scholarly journals Trait-based plant ecology a flawed tool in climate studies? The leaf traits of wild olive that pattern with climate are not those routinely measured

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. e0219908
Author(s):  
Jalal Kassout ◽  
Jean-Frederic Terral ◽  
John G. Hodgson ◽  
Mohammed Ater
2008 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 319-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Wilf

The great bulk of the angiosperm fossil record consists of isolated fossil leaves that preserve abundant shape and venation (leaf architectural) information but are difficult to identify because they are not attached to other plant organs. Thus, poor taxonomic knowledge has tempered the tremendous potential of fossil leaves for constructing finely resolved records of biodiversity through time, extinction and recovery, past climate change and biotic response, paleoecology, and plant-animal associations. Moreover, paleoecological and paleoclimatic interpretations of fossil leaves are in great need of new approaches. Recent work is rapidly increasing the scientific value of fossil angiosperm leaves through advances in traditional paleobotanical reconstruction, phylogenetic understanding of both leaf architecture and the response of leaf shape to climate, quantitative plant ecology using measurable, correlatable leaf traits, and improved understanding of insect leaf-feeding damage. These emerging areas offer many novel opportunities to link paleoecology and neoecology. Increased collaboration across traditionally separate research areas is critical to continued success.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Guzmán-Jacob ◽  
Patrick Weigelt ◽  
Dylan Craven ◽  
Gerhard Zotz ◽  
Thorsten Krömer ◽  
...  

This data paper describes a new, comprehensive database (BIOVERA-Epi) on species distributions and leaf functional traits of vascular epiphytes, a poorly studied plant group, along gradients of elevation and forest-use intensity in the central part of Veracruz State, Mexico. The distribution data includes frequencies of 271 vascular epiphyte species belonging to 92 genera and 23 families across 120 20 m × 20 m forest plots at eight study sites along an elevational gradient from sea level to 3500 m a.s.l. In addition, BIOVERA-Epi provides information on 1595 measurements of nine morphological and chemical leaf traits from 474 individuals and 102 species. For morphological leaf traits, we provide data on each sampled leaf. For chemical leaf traits, we provide data at the species level per site and land-use type. We also provide complementary information for each of the sampled plots and host trees. BIOVERA-Epi contributes to an emerging body of synthetic epiphytes studies combining functional traits and community composition. BIOVERA-Epi includes data on species frequency and leaf traits from 120 forest plots distributed along an elevational gradient including six different forest types and three levels of forest-use intensity. It will expand the breadth of studies on epiphyte diversity, conservation, and functional plant ecology in the Neotropics and will contribute to future synthetic studies on the ecology and diversity of tropical epiphyte assemblages.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Mattia Baltieri ◽  
Edy Fantinato ◽  
Silvia Del Vecchio ◽  
Gabriella Buffa

Trait-based studies have become extremely common in plant ecology. In this work we analysed intraspecific trait variation of Himantoglossum adriaticum, a European endemic orchid species of Community interest, to investigate whether different populations growing on managed and abandoned semi-natural dry grasslands show differences in the CSR strategy. In seven populations occurring in Veneto Region (NE Italy), we measured H. adriaticum maximum vegetative height, leaf traits (LA, LDMC, SLA) and calculated the CSR strategy. Through CCA we investigated the relationship between plant traits and both plant community attributes (cover and height of herbs and shrubs), and geomorphologic features (aspects and slope). PERMANOVA test was used to investigate if the CSR strategy of H. adriaticum varied according to the management regime. Results showed that individuals of H. adriaticum develop different strategies when growing in different habitats. Specifically, individuals growing in managed fully sunny dry grasslands reached higher vegetative height (MH), had lower values of SLA and a higher relative contribution of the C parameter than individuals growing in abandoned dry grasslands, which, on the contrary, were shorter, had higher values of SLA (and correspondingly lower values of LDMC) and a higher relative contribution of the R parameter. Further data on reproductive traits (e.g. fruit and seed-set) may corroborate our results. Although the number of individuals addressed in this study is rather low, and our conclusions may not be considered of general validity for the species, our study demonstrated the applicability of the CSR strategy scheme in detecting functional strategies at intraspecific level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Guzmán-Jacob ◽  
Patrick Weigelt ◽  
Dylan Craven ◽  
Gerhard Zotz ◽  
Thorsten Krömer ◽  
...  

This data paper describes a new, comprehensive database (BIOVERA-Epi) on species distributions and leaf functional traits of vascular epiphytes, a poorly studied plant group, along gradients of elevation and forest-use intensity in the central part of Veracruz State, Mexico. The distribution data include frequencies of 271 vascular epiphyte species belonging to 92 genera and 23 families across 120 20 m × 20 m forest plots at eight study sites along an elevational gradient from sea level to 3500 m a.s.l. In addition, BIOVERA-Epi provides information on 1595 measurements of nine morphological and chemical leaf traits from 474 individuals and 102 species. For morphological leaf traits, we provide data on each sampled leaf. For chemical leaf traits, we provide data at the species level per site and land-use type. We also provide complementary information for each of the sampled plots and host trees. BIOVERA-Epi contributes to an emerging body of synthetic epiphytes studies combining functional traits and community composition. BIOVERA-Epi includes data on species frequency and leaf traits from 120 forest plots distributed along an elevational gradient, including six different forest types and three levels of forest-use intensity. It will expand the breadth of studies on epiphyte diversity, conservation and functional plant ecology in the Neotropics and will contribute to future synthetic studies on the ecology and diversity of tropical epiphyte assemblages.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-213
Author(s):  
E. K. Espeland
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Trương Thị Hồng Hải ◽  
Nguyễn Thị Diệu Thể ◽  
Phan Thu Thảo

In order to establish the pure line of sponge gourd containing aroma feature, we selected the desirable inbred lines by using a self-pollinating method. The present study was investigated to estimate the morphological traits and fruit quality of 6 sponge gourd inbred lines which generated at 4th generation of an aroma Luffa accession B29 under plastic house conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, from May to November in 2016. Five plants per replication were examined. The results indicated that all inbred lines could grow well under plastic house conditions. The inbred lines had the same stem and leaf traits; whereas fruit shape, skin color and fruit veins color were observed differently among inbred lines. The aromatic trait was retained in all inbred lines either before or after cooking. The high yield was found in lines BC1 and BC2 by 10.1 tons/ha and 10.7 tons/ha, respectively. These inbred lines should be examined in open field condition to confirm the presence of aromatic trait and yield potential before completion of the procedures for recognition of new Luffa varieties.  


2011 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
O. I. Sumina

From 31 January to 2 February 2011 in St. Petersburg state University was held All-Russian conference "Development of geobotany: history and modernity" devoted to the 80 anniversary of the Department of geobotany and plant ecology of St. Petersburg state University and anniversaries of its teachers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1307-1314
Author(s):  
DANG Jing-Jing ◽  
◽  
ZHAO Cheng-Zhang ◽  
LI Yu ◽  
HOU Zhao-Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

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