Variability in leaf traits, insect herbivory and herbivore performance within and among individuals of four broad-leaved tree species

Global climate models predict changes on the length of the dry season in the Amazon which may affect tree physiology. The aims of this work were to determine the effect of the rainfall regime and fraction of sky visible (FSV) at the forest understory on leaf traits and gas exchange of ten rainforest tree species in the Central Amazon, Brazil. We also examined the relationship between specific leaf area (SLA), leaf thickness (LT), and leaf nitrogen content on photosynthetic parameters. Data were collected in January (rainy season) and August (dry season) of 2008. A diurnal pattern was observed for light saturated photosynthesis (Amax) and stomatal conductance (g s), and irrespective of species, Amax was lower in the dry season. However, no effect of the rainfall regime was observed on g s nor on the photosynthetic capacity (Apot, measured at saturating [CO2]). Apot and leaf thickness increased with FSV, the converse was true for the FSV-SLA relationship. Also, a positive relationship was observed between Apot per unit leaf area and leaf nitrogen content, and between Apot per unit mass and SLA. Although the rainfall regime only slightly affects soil moisture, photosynthetic traits seem to be responsive to rainfall-related environmental factors, which eventually lead to an effect on Amax. Finally, we report that little variation in FSV seems to affect leaf physiology (Apot) and leaf anatomy (leaf thickness).

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Stem trait spectra underpin multiple functions of temperate gymnosperm and angiosperm tree species

10.21203/rs.3.rs-168427/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shanshan Yang ◽

Frank J. Sterck ◽

Ute Sass-Klaassen ◽

J. Hans C. Cornelissen ◽

Richard S.P. van Logtestijn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Fast Growth ◽

Growth Strategy ◽

Trade Off ◽

Plant Strategy ◽

Leaf Habit ◽

Angiosperm Species ◽

Central Paradigm ◽

Diffuse Porous

Abstract A central paradigm in comparative ecology is that species sort out along a global economic strategy spectrum, ranging from slow to fast growth. Many studies evaluated plant strategy spectra for leaf traits, b u t few studies evaluated stem strategy spectra using a comprehensive set of anatomical, chemical and morphological traits, addressing key stem functions of different stem compartments (inner wood, outer wood and bark). This study evaluates how stem traits vary in the wood and bark of temperate tree species, and whether a slow-fast growth strategy spectrum exists and what traits make up this plant strategy spectrum. For 14 temperate gymnosperm and angiosperm species, 20 traits belonging to six key stem functions were measured for three stem compartments. Both across and within gymnosperms and angiosperms, a slow-fast stem strategy spectrum is found. Gymnosperms have slow traits and showed converging stem strategies because of their uniform tracheids. Angiosperms have fast traits and showed diverging stem strategies because of a wider array of tissues (vessels, parenchyma and fibers) and vessel size and arrangements (ring-porous versus diffuse porous). Gymnosperms showed a main trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety, and angiosperms showed a main trade-off between ‘slow’ diffuse porous species and ‘fast’ ring porous species. The slow traits of gymnosperms allow for a high hydraulic safety, an evergreen leaf habit and steady but slow growth makes them successful in unproductive habitats whereas the fast traits of angiosperms allow for high conductivity, a deciduous leaf habit and fast growth which makes them successful in productive habitats.

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Leaf trait variation and field spectroscopy of generalist tree species on contrasting soil types

10.5194/bg-2016-432 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Matheus Henrique Nunes ◽

Matthew P. Davey ◽

David Anthony Coomes

Keyword(s):

Soil Type ◽

Tree Species ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Soil Types ◽

Species Variation ◽

Trait Variation ◽

Field Spectroscopy ◽

Specific Variation ◽

Foliar Traits

Abstract. Understanding the causes of variation in plant functional traits is a central issue in ecology, particularly in the context of global change. Analyses of the drivers of traits variation based on thousands of tree species are starting to unravel patterns of variation at the global scale, but these studies tend to focus on interspecific variation, and the contribution of intraspecific changes remains less well understood. Hyperspectroscopy is a recently developed technology for estimating the traits of fresh leaves. Few studies have evaluated its potential for assessing inter- and intra-specific trait variability in community ecology. Working with 24 leaf traits for European tree species on contrasting soil types, found growing on deep alluvial soils and nearby shallow chalk soils, we ask: (i) What contribution do soil type and species identity make to trait variation? (ii) When traits are clustered into three functional groups (light capture and growth, leaf structure and defence, as well as rock-derived nutrients), are some groups more affected by soil than others? (iii) What traits can be estimated precisely using field spectroscopy? (iv) Can leaf spectra be used to detect inter-soil as well as inter-specific variation in traits? The contribution of species and soil-type effects to variation in traits were evaluated using statistical analyses. Foliar traits were predicted from spectral reflectance using partial least square regression, and so inter- and intra-specific variation. Most leaf traits varied greatly among species. The effects of soil type were generally weak by comparison. Macronutrient concentrations were greater on alluvial than chalk soils while micronutrient concentration showed the opposite trend. However, structural traits, as well as most pigments and phenolic concentrations varied little with soil type. Field spectroscopy provided accurate estimates of species-level trait values, but was less effective at detecting subtle variation of rock-derived nutrients between soil types. Field spectroscopy was a powerful technique for estimating cross-species variation in foliar traits and Si predictions using spectroscopy appear to be promising. However, it was unable to detect subtle within-species variation of traits associated with soil type.

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Data on Herbivore Performance and Plant Herbivore Damage Identify the Same Plant Traits as the Key Drivers of Plant–Herbivore Interaction

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11120865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 865

Author(s):

Zuzana Münzbergová ◽

Jiří Skuhrovec

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Leaf Damage ◽

Herbivore Damage ◽

Herbivore Performance ◽

Physical Defense ◽

Wide Range ◽

Herbivore Interactions ◽

Plant Herbivore

Data on plant herbivore damage as well as on herbivore performance have been previously used to identify key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions. The extent to which the two approaches lead to similar conclusions remains to be explored. We determined the effect of a free-living leaf-chewing generalist caterpillar, Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on leaf damage of 24 closely related plant species from the Carduoideae subfamily and the effect of these plant species on caterpillar growth. We used a wide range of physical defense leaf traits and leaf nutrient contents as the plant traits. Herbivore performance and leaf damage were affected by similar plant traits. Traits related to higher caterpillar mortality (higher leaf dissection, number, length and toughness of spines and lower trichome density) also led to higher leaf damage. This fits with the fact that each caterpillar was feeding on a single plant and, thus, had to consume more biomass of the less suitable plants to obtain the same amount of nutrients. The key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions identified based on data on herbivore performance largely corresponded to the traits identified as important based on data on leaf damage. This suggests that both types of data may be used to identify the key plant traits determining plant–herbivore interactions. It is, however, important to carefully distinguish whether the data on leaf damage were obtained in the field or in a controlled feeding experiment, as the patterns expected in the two environments may go in opposite directions.

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Elevational Variation of Leaf Traits in Montane Rain Forest Tree Species at La Chinantla, Southern Mexico1

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/j.1744-7429.2002.tb00572.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 534-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Noe Velizquez-Rosas ◽

Jorge Meave ◽

Sonia Vizquez-Santana

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Montane Rain Forest ◽

Forest Tree Species ◽

Elevational Variation

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Variations in leaf traits of native and introduced tree species in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

Acta Ecologica Sinica ◽

10.5846/stxb201809202054 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

Author(s):

熊静 XIONG Jing ◽

邢文黎 XING Wenli ◽

虞木奎 YU Mukui ◽

成向荣 CHENG Xiangrong

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Cunninghamia Lanceolata

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Influence of tree species and compass bearing on insect folivory of nine common tree species in the West African savanna

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467404002196 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 227-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sybille B. Unsicker ◽

Karsten Mody

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Land Surface ◽

Insect Herbivory ◽

West African ◽

Leaf Damage ◽

Tropical Rain Forests ◽

The West ◽

African Savanna ◽

The World ◽

Plant Animal Interactions

Levels of leaf damage due to insect folivory have been investigated in forests of different latitudes all over the world, but most research has concentrated on a few common forest types. Most studies of insect herbivory were conducted in (sub)tropical rain forests (Barone 1998, Basset 1996, Coley 1983, Lowman 1985), or in temperate forests (Landsberg & Ohmart 1989, Lowman & Heatwole 1992). In contrast, little is known about insect folivory of woody plants in tropical savannas (Fowler & Duarte 1991, Marquis et al. 2001, Ribeiro 2003, Stanton 1975), and no such data are available for the West African savanna ecosystem (Andersen & Lonsdale 1990). Savannas cover about 40% of the land surface of Africa and 20% of the world (Scholes & Walker 1993), and savanna trees may host considerable numbers of insects, including many herbivores (Grant & Moran 1986, Mody et al. 2003). Therefore, insect herbivory can be considered a potentially important aspect of plant–animal interactions for vast areas of tropical ecosystems, where it has been studied remarkably rarely so far.

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