An official website of the United States government
ABSTRACT Plant functional traits are vital tools in ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. While functional traits and functional diversity are increasingly being used to inform restoration efforts, challenges remain in the characterization of trait variation in many systems, including within‐species. Likewise, understanding axes of trait variation describing trade‐offs in plant function is important for trait‐based restoration frameworks, yet the degree of coordination between above‐ground functional traits and their below‐ ground counterparts is often unknown. Here, we investigate intraspecific trait variation among five populations ofSchizachyrium scoparium(little bluestem), a species commonly used for restoration, from different habitat types across a gradient from southern Wisconsin to Northern Illinois. We asked (1) how regional populations ofS. scopariumdiffer in their functional traits, (2) how functional trait variation inS. scopariumis structured among and within populations, and (3) how above‐ and below‐ground functional traits ofS. scopariumcoordinate and describe axes of functional trade‐offs. We found that populations differed in multivariate trait space, but evidence for differences in individual traits among populations was mixed. Trait relationships with habitat types were idiosyncratic and often misaligned with expectations of plant economic spectra. Variation within populations was as high, or higher, than between populations across traits. We found evidence for weak coordination in several trait pairs, including two above‐ and below‐ground trait combinations, while others appeared to be uncoordinated. Our findings support previous research that trait differentiation can occur at multiple scales, both between and within populations. Extensive within‐population trait variability could be leveraged in trait‐based restoration frameworks targeting intraspecific functional diversity. The lack of strong signals of coordination between above‐ and below‐ground functional traits suggest that sourcing decisions meant to match below‐ground functional traits to recipient restored communities should rely on direct measurement of root traits associated with desired functions rather than above‐ground proxies.
more »
« less
Within‐species patterns challenge our understanding of the leaf economics spectrum
Abstract The utility of plant functional traits for predictive ecology relies on our ability to interpret trait variation across multiple taxonomic and ecological scales. Using extensive data sets of trait variation within species, across species and across communities, we analysed whether and at what scales leaf economics spectrum (LES) traits show predicted trait–trait covariation. We found that most variation inLEStraits is often, but not universally, at high taxonomic levels (between families or genera in a family). However, we found that trait covariation shows distinct taxonomic scale dependence, with some trait correlations showing opposite signs within vs. across species.LEStraits responded independently to environmental gradients within species, with few shared environmental responses across traits or across scales. We conclude that, at small taxonomic scales, plasticity may obscure or reverse the broad evolutionary linkages between leaf traits, meaning that variation inLEStraits cannot always be interpreted as differences in resource use strategy.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1711243
- PAR ID:
- 10056610
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Ecology Letters
- Volume:
- 21
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 1461-023X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 734-744
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract The genusPinushas wide geographical range and includes species that are the most economically valued among forest trees worldwide. Pine needle length varies greatly among species, but the effects of needle length on anatomy, function, and coordination and trade‐offs among traits are poorly understood. We examined variation in leaf morphological, anatomical, mechanical, chemical, and physiological characteristics among five southern pine species:Pinus echinata,Pinus elliottii,Pinus palustris,Pinus taeda, andPinus virginiana. We found that increasing needle length contributed to a trade‐off between the relative fractions of support versus photosynthetic tissue (mesophyll) across species. From the shortest (7 cm) to the longest (36 cm) needles, mechanical tissue fraction increased by 50%, whereas needle dry density decreased by 21%, revealing multiple adjustments to a greater need for mechanical support in longer needles. We also found a fourfold increase in leaf hydraulic conductance over the range of needle length across species, associated with weaker upward trends in stomatal conductance and photosynthetic capacity. Our results suggest that the leaf size strongly influences their anatomical traits, which, in turn, are reflected in leaf mechanical support and physiological capacity.more » « less
-
Abstract Background and Aims The acquisitive–conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait covariation within species are scarcer, and have mostly dealt with variation in response to environmental gradients. Little work has been published on intraspecific patterns of leaf trait covariation in the absence of strong environmental variation. Methods We analysed covariation of four leaf functional traits [specific leaf area (SLA) leaf dry matter content (LDMC), force to tear (Ft) and leaf nitrogen content (Nm)] in six Poaceae and four Fabaceae species common in the dry Chaco forest of Central Argentina, growing in the field and in a common garden. We compared intraspecific covariation patterns (slopes, correlation and effect size) of leaf functional traits with global interspecific covariation patterns. Additionally, we checked for possible climatic and edaphic factors that could affect the intraspecific covariation pattern. Key Results We found negative correlations for the LDMC–SLA, Ft–SLA, LDMC–Nm and Ft–Nm trait pairs. This intraspecific covariation pattern found both in the field and in the common garden and not explained by climatic or edaphic variation in the field follows the expected acquisitive–conservative axis. At the same time, we found quantitative differences in slopes among different species, and between these intraspecific patterns and the interspecific ones. Many of these differences seem to be idiosyncratic, but some appear consistent among species (e.g. all the intraspecific LDMC–SLA and LDMC–Nm slopes tend to be shallower than the global pattern). Conclusions Our study indicates that the acquisitive–conservative leaf functional trait covariation pattern occurs at the intraspecific level even in the absence of relevant environmental variation in the field. This suggests a high degree of variation–covariation in leaf functional traits not driven by environmental variables.more » « less
-
Abstract AimsBryophytes can cover three quarters of the ground surface, play key ecological functions, and increase biodiversity in mesic high‐elevation conifer forests of the temperate zone. Forest gaps affect species coexistence (and ecosystem functions) as suggested by the gap and gap‐size partitioning hypotheses (GPH,GSPH). Here we test these hypotheses in the context of high‐elevation forest bryophyte communities and their functional attributes. Study SiteSpruce–fir forests on Whiteface Mountain, NY,USA. MethodsWe characterized canopy openness, microclimate, forest floor substrates, vascular vegetation cover, and moss layer (cover, common species, and functional attributes) in three canopy openness environments (gap, gap edge, forest canopy) across 20 gaps (fir waves) (n = 60); the functional attributes were based on 16 morphologic, reproductive, and ecological bryophyte plant functional traits (PFTs). We testedGPHandGSPHrelative to bryophyte community metrics (cover, composition), traits, and trait functional sensitivity (functional dispersion;FDis) using indicator species analysis, ordination, and regression. ResultsCanopy openness drove gradients in ground‐level temperature, substrate abundance and heterogeneity (beta diversity), and understory vascular vegetation cover. TheGPHwas consistent with (a) the abundance patterns of forest canopy indicator species (Dicranum fuscescens,Hypnum imponens, andTetraphis pellucida), and (b)FDisbased on threePFTs (growth form, fertility, and acidity), both increasing with canopy cover. We did not find support forGPHin the remaining species or traits, or forGSPHin general; gap width (12–44 m) was not related to environmental or bryophyte community gradients. ConclusionsThe observed lack of variation in most bryophyte metrics across canopy environments suggests high resistance of the bryophyte layer to natural canopy gaps in high‐elevation forests. However, responses of forest canopy indicator species suggest that canopy mortality, potentially increased by changing climate or insect pests, may cause declines in some forest canopy species and consequently in the functional diversity of bryophyte communities.more » « less
-
Abstract The conversion of natural habitats to human land uses often increases local temperatures, creating novel thermal environments for species. The variable responses of ectotherms to habitat conversion, where some species decline while others persist, can partly be explained by variation among species in their thermal niches. However, few studies have examined thermal niche variation within species and across forest‐land use ecotones, information that could provide clues about the capacity of species to adapt to changing temperatures. Here, we quantify individual‐level variation in thermal traits of the tropical poison frog,Oophaga pumilio, in thermally contrasting habitats. Specifically, we examined local environmental temperatures, field body temperatures (Tb), preferred body temperatures (Tpref), critical thermal maxima (CTmax), and thermal safety margins (TSM) of individuals from warm, converted habitats and cool forests. We found that frogs from converted habitats exhibited greater meanTbandTprefthan those from forests. In contrast,CTmaxandTSMdid not differ significantly between habitats. However,CTmaxdid increase moderately with increasingTb, suggesting that changes inCTmaxmay be driven by microscale temperature exposure within habitats rather than by mean habitat conditions. AlthoughO. pumilioexhibited moderate divergence inTpref,CTmaxappears to be less labile between habitats, possibly due to the ability of frogs in converted habitats to maintain theirTbbelow air temperatures that reach or exceedCTmax. Selective pressures on thermal tolerances may increase, however, with the loss of buffering microhabitats and increased frequency of extreme temperatures expected under future habitat degradation and climate warming. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.more » « less
