scholarly journals Decomposing leaf mass into photosynthetic and structural components explains divergent patterns of trait variation within and among plant species

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Katabuchi ◽  
Kaoru Kitajima ◽  
S. Joseph Wright ◽  
Sunshine A. Van Bael ◽  
Jeanne L. D. Osnas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
List Type ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Leaf Lifespan ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Toughness ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Metabolic Traits ◽  
Leaf Mass ◽  
Mass Dependent

AbstractAcross the global flora, photosynthetic and metabolic rates depend more strongly on leaf area than leaf mass. In contrast, intraspecific variation in these rates is strongly mass-dependent. These contrasting patterns suggest that the causes of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA) may be fundamentally different within vs. among species.We used statistical methods to decompose LMA into two conceptual components – ‘photosynthetic’ LMAp (which determines photosynthetic capacity and metabolic rates, and also affects optimal leaf lifespan) and ‘structural’ LMAs (which determines leaf toughness and potential leaf lifespan) using leaf trait data from tropical forest sites in Panama and a global leaf-trait database.Statistically decomposing LMA into LMAp and LMAs provides improved predictions of trait variation (photosynthesis, respiration, and lifespan) across the global flora, and within and among tropical plant species in Panama. Our analysis shows that most interspecific LMA variation is due to LMAs (which explains why photosynthetic and metabolic traits are area-dependent across species) and that intraspecific LMA variation is due to changes in both LMAp and LMAs (which explains why photosynthetic and metabolic traits are mass-dependent within species).Our results suggest that leaf trait variation is multi-dimensional and is not well-represented by the one-dimensional leaf economics spectrum.

Short Communication: Leaf trait relationships in Australian plant species

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian J. Wright ◽  
Philip K. Groom ◽  
Byron B. Lamont ◽  
Pieter Poot ◽  
Lynda D. Prior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Dark Respiration ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Woody Perennials ◽  
Australian Plant ◽  
Global Datasets ◽  
Broad Scale

Leaf trait data were compiled for 258 Australian plant species from several habitat types dominated by woody perennials. Specific leaf area (SLA), photosynthetic capacity, dark respiration rate and leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were positively correlated with one another and negatively correlated with average leaf lifespan. These trait relationships were consistent with previous results from global datasets. Together, these traits form a spectrum of variation running from species with cheap but frequently replaced leaves to those with strategies more attuned to a nutrient-conserving lifestyle. Australian species tended to have SLAs at the lower end of the spectrum, as expected in a dataset dominated by sclerophyllous species from low fertility or low rainfall sites. The existence of broad-scale, 'global' relationships does not imply that the same trait relationships will always be observed in small datasets. In particular, the probability of observing concordant patterns depends on the range of trait variation in a dataset, which, itself, may vary with sample size or species-sampling properties such as the range of growth forms, plant functional 'types', or taxa included in a particular study. The considerable scatter seen in these broad-scale trait relationships may be associated with climate, physiology and phylogeny.

scholarly journals Metabolic traits in brown trout (Salmo trutta) vary in response to food restriction and intrinsic factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise C Archer ◽  
Stephen A Hutton ◽  
Luke Harman ◽  
W Russell Poole ◽  
Patrick Gargan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Food Restriction ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Metabolic Traits ◽  
Food Conditions

Abstract Metabolic rates vary hugely within and between populations, yet we know relatively little about factors causing intraspecific variation. Since metabolic rate determines the energetic cost of life, uncovering these sources of variation is important to understand and forecast responses to environmental change. Moreover, few studies have examined factors causing intraspecific variation in metabolic flexibility. We explore how extrinsic environmental conditions and intrinsic factors contribute to variation in metabolic traits in brown trout, an iconic and polymorphic species that is threatened across much of its native range. We measured metabolic traits in offspring from two wild populations that naturally show life-history variation in migratory tactics (one anadromous, i.e. sea-migratory, one non-anadromous) that we reared under either optimal food or experimental conditions of long-term food restriction (lasting between 7 and 17 months). Both populations showed decreased standard metabolic rates (SMR—baseline energy requirements) under low food conditions. The anadromous population had higher maximum metabolic rate (MMR) than the non-anadromous population, and marginally higher SMR. The MMR difference was greater than SMR and consequently aerobic scope (AS) was higher in the anadromous population. MMR and AS were both higher in males than females. The anadromous population also had higher AS under low food compared to optimal food conditions, consistent with population-specific effects of food restriction on AS. Our results suggest different components of metabolic rate can vary in their response to environmental conditions, and according to intrinsic (population-background/sex) effects. Populations might further differ in their flexibility of metabolic traits, potentially due to intrinsic factors related to life history (e.g. migratory tactics). More comparisons of populations/individuals with divergent life histories will help to reveal this. Overall, our study suggests that incorporating an understanding of metabolic trait variation and flexibility and linking this to life history and demography will improve our ability to conserve populations experiencing global change.

Pores versus spores: competition between photosynthesis and reproduction is constrained by leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K G Srikanta Dani ◽  
Jose Mathew ◽  
T M Nila-Mohan ◽  
Raju Antony ◽  
S Suresh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Leaf Lifespan ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Leaf Mass

Abstract Diversity in plant life histories is primarily that found in the rate and duration of photosynthetic (vegetative) and reproductive growth. However, direct evidence for an anticipated trade-off between photosynthesis and reproduction is lacking in any plant lineage. Ferns allocate leaf space and resources to both photosynthesis and reproduction, potentially leading to competition for leaf resources between stomatal pores and reproductive spores. We hypothesized that a trade-off between stomatal density (StD; a proxy for photosynthetic capacity) and sporangial density (SpD; a measure of fertility) has evolved in monomorphic ferns due to the common space, time and resource constraints imposed by a highly conserved and globally low leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns, where any increase in LMA indicated greater construction cost and longer leaf lifespan. We measured LMA, StD and SpD in 40 fern species in India that represented both monomorphic and dimorphic conditions from both terrestrial and epiphytic habits. Both StD and SpD showed a 50-fold range in monomorphic species whereas LMA was more conserved (six-fold range). LMA of terrestrial ferns was significantly lower than that of epiphytic ferns. Linear regression between LMA and StD was significantly positive in dimorphic terrestrial ferns (showing the lowest LMA among all ferns) and significantly negative in monomorphic epiphytic ferns (showing the highest LMA among all ferns). Dimorphic terrestrial ferns were highly fecund on their fertile leaves and showed a significantly higher StD to LMA ratio on their sterile leaves compared to monomorphic terrestrial ferns. Dimorphic ferns seem to maximize both StD and SpD by physical separation of photosynthesis and reproduction, and their characteristically low LMA (shorter leaf lifespan = smaller time window) potentially selects for high StD and high fertility. The regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns was significantly linear and positive, although comparisons among closely related species (within families) showed negative correlations when both StD and SpD were high, captured also by a significant quadratic regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns. Monomorphic terrestrial species bearing more spores per stomata showed relatively low LMA whereas those producing fewer spores per stomata possessed leaves with relatively high LMA. Monomorphic epiphytes produced as many spores as terrestrial species but showed significantly low StD for their high LMA. We discuss the evolutionary reasons behind these trends and conclude that monomorphic terrestrial ferns with high LMA (long leaf lifespan) tend to prioritize photosynthesis over reproduction, while monomorphic epiphytes (always high LMA) are significantly more fertile for lower photosynthesis. The role of LMA in framing the rules of competition between stomata and sporangia in monomorphic ferns provides a template for how photosynthesis may directly or indirectly influence reproductive strategies (and vice versa) in all land plants.

scholarly journals Climatic factors shaping intraspecific leaf trait variation of a neotropical tree along a rainfall gradient

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. e0208512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus L. Souza ◽  
Alexandre A. Duarte ◽  
Maria B. Lovato ◽  
Marcilio Fagundes ◽  
Fernando Valladares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Neotropical Tree

Topography consistently drives intra‐ and inter‐specific leaf trait variation within tree species complexes in a Neotropical forest

Oikos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (10) ◽  
pp. 1521-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Schmitt ◽  
Bruno Hérault ◽  
Émilie Ducouret ◽  
Anne Baranger ◽  
Niklas Tysklind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Neotropical Forest ◽  
Species Complexes

scholarly journals Research in Forest Biology in the Era of Climate Change and Rapid Urbanization

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Nancai Pei ◽  
W. John Kress
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Plant Environment ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Generate Plant ◽  
Forest Biology ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Forest Habitats

Green plants provide the foundation for the structure, function, and interactions among organisms in both tropical and temperate zones. To date, many investigations have revealed patterns and mechanisms that generate plant diversity at various scales and from diverse ecological perspectives. However, in the era of climate change, anthropogenic disturbance, and rapid urbanization, new insights are needed to understand how plant species in these forest habitats are changing and adapting. Here, we recognize four themes that link studies from Asia and Europe presented in this Special Issue: (1) genetic analyses of diverse plant species; (2) above- and below-ground forest biodiversity; (3) trait expression and biological mechanisms; and (4) interactions of woody plants within a changing environment. These investigations enlarge our understanding of the origins of diversity, trait variation and heritability, and plant–environment interactions from diverse perspectives.

scholarly journals Evaluating different methods for retrieving intraspecific leaf trait variation from hyperspectral leaf reflectance

2021 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 108111
Author(s):  
Kenny Helsen ◽  
Leonardo Bassi ◽  
Hannes Feilhauer ◽  
Teja Kattenborn ◽  
Hajime Matsushima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Reflectance ◽  
Leaf Trait

Within-species leaf trait variation and ecological flexibility in resprouting tropical trees

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl F. Salk
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Neotropical Tree ◽  
Ecological Flexibility

Plants have an inherent flexibility to respond to different environmental conditions. One axis of plant ecophysiological strategy is seen in the spectrum of leaf functional traits. Flexibility in these traits would be suggestive of plants’ phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental changes. This research seeks to identify differences between leaves of sprout and non-sprout shoots of a broad ecological range of neotropical tree species. Using a functional-trait approach, this study assesses a large pool of species for within-species physiological flexibility. Leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf area were measured for plants of sprout and non-sprout origin for 26 tree species grown in a reforestation plantation in Panama. Sprouts had a consistently lower LMA than non-sprouts, but there was no consistent pattern for leaf area. These trends show that sprouts are more like pioneer species than conspecific saplings, a finding in general agreement with fast sprout growth seen in previous studies. Further, later-successional (high LMA) species showed a greater reduction of LMA in sprouts. These results show that tropical tree species adjust physiologically to changing ecological roles and suggest that certain species may be more resilient than realized to changing climate and disturbance patterns.

Patterns and correlates of interspecific variation in foliar insect herbivory and pathogen attack in Brazilian cerrado

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT J. MARQUIS ◽  
IVONE R. DINIZ ◽  
HELENA C. MORAIS
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Mature Leaf ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Leaf Production ◽  
Leaf Toughness ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Pathogen Attack

Patterns of insect herbivore and leaf pathogen attack are described for 25 plant species (10 trees, 10 shrubs and five herbs) at a Brazilian savanna (cerrado) site. Plant and leaf traits were correlated with interspecific variation in attack by herbivores and pathogens in order to account for differences among plant species. Across all species, pathogen damage was 1.5 times higher than insect damage (17.3% vs. 6.8%, respectively). Most insect damage occurred to young leaves while they were expanding (end of the dry season). In contrast, pathogen attack was low on young expanding leaves at the end of the dry season, increased as those leaves matured in the wet season, but continued to increase through the next dry season. Protein-binding capacity was negatively associated with interspecific differences in insect damage to mature leaves. Protein availability and plant height were positive predictors of pathogen attack among plant species, while leaf expansion rate was a significant negative predictor. Interspecific differences in leaf phenology had little effect on the amount of damage caused by either insects or pathogens. However, new leaves produced during the wet season suffered less insect damage than leaves produced during the dry season, the time of greatest leaf production. Timing of young leaf production affected pathogen attack but the season of escape depended on plant species. In contrast, there was no evidence for escape in space as common species were less likely to suffer high pathogen attack than rare species. New and mature leaf toughness, and time for a leaf to reach full expansion all increased from herbs to shrub to trees, while mature leaf nitrogen decreased in that order.

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