. For all traits, there was a greater contribution of interspecific variation to community response in regard to habitat changes relative to that of intraspecific variation. The relative contribution of the interspecific variation effect of an abundance‐weighted trait was greater than that of a non‐weighted trait with regard to all traits except LDMC. A community‐level trait response to habitat changes was due largely to species turnover. Though the intraspecific shift plays a small role in community trait response to habitat changes, it has an effect on plant coexistence and the maintenance of herbaceous plants in sandy grassland habitats. The context dependency of positive and negative covariation between inter‐ and intraspecific variation further suggests that both effects of inter‐ and intraspecific variation on a community trait should be considered when understanding a plant community response to environmental changes in sandy grassland ecosystems.     

秦岭中段山脊油松叶功能性状差异及其对海拔梯度的响应

山脊油松林是秦岭山地典型的群落类型之一,其在维持生物多样性及发挥生态服务功能等方面具有重要意义。该研究以山脊油松为对象,采用典型取样法研究了秦岭中段山脊油松10种叶功能性状沿海拔梯度的适应性变化规律。结果表明:(1)山脊油松1~3年生各叶龄叶的叶长(LL)、叶氮含量(LNC)、叶磷含量(LPC)和1年生叶的叶绿素[Chl(a+b)]含量较非山脊油松低,1年生叶的叶干物质含量(LDMC)和气孔密度(SD)较非山脊油松高。(2)山脊油松1~3年生各叶龄叶的叶厚(LT)、比叶面积(SLA)和1年生叶LPC均随海拔升高显著升高,1~3年生各叶龄叶的LL、LDMC、叶碳含量(LCC)、Chl(a+b)含量和1年生叶的SD均随海拔升高显著降低。(3)各叶龄叶的LNC与LPC均呈极显著正相关关系,1~2年生叶的LDMC与LPC均呈显著负相关关系,2~3年生叶的LL与LNC、LPC,LKC与LNC、LPC均呈显著正相关关系。研究认为,山脊独特的生境条件造就了山脊油松独特的生长策略,随着海拔升高,山脊油松表现出多元化的适应策略以应对环境因素的变化。