Differential effects of elevation on leaf size of overstorey and understorey species in a temperate rainforest

Nichlos, Steffany A.; Wilson, Clara Renée; Lusk, Christopher H.

doi:10.1080/0028825x.2019.1567558

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The leaf water content in our study plants does not change with elevation, and the patterns in leaf water content observed in our gradients are not associated with herbivory. Leaf area is the only trait that consistently decreases in our plants with an increase in elevation, in line with Nichlos et al ( 2019 ), who explained this decrease using the leaf energy balance theory. The decrease in leaf area was consistent for the community‐wide and species‐specific values, in line with the conclusion by Read et al ( 2014 ) that the abiotic environment in high‐elevation sites imposes selection for both small‐leaved genotypes and small‐leaved species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Elevational changes in insect herbivory on woody plants in six mountain ranges of temperate Eurasia: Sources of variation

Kozlov

Zverev

Zvereva

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Current theory predicts that the intensity of biotic interactions, particularly herbivory, decreases with increasing latitude and elevation. However, recent studies have revealed substantial variation in both the latitudinal and elevational patterns of herbivory. This variation is often attributed to differences in study design and the type of data collected by different researchers. Here, we used a similar sampling protocol along elevational gradients in six mountain ranges, located at different latitudes within temperate Eurasia, to uncover the sources of variation in elevational patterns in insect herbivory on woody plant leaves. We discovered a considerable variation in elevational patterns among different mountain ranges; nevertheless, herbivory generally decreased with increasing elevation at both the community‐wide and individual plant species levels. This decrease was mostly due to openly living defoliators, whereas no significant association was detected between herbivory and elevation among insects living within plant tissues (i.e., miners and gallers). The elevational decrease in herbivory was significant for deciduous plants but not for evergreen plants, and for tall plants but not for low‐stature plants. The community‐wide herbivory increased with increases in both specific leaf area and leaf size. The strength of the negative correlation between herbivory and elevation increased from lower to higher latitudes. We conclude that despite the predicted overall decrease with elevation, elevational gradients in herbivory demonstrate considerable variation, and this variation is mostly associated with herbivore feeding habits, some plant traits, and latitude of the mountain range.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Elevational changes in insect herbivory on woody plants in six mountain ranges of temperate Eurasia: Sources of variation

Kozlov

Zverev

Zvereva

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…This result was opposite to hypothesis #2. It is in contrast to a study on trees in a temperate rainforest along an elevation gradient in New Zealand [45] as well as an investigation of herbarium specimens from eight tree species in China sampled at different latitudes (~20 to 40 • N) and prevailing temperatures [46]. The conflicting results on leaf size may be a result of interacting effects of temperature and water limitations on leaf size [44].…”

Section: Leaf Size and Leaf Width To Length Response To Warmingmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…These conflicting influences of temperature and drought on leaf size make it difficult to predict the net effect on leaf size in areas such as the tropics, where both factors are likely to increase in intensity in a changing climate. Generally, observed declines in leaf size with increasing elevation are driven by variation in both precipitation and temperature, but more so with the former [45,46]. In addition, there were significant spatial patterns in leaf shape, i.e., leaves became shorter and rounder towards cooler climates [44,46,47].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Warming Responses of Leaf Morphology Are Highly Variable among Tropical Tree Species

Manishimwe

Ntirugulirwa

Zibera

et al. 2022

Forests

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Leaf morphological traits vary along climate gradients, but it is currently unclear to what extent this results from acclimation rather than adaptation. Knowing so is important for predicting the functioning of long-lived organisms, such as trees, in a rapidly changing climate. We investigated the leaf morphological warming responses of 18 tropical tree species with early (ES) abd late (LS) successional strategies, planted at three sites along an elevation gradient from 2400 m a.s.l. (15.2 °C mean temperature) to 1300 m a.s.l. (20.6 °C mean temperature) in Rwanda. Leaf size expressed as leaf area (LA) and leaf mass per area (LMA) decreased, while leaf width-to-length ratio (W/L) increased with warming, but only for one third to half of the species. While LA decreased in ES species, but mostly not in LS species, changes in LMA and leaf W/L were common in both successional groups. ES species had lower LMA and higher LA and leaf W/L compared to LS species. Values of LMA and LA of juvenile trees in this study were mostly similar to corresponding data on four mature tree species in another elevation-gradient study in Rwanda, indicating that our results are applicable also to mature forest trees. We conclude that leaf morphological responses to warming differ greatly between both successional groups and individual species, with potential consequences for species competitiveness and community composition in a warmer climate.

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Photosynthesis, fluorescence, and nutrition of Zhonglan No. 2, a new alfalfa cultivar

Cui

Tian

et al. 2021

J Sci Food Agric

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BACKGROUND: The years after planting play an important role in the above-ground biomass and nutritive value of alfalfa. Zhonglan No. 2 (Medicago sativa L. cv. Zhonglan No. 2) is a new breeding alfalfa cultivar characterized by high drought tolerance and high yield. To determine the optimum time for utilization of Zhonglan No. 2, we examined growth traits, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, and composition and nutritive values at the late vegetative and early flowering stages of the first stubble in the second, third, fourth, sixth, and eleventh years after planting. RESULTS: In general, the height and leaf area decreased with increasing number of years after planting. At the late vegetative stage, the fourth-year alfalfa exhibited higher stomatal conductance (Gs) and intercellular CO 2 concentration (Ci), and better water use efficiency, and at the early flowering stage, the fourth-year alfalfa had the highest (P < 0.05) leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and carboxylation efficiency (CE). Total digestible nutrients did not differ among years, but, in the early flowering stage, crude protein content decreased with years (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and total antioxidant capacity did not differ among years after planting, suggesting aging did not impose oxidative stress on this alfalfa cultivar.CONCLUSIONS: Based on height, chlorophyll content, crude protein (CP) content, and photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, the fourth year after planting, at the early flowering stage, was the best for using Zhonglan No. 2.

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Differential effects of elevation on leaf size of overstorey and understorey species in a temperate rainforest

Cited by 5 publications

References 30 publications

Elevational changes in insect herbivory on woody plants in six mountain ranges of temperate Eurasia: Sources of variation

Elevational changes in insect herbivory on woody plants in six mountain ranges of temperate Eurasia: Sources of variation

Warming Responses of Leaf Morphology Are Highly Variable among Tropical Tree Species

Photosynthesis, fluorescence, and nutrition of Zhonglan No. 2, a new alfalfa cultivar

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