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.     

Size‐dependent and environment‐mediated shifts in leaf traits of a deciduous tree species in a subtropical forest

AimsUnderstanding the joint effects of plant development and environment on shifts of intraspecific leaf traits will advance the understandings of the causes of intraspecific trait variation. We address this question by focusing on a widespread species Clausena dunniana in a subtropical broad‐leaved forest.MethodsWe sampled 262 individuals of C. dunniana at two major topographic habitat types, the slope and hilltop, within the karst forests in Maolan Nature Reserve in southwestern China. We measured individual plant level leaf traits (i.e., specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area, leaf dry‐matter content (LDMC), and leaf thickness) that are associated with plant resource‐use strategies. We adopted a linear mixed‐effects model in which the plant size (i.e., the first principal component of plant basal diameter and plant height) and environmental factors (i.e., topographic habitat, canopy height, and rock‐bareness) were used as independent variables, to estimate their influences on the shifts of leaf traits.Key ResultsWe found that (1) plant size and the environmental factors independently drove the intraspecific leaf trait shifts of C. dunniana, of which plant size explained less variances than environmental factors. (2) With increasing plant size, C. dunniana individuals had increasingly smaller SLA but larger sized leaves. (3) The most influential environmental factor was topographic habitat; it drove the shifts of all the four traits examined. Clausena dunniana individuals on hilltops had leaf traits representing more conservative resource‐use strategies (e.g., smaller SLA, higher LDMC) than individuals on slopes. On top of that, local‐scale environmental factors further modified leaf trait shifts.ConclusionsPlant size and environment independently shaped the variations in intraspecific leaf traits of C. dunniana in the subtropical karst forest of Maolan. Compared with plant size, the environment played a more critical role in shaping intraspecific leaf trait variations, and potentially also the underlying individual‐level plant resource‐use strategies.     

基于树木年轮定量重建过去50年贵州典型森林优势树种的地上生物量与生产力变化

利用树木年轮宽度结合树木生物量方程,重建了贵州3个地区典型森林(2个常绿与落叶阔叶混交林和1个典型常绿阔叶林)6个优势树种(天龙山:化香树Platycarya strobilacea、安顺润楠Machilus cavaleriei;茂兰:化香树、马尾松Pinus massoniana;雷公山:华山松Pinus armandii、白梓树Pterostyrax psilophyllus)以树木个体为单元的地上生物量(AGB)与地上净初级生产力(ANPP);比较了喀斯特与非喀斯特地区树木AGB与ANPP的差异;并研究了近50年气候变化对ANPP的影响。结果显示,针叶树的平均年轮宽度大于阔叶树,喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树的平均树木年轮宽度,分别小于非喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树的平均树木年轮宽度。喀斯特地区树木的AGB及其变异幅度均小于非喀斯特地区树木。近50年来,喀斯特地区阔叶树与针叶树的ANPP平均分别为(2.4±1.2) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)和(4.6±4.1) kg a~(-1)株~(-1),显著低于非喀斯特地区阔叶树与针叶树的(5.6±4.8) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)和(12.4±7.7) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)。喀斯特地区树木ANPP的增长趋势与年均温的相关性高于生长季降水,非喀斯特地区树木ANPP与年均温和生长季降水均显著相关,且不管是在喀斯特还是在非喀斯特地区,针叶树ANPP对气候指标的变化比阔叶树更敏感。     

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。     

Functional assembly of tropical montane tree islands in the Atlantic Forest is shaped by stress tolerance,bamboo presence,and facilitation

AimsAmidst the Campos de Altitude (Highland Grasslands) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, woody communities grow either clustered in tree islands or interspersed within the herbaceous matrix. The functional ecology, diversity, and biotic processes shaping these plant communities are largely unstudied. We characterized the functional assembly and diversity of these tropical montane woody communities and investigated how they fit within Grime''s CSR (C—competitor, S—stress‐tolerant, R—ruderal) scheme, what functional trade‐offs they exhibit, and how traits and functional diversity vary in response to bamboo presence/absence.MethodsTo characterize the functional composition of the community, we sampled five leaf traits and wood density along transects covering the woody communities both inside tree islands and outside (i.e., isolated woody plants in the grasslands community). Then, we used Mann–Whitney test, t test, and variation partitioning to determine the effects of inside versus outside tree island and bamboo presence on community‐weighted means, woody species diversity, and functional diversity.ResultsWe found a general SC/S strategy with drought‐related functional trade‐offs. Woody plants in tree islands had more acquisitive traits than those within the grasslands. Trait variation was mostly taxonomically than spatially driven, and species composition varied between inside and outside tree islands. Leaf thickness, wood density, and foliar water uptake were unrelated to CSR strategies, suggesting independent trait dimensions and multiple drought‐coping strategies within the predominant S strategy. Islands with bamboo presence showed lower Simpson diversity, lower functional dispersion, lower foliar water uptake, and greater leaf thickness than in tree islands without bamboo.ConclusionsThe observed functional assembly hints toward large‐scale environmental abiotic filtering shaping a stress‐tolerant community strategy, and small‐scale biotic interactions driving small‐scale trait variation. We recommend experimental studies with fire, facilitation treatments, ecophysiological and recruitment traits to elucidate on future tree island expansion and community response to climate change.     

Functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits in miombo woodlands: implications for water stress management and species habitat preference

We investigated functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits among nine miombo woodlands canopy tree species differing in habitat preference and phenology. Specifically, we were seeking to answer the question: are branch hydraulic properties coordinated with leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance in seasonally dry tropical forests and what are the implications for species habitat preference? The hydraulic properties investigated in this study were stem area specific hydraulic conductivity (K _S), Huber value (H _v), and xylem cavitation vulnerability (??₅₀). The leaf functional traits measured were specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and mean leaf area (MLA). Generalists displayed significantly (P?<?0.05) higher cavitation resistance (??₅₀) and SLA, but lower sapwood specific hydraulic conductivity (K _S), leaf specific conductivity (K _L), MLA, and LDMC than mesic specialists. Although MLA was uncorrelated with ??₅₀, we found significant (P?<?0.05) positive and negative correlations between plant hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance ability, indicating that the interactions between branch hydraulics and leaf functional traits related to plant drought tolerance ability may influence tree species habitat preference in water-limited ecosystems.     

三个亚热带森林优势种凋落物非结构性碳水化合物含量的季节动态

非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)是凋落物中的易分解组分,在凋落物分解早期快速释放进入土壤并被微生物利用,参与森林土壤生物地球化学循环,因此新鲜凋落物中NSC变化规律是认识森林土壤碳和养分循环的关键之一。选取亚热带常绿阔叶林优势树种米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)和主要造林树种杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、马尾松(Pinus massoniana)为研究对象,分析其新鲜凋落叶和凋落枝中NSC(可溶性糖和淀粉)含量的动态变化规律。结果表明：凋落物中NSC含量在不同月份表现出明显的时间动态,米槠、杉木和马尾松凋落叶和凋落枝中NSC含量总体上在11—12月呈上升趋势,而在2—6月呈缓慢下降趋势。不同类型的凋落物NSC含量存在显著差异,米槠、杉木和马尾松凋落叶中NSC含量分别为3.03%—3.56%、2.18%—4.37%、3.38%—4.89%,凋落枝中NSC含量分别为1.87%—4.22%、2.88%—4.28%、2.75%—5.27%,米槠和马尾松凋落叶中NSC含量高于凋落枝,而杉木凋落枝中NSC含量高于凋落叶。不同树种凋落物NSC含量差异显著,米槠和...     

桂林岩溶石山青冈群落植物功能性状的尺度变化与关联

研究植物功能性状在不同尺度的变异和关联,对于揭示植物对环境的适应策略和群落构建规律具有重要意义。以岩溶石山青冈群落为研究对象,测量了研究区内20个样方74种木本植物的叶面积、比叶面积和木材密度3个功能性状值,利用性状梯度分析法分析了3个性状在群落内部(α组分)及群落间(β组分)的变异格局及相关性。结果表明:(1)群落内3个植物功能性状的α值范围均大于β值范围,即物种相对于共生物种性状值的变化大于沿着群落平均性状梯度的变化。(2)植物功能性状比叶面积的种内差异引起的变化小于群落水平。(3)叶面积与比叶面积、比叶面积与木材密度、叶面积与木材密度的β组分相关性均最强,而α组分间无相关性或相关性较弱,即叶面积与比叶面积、比叶面积与木材密度、叶面积与木材密度两两性状间的相关性在群落间的依赖程度比群落内共生物种的依赖性要强,暗示物种在群落内和群落间采取不同的生态策略来适应环境。     

Increase in leaf organic acids to enhance adaptability of dominant plant species in karst habitats

Estimation of leaf nutrient composition of dominant plant species from contrasting habitats (i.e., karst and nonkarst forests) provides an opportunity to understand how plants are adapted to karst habitats from the perspective of leaf traits. Here, we measured leaf traits—specific leaf area (SLA), concentrations of total carbon ([TC]), nitrogen ([TN]), phosphorus ([TP]), calcium ([Ca]), magnesium ([Mg]), manganese ([Mn]), minerals ([Min]), soluble sugars, soluble phenolics, lipids, and organic acids ([OA])—and calculated water‐use efficiency (WUE), construction costs (CC), and N/P ratios, and searched for correlations between these traits of 18 abundant plant species in karst and nonkarst forests in southwestern China. Variation in leaf traits within and across the abundant species was both divergent and convergent. Leaf [TC], [Ca], [Min], [OA], and CC were habitat‐dependent, while the others were not habitat‐ but species‐specific. The correlations among [TN], [TP], SLA, [TC], CC, [Min], WUE, [OA], and CC were habitat‐independent, and inherently associated with plant growth and carbon allocation; those between [CC] and [Lip], between [Ca] and [Mg], and between [Mg] and [WUE] were habitat‐dependent. Habitat significantly affected leaf [Ca] and thus indirectly affected leaf [OA], [Min], and CC. Our results indicate that plants may regulate leaf [Ca] to moderate levels via adjusting leaf [OA] under both high and low soil Ca availability, and offer new insights into the abundance of common plant species in contrasting habitats.     

小兴安岭不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状变异及权衡

随着植株生长,不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状对资源的响应策略存在差异。探究不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间枝叶性状变异及其相关关系,对理解植物功能性状种内和种间变异以及植物对资源的响应策略具有重要意义。以黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林中不同径级（小树、中等树和大树）的喜光树种（白桦Betula platyphylla、枫桦Betula costata）和耐荫树种（春榆Ulmus japonica、紫椴Tilia amurensis、色木槭Acer mono）为研究对象,测定其出叶强度、枝横截面积、枝干重、单叶面积、总叶面积、总叶干重共6个枝叶性状。利用单因素方差（LSD）分析检验不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间其枝、叶性状是否存在显著差异;以标准化主轴估计（SMA）对不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状间相关关系进行分析。结果表明：除枝干重外,耐荫树种枝叶性状均大于喜光树种;不同耐荫性树种大树枝横截面积均最大,中等树叶面积均最小;喜光树种不同径级间枝干重、总叶干重和出叶强度无显著差异,而耐荫树种均存在显著差异。随径级增大,不同耐荫性树种枝横截面积与叶面积均呈正异速生长关系,且除耐荫树种枝横截面积与单叶面积外,均存在共同斜率;不同耐荫性树种出叶强度与单叶面积存在共同斜率为-0.51和0.47,小树和中等树枝横截面积与总叶面积和总叶干重的异速生长指数均与1存在显著差异,而大树与1无显著差异。结果表明：不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间对资源的获取策略存在差异,不同耐荫性树种小树阶段均表现出资源获取策略,大树阶段则表现出资源保守型策略。与耐荫树种相比,喜光树种表现为快速生长策略,而随着径级增大不同耐荫性树种这种差异逐渐消失,本研究结果为森林演替过程中种内和种间的相互作用提供了一个新的视角。     

How does a wetland plant respond to increasing temperature along a latitudinal gradient?

Global warming affects plant fitness through changes in functional traits and thereby ecosystem function. Wetlands are declining worldwide, and hence, ecosystem functions linked to wetlands are threatened. We use Caltha palustris “a common wetland plant” to study whether warming affects growth and reproduction differently depending on origin of source population, potentially affecting phenotypic response to local climate. We conducted a 2‐year in situ temperature manipulation experiment using clone pairs of C. palustris in four regions, along a 1300‐km latitudinal gradient of Sweden. Open‐top chambers were used to passively increase temperature, paired with controls. Growth and reproductive traits were measured from 320 plants (four regions × five sites × two treatments × eight plants) over two consecutive seasons to assess the effect of warming over time. We found that warming increased plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, and roots. High‐latitude populations responded more strongly to warming than low‐latitude populations, especially by increasing leaf area. Warming increased number of flowers in general, but only in the second year, while number of fruits increased in low‐latitude populations the first year. Prolonged warming leads to an increase in both number of leaves and flowers over time. While reproduction shows varying and regional responses to warming, impacts on plant growth, especially in high‐latitude populations, have more profound effects. Such effects could lead to changes in plant community composition with increased abundance of fast‐growing plants with larger leaves and more clones, affecting plant competition and ecological functions such as decomposition and nutrient retention. Effects of warming were highly context dependent; thus, we encourage further use of warming experiments to predict changes in growth, reproduction, and community composition across wetland types and climate gradients targeting different plant forms.     

桂林岩溶石山青冈群落植物功能性状的种间和种内变异研究

研究植物功能性状的种间和种内变异,有助于揭示植物对环境的适应策略及其群落构建机制研究。以桂林岩溶石山青冈群落主要木本植物为研究对象,选取叶干物质含量（LDMC）、叶厚度（LT）、比叶面积（SLA）和木材密度（WD）4个功能性状,采用混合线性模型结合方差分解方法对其在种内和种间尺度的变异程度和相对贡献进行分析,同时运用零模型方法探讨驱动岩溶石山青冈群落构建的潜在机制。结果表明：（1） LDMC,LT,SLA和WD这4个性状在种内和种间水平上均存在不同程度的变异幅度,种间变异大于种内变异,但种内变异亦不容忽略。（2）零模型检验表明,将种内变异纳入考虑的环境过滤检测得到改善,基于个体性状值的尺度考虑群落构建机制研究是必要的。（3）对于桂林岩溶石山青冈群落,环境过滤作用确实是群落构建的重要驱动机制,与相似性限制作用和随机作用共同塑造了以青冈为优势物种的群落构建。     

Inflorescence dimorphism,heterodichogamy and thrips pollination in Platycarya strobilacea (Juglandaceae)

Background and Aims

Unlike other taxa in Juglandaceae or in closely related families, which are anemophilous, Platycarya strobilacea has been suggested to be entomophilous. In Juglandaceae, Juglans and Carya show heterodichogamy, a reproductive strategy in which two morphs coexist in a population and undergo synchronous reciprocal sex changes. However, there has been no study focusing on heterodichogamy in the other six or seven genera, including Platycarya.

Methods

Inflorescence architecture, sexual expression and pollination biology were examined in a P. strobilacea population in Japan. Flowering phenology was monitored daily for 24 trees in 2008 and 27 in 2009. Flower visitors and inhabitants were recorded or collected from different sexes and stages.

Key results

The population of P. strobilacea showed heterodichogamous phenology with protogynous and duodichogamous–protandrous morphs. This dimorphism in dichogamy was associated with distinct inflorescence morphologies. Thrips pollination was suggested by the frequent presence of thrips with attached pollen grains, the scarcity of other insect visitors, the synchronicity of thrips number in male spikes with the maturation of female flowers, and morphological characters shared with previously reported thrips-pollinated plants. Male spikes went through two consecutive stages: bright yellow and strong-scented M1 stage, and brownish and little-scented M2 stage. The latter contained more thrips, synchronized better with the receptive stage of female flowers of the reciprocal morph and is probably the main period of pollen export.

Conclusions Platycarya strobilacea

is heterodichogamous and thrips-pollinated, both of which are relatively rare conditions in angiosperms. In male spikes of P. strobilacea, there is probably a temporal decoupling of pollinator attraction and pollen export.     

中亚热带次生林和人工林凋落枝水溶性碳氮磷动态特征

凋落枝是森林地上部分凋落物的重要组分,揭示其水溶性碳氮磷的动态规律对于认识森林物质循环过程具有重要意义,但目前研究集中于凋落叶,而对凋落枝缺乏必要关注。因此,以中亚热带典型马尾松（Pinus massoniana）人工林、杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）人工林和米槠（Castanopsis carlesii）次生林为研究对象,在一个自然年内调查了凋落枝水溶性碳、氮、磷含量及其芳香化指数以及化学计量比的动态变化过程。结果显示：（1）米槠次生林凋落枝水溶性碳、氮、磷含量及芳香化指数明显大于马尾松和杉木人工林;（2）水溶性碳和磷、水溶性碳比磷、水溶性氮比磷和芳香化指数有明显的季节变化;（3）水溶性碳、水溶性磷、水溶性氮比磷和芳香化指数在不同林分和季节间有交互作用。（4）马尾松和杉木人工林、米槠次生林凋落枝水溶性物质含量的季节变化多数与气温和降水呈显著负相关。这些结果表明亚热带次生林可能相对于人工林具有更为高效的以凋落枝为载体的物质循环过程,在未来气候变暖背景下亚热带森林由凋落枝归还给土壤的养分浓度可能降低。     

亚热带次生常绿阔叶林植物功能性状及多样性对人工抚育的响应

亚热带次生常绿阔叶林普遍存在生长滞缓、固碳功能和经济价值低下等问题,迫切需要通过人工抚育提高其生态系统功能。对植物功能性状及其多样性的深入研究,能够找寻植物共存与群落稳定发展的内在机制,为提升森林生态系统功能的实践提供基础。为了探究人工抚育对亚热带次生常绿阔叶林质量提升的影响,以杭州午潮山国家森林公园内的次生常绿阔叶林为研究对象,实施了不同强度的抚育措施,通过群落植被复查,分析群落植物功能性状以及功能多样性对不同强度人工抚育的响应。结果发现:抚育2年后,群落最大潜在树高与叶片氮、磷、钾含量显著上升,而叶片干物质含量和叶片叶绿素含量均有显著下降,比叶面积有下降趋势,两种强度的抚育之间差异不显著;叶片干物质含量、叶绿素含量与叶片氮含量间的相关性由不显著变为了显著负相关,而叶片干物质含量与叶片叶绿素含量,叶片磷、钾含量与叶片氮含量,叶片磷含量与叶片钾含量间的相关性由不显著变为显著正相关;在20%强度抚育下,功能丰富度指数均值从对照的0.52显著下降为0.16,功能均匀度指数与功能分离度指数的均值则分别上升到0.61和0.67,显著高于对照组的0.51和0.56;在10%强度抚育下,功能丰富度有所下降,功能均匀度与功能分离度均有所上升,但差异不显著。研究表明,人工抚育在一定程度上改变了群落水平的植物功能性状与功能多样性,提高了群落植物利用资源的能力和效率;而适度的抚育强度更能解放资源空间,对群落产生的影响更加明显。该结果为亚热带次生常绿阔叶林的经营与管理提供依据与参考。     

桂林岩溶石山青冈群落主要木本植物功能性状变异与关联

研究植物功能性状变异以及不同性状之间的关系, 有助于了解植物对环境的适应策略, 对揭示群落构建和生物多样性维持机制具有重要意义。本研究以桂林岩溶石山青冈群落18种主要木本植物为研究对象, 采用单因素方差分析、混合线性模型以及Pearson相关分析和主成分分析等方法探讨了不同生长型和生活型物种的9个枝、叶功能性状(叶绿素含量、叶片厚度、叶面积、叶干质量、比叶面积、叶干物质含量、叶组织密度、小枝干物质含量和小枝组织密度)的变异与关联。结果表明: (1) 9个功能性状的变异程度不同, 叶面积和叶干质量的种内和种间变异系数最大, 小枝干物质含量和小枝组织密度的种内和种间变异系数最小。(2)在生长型水平上, 乔木、灌木和木质藤本的绝大部分功能性状差异显著。(3)对于不同生活型植物, 除叶面积和比叶面积为落叶植物显著大于常绿植物外, 其余7个功能性状皆为常绿植物显著大于落叶植物。(4)不同生长型和生活型植物功能性状的种内和种间变异大小存在差异, 除部分植物功能性状在一些功能型上表现为种内变异高于种间变异, 其余功能性状的种间变异皆高于种内变异。(5)各功能性状之间关系在个体水平和物种水平大致相同, 但是个体水平上的显著相关比例高于物种水平。研究发现, 植物功能性状的种间变异基本高于种内变异, 但种内变异不容忽略。此外, 不同生长型和生活型物种采取不同的生态策略来适应喀斯特生境。今后的研究应基于个体水平采样并结合环境因子从生长型和生活型等不同功能型角度上深入探究植物功能性状在种内和种间等不同尺度上的变异与关联。     

Fine root tradeoffs between nitrogen concentration and xylem vessel traits preclude unified whole‐plant resource strategies in Helianthus

Recent work suggests variation in plant growth strategies is governed by a tradeoff in resource acquisition and use, ranging from a rapid resource acquisition strategy to a resource‐conservative strategy. While evidence for this tradeoff has been found in leaves, knowledge of root trait strategies, and whether they reflect adaptive differentiation across environments, is limited. In the greenhouse, we investigated variation in fine root morphology (specific root length and tissue density), chemistry (nitrogen concentration and carbon:nitrogen), and anatomy (root cross‐sectional traits) in populations of 26 Helianthus species and sister Phoebanthus tenuifolius. We also compared root trait variation in this study with leaf trait variation previously reported in a parallel study of these populations. Root traits varied widely and exhibited little phylogenetic signal, suggesting high evolutionary lability. Specific root length and root tissue density were weakly negatively correlated, but neither was associated with root nitrogen, providing little support for a single axis of root trait covariation. Correlations between traits measured in the greenhouse and native site characteristics were generally weak, suggesting a variety of equally viable root trait combinations exist within and across environments. However, high root nitrogen was associated with lower xylem vessel number and cross‐sectional area, suggesting a tradeoff between nutrient investment and water transport capacity. This led to correlations between root and leaf traits that were not always consistent with an acquisition–conservation tradeoff at the whole‐plant level. Given that roots must balance acquisition of water and nutrients with functions like anchorage, exudation, and microbial symbioses, the varied evidence for root trait covariation likely reflects the complexity of interacting selection pressures belowground. Similarly, the lack of evidence for a single acquisition–conservation tradeoff at the whole‐plant level likely reflects the vastly different selection pressures shaping roots and leaves, and the resources they are optimized to obtain.     

黔中喀斯特山区植物功能性状的变异与关联

认识植物功能性状随演替进展的变化规律和不同性状之间的关系, 有助于从功能生态学的角度来理解群落演替。该文调查了位于贵州省中部的普定县喀斯特山区26个样方的物种组成, 这些样方分别处于灌丛、落叶阔叶林、落叶常绿混交林3个演替阶段; 测量了分布于该区域的82种木本植物的3个功能性状值(叶面积、比叶面积、最大高度); 根据物种在样方中的多度加权计算得到26个样方的性状平均值, 在此基础上分析了随演替进展植物功能性状在群落水平上的变异格局和不同性状之间的相关性; 采用性状梯度分析法分析了各阶段优势物种的功能性状在群落间(β组分)和群落内(α组分)的变异格局及相关性。结果表明: 1)沿灌丛→落叶阔叶林→落叶常绿混交林这一演替顺序, 群落平均叶面积和平均高度逐渐增加, 而群落平均比叶面积则逐渐变小; 2)就群落平均性状值而言, 叶面积与最大高度呈较强的正相关关系, 最大高度与比叶面积、叶面积与比叶面积均呈较强的负相关关系; 3)物种功能性状的α组分之间没有显著的相关关系, 而β组分之间相关性显著。这说明: 随演替的进展, 群落优势物种对环境的适应策略由高速生长转向提高资源利用效率, 而同一群落内共存的物种采取不同的性状组合来适应共同的群落环境。     

喀斯特森林木本植物叶片功能性状对土壤特性的响应

为明确喀斯特森林植物叶片功能性状对土壤特性的响应,采用样地与样线相结合的方法调查茂兰喀斯特森林的木本植物群落,计算不同地形木本植物叶片加权平均性状值,运用单因素方差分析和冗余分析不同地形植物叶片功能性状的差异及其与土壤特性的关系。结果表明, 在生长型(常绿、落叶)和群落水平上,植物叶片功能性状在不同地形间存在显著差异(P<0.05),其中叶面积最为敏感,对生境的响应明显,常绿植物的叶厚度大于落叶植物,比叶面积则相反,而叶绿素含量差异不显著(P>0.05)。不同地形间土壤特性差异显著(P<0.05),漏斗地形土壤的田间持水量、毛管孔隙度、全氮含量、全磷含量及有机质含量较高,土壤肥力最佳,槽谷和阴坡次之,而阳坡地段土壤相对贫瘠。不同地形植物叶片功能性状与土壤特性间具有相关性,但不同地形土壤特性对叶片功能性状变异的解释率不同,影响植物叶片功能性状的主要土壤特性为有机质含量、全氮含量、全磷含量、田间持水量和土壤容重。茂兰喀斯特森林不同地形植物叶片功能性状和土壤特性的差异较大,随着土壤特性的改变,叶片功能性状的响应特征不同,这有利于林区物种共存及生物多样性维持。     

Effects of phylogeny,leaf traits,and the altitudinal distribution of host plants on herbivore assemblages on congeneric Acer species

Historical, niche-based, and stochastic processes have been proposed as the mechanisms that drive community assembly. In plant–herbivore systems, these processes can correspond to phylogeny, leaf traits, and the distribution of host plants, respectively. Although patterns of herbivore assemblages among plant species have been repeatedly examined, the effects of these factors among co-occurring congeneric host plant species have rarely been studied. Our aim was to reveal the process of community assembly for herbivores by investigating the effects of phylogeny, leaf traits, and the altitudinal distribution of closely related host plants of the genus Acer. We sampled leaf functional traits for 30 Acer species in Japan. Using a newly constructed phylogeny, we determined that three of the six measured leaf traits (leaf thickness, C/N ratio, and condensed tannin content) showed a phylogenetic signal. In a field study, we sampled herbivore communities on 14 Acer species within an elevation gradient and examined relationships between herbivore assemblages and host plants. We found that herbivore assemblages were significantly correlated with phylogeny, leaf traits, phylogenetic signals, and the altitudinal distribution of host plants. Our results indicate that the interaction between historical and current ecological processes shapes herbivore community assemblages.