Hail impact on leaves and endophytes of the endemic threatened <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coccoloba cereifera</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

There is increasing evidence that some natural disturbances are increasing in frequency and intensity with global change, but the effects of these changes on plant populations is poorly understood. It is estimated that for every 1°C increase in the summer mean minimum temperature, there is a 40% increase in hail damage. Severe hailstorms can cause large impacts on biological communities. In 2008, a strong hailstorm hit the speciose and endemic rupestrian vegetation in Serra do Cipó, Brazil. This event prompted us to record its effects on the narrowly distributed and threatened species Coccoloba cereifera (Polygonaceae). About 33 to 60% of the leaves on the 246 individuals surveyed were lost. The disturbance also influenced some of the physiological traits of C. cereifera, increasing the concentration of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) and polyphenols in the leaves. The most pronounced increase of chlorophyll was in young leaves (ca. 60%). Carotenoid content increased by ca. 50% in all leaf ages, while polyphenols increased tenfold. Contrarily, the endophyte richness decreased drastically after the event (from 104 to 33 species), only 12% of similar species remain. The hail storm strongly influenced all variables evaluated in this study, i.e., structure, physiology, and associated fungi. These results show that hailstorm had a dramatic and immediate impact on C. cereifera and may also severely affect other endemic or threatened plant species. Therefore, it is imperative that we broaden our knowledge on global climate change impacts for the conservation of native species.     

Multitrophic interactions among fungal endophytes,bees, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baccharis dracunculifolia</Emphasis>: resin tapering for propolis production leads to endophyte infection

The tropics are known for their high diversity of plants, animals, and biotic interactions, but the role of the speciose endophytic fungi in these interactions has been mostly neglected. We report a unique interaction among plant sex, bees, and endophytes on the dioecious shrub, Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae). We assessed whether there was an association between resin collection by bees and fungal endophytes considering the host plant sex. We hypothesized that resin collection by the Africanized honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Apidae) could favor the entry of endophytes in B. dracunculifolia. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that (1) bees damage the leaf buds of female and male plant at different proportions; (2) damage on leaf buds increases the richness of endophytic fungi; (3) endophyte richness differs between female and male plants; and (4) in vitro growth of endophytes depends on the sex of the plant individual from which the resin was extracted. Endophyte richness and proportion of leaf bud damage did not vary between the plant sexes. However, species similarity of endophytes between female and male plants was 0.33. Undamaged leaf buds did not show culturable endophytes, with all fungi exclusively found in damaged leaf buds. Endophyte composition changed with the plant sex. The endophytes exclusively found in female plants did not develop in the presence of male resin extract. These findings highlight that resin collection by A. mellifera for propolis production favors the entry of endophytic fungi in B. dracunculifolia. Additionally, endophyte composition and growth are influenced by plant sex.     

Effects of the Epichloë fungal endophyte symbiosis with Schedonorus pratensis on host grass invasiveness

Initial studies of grass–endophyte mutualisms using Schedonorus arundinaceus cultivar Kentucky‐31 infected with the vertically transmitted endophyte Epichloë coenophiala found strong, positive endophyte effects on host‐grass invasion success. However, more recent work using different cultivars of S. arundinaceus has cast doubt on the ubiquity of this effect, at least as it pertains to S. arundinaceus–E. coenophiala. We investigated the generality of previous work on vertically transmitted Epichloë‐associated grass invasiveness by studying a pair of very closely related species: S. pratensis and E. uncinata. Seven cultivars of S. pratensis and two cultivars of S. arundinaceus that were developed with high‐ or low‐endophyte infection rate were broadcast seeded into 2 × 2‐m plots in a tilled, old‐field grassland community in a completely randomized block design. Schedonorus abundance, endophyte infection rate, and co‐occurring vegetation were sampled 3, 4, 5, and 6 years after establishment, and the aboveground invertebrate community was sampled in S. pratensis plots 3 and 4 years after establishment. Endophyte infection did not enable the host grass to achieve high abundance in the plant community. Contrary to expectations, high‐endophyte S. pratensis increased plant richness relative to low‐endophyte cultivars. However, as expected, high‐endophyte S. pratensis marginally decreased invertebrate taxon richness. Endophyte effects on vegetation and invertebrate community composition were inconsistent among cultivars and were weaker than temporal effects. The effect of the grass–Epichloë symbiosis on diversity is not generalizable, but rather specific to species, cultivar, infection, and potentially site. Examining grass–endophyte systems using multiple cultivars and species replicated among sites will be important to determine the range of conditions in which endophyte associations benefit host grass performance and have subsequent effects on co‐occurring biotic communities.     

Effects of endophyte fungal species and host plant genotype on the leaf shape and leaf area of endophyte-grass symbionts

Epichloë内生真菌感染能够影响宿主植物的生长发育, 但关于内生真菌感染对宿主植物叶形状和叶面积的研究很少。该研究以羽茅(Achnatherum sibiricum)为实验材料, 采用长宽系数计算和扫描测定叶面积相结合的方法探究内生真菌种类和羽茅母本基因型对羽茅-内生真菌共生体叶形状和叶面积的影响。结果表明: 内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类和宿主母本基因型对反映叶形状的叶校正系数、叶片长度、宽度和长宽比均无显著影响, 经计算与验证, 确定了羽茅叶片的校正系数为0.594 9。采用该校正系数及叶长宽计算的叶面积与实测叶面积无显著差异, 且二者均未受到内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类或宿主植物母本基因型的显著影响。     

内生真菌种类和母本基因型对内生真菌-禾草共生体叶形状和叶面积的影响

Epichloë内生真菌感染能够影响宿主植物的生长发育, 但关于内生真菌感染对宿主植物叶形状和叶面积的研究很少。该研究以羽茅(Achnatherum sibiricum)为实验材料, 采用长宽系数计算和扫描测定叶面积相结合的方法探究内生真菌种类和羽茅母本基因型对羽茅-内生真菌共生体叶形状和叶面积的影响。结果表明: 内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类和宿主母本基因型对反映叶形状的叶校正系数、叶片长度、宽度和长宽比均无显著影响, 经计算与验证, 确定了羽茅叶片的校正系数为0.594 9。采用该校正系数及叶长宽计算的叶面积与实测叶面积无显著差异, 且二者均未受到内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类或宿主植物母本基因型的显著影响。     

Balancing multiple mutualists: asymmetric interactions among plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and fungal endophytes

Most organisms engage in beneficial interactions with other species; however, little is known regarding how individuals balance the competing demands of multiple mutualisms. Here we examine three-way interactions among a widespread grass, Schedonorus phoenix , a protective fungal endophyte aboveground, Neotyphodium coenophialum , and nutritional symbionts (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) belowground. In a greenhouse experiment, we manipulated the presence/absence of both fungi and applied a fertilizer treatment to individual plants. Endophyte presence in host plants strongly reduced mycorrhizal colonization of roots. Additionally, for plants with the endophyte, the density of endophyte hyphae was negatively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization, suggesting a novel role for endophyte abundance in the interaction between the symbionts. Endophyte presence increased plant biomass, and there was a positive correlation between endophyte hyphal density and plant biomass. The effects of mutualists were asymmetric: mycorrhizal fungi treatments had no significant impact on the endophyte and negligible effects on plant biomass. Fertilization affected all three species – increasing plant biomass and endophyte density, but diminishing mycorrhizal colonization. Mechanisms driving negative effects of endophytes on mycorrhizae may include inhibition via endophyte alkaloids, altered nutritional requirements of the host plant, and/or temporal and spatial priority effects in the interactions among plants and multiple symbionts.     

四种乡土珍贵阔叶树种叶功能性状的种内和种间变异

植物功能性状种间性状变异反映不同物种的生活史对策,种内性状变异反映了同一物种不同个体应对不同环境的性状应答.人工林均一的环境有利于深入分析不同树种种内和种间变异.该研究以南宁良凤江林场的四种乡土珍贵阔叶树种[观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)、红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)、灰木莲(...     

Di Alcuni Caratteri Differenziali Nelle Plantule di “ Cuscuta Epithymum „ Mürr. e di “ Cuscuta Pentagona „ Eng.

Endophytes are micro-organisms that colonize the internal tissues of plants without inducing signs of negative effects and that can provide benefits to plant health and yield. In the present work, the culturable bacterial endophyte community, colonizing vegetative organs of grapevine, was isolated from surface-sterilized plant tissues and characterized by molecular methods. From roots, shoots and leaves of Vitis vinifera “Glera”, located in six different vineyards throughout the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG area (Veneto, Italy), 381 culturable strains were successfully isolated; amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and nucleotide sequencing showed that approximately 30% of the endophyte community belonged to the genus Bacillus, which was the most represented; other genera such as Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Paenibacillus, Curtobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Variovorax, Micrococcus and Agrococcus were identified. Endophyte community composition within each vine was different in respect to other endophyte populations living in grapevine plants coming from different vineyards; moreover, the bacterial composition changed depending on the season of sampling. The above data highlight the great diversity of culturable bacterial species inhabiting Glera grapevines and open the way for a characterization and selection of strains that could potentially be used to improve the vineyard management for plant growth and yield, plant responses to stresses, biocontrol and biofertilization.     

Effects of the endophyte Epichloë coenophiala on the root microbial community and growth performance of tall fescue in different saline-alkali soils

Soil salinization is detrimental to plant growth and yield in agroecosystems worldwide. Epichloë endophytes, a class of clavicipitaceous fungi, enhance the resistance of host plants to saline-alkali stress. This study explored the effects of the systemic fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala on the root microbial community and growth performance of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) growing under different saline-alkali stress conditions. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to analyze the direct and indirect effects (mediated by root microbial community diversity and soil properties) of the endophyte on the growth of tall fescue under saline-alkali stress. The endophyte-infected plants produced higher shoot and root biomass compared to endophyte-free plants under saline-alkali stress (200 and 400 mM). Endophyte infection increased the fungal community diversity and altered its composition in the roots, decreasing the relative abundance of Ascomycota and increasing that of Glomeromycota. Furthermore, endophyte infection decreased the bacterial community diversity and the relative abundance of dominant Proteobacteria. SEM showed that endophyte infection increased the shoot and root biomass under saline-alkali stress (200 and 400 mM) by increasing the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in the roots, and soil total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Therefore, it is important to examine aboveground microbes as factors influencing plant growth in saline-alkali stress by affecting belowground microbes and soil chemical properties.     

Extended larval development time for aphid parasitoids in the presence of plant endosymbionts

Abstract 1. Variation in plant chemistry does not only mediate interactions between plants and herbivores but also those between herbivores and their natural enemies, and plants and natural enemies. 2. Endophytic fungi complete their whole life cycle within the host plant’s tissue and are associated with a large diversity of plant species. Endophytes of the genus Neotyphodium alter the chemistry of the host plant by producing herbivore toxic alkaloids. 3. Here we asked whether the endophyte‐tolerant aphid species Metopolophium festucae could be defended against its parasitoid Aphidius ervi when feeding on endophyte‐infected plants. In a laboratory experiment, we compared life‐history traits of A. ervi when exposed to hosts on endophyte‐infected or endophyte‐free Lolium perenne. 4. The presence of endophytes significantly increased larval and pupal development times, but did not affect the mortality of immature parasitoids or the longevity of the adults. Although the number of parasitoid mummies tended to be reduced on endophyte‐infected plants, the number of emerging parasitoids did not differ significantly between the two treatments. 5. This shows that the metabolism of individual aphids feeding on infected plants may be changed and help in the defence against parasitoids. An increase in parasitoid development time should ultimately reduce the population growth of A. ervi. Therefore, endophyte presence may represent an advantage for endophyte‐tolerant aphid species through extended parasitoid development and its effect on parasitoid population dynamics.     

Historical and current climate drive spatial and temporal patterns in fungal endophyte diversity

Horizontally-transmitted foliar endophytic fungi can moderate plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. Previous studies have found correlations between climate and endophyte beta diversity, but were unable to clearly separate drivers related to long-term climate, annual weather, and host plants. To address this, we characterized endophyte communities in the perennial C₄ grass, Panicum hallii, across a precipitation gradient in central Texas over 3 years. A total of 65 unique leaf endophytes were isolated and identified based on ITS and LSU regions of rDNA. Mean annual rainfall and temperature were the primary drivers of endophyte richness and community composition, followed by annual weather conditions. In contrast, little explanatory value was provided by plant host traits, vegetation structure, or spatial factors. The importance of historical climate and annual weather in endophyte distributions suggests that species sort by environment and are likely to be affected by future climate change.     

Fungal Endophytes Help Grasses to Tolerate Sap-Sucking Herbivores Through a Hormone-Signaling System

Plants possess a sophisticated hormone-signaling system, which includes salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), to defend themselves from herbivores. In addition, this immune system is modulated by nonpathogenic microbes that live asymptomatically within intercellular spaces of host grasses. We investigated the resistance triggered by defense hormones, and that provided by endophyte Epichloë gansuensis against aphid Rhopalosiphum padi, and how the endophyte regulates this tripartite interaction. We detected that endophyte-induced plant tolerance to the aphid feeding and exogenous SA increased plant shoot biomass, root biomass, plant length, and chlorophyll content. Endophyte colonization induces the WRKY54 factor that overrides negative effects on plant growth and possibly suppresses SA accumulation. In addition, the endophyte promotes a level of JA that is antagonistic to the SA pathway. By disabling the SA mechanism for herbivore-mediated plant growth inhibition, the endophyte induces plant tolerance to herbivory.

     

Changes in plant taxonomic and functional diversity patterns following treeline advances in the South Urals

Background: Treeline ecotones represent environmental boundaries that fluctuate in space and time and thus induce changes in plant taxonomic and functional diversity.

Aims: To study changes through time in taxonomic and functional plant diversity patterns along the treeline ecotone.

Methods: In 2002, vegetation was sampled along a gradient from upper montane forest to the treeline–alpine transition in the South Ural Mountains, Russia. In 2014, vegetation was resampled and plant functional traits were collected. We studied spatial and temporal changes in plant species composition, functional composition and functional diversity.

Results: Species composition and diversity changed along the elevational gradient. The functional composition in height, leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen content decreased with elevation, whereas functional composition of leaf carbon content increased. We found a temporal shift towards shorter plants with smaller leaves in treeline sites. Functional richness varied in several traits along the elevational gradient, while functional dispersion showed a trend towards increased functional dispersion in height, specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen in the treeline–tundra transition.

Conclusions: Tree encroachment across the treeline ecotone has resulted in a shift in plant species relative abundances and functional diversity, possibly affecting plant community assembly patterns.     

寄主植物对桑寄生植物叶片功能性状的影响

为了解寄生植物叶片功能性状的差异及其影响因素,研究了西双版纳地区寄主植物对3种桑寄生植物叶片功能性状的影响,并分析了桑寄生植物与寄主植物叶片功能性状的相关性。结果表明,不同寄主植物的相同寄生植物叶片功能性状存在显著差异,来自7种寄主植物的五蕊寄生(Dendrophthoe pentandra)的叶片含水量(61.2%～70.1%)、氮含量(9.6～16.0 g/kg)、碳氮比(30.8～48.5)以及缩合单宁含量(3.3%～11.0%)等性状的差异较大;从4种寄主植物上获取的澜沧江寄生(Scurrula chingii var.yunnanensis)的叶片含水量(60.0%～71.7%)、碳含量(431.3～502.3 g/kg)和缩合单宁含量(3.8%～9.9%)等性状也呈现较大种间差异,而在2种寄主植物上的离瓣寄生(Helixanthera parasitica)的叶片功能性状没有显著差异。桑寄生植物与寄主植物的叶片含水量、总碳含量、总氮含量、碳氮比和缩合单宁含量呈显著的正相关。寄主植物作为桑寄生植物营养物质的主要来源,会影响桑寄生植物叶片的相应功能性状。桑寄生植物能从寄主植物获...     

天坑森林植物群落叶功能性状、物种多样性和功能多样性特征

以天坑内部-边缘-外部森林植物群落为研究对象,通过调查植物的群落结构、叶功能性状,探究天坑内外森林植物群落叶功能性状、物种多样性和功能多样性变化特征及其内在关联,为深入了解负地形森林生态系统的功能和恢复退化喀斯特地区的植被提供一定参考。研究结果如下：（1）比叶面积（SLA: 198.75 cm2/g)）、叶面积（LA: 42.70 cm2）、叶磷含量（LPC: 1.70 g/kg）和叶钾含量（LKC: 10.27 g/kg）在天坑内部最高,叶组织密度（LTD: 0.32 g/cm3）和叶干物质含量（LDMC: 0.41 g/g）在天坑外部最高,天坑内外森林均易受到磷限制,表明随天坑内部-边缘-外部生境变化,植物对环境的适应机制和生存策略发生了部分调整,物种的防御策略增强,生长投入策略减弱。（2）Shannon-Wiener指数（2.82）、Simpson指数（0.92）和Pielou’s均匀度指数（0.87）均以天坑外部最高,功能丰富度（1.05）、功能离散度（1.88）和Rao’s二次熵（4.52）以天坑内部最高,表明随天坑内部-边缘-外部生境的变化,植物功能性状的差异减少,物种分布及其功能性状分布总体上更为均匀、物种数量增多。（3）物种多样性指数之间、功能多样性指数之间存在较强的相关性,表明物种多样性指数之间、功能多样性指数之间存在不同的制约关系。（4）叶功能性状与物种多样性、功能多样性的相关性强,物种多样性和功能多样性之间相关性较弱,表明叶性状对生态学过程的变化较为敏感,叶功能性状与物种多样性之间存在较强的耦合关系。     

Plant intraspecific functional trait variation is related to within‐habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity in Trifolium montanum L.

Intraspecific trait variation (ITV), based on available genetic diversity, is one of the major means plant populations can respond to environmental variability. The study of functional trait variation and diversity has become popular in ecological research, for example, as a proxy for plant performance influencing fitness. Up to now, it is unclear which aspects of intraspecific functional trait variation (iFD_CV) can be attributed to the environment or genetics under natural conditions. Here, we examined 260 individuals from 13 locations of the rare (semi‐)dry calcareous grassland species Trifolium montanum L. in terms of iFD_CV, within‐habitat heterogeneity, and genetic diversity. The iFD_CV was assessed by measuring functional traits (releasing height, biomass, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, F_v/F_m, performance index, stomatal pore surface, and stomatal pore area index). Abiotic within‐habitat heterogeneity was derived from altitude, slope exposure, slope, leaf area index, soil depth, and further soil factors. Based on microsatellites, we calculated expected heterozygosity (H_e) because it best‐explained, among other indices, iFD_CV. We performed multiple linear regression models quantifying relationships among iFD_CV, abiotic within‐habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity, and also between separate functional traits and abiotic within‐habitat heterogeneity or genetic diversity. We found that abiotic within‐habitat heterogeneity influenced iFD_CV twice as strong compared to genetic diversity. Both aspects together explained 77% of variation in iFD_CV ( = .77, F_{2, 10} = 21.66, p < .001). The majority of functional traits (releasing height, biomass, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, F_v/F_m, and performance index) were related to abiotic habitat conditions indicating responses to environmental heterogeneity. In contrast, only morphology‐related functional traits (releasing height, biomass, and leaf area) were related to genetics. Our results suggest that both within‐habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity affect iFD_CV and are thus crucial to consider when aiming to understand or predict changes of plant species performance under changing environmental conditions.     

Fungal communities living within leaves of native Hawaiian dicots are structured by landscape‐scale variables as well as by host plants

A phylogenetically diverse array of fungi live within healthy leaf tissue of dicotyledonous plants. Many studies have examined these endophytes within a single plant species and/or at small spatial scales, but landscape‐scale variables that determine their community composition are not well understood, either across geographic space, across climatic conditions, or in the context of host plant phylogeny. Here, we evaluate the contributions of these variables to endophyte beta diversity using a survey of foliar endophytic fungi in native Hawaiian dicots sampled across the Hawaiian archipelago. We used Illumina technology to sequence fungal ITS1 amplicons to characterize foliar endophyte communities across five islands and 80 host plant genera. We found that communities of foliar endophytic fungi showed strong geographic structuring between distances of 7 and 36 km. Endophyte community structure was most strongly associated with host plant phylogeny and evapotranspiration, and was also significantly associated with NDVI, elevation and solar radiation. Additionally, our bipartite network analysis revealed that the five islands we sampled each harboured significantly specialized endophyte communities. These results demonstrate how the interaction of factors at large and small spatial and phylogenetic scales shapes fungal symbiont communities.     

Morphological variation in Eichhornia azurea (Kunth) and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms in relation to aquatic vegetation type and the environment in the floodplain of the Rio Paraná, Brazil

Eichhornia azurea and E. crassipes are the most frequent dominants of aquatic vegetation in the floodplain of the Upper Rio Paraná in Brazil. Morphological traits of samples collected at sites where they dominated the vegetation were measured and compared between vegetation types identified in the floodplain. Total leaf weight, specific leaf area and the leaf to root weight ratio of E. azurea and total leaf dry weight, total leaf area and total plant dry weight of E. crassipes differed significantly between vegetation types from 1999. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a number of significant relationships between morphological traits and environmental variables. Five E. azurea traits increased linearly with water depth and four with water clarity. The leaf to root weight ratio also increased linearly with sediment iron and calcium content. E. crassipes total root dry weight and total plant dry weight were respectively quadratically related to sediment calcium and the euphotic proportion of the water column. Total leaf dry weight and total plant dry weight increased linearly with water depth while remainder dry weight decreased linearly with sediment phosphorus content.     

Patterns of abundance of a narrow endemic species in a tropical and infertile montane habitat

We examined the entire spatial distribution of a narrow endemic shrub (Coccoloba cereifera, Polygonaceae) in Serra do Cipó, Brazil. We tested the hypothesis that a narrow endemic species would show a gradual decline in either size and density towards the edges of its distribution. The contribution of soil specificity and post-fire growth to C. cereifera abundance and distribution were also investigated. C. cereifera showed multimodal and highly aggregated distribution pattern at several scales, from 25 m² to 3000 m² (blocked quadrat variance analyses). This pattern seems to be strongly related to the predominance of clonal recruitment and to the close association of the species to sandfields, which have discrete distribution between gallery forests and rocky outcrops. Population density did not decline towards the edge of the species distribution. Plants near the distribution boundaries had slightly more leaves and more inflorescences per plant (p<0.005), but there was no significant change in the mean number of ramets per clone. The absence of large plants in some populations at the center of the species distribution may be related to the higher frequency of fire in this region, killing aerial plant parts. Nearly all aggregations had inverse-J shaped size-distribution, suggesting effective recruitment of ramets, most frequently via asexual reproduction. Similar patterns of plant abundance may be common in fire-prone habitats characterized by infertile, and well-drained soils since these areas generally have high numbers of endemic plants, with strong soil specificity. Possible mechanisms for the observed pattern are discussed considering current models concerning distribution of abundance of species.     

Sources of Canopy Chemical and Spectral Diversity in Lowland Bornean Forest

Sources of variation among the chemical and spectral properties of tropical forest canopies are poorly understood, yet chemical traits reveal potential ecosystem and phylogenetic controls, and spectral linkages to chemical traits are needed for remote sensing of functional and biological diversity. We analyzed 21 leaf traits in 395 fully sunlit canopies, representing 232 species and multiple growth forms, in a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest of Sarawak, Malaysia. Leaf traits related to light capture and growth (for example, photosynthetic pigments, nutrients) were up to 55% lower, and defense traits (for example, phenols, lignin) were 15–40% higher, in the dominant family Dipterocarpaceae and in its genus Shorea, as compared to all other canopy species. The chemical variation within Dipterocarpaceae and Shorea was equivalent to that of all other canopy species combined, highlighting the role that a single phylogenetic branch can play in creating canopy chemical diversity. Seventeen of 21 traits had more than 50% of their variation explained by taxonomic grouping, and at least 16 traits show a connection to remotely sensed spectroscopic signatures (RMSE < 15%). It is through these chemical-to-spectral linkages that studies of functional and biological diversity interactions become possible at larger spatial scales, thereby improving our understanding of the role of species in tropical forest ecosystem dynamics.