Megafauna biogeography explains plant functional trait variability in the tropics

Abstract Although widely used in ecology, trait-based approaches are seldom applied to study agroecosystems. In particular, how functional trait variability among varieties of a crop species compares to the variability among wild plant species and how variety selection can modify trait syndromes needs to be evaluated. Here, we quantified 18 above- and belowground functional traits for 57 varieties of common wheat, representative of different modern selection histories. We compared trait variability between varieties and between Pooideae species and analyzed the effect of selection histories on trait values and trait syndromes. For traits under strong selection, trait variability among varieties was less than 10% of the variability observed between Pooideae species. But for traits not directly selected like root N uptake capacities, the variability was up to 75% of the variability among Pooideae species. Ammonium absorption capacity by roots was counter-selected for conventional varieties as compared to organic varieties and landraces. Artificial selection also altered some trait syndromes classically reported for Pooideae. Identifying traits for which high or low variability is present among varieties and characterizing the hidden effects of selection on trait values and syndromes will benefit the selection of varieties to be used especially for lower N input agroecosystems.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Plant functional trait change across a warming tundra biome.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.734077082.793556989 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Benjamin Poulter

Keyword(s):

Functional Trait ◽

Plant Functional Trait

Download Full-text

Leaf Traits of Trees in Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests of Peninsular India

Ecologies ◽

10.3390/ecologies2030015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 268-284

Author(s):

Muthulingam Udayakumar ◽

Thangavel Sekar

Keyword(s):

Negative Relationship ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Matter Content ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Plant Functional Trait

A plant functional trait study was conducted to know the existing relationship between important leaf traits namely, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf life span (LL) in tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEFs) of Peninsular India. Widely accepted methodologies were employed to record functional traits. The relationships between SLA and LDMC, LDMC and LL, and SLA and LL were measured. Pearson’s coefficient of correlation showed a significant negative relationship between SLA and LDMC, and SLA and LL, whereas a significant positive relationship was prevailed between LDMC and LL. The mean trait values (SLA, LDMC, and LL) of evergreens varied significantly from deciduous species. SLA had a closer relationship with LDMC than LL. Similarly, LL had a closer relationship with SLA than LDMC. Species with evergreen leaf habits dominated forest sites under study. Evergreen species dominate the study area with a high evergreen-deciduous ratio of 5.34:1. The S strategy score of trees indicated a relatively higher biomass allocation to persistent tissues. TDEFs occur in low elevation, semiarid environment, but with the combination of oligotrophic habitat, high temperature and longer dry season these forests were flourishing as a unique evergreen ecosystem in the drier environment. The relationships found between leaf traits were in concurrence with earlier findings. Trees of TDEFs survive on the poor-nutrient habitat with a low SLA, high LDMC, and LL. This study adds baseline data on key leaf traits to plant functional trait database of India.

Download Full-text

Plant functional trait approach to assess the persistence of seismic line footprint in boreal peatlands of Alberta, Canada

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119751 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 503 ◽

pp. 119751

Author(s):

Anna Dabros ◽

Kellina L. Higgins ◽

Kierann Santala ◽

Isabelle Aubin

Keyword(s):

Functional Trait ◽

Seismic Line ◽

Plant Functional Trait ◽

Boreal Peatlands

Download Full-text

Phenotypic plasticity can reverse the relative extent of intra- and interspecific variability across a thermal gradient

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2021.0428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 288 (1953) ◽

pp. 20210428

Author(s):

Staffan Jacob ◽

Delphine Legrand

Keyword(s):

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Thermal Gradient ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Interspecific Variability ◽

Ciliate Species ◽

Relative Extent ◽

Trait Variability

Intra- and interspecific variability can both ensure ecosystem functions. Generalizing the effects of individual and species assemblages requires understanding how much within and between species trait variation is genetically based or results from phenotypic plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity can indeed lead to rapid and important changes of trait distributions, and in turn community functionality, depending on environmental conditions, which raises a crucial question: could phenotypic plasticity modify the relative importance of intra- and interspecific variability along environmental gradients? We quantified the fundamental niche of five genotypes in monocultures for each of five ciliate species along a wide thermal gradient in standardized conditions to assess the importance of phenotypic plasticity for the level of intraspecific variability compared to differences between species. We showed that phenotypic plasticity strongly influences trait variability and reverses the relative extent of intra- and interspecific variability along the thermal gradient. Our results show that phenotypic plasticity may lead to either increase or decrease of functional trait variability along environmental gradients, making intra- and interspecific variability highly dynamic components of ecological systems.

Download Full-text