Leaf habit does not predict leaf functional traits in cerrado woody species

Plant species with a high leaf life span (LLS) commonly have a low specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N), and phosphorous concentration (P), whereas species with low LLS have a high SLA, N and P. However, LLS tends to be longer in species growing in low-nutrient soils and, therefore, differences in LLS and other leaf traits may not be consistent with a plant classification according to leaf habit. Here we investigated whether leaf habit is consistent with leaf economic spectrum trade-offs in cerrado (a Neotropical savanna) woody species. We analyzed the SLA, N and P of 125 woody species with a distinct leaf habit (deciduous, semideciduous, brevideciduous or evergreen). We also gathered data on the LLS (33 species), maximum net photosynthesis per leaf area (A_area, 56 species) and per leaf mass (A_mass, 31 species), comprising the most extensive database analyzed so far for the cerrado. Differences among leaf habit groups were tested using generalized linear mixed models and ANOVA. We did not find differences in SLA and N among species with a distinct leaf habit, but deciduous species had a higher leaf P concentration than evergreens. Species did not differ in LLS and A_mass, but A_area varied among groups. Semideciduous species had higher A_area values than deciduous and brevideciduous species, but all other groups had similar A_area values. Because of the small difference in the LLS, SLA, leaf N, leaf P and maximum net photosynthesis, we argue that deciduous, brevideciduous, semideciduous and evergreen species may not constitute different functional groups in cerrado woody species.     

Leaf characteristics and optical properties of different woody species

 Light partition has been examined and evaluated on five woody species (Olea europaea, Ficus carica, Pittosporum tobira, Hedera helix maculata, Persica vulgaris) in relation to their leaf morpho-histological characteristics, water and chlorophyll contents. Leaf parameters and optical properties (reflectance, transmittance, absorbance) in PAR, FR and NIR wavebands (400–1100 nm) were preliminarily submitted to a canonical correlation analysis where lamina thickness and water content showed a leading role in determining all the optical properties, while chlorophyll, influential in the PAR region, was remarkably effective only in an extreme pigment situation when green and albino patches of ivy leaves were compared. Transmittance appeared inversely related to lamina thickness in accordance with the Lambert Beer law. Significant correlations were found also between mesophyll water content and both transmittance (positive) and reflectance (negative). Olive leaves showed peculiar optical patterns because of the dense and continuous trichome layer on their abaxial surface. Received: 3 January 1997 / Accepted: 5 May 1997     

Species-area relationships are controlled by species traits

The species-area relationship (SAR) is one of the most thoroughly investigated empirical relationships in ecology. Two theories have been proposed to explain SARs: classical island biogeography theory and niche theory. Classical island biogeography theory considers the processes of persistence, extinction, and colonization, whereas niche theory focuses on species requirements, such as habitat and resource use. Recent studies have called for the unification of these two theories to better explain the underlying mechanisms that generates SARs. In this context, species traits that can be related to each theory seem promising. Here we analyzed the SARs of butterfly and moth assemblages on islands differing in size and isolation. We tested whether species traits modify the SAR and the response to isolation. In addition to the expected overall effects on the area, traits related to each of the two theories increased the model fit, from 69% up to 90%. Steeper slopes have been shown to have a particularly higher sensitivity to area, which was indicated by species with restricted range (slope?=?0.82), narrow dietary niche (slope=?0.59), low abundance (slope=?0.52), and low reproductive potential (slope?=?0.51). We concluded that considering species traits by analyzing SARs yields considerable potential for unifying island biogeography theory and niche theory, and that the systematic and predictable effects observed when considering traits can help to guide conservation and management actions.     

Leaf functional traits vary with the adult height of plant species in forest communities

Aims Within-community variation accounts for a remarkable proportion of the variation in leaf functional traits. Plant height may be used to explain within-community variances of leaf traits because different microenvironments, especially light intensity, may occur at different heights. This study determines whether or not leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents as well as leaf mass per area (LMA) are interspecifically correlated with the adult height of forest woody species. We also discuss these relationships with respect to community structure and functions of the ecosystem.Methods A total of 136 dicotyledonous woody species from 6 natural forests (3 evergreen and 3 deciduous ones) in East China (18°44′–45°25′N, 108°50′–128°05′E) were investigated. For each of the 157 species–site combinations, 6 traits were measured: plant adult height relative to the forest canopy (H R), leaf N and P contents per unit area (N area and P area), N and P contents per unit dry mass (N mass and P mass) and LMA. The total variances of each leaf trait across sites were partitioned in a hierarchical manner. The relationships between leaf traits and H R within forest communities were then analyzed using both standardized major axis regression and Felsenstein's phylogenetic independent contrasts. Relationships between evergreen and deciduous forests were compared by linear mixed models.Important findings H R is a robust predictor of leaf N area, P area and LMA, explaining 36.7, 39.4 and 12.0% of their total variations across forests, respectively. Leaf N area, P area and LMA increased with H R in all of the studied forests, with slopes that were steeper in evergreen forests than in deciduous ones. Leaf N mass and P mass showed no significant relationship with H R generally. The increase in leaf N area, P area and LMA with H R across species is assumed to maximize community photosynthesis and may favor species with larger H R .     

科尔沁沙地东南部地区主要植物叶片性状及其相互关系

选取科尔沁沙地东南部地区23种主要植物,将其划分成草本、灌木和乔木3种生长型,并分别测定其叶片鲜重(FW)、干重(DW)、叶干物质含量(DMC)、面积(AR)、比叶面积(SLA)和厚度(TH)等6项叶片性状因子。结果表明,草本植物的叶片性状比灌木和乔木变异大;平均SLA和DMC草本<灌木<乔木,DW反之,而TH则没有明显的变化。方差分析发现,除DW和TH外,SLA和DMC在不同生长型中的变化显著,并且SLA与DMC呈显著负相关,说明SLA和DMC是在植物资源利用分类轴上划分植物种类的最佳变量。对于厚度,还需进一步进行研究。     

Allocation strategies and seed traits are hardly affected by nitrogen supply in 18 species differing in successional status

Species performance depends on ecological strategies, revealed by suites of traits, conferring different relative ecological advantages in different environments. Although current knowledge on plant strategies along successional gradients is derived from studies conducted in situ, actually quantifying these strategies requires disentangling the effects of environmental factors from intrinsic differences between species.Here we tested whether allocation strategies and seed traits differ among successional stages and nitrogen levels. To this aim, we assessed biomass and nitrogen allocations and seed traits variations for 18 species, differing in life history and belonging to three stages of a Mediterranean old-field succession. These species were grown as monocultures in an experimental garden under limiting and non-limiting nitrogen supply.Early successional species allocated allometrically more nitrogen and proportionally more biomass to reproduction, and set more seeds than later successional species. Seed mass increased with successional status and was negatively related to seed number. Early successional species thus produced more but less-provisioned seeds, suggesting better colonization abilities. These patterns were not the sole consequence of the replacement of annuals by perennials along the successional gradient, since comparable trends were also observed within each life history. Allocation patterns were generally not altered by nitrogen supply and the higher nitrogen content in vegetative organs of plants grown under high nitrogen supply was not retranslocated from leaves to seeds during seed development.We therefore conclude that differences in plant ecological strategies in species characteristics from contrasting successional stages appear to be intrinsic properties of the studied species, and independent from environmental conditions.     

Within-species correlations in leaf traits of three boreal plant species along a latitudinal gradient

Evergreen boreal plant species express high variability in their leaf traits. It remains controversial whether this within-species variability is constrained to the same leaf trait relationships as has been observed across species. We sampled leaves of three boreal evergreen woody species along a latitudinal gradient (from 57o56′N to 69o55′N). Leaf longevity (LL) of Pinus sylvestris L. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. correlated negatively with mean annual air temperature (MAT), whereas the LL of Ledum palustre L. was not affected by MAT. V. vitis-idaea and L. palustre had a negative relationship between leaf mass per area (LMA) and MAT. In P. sylvestris, the LMA–MAT relationship was positive. A negative correlation between LL and LMA was significant only for P. sylvestris. Leaf nitrogen concentration was positively related to leaf phosphorus concentration in all three species. Leaf potassium concentration was related to nitrogen concentration only in L. palustre, and to phosphorus concentration in P. sylvestris and L. palustre. Our results demonstrate that although within the studied species the variation in some of the leaf traits may have the same degree as interspecific variation, there is no such intercorrelation of leaf traits within the studied species as has been observed across species.     

Congruency analysis of species ranking based on leaf traits: which traits are the more reliable?

Nine leaf traits (area, fresh weight, dry weight, volume, density, thickness, specific leaf area (SLA), dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC)) from ten plant species at eight sites in southern mediterranean France were investigated in order to assess their variability along a climatic gradient and their ranking congruency power. After examination of trait correlation patterns, we reduced the nine initial leaf traits to four traits, representative of three correlation groups: allometric traits (dry weight), functional traits (SLA and dry matter percentage) and Leaf Thickness. We analysed the variability of these four leaf traits at species and site level. We observed that between species variation (between 64.5 for SLA and 91% for LDMC) is higher than within species variation. Allowing a good congruency of species ranking assessed by spearman rank correlation () and a good reallocation of individuals to species by discriminant analysis. A site level variability (between 0.7% for Dry weight and 6.9% for SLA) was identified and environmental parameters (altitude, temperature, precipitation, nitrogen, pH) were considered as probable control factors. We found significant correlation between SLA, LDMC and the average minimum temperature (respectively r=0.87 and r=-0,9) and no correlation for the other traits or environmental parameters. Furthermore, we conclude that two leaf traits appear to be central in describing species: specific leaf area (SLA), percentage of dry matter (LDMC. While, SLA and LDMC are strongly correlated, LDMC appears to be less variable than SLA. According to our results the Dry Matter Content (or its reversal Leaf Water Content) appears the best leaf trait to be quantified for plant functional screening. Leaf thickness appeared to be rather uncorrelated with other leaf traits and show no environmental contingency; its variability could not have been explained in this study. Further studies should focus on this trait. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Leaf respiration is differentially affected by leaf vs. stand-level night-time warming

Plant respiration is an important physiological process in the global carbon cycle serving as a major carbon flux from the biosphere to the atmosphere. Respiration is sensitive to temperature providing a link between environmental variability, climate change and the global carbon cycle. We measured leaf respiration in Populus deltoides after manipulating the air temperature surrounding part of a single leaf, and compared this to the temperature response of the same leaves after manipulating the temperature of the stand. The short‐term temperature response of respiration (Q₁₀– change in the respiration rate with a 10 °C increase in leaf temperature) was 1.7 when the leaf temperature was manipulated, but 2.1 when the stand‐level temperature was changed. As a result, total night‐time carbon release during the five‐day experiment was 21% lower when using the Q₁₀ estimates from the tradition leaf manipulation compared to the stand‐level manipulation. We conclude that the temperature response of leaf respiration is related to whole plant carbon and energy demands, and that appropriate experimental procedures are required in examining respiratory CO₂ release under variable temperature conditions.     

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。     

Leaf miner and plant galler species richness on Acacia: relative importance of plant traits and climate

Diversity patterns of herbivores have been related to climate, host plant traits, host plant distribution and evolutionary relationships individually. However, few studies have assessed the relative contributions of a range of variables to explain these diversity patterns across large geographical and host plant species gradients. Here we assess the relative influence that climate and host plant traits have on endophagous species (leaf miners and plant gallers) diversity across a suite of host species from a genus that is widely distributed and morphologically variable. Forty-six species of Acacia were sampled to encapsulate the diversity of species across four taxonomic sections and a range of habitats along a 950 km climatic gradient: from subtropical forest habitats to semi-arid habitats. Plant traits, climatic variables, leaf miner and plant galler diversity were all quantified on each plant species. In total, 97 leaf mining species and 84 plant galling species were recorded from all host plants. Factors that best explained leaf miner richness across the climatic gradient (using AIC model selection) included specific leaf area (SLA), foliage thickness and mean annual rainfall. The factor that best explained plant galler richness across the climatic gradient was C:N ratio. In terms of the influence of plant and climatic traits on species composition, leaf miner assemblages were best explained by SLA, foliage thickness, mean minimum temperature and mean annual rainfall, whilst plant gall assemblages were explained by C:N ratio, %P, foliage thickness, mean minimum temperature and mean annual rainfall. This work is the first to assess diversity and structure across a broad environmental gradient and a wide range of potential key climatic and plant trait determinants simultaneously. Such methods provide key insights into endophage diversity and provide a solid basis for assessing their responses to a changing climate.     

Relationship between fresh leaf traits and leaf litter decomposition of 20 plant species in Kerqin sandy land, China

20 plant species (10 monocots and 10 dicots) grown in Kerqin sandy grassland were incubated under indoor conditions to monitor the amount and rate of CO₂ release from the leaf litter. 11 traits of mature fresh leaves including caloric value, contents of Mg, P, N, K, C, C/N, N/P, specific leaf area, dry matter content and leaf surface area were measured to determine the relationship between CO₂ release and leaf characteristics. All those traits have great variation among the 20 species with over 3 fold differences between the maximum and minimum values, and a few traits such as leaf Mg content reached as high as 9 folds. After 28 d's incubation, the average CO₂ release amount from all the species was (4121 ± 1713) μg kg^?1 dry soil. The highest level from Chenopodium acuminatum was (8767 ± 177) μg kg^?1 dry soil, which was 5 folds higher than the lowest level ((1669 ± 47)μg kg^?1 dry soil) from Digitaria sanguinalis. However, CO₂ release rate showed the same trend in all the 20 species, i.e., the leaf litter decomposed faster initially (0–4 d), and gradually slowed down during extended cultural periods. Comparison between monocots and dicots showed that these two taxonomic groups had significant differences in terms of the amount and rate of CO₂ released from leaf litter, and N and C contents, leaf C/N, and dry matter content of mature leaves. Contents of N, C and dry matter, and C/N of mature leaves are significantly correlated with CO₂ release from leaf litter decomposition, which has been revealed by the Pearson correlation test. It can be concluded that these three traits of mature leaves can be used indirectly to predict decomposition rate of the leaf litter.     

Relationship between fresh leaf traits and leaf litter decomposition of 20 plant species in Kerqin sandy land, China

20 plant species (10 monocots and 10 dicots) grown in Kerqin sandy grassland were incubated under indoor conditions to monitor the amount and rate of CO₂ release from the leaf litter. 11 traits of mature fresh leaves including caloric value, contents of Mg, P, N, K, C, C/N, N/P, specific leaf area, dry matter content and leaf surface area were measured to determine the relationship between CO₂ release and leaf characteristics. All those traits have great variation among the 20 species with over 3 fold differences between the maximum and minimum values, and a few traits such as leaf Mg content reached as high as 9 folds. After 28 d's incubation, the average CO₂ release amount from all the species was (4121 ± 1713) μg kg^?1 dry soil. The highest level from Chenopodium acuminatum was (8767 ± 177) μg kg^?1 dry soil, which was 5 folds higher than the lowest level ((1669 ± 47)μg kg^?1 dry soil) from Digitaria sanguinalis. However, CO₂ release rate showed the same trend in all the 20 species, i.e., the leaf litter decomposed faster initially (0–4 d), and gradually slowed down during extended cultural periods. Comparison between monocots and dicots showed that these two taxonomic groups had significant differences in terms of the amount and rate of CO₂ released from leaf litter, and N and C contents, leaf C/N, and dry matter content of mature leaves. Contents of N, C and dry matter, and C/N of mature leaves are significantly correlated with CO₂ release from leaf litter decomposition, which has been revealed by the Pearson correlation test. It can be concluded that these three traits of mature leaves can be used indirectly to predict decomposition rate of the leaf litter.     

Predicting competitive interactions between pioneer plant species by using plant traits

Abstract. A competitive effect hierarchy for 15 Namaqualand pioneer plant species was established by using the mean mass of the phytometer (Dimorphotheca sinuata) when grown in combination with itself and 14 other species. There were no clear groupings of species in the hierarchy. This competitive hierarchy (gradient) indicated which species are strong competitors (resulting in a low phytometer mass) with D. sinuata and which species are weak competitors (resulting in a high phytometer mass). Each plant species has a certain combination of plant traits which determines its life history strategy and competitive ability. Regressions of various plant traits (measured on plants grown singly) against phytometer biomass indicated which traits were significantly correlated. The traits, most being size-related, were: maximum shoot mass, total mass, stem mass, reproductive mass, leaf area, stem allocation, specific leaf area (SLA), vegetative height × diameter, leaf area ratio (LAR); and mean number of days to flower initiation. A forward stepwise multiple regression of the significant traits was used to determine an equation to predict competitive effect.     

Relationships among leaf functional traits,litter traits,and mass loss during early phases of leaf litter decomposition in 12 woody plant species

Slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV)—previously considered an obligate honeybee disease—is now known to be prevalent in bumblebee species. SBPV is highly virulent in honeybees in association with Varroa mites, but has been considered relatively benign otherwise. However, condition-dependent pathogens can appear asymptomatic under good, resource abundant conditions, and negative impacts on host fitness may only become apparent when under stressful or resource-limited conditions. We tested whether SBPV expresses condition-dependent virulence in its bumblebee host, Bombus terrestris, by orally inoculating bees with SBPV and recording longevity under satiated and starvation conditions. SBPV infection resulted in significant virulence under starvation conditions, with infected bees 1.6 times more likely to die at any given time point (a median of 2.3 h earlier than uninfected bees), whereas there was no effect under satiated conditions. This demonstrates clear condition-dependent virulence for SBPV in B. terrestris. Infections that appear asymptomatic in non-stressful laboratory assays may nevertheless have significant impacts under natural conditions in the wild. For multi-host pathogens such as SBPV, the use of sentinel host species in laboratory assays may further lead to the underestimation of pathogen impacts on other species in nature. In this case the impact of ‘honeybee viruses’ on wild pollinators may be underestimated, with detrimental effects on conservation and food security. Our results highlight the importance of multiple assays and multiple host species when testing for virulence, in order for laboratory studies to accurately inform conservation policy and mitigate disease impacts in wild pollinators.     

Morphological traits defining species differences in wild relatives of maize are controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci

We analyzed the genetic basis of morphological differences between two wild species of teosinte (Zea diploperennis and Z. mays ssp. parviglumis), which are relatives of maize. These two species differ in a number of taxonomically important traits including the structure of the tassel (male inflorescence), which is the focus of this report. To investigate the genetic inheritance of six tassel traits, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping with 95 RFLP markers was employed on a population of 425 F2 plants. Each trait was analyzed by interval mapping (IM) and composite interval mapping (CIM) to identify and characterize the QTL controlling the differences in tassel morphology. We detected two to eight QTL for each trait. In total, 30 QTL with IM and 33 QTL with CIM were found for tassel morphology. QTL for several of the traits mapped near each other, suggesting pleiotropy and/or linkage of QTL. The QTL showed small to moderate magnitudes of effect. No QTL of exceptionally large effect were found as seen under domestication and in the case of some other natural species. Thus, the model involving major QTL of large effect seems not to apply to the traits and species analyzed. A mixture of QTL with positive and negative allelic effects was found for most tassel traits and may suggest a history of periodic changes in the direction of selection during the divergence of Z. diploperennis and Z. mays ssp. parviglumis or fixation of QTL alleles by random genetic drift rather than selection.     

Island properties dominate species traits in determining plant colonizations in an archipelago system

The extrinsic determinants hypothesis emphasizes the essential role of environmental heterogeneity in species’ colonization. Consequently, high resident species diversity can increase community susceptibility to colonizations because good habitats may support more species that are functionally similar to colonizers. On the other hand, colonization success is also likely to depend on species traits. We tested the relative importance of environmental characteristics and species traits in determining colonization success using census data of 587 vascular plant species collected about 70 yr apart from 471 islands in the archipelago of SW Finland. More specifically, we explored potential new colonization as a function of island properties (e.g. location, area, habitat diversity, number of resident species per unit area), species traits (e.g. plant height, life-form, dispersal vector, Ellenberg indicator values, association with human impact), and species’ historical distributions (number of inhabited islands, nearest occurrence). Island properties and species’ historical distributions were more effective than plant traits in explaining colonization outcomes. Contrary to the extrinsic determinants hypothesis, colonization success was neither associated with resident species diversity nor habitat diversity per se, although colonization was lowest on sparsely vegetated islands. Our findings lead us to propose that while plant traits related to dispersal and establishment may enhance colonization, predictions of plant colonizations primarily require understanding of habitat properties and species’ historical distributions.