scholarly journals Changes in leaf functional traits of the endangered plant Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes with plant growth and development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-Qing Chen ◽  
Shoupeng Guan ◽  
Mengya Geng ◽  
Kun Lv ◽  
Yongwen Huang
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Investment Strategy ◽  
Leaf Water Content ◽  
Endangered Plant ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Adult Plants

Abstract Background: Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes H. T. Chang is a rare and endangered plant distributed only in the high mountains of southeastern China. In order to reveal the variation in leaf functional traits and plant investment strategies with the change of growth and developmental stages of this species, the leaf functional traits and the trait syndrome including leaf thickness (LT), leaf area (LA), leaf water content (LWC), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf total nitrogen content (LNC), and leaf total phosphorus content (LPC) of plants at different growth and developmental stages were investigated. Results:The leaf functional traits of the plants significantly differed at different developmental stages. LT and LA of the plants increased during growth and development. LT and LA of the adult plants were 36.65% and 84.23% higher than those of the seedlings, respectively. In contrast, SLA, LWC, LNC, and LPC decreased, and in adult plants they were 48.91%, 6.63%, 8.49%, and 34.66% lower, respectively, than in seedlings. Principal component analysis showed that as the plants developed, the trait syndrome changed toward increasing LT and LA and decreasing LWC, SLA, LNC, and LPC.Conclusions:The characteristics of leaf functional traits and trait syndromes changed across different stages of growth and development. The investment strategy changed from fast return to slow return as the plant grew and developed.

scholarly journals Leaf Functional Traits Are Related to Tree Size and Location in Cotton Trees Bombax malabaricum

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 194008292091686
Author(s):  
Lingcong Liao ◽  
Huan Jiang ◽  
Wenxing Long ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Yikang Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Guard Cell ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Ecological Strategy ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
High Age ◽  
Variation Of Functional

Exploring intraspecific variation of functional traits of different sizes and ecogeographical regions is important to understand the adaptation strategies of tree populations to their environments. In this study, we explored the variation and bivariate relationships of 16 functional traits of 30 trees of Bombax malabaricum across 5 geographical regions in Hainan Island and between large- and small-sized tree populations. Principal component analysis showed that leaf thickness (LTh), guard cell length, and lower epidermis (LE) thickness were the key functional traits implicated in varying ecological strategies of B. malabaricum. A significant variation was found in the key functional traits including LE thickness, LTh, and guard cell (GCL) in populations across different ecogeographical regions. However, the LE and LTh vary significantly between the large- and small-sized trees. The LTh and LE thickness also showed an allometric relationship across different geographical regions and tree sizes. Hence, it was concluded that trees vary their ecological strategy according to their ontological developments across environments. Moreover, adaptation strategies of large-sized trees differing from small-sized ones highlight the fact that priority should be taken to conserve the trees with high age.

scholarly journals Functional traits of broad-leaved monocot herbs in the understory and forest edges of a Costa Rican rainforest

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9958
Author(s):  
Philip W. Rundel ◽  
Arielle M. Cooley ◽  
Katharine L. Gerst ◽  
Erin C. Riordan ◽  
M. Rasoul Sharifi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Light Limitation ◽  
Leaf Water Content ◽  
Simple Explanation ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Understory Herbs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Herb Species

Broad-leaved monocot herbs are widespread and dominant components of the shaded understories of wet neotropical forests. These understory habitats are characterized by light limitation and a constant threat of falling branches. Many shaded understory herb species have close relatives that occupy forest edges and gaps, where light availability is higher and defoliation threat is lower, creating an opportunity for comparative analysis of functional traits in order to better understand the evolutionary adaptations associated with this habitat transition. We documented ecological, morphological and ecophysiological traits of multiple herb species in six monocot families from each of these two habitats in the wet tropical rainforest at the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We found that a mixture of phylogenetic canalization and ecological selection for specific habitats helped explain patterns of functional traits. Understory herbs were significantly shorter and had smaller leaves than forest edge species. Although the mean number of leaves per plant and specific leaf area did not differ between the two groups, the larger leaf size of forest edge species gave them more than three times the mean plant leaf area. Measures of leaf water content and nitrogen content varied within both groups and mean values were not significantly different. Despite the high leaf nitrogen contents, the maximum photosynthetic rates of understory herbs were quite low. Measures of δ13C as an analog of water use efficiency found significantly lower (more negative) values in understory herbs compared to forest edge species. Clonality was strongly developed in several species but did not show strong phylogenetic patterns. This study highlights many functional traits that differ between broad-leaved monocot species characteristic of understory and forest edge habitats, as well as traits that vary primarily by phylogenetic relatedness. Overall, plant functional traits do not provide a simple explanation for the relative differences in abundance for individual understory and forest edge species with some occurring in great abundance while others are relatively rare.

scholarly journals Divergent Strategies of Epiphytic Pteridophytes and Angiosperms Responding to Dry and Wet Seasons in a Tropical Cloud Forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 194008292092008
Author(s):  
Xuanru Li ◽  
Wenxing Long ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Yikang Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Leaf Water Content ◽  
Tissue Thickness ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Tropical Cloud Forest

Epiphyte is a unique component of forest diversity vulnerable to changing environments. Characterizing variations in functional traits of epiphytes across dry and wet seasons can enhance our understanding their strategies to environments. We measured and assessed variations of 14 leaf functional traits responding to water conditions for epiphytic pteridophytes (EP) and epiphytic angiosperms (EA) across dry and wet seasons in a tropical cloud forest. Results showed that leaf dry weight (LDW) and stomatal length (SL) of EP were significantly higher than EA, while leaf water content (LWC) of EA was significantly higher than EP. The SL, stomatal density (SD), upper epidermis thickness (UET), lower epidermis thickness (LET), palisade tissue thickness (PT), spongy tissue thickness (ST), and leaf thickness (LT) of EP and EA were significantly higher in wet season than dry season. The variance of stomatal and anatomical traits explained by season types (0.24–0.78) was higher than plant groups (0.0–0.25), while the variance of LDW and LWC explained by plant groups (0.12–0.40) was higher than season types (0.0–0.29). Principal component analysis and correlation analyses showed that SL, stomatal index, UET, ST, LET, and LT were the key traits reflecting epiphyte adaptation to dry season, as well as that LWC and leaf density were the key traits in wet season. Our results suggest that the different taxonomic groups exhibit divergent strategies responding to water differences. Great variations in leaf traits to dry seasons are predicted that vascular epiphytes, especially pteridophytes, are prone to disappear with drought events.

Functional traits of tree saplings and adults in a tropical cloud forest restoration context

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-85
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Williams-Linera ◽  
Avril Manrique-Ascencio
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
N Content

Background: The use of tree species’ functional traits is a promising approach in forest restoration. However, some traits may change during ontogeny. Questions: Does intraspecific variation in functional traits occur between sapling and adult stages? Do groups of species can be delimited based on functional traits regardless of their ontogenetic stage? Study sites and dates: Cloud forest restoration, Veracruz, Mexico, 2016. Methods: Saplings and adults of eight native tree species in different age plantations were measured for leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal density (SD), foliar nutrient content (C, N, P) and relative growth rate (RGR). Wood density (WD) was measured for adults. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Overall, SLA was higher in saplings than in adults. A few species showed intraspecific variation for LA (three species), SD (three) and foliar N content (one). Species with high WD (Quercus spp.) and intermediate WD (e.g. Liquidambar styraciflua) tended to have lower LA and SLA, and higher SD. Species with low WD (e.g. Heliocarpus donnellsmithii) had high SLA, RGR, and N content. PCA highlighted that saplings and adults of a same species were close to each other within the ordination space.  Conclusions: Intraspecific variation between saplings and adults was small for most traits (except SLA) in comparison to differences across species. Therefore species trait values (measured in individuals of any age) could be a useful tool to characterize groups of species during the forest restoration trajectory.

scholarly journals Assessment of leaf morphological, physiological, chemical and stoichiometry functional traits for understanding the functioning of Himalayan temperate forest ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Rawat ◽  
Kusum Arunachalam ◽  
Ayyandar Arunachalam ◽  
Juha M. Alatalo ◽  
Rajiv Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Chemical Factors ◽  
Temperate Forest Ecosystem

AbstractLeaf functional traits support plant survival and growth in different stress and disturbed conditions and respond according to leaf habit. The present study examined 13 leaf traits (3 morphological, 3 chemical, 5 physiological, and 2 stoichiometry) of nine dominant forest tree species (3 coniferous, 3 deciduous broad-leaved, 3 evergreen broad-leafed) to understand the varied response of leaf habits. The hypothesis was to test if functional traits of the conifers, deciduous and evergreen differ significantly in the temperate forest and to determine the applicability of leaf economic theory i.e., conservative vs. acquisitive resource investment, in the temperate Himalayan region. The attributes of the functional traits i.e., leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf water content (LWC), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration (E) followed the order deciduous > evergreen > coniferous. Leaf carbon and leaf C/N ratio showed the opposite pattern, coniferous > evergreen > deciduous. Chlorophyll (Chl) and photosynthetic rate (A) were highest for evergreen species, followed by deciduous and coniferous species. Also, structural equation modelling determined that morphological factors were negatively related to physiological and positively with chemical factors. Nevertheless, physiological and chemical factors were positively related to each other. The physiological traits were mainly regulated by stomatal conductance (Gs) however the morphological traits were determined by LDMC. Stoichiometry traits, such as leaf C/N, were found to be positively related to leaf carbon, and leaf N/P was found to be positively related to leaf nitrogen. The result of the leaf functional traits relationship would lead to precise prediction for the functionality of the temperate forest ecosystem at the regional scale.

Mistletoes and their eucalypt hosts differ in the response of leaf functional traits to climatic moisture supply

Oecologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 759-771
Author(s):  
Jeannine H. Richards ◽  
Jonathan J. Henn ◽  
Quinn M. Sorenson ◽  
Mark A. Adams ◽  
Duncan D. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Moisture Supply

scholarly journals Functional Trait Responses to Strip Clearcutting in a Moso Bamboo Forest

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 793
Author(s):  
Yaxiong Zheng ◽  
Fengying Guan ◽  
Shaohui Fan ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Xiong Jing
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Moso Bamboo ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Functional Features

Functional characteristics reflect plant strategies and adaptability to the changing environment. Determining the dynamics of these characteristics after harvesting would improve the understanding of forest response strategies. Strip clearcutting (SC) of moso bamboo forests, which significantly reduces the cutting cost, has been proposed to replace manual selective harvesting. A comparison of restoration features shows that 8 m is the optimal cutting width. However, the precise response of functional features to the resulting harvest-created gap remains unclear. In this study, three SC plots were selected which was performed in February 2019, with three unharvested plots as a control (C). The study focused on 10 functional traits, including leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), nitrogen/phosphorus ratio (N:P), wood density (WD), fine root biomass (FRB), specific fine root length (SRL), and root length density (RLD). A one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences in functional traits and soil nutrients between treatments. Strip clearcutting significantly reduced the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents (p < 0.05). In terms of functional characteristics, SC significantly decreased LA and increased LNC, LPC, and N:P (p < 0.05). However, SC had no significant effect on fine root traits (p > 0.05). This study highlighted that root trait, soil content of total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) returned to the level of uncut plots after a year’s recovery. The LPC, LNC, and N:P were negatively correlated with LA, and LDMC and WD were negatively correlated with SLA, while the effect of SC on fine root traits was limited (p > 0.05). Fine root traits (FRB, RLD, and SRL) were positively associated with SOC, TN, and TP, but negatively correlated with TK. The changes in soil nutrient content caused by the removal of biomass were normal. Increased light and the rapid growth of new trees will increase nutrient regressions; therefore, these results further confirm the feasibility of SC.

scholarly journals Metabolic Profiling of Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) during Fruit Development and Maturation

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yawei Wu ◽  
Juan Xu ◽  
Yizhong He ◽  
Meiyan Shi ◽  
Xiumei Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Metabolic Profiling ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Potential Biomarker ◽  
Fruit Samples ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Hylocereus Polyrhizus

Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) has attracted much interest from consumers as it is a novelty fruit with high nutrient content and a tolerance to drought stress. As a group of attractive pigment- and health-promoting natural compounds, betalains represent a visual feature for pitaya fruit quality. However, little information on the correlation between betalains and relevant metabolites exists so far. Currently, color (Commission International del’Eclairage, CIE) parameters, betalain contents, and untargeted metabolic profiling (gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry, GC–MS and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, LC–MS) have been examined on ‘Zihonglong’ fruits at nine different developmental stages, and the variation character of the metabolite contents was simultaneously investigated between peel and pulp. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to explore metabolite profiles from the fruit samples. Our results demonstrated that the decrease of amino acid, accompanied by the increase of sugars and organic acid, might contribute to the formation of betalains. Notably, as one of four potential biomarker metabolites, citramalic acid might be related to betalain formation.

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