Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant func...Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant functional traits at multiple biological levels and linking them to environmental variables across geographical ranges is important for forecasting range-shifts of broadly-distrib-uted species under climate change.We sampled leaves of five deciduous Quercus spp.covering approximately 20°of latitude(~21°N-41°N)and 20 longitude(~99°E-119°E)across China and measured 12 plant functional traits at different biological levels.The traits varied distinctively,either within each biological level or among different levels driven by climatic and edaphic variables.Traits at the organ level were significantly correlated with those at the cellular and tissue levels,while traits at the whole-plant level only correlated with those at the tissue level.The Quercus species responded to changing environments by regulating stomatal size,leaf thickness and the palisade mesophyll thickness to leaf thickness ratios with contrasting degree of effect to adjust the whole-plant functioning,i.e.,intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE),carbon supply and nitrogen availability.The results suggest that these deciduous Quercus spp.will maintain vigour by increasing iWUE when subjected to large temperature changes and insufficient moisture,and by accu-mulating leaf non-structural carbohydrates under drought conditions.The findings provide new insights into the inher-ent variation and trait coordination of widely distributed tree species in the context of climate change.展开更多
Leaf functional traits are adaptations that enable plants to live under different environmental conditions. This study aims to evaluate the differences in leaf functional traits between red and green leaves of two eve...Leaf functional traits are adaptations that enable plants to live under different environmental conditions. This study aims to evaluate the differences in leaf functional traits between red and green leaves of two evergreen shrubs Photinia × fraseri and Osrnanthus fragrans. Specific areas of red leaves are higher than that of green leaves in both species. Thus, the material investment per unit area and per lamina of red leaves is significantly lower than that of green leaves, implying an utmost effort of red leaves to increase light capture and use efficiency because of their low leafchlorophyll concentration. The higher petiole length of green leaves compared with that of red leaves indicates that adult green leaves may have large fractional biomass allocation to support the lamina structures in capturing light with maximum efficiency and obtaining a high growth rate. The high range of the phenotypic plasticity of leaf size, leaf thickness, single-leaf wet and dry weights, and leaf moisture of green leaves may be beneficial in achieving efficient control of water loss and nutrient deprivation. The high range of phenotypic plasticity of leaf chlorophyll concentration of red leaves may be advantageous in increasing resource （especially light） capture anduse efficiency because this leaf type is juvenile in the growth stage and has low leaf-chlorophyll concentration.展开更多
Because co-occurring native and invasive plants are subjected to similar environmental selection pressures,the differences in functional traits and reproductive allocation strategies between native and invasive plants...Because co-occurring native and invasive plants are subjected to similar environmental selection pressures,the differences in functional traits and reproductive allocation strategies between native and invasive plants may be closely related to the success of the latter.Accordingly,this study examines differences in functional traits and reproductive allocation strategies between native and invasive plants in Eastern China.Plant height,branch number,reproductive branch number,the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio,and the reproductive allocation coefficient of invasive plants were all notably higher than those of native species.Additionally,the specific leaf area(SLA)values of invasive plants were remarkably lower than those of native species.Plasticity indexes of SLA,maximum branch angle,and branch number of invasive plants were each notably lower than those of native species.The reproductive allocation coefficient was positively correlated with reproductive branch number and the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio but exhibited negative correlations with SLA and aboveground biomass.Plant height,branch number,reproductive branch number,the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio,and the reproductive allocation coefficient of invasive plants may strongly influence the success of their invasions.展开更多
Functional traits of trees are significantly associated with their adaptation strategies and productivity.However,the effects of species composition and mixing proportion on the functional traits of trees grown in mix...Functional traits of trees are significantly associated with their adaptation strategies and productivity.However,the effects of species composition and mixing proportion on the functional traits of trees grown in mixed plantations have not been studied extensively.In this study,planting experiments(duration about seven months)were used to study variations in functional traits and biomass allocation of C unninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.)Hook and Phoebe bournei(Hemsley)Yang seedlings in five different mixes(0C:4P,1C:3P,1C:1P,3C:1P,and 4C:0P).Total leaf area per seedling increased in each species as its respective proportion in the mixture decreased.However,the specific leaf area decreased for P.bournei under low percent composition,and the specific leaf area for C.lanceolata differed only marginally among the plantings.The net photosynthetic rates of the two species were higher in the mixed plantings than in their corresponding monocultures,whereas the transpiration rate,stomatal conductance,and instantaneous water use efficiency were not different among the plantings.The average root length and root surface area of C.lanceolata and P.bournei were higher in the mixed plantings than in their monocultures.Specifically,root surface area of C.lanceolate and both root length and surface area of P.bournei increased significantly in the 1C:3P and 2C:2P mixed plantings.Leaf,stem,root,and total dry mass per seedling for C.lanceolata decreased with its increasing percent composition in the mixed plantings,while these variables varied less for P.bournei.The plasticity of biomass allocation was relatively low for both species.Total biomass per planting was higher in the mixed plantings than in the monocultures.Our study indicates that species composition and mixing proportion can considerably affect the functional traits of C.lanceolata and P.bournei.The increase in productivity in the mixed plantings may be partially attributed to low rates of competition between the two species,and future studies should examine the different interspecies relationships.The results of this study can be used to improve plantation productivity and ultimately increase the sustainability of tree products and help to better understand the adaptation strategies of plant coexistence.展开更多
Background: The most dominant global threat to natural forests and their biodiversity is land-cover change, which has negative impacts on both species persistence and ecosystem functions. Land-cover change could alter...Background: The most dominant global threat to natural forests and their biodiversity is land-cover change, which has negative impacts on both species persistence and ecosystem functions. Land-cover change could alter animal behaviour and disrupt seed dispersal mutualisms. However, its effects on the role of bird functional traits in seed dispersal are not well studied.Methods: In the present study, we assessed the contributions of bird functional traits(behavioural traits: food habit, foraging pattern, foraging frequency, and habitat specialisation; morphological traits: weight, body length, wing length, and tail length) to both seed removal patterns and seed dispersal distances of an endangered and native tree species, Chinese yew(Taxus chinensis), in farmland, patchy habitat, and natural habitat, of southeast China.Results: We found that the ability of T. chinensis trees to form seed dispersal mutualisms with local birds varied across the different disturbed habitats. As a consequence of these mutualisms, more seeds were removed by birds from the patchy habitat than from the other two habitats. The number of seeds removed increased with bird foraging frequency. Moreover, the dispersal distance from the three habitats differed, and the longest dispersal distances were observed at both the patchy habitat and the farmland site. Seed dispersal distance increased with bird tail and wing length.Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of bird functional traits in the seed dispersal patterns of endangered trees across disturbed forest habitats, which should be considered for tree conservation and management.展开更多
Tree species diversity is assumed to be an important component in managing forest ecosystems because of effects on multiple functions or ecosystem multifunctionality.However,the importance of tree diversity in determi...Tree species diversity is assumed to be an important component in managing forest ecosystems because of effects on multiple functions or ecosystem multifunctionality.However,the importance of tree diversity in determining multifunctionality in structurally complex subtropical forests relative to other regulators(e.g.,soil microbial diversity,stand structure,and environmental conditions)remains uncertain.In this study,effects of aboveground(species richness and functional and structural diversity)and belowground(bacterial and fungal diversity)biodiversity,functional composition(community-weighted means of species traits),stand structure(diameter at breast height and stand density),and soil factors(pH and bulk density)on multifunctionality(including biomass production,carbon stock,and nutrient cycling)were examined along a tree diversity gradient in subtropical forests.The community-weighted mean of tree maximum height was the best predictor of ecosystem multifunctionality.Functional diversity explained a higher proportion of the variation in multifunctionality than that of species richness and fungal diversity.Stand structure-played an important role in modulating the effects of tree diversity on multifunctionality.The work highlights that species composition and maximizing forest structural complexity are effective strategies to increase forest multifunctionality while also conserving biodiversity in the management of multifunctional forests under global environmental changes.展开更多
Background: Improved understanding of the processes shaping the assembly of tropical tree communities is crucial for gaining insights into the evolution of forest communities and biological diversity. The climate is t...Background: Improved understanding of the processes shaping the assembly of tropical tree communities is crucial for gaining insights into the evolution of forest communities and biological diversity. The climate is thought to be the first order determinant of abundance and distribution patterns of tree species with contrasting traits such as evergreen and deciduous leaf phenology. However, the relative role of neutral, and niche-based processes in the evolution of these patterns remain poorly understood.Methods: Here, we perform an integrated analysis of the data on tree species abundance, functional traits and community phylogeny from a network of 96 forest plots, each 1 ha in size, distributed along a broad environmental gradient in the central Western Ghats, India. Then, we determine the relative importance of various process in assembly and structuring of tropical forest communities with evergreen and deciduous leaf phenology.Results: The deciduous leaf phenological trait has repeatedly evolved among multiple distantly related lineages. Tree communities in dry deciduous forests were phylogenetically clustered and showed a low range and variance of functional traits related to light harvesting, reproduction, and growth suggesting niche-based processes such as environmental filtering play a vital role in the assembly of tree communities in these forests. The external factors such as human-mediated disturbance also significantly, but to a lesser extent, influences the species and phylogenetic turnover.Conclusions: These findings revealed that the environmental filtering plays a significant role in assembly of tree communities in the biologically diverse tropical forests in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.展开更多
Variations in leaf functional traits of Abies georgei var. smithii at 3700, 3900, 4100, 4300, and 4390 m altitude were investigated in 15 typical plots in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In each plot, three seedling...Variations in leaf functional traits of Abies georgei var. smithii at 3700, 3900, 4100, 4300, and 4390 m altitude were investigated in 15 typical plots in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In each plot, three seedlings were selected, of which functional leaves in current-year sunny branches were chosen for the measurement of morphological, photosynthetic, and physiological and biochemical characteristics, and their variations were analyzed. Results showed that significant variations existed among the leaf functional traits of A. georgei var. smithii along the altitudinal gradient, as well as their physiological adaption indicators. Leaf area decreased, while the mass per area and thickness of leaf increased at an altitude above 4,100 m. The maxima of pigment, total nitrogen concentration, net photosynthesis rate during light-saturated, and when water use efficiency appeared at 4100 m altitude. In addition, A. georgei var. smithii seedlings regulated the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase to resist abiotic stress under 4100 m altitude. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde concentration and the dark respiration rate rapidly increased, which indicates that A. georgei var. smithii seedlingssuffered from heavy abiotic stress from 4100 m to 4390 m altitude. Basing on variations in leaf functional traits along the altitude gradient, we inferred that 4100 m altitude was the suitable region for A. georgei var. smithii growth in the Sygera Mountain. Moreover, the harsh environment was the main limiting factor for A. georgei var. smithii population expansion to high altitude.展开更多
The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodivers...The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.展开更多
Understanding intra-specific variation in leaf functional traits is one of the key requirements for the evaluation of species adaptive capacity to ongoing climate change, as well as for designing long-term breeding an...Understanding intra-specific variation in leaf functional traits is one of the key requirements for the evaluation of species adaptive capacity to ongoing climate change, as well as for designing long-term breeding and conservation strategies. Hence, data of 19 functional traits describing plant physiology, antioxidant properties, anatomy and morphology were determined on 1-year-old seedlings of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) half-sib lines. The variability within and among half-sib lines, as well as the estimation of multi-trait association, were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference test and multivariate analyses: principal component analysis (PCA), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate linear correlation between the study parameters. The results of the ANOVA showed the presence of statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) among half-sib lines for all study traits. The differences within half-sib lines, observed through the contribution of the examined sources of variation to the total variance (%), had higher impact on total variation in the majority of the examined traits. Pearson’s correlation analysis and PCA showed strong relationships between gas exchange in plants and leaf size and stomatal density, as well as between leaf biomass accumulation, intercellular CO_(2) concentration and parameters related to antioxidant capacity of plants. Likewise, the results of SDA indicate that transpiration and stomatal conductance contributed to the largest extent, to the discrimination of the wild cherry half-sib lines. In addition, PCA and CDA showed separation of the wild cherry half-sib lines along the first principal component and first canonical variable with regards to humidity of their original sites. Multiple adaptive differences between the wild cherry half-sib lines indicate high potential of the species to adapt rapidly to climate change. The existence of substantial genetic variability among the wild cherry half-sib lines highlights their potential as genetic resources for reforestation purposes and breeding programmes.展开更多
Background:Forecasts of climate change impacts on biodiversity often assume that the current geographical distributions of species match their niche optima.However,empirical evidence has challenged this assumption,sug...Background:Forecasts of climate change impacts on biodiversity often assume that the current geographical distributions of species match their niche optima.However,empirical evidence has challenged this assumption,suggesting a mismatch.We examine whether the mismatch is related to functional traits along temperature or precipitation gradients.Methods:The observed distributions of 32 tree species in northeast China were evaluated to test this mismatch.Bayesian models were used to estimate the climatic niche optima,i.e.the habitats where the highest species growth and density can be expected.The mismatch is defined as the difference between the actual species occurrence in an assumed niche optimum and the habitat with the highest probability of species occurrence.Species’functional traits were used to explore the mechanisms that may have caused the mismatches.Results:Contrasting these climatic niche optima with the observed species distributions,we found that the distribution-niche optima mismatch had high variability among species based on temperature and precipitation gradients.However,these mismatches depended on functional traits associated with competition and migration lags only in temperature gradients.Conclusions:We conclude that more relevant research is needed in the future to quantify the mismatch between species distribution and climatic niche optima,which may be crucial for future designs of forested landscapes,species conservation and dynamic forecasting of biodiversity under expected climate change.展开更多
The survival strategy of plants is to adjust their functional traits to adapt to the environment.However,these traits and survival strategies of evergreen broad-leaved forest species are not well understood.This study...The survival strategy of plants is to adjust their functional traits to adapt to the environment.However,these traits and survival strategies of evergreen broad-leaved forest species are not well understood.This study examined 10 leaf functional traits(LFTs)of 70 common plant species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Huangshan Mountain to decipher their adaptive strategies.The phylogenetic signals of these LFTs were assessed and phylogenetically independent contrasts(PIC)and correlation analyses were carried out.LFTs were analyzed to determine their CSR(C:competitor,S:stress-tolerator,R:ruderal)strategies.The results show that plant species exhibit different leaf functional traits and ecological strategies(nine strategies were identified;the most abundant were S/CS and S/CSR strategies).Some traits showed significant phylogenetic signals,indicating the effect of phylogeny on LFTs to an extent.Trait variations among species suggest distinct adaptation strategies to environmental changes.The study species were mainly clustered on the C-S strategy axis,with a high S component.Species leaning toward the C-strategy end(e.g.,deciduous species),favored a resource acquisition strategy characterized by higher specific leaf area(SLA),greater nutrient contents(N and P),lower leaf dry matter content(LDMC),and reduced nutrient utilization efficiency(C:N and C:P).Conversely,species closer to the S-strategy end(e.g.,evergreen species)usually adopted a resource conservative strategy with trait combinations contrary to those of C-strategy species.Overall,this study corroborated the applicability of the CSR strategy at a local scale and provides insights into the varied trait combinations and ecological strategies employed by plant species to adapt to their environment.These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in biodiversity maintenance.展开更多
Plants adapt to the limitation of soil phosphorus(P)induced by nitrogen(N)deposition through a complex interaction of various root and leaf functional traits.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to explore the...Plants adapt to the limitation of soil phosphorus(P)induced by nitrogen(N)deposition through a complex interaction of various root and leaf functional traits.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different levels of N addition(control,low N[LN]:25 kg N ha^(-1) yr^(-1),high N[HN]:50 kg N ha^(-1) yr^(-1))on tree growth,leaf nutrient content,foliar P fractions and root characteristics of two dominant tree species,the pioneer species Salix rehderiana Schneid and the climax species Abies fabri(Mast.)Craib,in a subalpine forest in southwestern China.The results demonstrated that LN addition had a minimal impact on leaf N and P contents.Conversely,HN addition significantly decreased the leaf P content in both species.Salix rehderiana exhibited more pronounced increases in specific root length and specific root area under P deficiency triggered by HN addition when compared with A.fabri.In contrast,A.fabri showed weaker morphological responses to N addition but had a higher proportion of foliar P to metabolic P,as well as higher root exudates rate and root phosphatase activity in response to HN addition.Abies fabri employs a synergistic approach by allocating a greater amount of leaf P to metabolite P and extracting P from the soil through P-mobilizing exudates and root phosphatase activity,while S.rehderiana exhibits higher flexibility in modifying its root morphology in response to P limitation induced by HN addition.This study provides insights into subalpine tree species adaptation to N-induced P limitation,emphasizing its significance for guiding forest management and conservation in the context of global climate change.展开更多
We examined the development of soil nematodes ecological indices from the perspective off unctionaltraits.We found that soil nematode energy flow analyses based on multiple functional traits quantify the dynamics of e...We examined the development of soil nematodes ecological indices from the perspective off unctionaltraits.We found that soil nematode energy flow analyses based on multiple functional traits quantify the dynamics of energy flow across multipletrophic levels to provide a more comprehensive perspective.We conducted comparative analyses of the sensitivities of NMF and energy flow to verify that the energy flow analyses are more sensitive and have greater potential to reveal soil health and ecosystem function.Future in-depth studies of functional traits and energy flow analysis can help us achieve informed soil management practices,sustainable agriculture,andhealthiersoilecosystems.nignerEauc Tess CT Nematode ecological index based on functional traits:MI El,S,BI,C1 NMF Bongen.1990 Ferrisetal,2001 Ferris,2010 energs low analysis of soil nematodes Compare thecological index(NMf)and Bacterivores(Ba)Functional traits Energy flux Fungihores(Fn)rahn Soilnematodes latitude Lindicator Plant-parasites(PP)PF Energflus Soilhealth Omnivores-predators(oP)latitude Energy flow analysis of soil nematodes:By quantifying energy fux among trophic groups Barbes et al.,2014,2018 This paper examines the development of ecological indices for soil nematodes from the perspective of functional traits.It emphasizes the increasing significance of integrating multiple functional traits to achieve a more accurate assessment of soil health.Ecological indices based on life history strategies,feeding habits,and body size provide useful tools for assessing soil health.However,these indices do not fully capture the dynamics ofenergyflow across multiple-trophic levels inthesoil foodweb,which is critical fora deeperunderstanding of the intrinsic properties of soil health.By combining functional traits such as functional group,body size,feeding preference and metabolic rate,nematode energy flow analyses provide a more comprehensive perspective.This approach establishes a direct correlation between changes in the morphology,physiology,and metabolism of soil organisms and alterations in their habitat environment.We conducted comparative analyses of the sensitivity of nematode metabolic footprints and energy flow to latitudinal variation using a nematode dataset from the northeastern black soil region in China.The findings suggest that energy flow analyses are more sensitive to latitude and have greater potential to reveal soil health and ecosystem function.Therefore,future research should prioritize the development of automated and efficient methods for analyzing nematode traits.This will enhance the application of energy flow analyses in nematode food webs and support the development of sustainable soil management and agriculturalpractices.展开更多
Aims The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has a mean altitude exceeding 4000 m and covers about 2.5 million km2.More than 60%of this area is alpine grassland.Exclosures have been widely used in this region to study the sustain...Aims The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has a mean altitude exceeding 4000 m and covers about 2.5 million km2.More than 60%of this area is alpine grassland.Exclosures have been widely used in this region to study the sustainable use of grassland resources.We used patterns of functional trait diversity to infer the effects of exclosures on com-munity assembly in alpine meadows.Methods We studied functional diversity using five traits under grazing and three enclosed(exclosure)plots(3,8,and 18 years old)in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.We quantified the strength of the community assembly processes by comparing the observed functional trait diversity with a null model that assumes random community assembly.Important findings We found evidence for deterministic assembly processes for plant communities in exclosures.The changes in CWM of the five traits from grazing land to 18-year exclosure indicated that environmen-tal filtering occurred due to the exclosures.Multivariate functional diversity(MFDis and MPDses),and functional diversity of individual traits,including that of leaf area,leaf weight and aboveground bio-mass(FDis of leaf area,leaf weight,and aboveground biomass),increased gradually from grazing land to the 18-year exclosure,and the values of the 18-year exclosure were significantly greater than null expectation.This can be interpreted to indicate that exclosures resulted in greater competitive interaction between species.These results suggest that the effect of exclosures on community assembly is more deterministic than stochastic in this meadow.展开更多
Aims To explore the pattern of the leaf functional traits of shrub species along a latitudinal gradient in eastern China and determine the driv-ing factors of leaf trait variation at a large scale.Methods We investiga...Aims To explore the pattern of the leaf functional traits of shrub species along a latitudinal gradient in eastern China and determine the driv-ing factors of leaf trait variation at a large scale.Methods We investigated the leaf thickness(LT),leaf area(LA),specific leaf area(SLA)and leaf dry mass content(LDMC)of 185 shrub species from 13 sites across eastern China.The trends of these four-leaf traits were ana-lyzed with respect to latitude,and the differences between different life forms(e.g.,evergreen and deciduous)and habitats(e.g.,understory and typical)were compared.We quantified the effects of the plant life forms and environmental factors on the leaf traits via mixed-model analyses.Important Findings The LT and LA decreased,whilst and the LDMC increased,as the latitude increased,and significant differences in these traits were observed between the different plant life forms.The LT and LA were smaller,whereas the SLA and LDMC were larger in decidu-ous shrubs than in evergreen shrubs.Among the different habitats,the LA and SLA were larger,while the LDMC was smaller in under-story shrubs than in typical shrub species.These results indicate that typical shrub species are better adapted to drier environments,as indicated by a reduced LT and increased LDMC.Furthermore,general linear models showed that variations in the four-leaf traits with respect to latitude were mainly caused by a shift in plant life forms.展开更多
Aims root systems play an essential role in grassland functioning in both acquisition and storage of resources.Nevertheless,root functional traits have not received as much attention as those measured on above-ground ...Aims root systems play an essential role in grassland functioning in both acquisition and storage of resources.Nevertheless,root functional traits have not received as much attention as those measured on above-ground organs,and little is known about their relations.our objec-tives were to test whether morphological and root system traits allowed identification of grass species’functional strategies and to determine whether a relation exists between above-and below-ground traits.Methods Functional traits of root tissues(specific root length,diameter,tissue density and nitrogen concentration),whole root systems(root mass,root length density,root mass percentage below a depth of 20 cm and fine root%)and two major leaf traits(specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content)were determined under field conditions and their rela-tions were analysed in eleven perennial temperate Poaceae species.Important Findings Canonical correspondence analysis along axis 1 revealed a gra-dient of species,from those with deep,dense and coarse root systems with a large root mass to those with shallow root sys-tems,thin roots and high specific root length;this suggests strong correlations among root traits.Correlations between specific root length and specific leaf area reveal two groups of species,which probably indicates different drought-tolerance capacities.root trait syndromes enable ranking grasses along a gradient from conservative-strategy species(from stressful habitats),which display a deep and coarse root system,to acquisitive species(from rich and moist meadows),which display a shallow and thin root system.although both types display similar above-ground strategies,drought-tolerant species have lower specific root lengths than drought-sensitive species,revealing more conservative root strategies.展开更多
Aims Functional traits are usually used to predict plant demographic rates without considering environmental contexts.However,previous studies have consistently found that traits have low explanatory power for plant d...Aims Functional traits are usually used to predict plant demographic rates without considering environmental contexts.However,previous studies have consistently found that traits have low explanatory power for plant demographic rates.We hypothesized that accounting for environmental contexts instead of focusing on traits alone could improve our understanding of how traits influence plant demographic rates.Methods We used generalized linear mixed-effect models to analyse the effects of functional traits(related to leaf,stem,seed and whole plant),environmental gradients(soil nutrients,water and elevation)and their interactions on the survival dynamics of 14133 saplings and 3289 adults in a 9-ha old-growth temperate forest plot.Important Findings We found that environmental variables,neighbour crowding and traits alone(i.e.main effects)influenced plant survival.However,the effects of the latter two variables varied between saplings and adults.The trait–environment interactions influenced plant survival,such that resource conservative traits increased plant survival under harsh conditions but decreased survival under mild conditions.The elevational gradient was the most important environmental factor driving these effects in our plot.Our results support the hypothesis that functional traits influence plant survival depending on environmental contexts in local communities.These results also imply that one species with limited trait variation cannot occupy all environments,which can promote species diversity.展开更多
Aim lianas are abundant and diverse throughout the world and consti-tute an important structural and functional component of tropical forests.This study aims to investigate liana diversity,abundance and their function...Aim lianas are abundant and diverse throughout the world and consti-tute an important structural and functional component of tropical forests.This study aims to investigate liana diversity,abundance and their functional traits in Indian tropical dry evergreen forest(TDEF).Methods a total of ten 1-ha plots,one each in 10 Indian TDEF sites were demarcated.Each 1-ha plot was divided into one-hundred 10-×10-m quadrats to facilitate woody species inventory.all lianas≥1 cm diameter measured at 130 cm from the rooting point and all trees≥10-cm girth at breast height(gbh)were recorded from the study sites to analyze the patterns of liana diversity and abundance and also to compare the contribution of lianas to the total woody species richness,density and basal area.liana variables across the study sites were compared using one-way analysis of variance.The qualitative functional traits of inventoried lianas and trees were assessed on the field and referring to pertinent field manuals.Important Findingsa total of 9237 liana individuals(ranged from 408-1658 individu-als ha^(−1))representing 52 species,45 genera and 28 families were encountered from the 10 study sites.liana species richness ranged from 11-31 species ha^(−1) in 10 sites,which averaged 23.4(±5.7)species ha^(−1).The total basal area of lianas in the study sites was 7.3 m^(2)(0.20-1.76 m^(2) ha^(−1)).There was a significant variation in liana species richness,density and basal area across the studied sites.on the whole,lianas contributed 52%,49.3%and 4.1%to the total woody species(lianas and trees)richness,density and basal area,respectively.liana trait analysis revealed the majority(50%)of lianas belonged to brevi-deciduous type.stem twining was the chief climbing mechanism,exhibited by 21 species(52.6%of total abundance).more than half of the liana species(34 species;6925 individuals)had microphyllous leaves.Fleshy-fruited lianas mostly bearing berries and drupes constituted the major fruit type in the studied sites.Zoochory was the predominant dispersal mode observed in 63.4% of species.Considering the ecological and func-tional role of lianas in Indian TDEF,the need for conservation is emphasized.展开更多
Aims The factors affecting species abundance are a subject of ongoing debates in community ecology.Empirical studies have demonstrated that tree abundance is affected by plant functional traits and negative density de...Aims The factors affecting species abundance are a subject of ongoing debates in community ecology.Empirical studies have demonstrated that tree abundance is affected by plant functional traits and negative density dependence(NDD).However,few studies have focused on the combined effects of NDD and plant functional traits on species abundance.Methods In this study,we used tree functional traits and two census data from a 50-ha forest dynamic plot in the Heishiding(HSD)Nature Reserve to explore the combined effects of functional traits and NDD on species abundance.Using hierarchical Bayesian models,we analyzed how neighbor densities affected the survival of saplings from 130 species and extracted posterior means of the coefficients to represent NDD.The structural equation modeling(SEM)analysis was then applied to investigate the causal relationships among species functional traits,NDD and species abundance.Important Findings SEM showed that tree functional traits,including specific leaf area(SLA),leaf area(LA),leaf dry matter content(LDMC),leaf N content(LNC),maximum electron transport rate(ETRmax)and conspecific adult negative density dependence(CNDDadult),together explained 20%of the total variation in tree abundance.Specifically,SLA affected tree abundance both directly and indirectly via CNDDadult,with a totally negative influence on abundance.LDMC and LNC had only indirect effects mediated by CNDDadult on tree abundance.ETRmax and LA had directly negative effects on abundance,but their direct connections with CNDDaduIt were not observed.In addition,CNDDadult was negatively correlated with species abundance,indicating that abundant species are under stronger NDD.Among these investigated traits,SLA contributed the most to the variation in CNDDaduIt and abundance.We argued that our findings of trait-CNDDadult-abundance relationships can improve our understanding of the determinants of species commonness and rarity in forests.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(2022B1111230001)theScience and Technology Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region(Guike AD23026080)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Founda tion of China(No.42071065)Natural Science Foundation of US(No.2021898).
文摘Deciduous oaks(Quercus spp.)are distributed from subalpine to tropical regions in the northern hemi-sphere and have important roles as carbon sinks and in climate change mitigation.Determining variations in plant functional traits at multiple biological levels and linking them to environmental variables across geographical ranges is important for forecasting range-shifts of broadly-distrib-uted species under climate change.We sampled leaves of five deciduous Quercus spp.covering approximately 20°of latitude(~21°N-41°N)and 20 longitude(~99°E-119°E)across China and measured 12 plant functional traits at different biological levels.The traits varied distinctively,either within each biological level or among different levels driven by climatic and edaphic variables.Traits at the organ level were significantly correlated with those at the cellular and tissue levels,while traits at the whole-plant level only correlated with those at the tissue level.The Quercus species responded to changing environments by regulating stomatal size,leaf thickness and the palisade mesophyll thickness to leaf thickness ratios with contrasting degree of effect to adjust the whole-plant functioning,i.e.,intrinsic water use efficiency(iWUE),carbon supply and nitrogen availability.The results suggest that these deciduous Quercus spp.will maintain vigour by increasing iWUE when subjected to large temperature changes and insufficient moisture,and by accu-mulating leaf non-structural carbohydrates under drought conditions.The findings provide new insights into the inher-ent variation and trait coordination of widely distributed tree species in the context of climate change.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31300343)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(BK20130500)Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment
文摘Leaf functional traits are adaptations that enable plants to live under different environmental conditions. This study aims to evaluate the differences in leaf functional traits between red and green leaves of two evergreen shrubs Photinia × fraseri and Osrnanthus fragrans. Specific areas of red leaves are higher than that of green leaves in both species. Thus, the material investment per unit area and per lamina of red leaves is significantly lower than that of green leaves, implying an utmost effort of red leaves to increase light capture and use efficiency because of their low leafchlorophyll concentration. The higher petiole length of green leaves compared with that of red leaves indicates that adult green leaves may have large fractional biomass allocation to support the lamina structures in capturing light with maximum efficiency and obtaining a high growth rate. The high range of the phenotypic plasticity of leaf size, leaf thickness, single-leaf wet and dry weights, and leaf moisture of green leaves may be beneficial in achieving efficient control of water loss and nutrient deprivation. The high range of phenotypic plasticity of leaf chlorophyll concentration of red leaves may be advantageous in increasing resource （especially light） capture anduse efficiency because this leaf type is juvenile in the growth stage and has low leaf-chlorophyll concentration.
基金Project(31300343)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject supported by Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment,ChinaProject(12JDG086)supported by Research Foundation for Advanced Talents of Jiangsu University,China
文摘Because co-occurring native and invasive plants are subjected to similar environmental selection pressures,the differences in functional traits and reproductive allocation strategies between native and invasive plants may be closely related to the success of the latter.Accordingly,this study examines differences in functional traits and reproductive allocation strategies between native and invasive plants in Eastern China.Plant height,branch number,reproductive branch number,the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio,and the reproductive allocation coefficient of invasive plants were all notably higher than those of native species.Additionally,the specific leaf area(SLA)values of invasive plants were remarkably lower than those of native species.Plasticity indexes of SLA,maximum branch angle,and branch number of invasive plants were each notably lower than those of native species.The reproductive allocation coefficient was positively correlated with reproductive branch number and the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio but exhibited negative correlations with SLA and aboveground biomass.Plant height,branch number,reproductive branch number,the belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio,and the reproductive allocation coefficient of invasive plants may strongly influence the success of their invasions.
基金supported by the Project of Public Welfare Technology Research in Zhejiang Province(LGN21C160010)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2017YF C0505502)。
文摘Functional traits of trees are significantly associated with their adaptation strategies and productivity.However,the effects of species composition and mixing proportion on the functional traits of trees grown in mixed plantations have not been studied extensively.In this study,planting experiments(duration about seven months)were used to study variations in functional traits and biomass allocation of C unninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.)Hook and Phoebe bournei(Hemsley)Yang seedlings in five different mixes(0C:4P,1C:3P,1C:1P,3C:1P,and 4C:0P).Total leaf area per seedling increased in each species as its respective proportion in the mixture decreased.However,the specific leaf area decreased for P.bournei under low percent composition,and the specific leaf area for C.lanceolata differed only marginally among the plantings.The net photosynthetic rates of the two species were higher in the mixed plantings than in their corresponding monocultures,whereas the transpiration rate,stomatal conductance,and instantaneous water use efficiency were not different among the plantings.The average root length and root surface area of C.lanceolata and P.bournei were higher in the mixed plantings than in their monocultures.Specifically,root surface area of C.lanceolate and both root length and surface area of P.bournei increased significantly in the 1C:3P and 2C:2P mixed plantings.Leaf,stem,root,and total dry mass per seedling for C.lanceolata decreased with its increasing percent composition in the mixed plantings,while these variables varied less for P.bournei.The plasticity of biomass allocation was relatively low for both species.Total biomass per planting was higher in the mixed plantings than in the monocultures.Our study indicates that species composition and mixing proportion can considerably affect the functional traits of C.lanceolata and P.bournei.The increase in productivity in the mixed plantings may be partially attributed to low rates of competition between the two species,and future studies should examine the different interspecies relationships.The results of this study can be used to improve plantation productivity and ultimately increase the sustainability of tree products and help to better understand the adaptation strategies of plant coexistence.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31700468)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK2017636)the Key Subject of Ecology of Jiangsu Province
文摘Background: The most dominant global threat to natural forests and their biodiversity is land-cover change, which has negative impacts on both species persistence and ecosystem functions. Land-cover change could alter animal behaviour and disrupt seed dispersal mutualisms. However, its effects on the role of bird functional traits in seed dispersal are not well studied.Methods: In the present study, we assessed the contributions of bird functional traits(behavioural traits: food habit, foraging pattern, foraging frequency, and habitat specialisation; morphological traits: weight, body length, wing length, and tail length) to both seed removal patterns and seed dispersal distances of an endangered and native tree species, Chinese yew(Taxus chinensis), in farmland, patchy habitat, and natural habitat, of southeast China.Results: We found that the ability of T. chinensis trees to form seed dispersal mutualisms with local birds varied across the different disturbed habitats. As a consequence of these mutualisms, more seeds were removed by birds from the patchy habitat than from the other two habitats. The number of seeds removed increased with bird foraging frequency. Moreover, the dispersal distance from the three habitats differed, and the longest dispersal distances were observed at both the patchy habitat and the farmland site. Seed dispersal distance increased with bird tail and wing length.Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of bird functional traits in the seed dispersal patterns of endangered trees across disturbed forest habitats, which should be considered for tree conservation and management.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32071561 and 31870431)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province(No.2021RC3104)+1 种基金the Research Foundation of the Education Bureau of Hunan Province(No.19B586)the Huitong Forest Ecological Station Funds provided by the State Forestry and Grass Administration of China(No.2021132078)。
文摘Tree species diversity is assumed to be an important component in managing forest ecosystems because of effects on multiple functions or ecosystem multifunctionality.However,the importance of tree diversity in determining multifunctionality in structurally complex subtropical forests relative to other regulators(e.g.,soil microbial diversity,stand structure,and environmental conditions)remains uncertain.In this study,effects of aboveground(species richness and functional and structural diversity)and belowground(bacterial and fungal diversity)biodiversity,functional composition(community-weighted means of species traits),stand structure(diameter at breast height and stand density),and soil factors(pH and bulk density)on multifunctionality(including biomass production,carbon stock,and nutrient cycling)were examined along a tree diversity gradient in subtropical forests.The community-weighted mean of tree maximum height was the best predictor of ecosystem multifunctionality.Functional diversity explained a higher proportion of the variation in multifunctionality than that of species richness and fungal diversity.Stand structure-played an important role in modulating the effects of tree diversity on multifunctionality.The work highlights that species composition and maximizing forest structural complexity are effective strategies to increase forest multifunctionality while also conserving biodiversity in the management of multifunctional forests under global environmental changes.
基金supported by the following:NSERC-Canada grant to SD,SKN received scholarship from Concordia University,Canada and International Internship from Fonds Nature et technologies(FQRNT)which is gratefully
文摘Background: Improved understanding of the processes shaping the assembly of tropical tree communities is crucial for gaining insights into the evolution of forest communities and biological diversity. The climate is thought to be the first order determinant of abundance and distribution patterns of tree species with contrasting traits such as evergreen and deciduous leaf phenology. However, the relative role of neutral, and niche-based processes in the evolution of these patterns remain poorly understood.Methods: Here, we perform an integrated analysis of the data on tree species abundance, functional traits and community phylogeny from a network of 96 forest plots, each 1 ha in size, distributed along a broad environmental gradient in the central Western Ghats, India. Then, we determine the relative importance of various process in assembly and structuring of tropical forest communities with evergreen and deciduous leaf phenology.Results: The deciduous leaf phenological trait has repeatedly evolved among multiple distantly related lineages. Tree communities in dry deciduous forests were phylogenetically clustered and showed a low range and variance of functional traits related to light harvesting, reproduction, and growth suggesting niche-based processes such as environmental filtering play a vital role in the assembly of tree communities in these forests. The external factors such as human-mediated disturbance also significantly, but to a lesser extent, influences the species and phylogenetic turnover.Conclusions: These findings revealed that the environmental filtering plays a significant role in assembly of tree communities in the biologically diverse tropical forests in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
基金supported by the Tibetan Natural Scientific Foundation of China(2015ZR13-28)the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation(STSD-2)+2 种基金Tibetan Linzhi National Forest Ecological Research Station(2012-LYPTDW-016)Promotion Plan of Plateau Basic Ecological Academic Team Abilitysupported by CFERN&GENE Award funds on ecological paper
文摘Variations in leaf functional traits of Abies georgei var. smithii at 3700, 3900, 4100, 4300, and 4390 m altitude were investigated in 15 typical plots in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In each plot, three seedlings were selected, of which functional leaves in current-year sunny branches were chosen for the measurement of morphological, photosynthetic, and physiological and biochemical characteristics, and their variations were analyzed. Results showed that significant variations existed among the leaf functional traits of A. georgei var. smithii along the altitudinal gradient, as well as their physiological adaption indicators. Leaf area decreased, while the mass per area and thickness of leaf increased at an altitude above 4,100 m. The maxima of pigment, total nitrogen concentration, net photosynthesis rate during light-saturated, and when water use efficiency appeared at 4100 m altitude. In addition, A. georgei var. smithii seedlings regulated the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase to resist abiotic stress under 4100 m altitude. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde concentration and the dark respiration rate rapidly increased, which indicates that A. georgei var. smithii seedlingssuffered from heavy abiotic stress from 4100 m to 4390 m altitude. Basing on variations in leaf functional traits along the altitude gradient, we inferred that 4100 m altitude was the suitable region for A. georgei var. smithii growth in the Sygera Mountain. Moreover, the harsh environment was the main limiting factor for A. georgei var. smithii population expansion to high altitude.
文摘The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.
基金The study was fi nanced by the Ministry of Education,Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia(contract number:451-03-9/2021-14/200197).
文摘Understanding intra-specific variation in leaf functional traits is one of the key requirements for the evaluation of species adaptive capacity to ongoing climate change, as well as for designing long-term breeding and conservation strategies. Hence, data of 19 functional traits describing plant physiology, antioxidant properties, anatomy and morphology were determined on 1-year-old seedlings of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) half-sib lines. The variability within and among half-sib lines, as well as the estimation of multi-trait association, were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference test and multivariate analyses: principal component analysis (PCA), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate linear correlation between the study parameters. The results of the ANOVA showed the presence of statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) among half-sib lines for all study traits. The differences within half-sib lines, observed through the contribution of the examined sources of variation to the total variance (%), had higher impact on total variation in the majority of the examined traits. Pearson’s correlation analysis and PCA showed strong relationships between gas exchange in plants and leaf size and stomatal density, as well as between leaf biomass accumulation, intercellular CO_(2) concentration and parameters related to antioxidant capacity of plants. Likewise, the results of SDA indicate that transpiration and stomatal conductance contributed to the largest extent, to the discrimination of the wild cherry half-sib lines. In addition, PCA and CDA showed separation of the wild cherry half-sib lines along the first principal component and first canonical variable with regards to humidity of their original sites. Multiple adaptive differences between the wild cherry half-sib lines indicate high potential of the species to adapt rapidly to climate change. The existence of substantial genetic variability among the wild cherry half-sib lines highlights their potential as genetic resources for reforestation purposes and breeding programmes.
基金supported by the Key Project of National Key Research and Development Plan(No.2022YFD2201004)Beijing Forestry University Outstanding Young Talent Cultivation Project(No.2019JQ03001)。
文摘Background:Forecasts of climate change impacts on biodiversity often assume that the current geographical distributions of species match their niche optima.However,empirical evidence has challenged this assumption,suggesting a mismatch.We examine whether the mismatch is related to functional traits along temperature or precipitation gradients.Methods:The observed distributions of 32 tree species in northeast China were evaluated to test this mismatch.Bayesian models were used to estimate the climatic niche optima,i.e.the habitats where the highest species growth and density can be expected.The mismatch is defined as the difference between the actual species occurrence in an assumed niche optimum and the habitat with the highest probability of species occurrence.Species’functional traits were used to explore the mechanisms that may have caused the mismatches.Results:Contrasting these climatic niche optima with the observed species distributions,we found that the distribution-niche optima mismatch had high variability among species based on temperature and precipitation gradients.However,these mismatches depended on functional traits associated with competition and migration lags only in temperature gradients.Conclusions:We conclude that more relevant research is needed in the future to quantify the mismatch between species distribution and climatic niche optima,which may be crucial for future designs of forested landscapes,species conservation and dynamic forecasting of biodiversity under expected climate change.
基金supported by the Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation of China(2019FY202300)the Biodiversity Survey,Observation and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment(2110404).
文摘The survival strategy of plants is to adjust their functional traits to adapt to the environment.However,these traits and survival strategies of evergreen broad-leaved forest species are not well understood.This study examined 10 leaf functional traits(LFTs)of 70 common plant species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Huangshan Mountain to decipher their adaptive strategies.The phylogenetic signals of these LFTs were assessed and phylogenetically independent contrasts(PIC)and correlation analyses were carried out.LFTs were analyzed to determine their CSR(C:competitor,S:stress-tolerator,R:ruderal)strategies.The results show that plant species exhibit different leaf functional traits and ecological strategies(nine strategies were identified;the most abundant were S/CS and S/CSR strategies).Some traits showed significant phylogenetic signals,indicating the effect of phylogeny on LFTs to an extent.Trait variations among species suggest distinct adaptation strategies to environmental changes.The study species were mainly clustered on the C-S strategy axis,with a high S component.Species leaning toward the C-strategy end(e.g.,deciduous species),favored a resource acquisition strategy characterized by higher specific leaf area(SLA),greater nutrient contents(N and P),lower leaf dry matter content(LDMC),and reduced nutrient utilization efficiency(C:N and C:P).Conversely,species closer to the S-strategy end(e.g.,evergreen species)usually adopted a resource conservative strategy with trait combinations contrary to those of C-strategy species.Overall,this study corroborated the applicability of the CSR strategy at a local scale and provides insights into the varied trait combinations and ecological strategies employed by plant species to adapt to their environment.These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in biodiversity maintenance.
基金supported by Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects(2023KFKTA005,2023KFKTB012)by the Science and Technology Research Program of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment,Chinese Academy of Sciences(IMHE-ZDRW-06).
文摘Plants adapt to the limitation of soil phosphorus(P)induced by nitrogen(N)deposition through a complex interaction of various root and leaf functional traits.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different levels of N addition(control,low N[LN]:25 kg N ha^(-1) yr^(-1),high N[HN]:50 kg N ha^(-1) yr^(-1))on tree growth,leaf nutrient content,foliar P fractions and root characteristics of two dominant tree species,the pioneer species Salix rehderiana Schneid and the climax species Abies fabri(Mast.)Craib,in a subalpine forest in southwestern China.The results demonstrated that LN addition had a minimal impact on leaf N and P contents.Conversely,HN addition significantly decreased the leaf P content in both species.Salix rehderiana exhibited more pronounced increases in specific root length and specific root area under P deficiency triggered by HN addition when compared with A.fabri.In contrast,A.fabri showed weaker morphological responses to N addition but had a higher proportion of foliar P to metabolic P,as well as higher root exudates rate and root phosphatase activity in response to HN addition.Abies fabri employs a synergistic approach by allocating a greater amount of leaf P to metabolite P and extracting P from the soil through P-mobilizing exudates and root phosphatase activity,while S.rehderiana exhibits higher flexibility in modifying its root morphology in response to P limitation induced by HN addition.This study provides insights into subalpine tree species adaptation to N-induced P limitation,emphasizing its significance for guiding forest management and conservation in the context of global climate change.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42077046,31800440)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFD1500203)+2 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA28020401)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.2021228)the Young Scientist Group Project of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology(Grant No.2022QNXZ04).
文摘We examined the development of soil nematodes ecological indices from the perspective off unctionaltraits.We found that soil nematode energy flow analyses based on multiple functional traits quantify the dynamics of energy flow across multipletrophic levels to provide a more comprehensive perspective.We conducted comparative analyses of the sensitivities of NMF and energy flow to verify that the energy flow analyses are more sensitive and have greater potential to reveal soil health and ecosystem function.Future in-depth studies of functional traits and energy flow analysis can help us achieve informed soil management practices,sustainable agriculture,andhealthiersoilecosystems.nignerEauc Tess CT Nematode ecological index based on functional traits:MI El,S,BI,C1 NMF Bongen.1990 Ferrisetal,2001 Ferris,2010 energs low analysis of soil nematodes Compare thecological index(NMf)and Bacterivores(Ba)Functional traits Energy flux Fungihores(Fn)rahn Soilnematodes latitude Lindicator Plant-parasites(PP)PF Energflus Soilhealth Omnivores-predators(oP)latitude Energy flow analysis of soil nematodes:By quantifying energy fux among trophic groups Barbes et al.,2014,2018 This paper examines the development of ecological indices for soil nematodes from the perspective of functional traits.It emphasizes the increasing significance of integrating multiple functional traits to achieve a more accurate assessment of soil health.Ecological indices based on life history strategies,feeding habits,and body size provide useful tools for assessing soil health.However,these indices do not fully capture the dynamics ofenergyflow across multiple-trophic levels inthesoil foodweb,which is critical fora deeperunderstanding of the intrinsic properties of soil health.By combining functional traits such as functional group,body size,feeding preference and metabolic rate,nematode energy flow analyses provide a more comprehensive perspective.This approach establishes a direct correlation between changes in the morphology,physiology,and metabolism of soil organisms and alterations in their habitat environment.We conducted comparative analyses of the sensitivity of nematode metabolic footprints and energy flow to latitudinal variation using a nematode dataset from the northeastern black soil region in China.The findings suggest that energy flow analyses are more sensitive to latitude and have greater potential to reveal soil health and ecosystem function.Therefore,future research should prioritize the development of automated and efficient methods for analyzing nematode traits.This will enhance the application of energy flow analyses in nematode food webs and support the development of sustainable soil management and agriculturalpractices.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31570478).
文摘Aims The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has a mean altitude exceeding 4000 m and covers about 2.5 million km2.More than 60%of this area is alpine grassland.Exclosures have been widely used in this region to study the sustainable use of grassland resources.We used patterns of functional trait diversity to infer the effects of exclosures on com-munity assembly in alpine meadows.Methods We studied functional diversity using five traits under grazing and three enclosed(exclosure)plots(3,8,and 18 years old)in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.We quantified the strength of the community assembly processes by comparing the observed functional trait diversity with a null model that assumes random community assembly.Important findings We found evidence for deterministic assembly processes for plant communities in exclosures.The changes in CWM of the five traits from grazing land to 18-year exclosure indicated that environmen-tal filtering occurred due to the exclosures.Multivariate functional diversity(MFDis and MPDses),and functional diversity of individual traits,including that of leaf area,leaf weight and aboveground bio-mass(FDis of leaf area,leaf weight,and aboveground biomass),increased gradually from grazing land to the 18-year exclosure,and the values of the 18-year exclosure were significantly greater than null expectation.This can be interpreted to indicate that exclosures resulted in greater competitive interaction between species.These results suggest that the effect of exclosures on community assembly is more deterministic than stochastic in this meadow.
基金Grants were received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470498 and 31330012)the Chinese National Basic Research Program(2015CB954201 and 2014CB954303)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA05050701).
文摘Aims To explore the pattern of the leaf functional traits of shrub species along a latitudinal gradient in eastern China and determine the driv-ing factors of leaf trait variation at a large scale.Methods We investigated the leaf thickness(LT),leaf area(LA),specific leaf area(SLA)and leaf dry mass content(LDMC)of 185 shrub species from 13 sites across eastern China.The trends of these four-leaf traits were ana-lyzed with respect to latitude,and the differences between different life forms(e.g.,evergreen and deciduous)and habitats(e.g.,understory and typical)were compared.We quantified the effects of the plant life forms and environmental factors on the leaf traits via mixed-model analyses.Important Findings The LT and LA decreased,whilst and the LDMC increased,as the latitude increased,and significant differences in these traits were observed between the different plant life forms.The LT and LA were smaller,whereas the SLA and LDMC were larger in decidu-ous shrubs than in evergreen shrubs.Among the different habitats,the LA and SLA were larger,while the LDMC was smaller in under-story shrubs than in typical shrub species.These results indicate that typical shrub species are better adapted to drier environments,as indicated by a reduced LT and increased LDMC.Furthermore,general linear models showed that variations in the four-leaf traits with respect to latitude were mainly caused by a shift in plant life forms.
基金French Research National Agency(O2LA project ANR-09-STRA-09).
文摘Aims root systems play an essential role in grassland functioning in both acquisition and storage of resources.Nevertheless,root functional traits have not received as much attention as those measured on above-ground organs,and little is known about their relations.our objec-tives were to test whether morphological and root system traits allowed identification of grass species’functional strategies and to determine whether a relation exists between above-and below-ground traits.Methods Functional traits of root tissues(specific root length,diameter,tissue density and nitrogen concentration),whole root systems(root mass,root length density,root mass percentage below a depth of 20 cm and fine root%)and two major leaf traits(specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content)were determined under field conditions and their rela-tions were analysed in eleven perennial temperate Poaceae species.Important Findings Canonical correspondence analysis along axis 1 revealed a gra-dient of species,from those with deep,dense and coarse root systems with a large root mass to those with shallow root sys-tems,thin roots and high specific root length;this suggests strong correlations among root traits.Correlations between specific root length and specific leaf area reveal two groups of species,which probably indicates different drought-tolerance capacities.root trait syndromes enable ranking grasses along a gradient from conservative-strategy species(from stressful habitats),which display a deep and coarse root system,to acquisitive species(from rich and moist meadows),which display a shallow and thin root system.although both types display similar above-ground strategies,drought-tolerant species have lower specific root lengths than drought-sensitive species,revealing more conservative root strategies.
基金This study was financially supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China(31870399,32071533)the Strategic Priority ResearchProgram of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB31030000).
文摘Aims Functional traits are usually used to predict plant demographic rates without considering environmental contexts.However,previous studies have consistently found that traits have low explanatory power for plant demographic rates.We hypothesized that accounting for environmental contexts instead of focusing on traits alone could improve our understanding of how traits influence plant demographic rates.Methods We used generalized linear mixed-effect models to analyse the effects of functional traits(related to leaf,stem,seed and whole plant),environmental gradients(soil nutrients,water and elevation)and their interactions on the survival dynamics of 14133 saplings and 3289 adults in a 9-ha old-growth temperate forest plot.Important Findings We found that environmental variables,neighbour crowding and traits alone(i.e.main effects)influenced plant survival.However,the effects of the latter two variables varied between saplings and adults.The trait–environment interactions influenced plant survival,such that resource conservative traits increased plant survival under harsh conditions but decreased survival under mild conditions.The elevational gradient was the most important environmental factor driving these effects in our plot.Our results support the hypothesis that functional traits influence plant survival depending on environmental contexts in local communities.These results also imply that one species with limited trait variation cannot occupy all environments,which can promote species diversity.
基金Ministry of Environment and Forests,Government of India,New Delhi(22/16/2011-(SG)-RE).
文摘Aim lianas are abundant and diverse throughout the world and consti-tute an important structural and functional component of tropical forests.This study aims to investigate liana diversity,abundance and their functional traits in Indian tropical dry evergreen forest(TDEF).Methods a total of ten 1-ha plots,one each in 10 Indian TDEF sites were demarcated.Each 1-ha plot was divided into one-hundred 10-×10-m quadrats to facilitate woody species inventory.all lianas≥1 cm diameter measured at 130 cm from the rooting point and all trees≥10-cm girth at breast height(gbh)were recorded from the study sites to analyze the patterns of liana diversity and abundance and also to compare the contribution of lianas to the total woody species richness,density and basal area.liana variables across the study sites were compared using one-way analysis of variance.The qualitative functional traits of inventoried lianas and trees were assessed on the field and referring to pertinent field manuals.Important Findingsa total of 9237 liana individuals(ranged from 408-1658 individu-als ha^(−1))representing 52 species,45 genera and 28 families were encountered from the 10 study sites.liana species richness ranged from 11-31 species ha^(−1) in 10 sites,which averaged 23.4(±5.7)species ha^(−1).The total basal area of lianas in the study sites was 7.3 m^(2)(0.20-1.76 m^(2) ha^(−1)).There was a significant variation in liana species richness,density and basal area across the studied sites.on the whole,lianas contributed 52%,49.3%and 4.1%to the total woody species(lianas and trees)richness,density and basal area,respectively.liana trait analysis revealed the majority(50%)of lianas belonged to brevi-deciduous type.stem twining was the chief climbing mechanism,exhibited by 21 species(52.6%of total abundance).more than half of the liana species(34 species;6925 individuals)had microphyllous leaves.Fleshy-fruited lianas mostly bearing berries and drupes constituted the major fruit type in the studied sites.Zoochory was the predominant dispersal mode observed in 63.4% of species.Considering the ecological and func-tional role of lianas in Indian TDEF,the need for conservation is emphasized.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31925027,31622014 and 31570426 to C.C.).
文摘Aims The factors affecting species abundance are a subject of ongoing debates in community ecology.Empirical studies have demonstrated that tree abundance is affected by plant functional traits and negative density dependence(NDD).However,few studies have focused on the combined effects of NDD and plant functional traits on species abundance.Methods In this study,we used tree functional traits and two census data from a 50-ha forest dynamic plot in the Heishiding(HSD)Nature Reserve to explore the combined effects of functional traits and NDD on species abundance.Using hierarchical Bayesian models,we analyzed how neighbor densities affected the survival of saplings from 130 species and extracted posterior means of the coefficients to represent NDD.The structural equation modeling(SEM)analysis was then applied to investigate the causal relationships among species functional traits,NDD and species abundance.Important Findings SEM showed that tree functional traits,including specific leaf area(SLA),leaf area(LA),leaf dry matter content(LDMC),leaf N content(LNC),maximum electron transport rate(ETRmax)and conspecific adult negative density dependence(CNDDadult),together explained 20%of the total variation in tree abundance.Specifically,SLA affected tree abundance both directly and indirectly via CNDDadult,with a totally negative influence on abundance.LDMC and LNC had only indirect effects mediated by CNDDadult on tree abundance.ETRmax and LA had directly negative effects on abundance,but their direct connections with CNDDaduIt were not observed.In addition,CNDDadult was negatively correlated with species abundance,indicating that abundant species are under stronger NDD.Among these investigated traits,SLA contributed the most to the variation in CNDDaduIt and abundance.We argued that our findings of trait-CNDDadult-abundance relationships can improve our understanding of the determinants of species commonness and rarity in forests.
