Congruency analysis of species ranking based on leaf traits: which traits are the more reliable? |
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Authors: | Roche Philip Díaz-Burlinson Natalia Gachet Sophie |
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Institution: | (1) Institut Méditerranéen d'Ecologie et de Paléoécologie, UMR CNRS 6116 – Université d'Aix-Marseille III, Domaine du Petit Arbois, Bat. Villemin, BP, 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 4 |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | SLA Dry Matter Content Mediterranean France |
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