Functional groups based on leaf physiology: are they spatially and temporally robust?

Foster, Tammy E.; Brooks, J. Renée

doi:10.1007/s00442-005-0043-2

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…We also examined whole‐plant traits including intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE) based on stable carbon (δ 13 C) isotopes (Brooks et al . ; Foster & Brooks ), and nitrogen (N) stable isotope discrimination relative to soil (Δ 15 N) – a metric of niche partitioning in nitrogen use strategies among plants (Nadelhoffer et al . ; Gubsch et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific variability and reaction norms of forest understorey plant species traits

et al. 2017

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Summary Trait‐based models of ecological communities typically assume intraspecific variation in functional traits is not important, although such variation can change species trait rankings along gradients in resources and environmental conditions, and thus influence community structure and function. We examined the degree of intraspecific relative to interspecific variation, and reaction norms of 11 functional traits for 57 forest understorey plant species, including: intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE), Δ15N, five leaf traits, two stem traits and two root traits along gradients in light, nitrogen, moisture and understorey cover. Our results indicate that interspecific trait variation exceeded intraspecific variation by at least 50% for most, but not all traits. Intraspecific variation in Δ15N, iWUE, leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and root traits was high (47–70%) compared with most leaf traits and stem traits (13–38%). Δ15N varied primarily along gradients in abiotic conditions, while light and understorey cover were relatively less important. Intrinsic water‐use efficiency was related primarily to light transmission, reflecting increases in photosynthesis relative to stomatal conductance. Leaf traits varied mainly as a function of light availability, with some reaction norms depending on understorey cover. Plant height increased with understorey cover, while stem‐specific density was related primarily to light. Resources, environmental conditions and understorey cover did not contribute strongly to the observed variation in root traits. Gradients in resources, environmental conditions and competition all appear to control intraspecific variability in most traits to some extent. However, our results suggest that species cross‐over (i.e. trait rank reversals) along the gradients measured here are generally not a concern. Intraspecific variability in understorey plant species traits can be considerable. However, trait data collected under a narrow range of environmental conditions appears sufficient to establish species rankings and scale between community and ecosystem levels using trait‐based models. Investigators may therefore focus on obtaining a sufficient sample size within a single set of conditions rather than characterizing trait variation across entire gradients to optimize sampling efforts. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12898/suppinfo is available for this article.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific variability and reaction norms of forest understorey plant species traits

et al. 2017

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“…Observed variation in traits between a priori functional groups might thus be the consequence of the taxonomic composition of each group (Foster and Brooks 2005). The objectives of this study are to test (a) the importance of taxonomic relatedness in root traits and functioning for three major plant families: Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae, representative of each of the classical a priori functional groups, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root traits and taxonomic affiliation of nine herbaceous species grown in glasshouse conditions

et al. 2008

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This study examines whether root traits differed between three major plant families (Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae) and whether they are related to root respiration and exudation. Nine traits related to biomass allocation, root topology, morphology, chemical composition and mycorrhizal colonisation were examined for nine C 3 herbaceous species grown in controlled conditions. Poaceae differed from Fabaceae for the whole set of root traits examined except mycorrhizal colonisation, while Asteraceae showed intermediate characteristics. As compared to Fabaceae, Poaceae allocated more biomass to roots; showed a more sparsely branched root system with a small average root diameter, a high root dry matter content and a low nitrogen concentration. Root respiration was weakly related to root mass ratio and root dry matter content; no significant relationship was found between root functions and root architecture or morphology. This study shows that plant classification based on taxonomic affiliation reflects differences in root system traits and functions. Whole root system traits do not allow strong predictions of root respiration and exudation, perhaps because these processes are more linked to fine root than to whole root system traits.

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“…Currently, using stable carbon isotopes to analyze intra-specific or inter-specific differences in photosynthetic and physiological characteristics, and understanding long-term WUE under different environmental conditions, the δ 13 C responses in plants to climatic variables have been hot topics in eco-physiological research (Ziegler 1995, Van de Water et al 2002, Máguas and Griffiths 2003, Foster and Brooks 2005.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foliar δ<sup>13</sup>C values of nine dominant species in the Loess Plateau of China

Zheng¹

2007

Photosynt.

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The foliar stable carbon isotope compositions (δ 13 C) of nine dominant species in seven sites, Yangling, Yongshou, Tongchuan, Fuxian, Ansai, Mizhi, and Shenmu, standing from the south to the north in the Loess Plateau of China were studied. The results showed that foliar δ 13 C values ranged from -22.61 to -30.73 ‰ with an average of -27.23 ‰ in 141 C 3 plant samples collected from the Loess Plateau. Foliar δ 13 C values varied significantly (p<0.001) among the nine C 3 species, which were Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosus Hu., Rubus parvifolius L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., Caragana korshinskii Kom., Lespedeza davurica (Laxm.) Schindl., Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb. var. incana Mattf., and Agropyron cristatum Gaertn. Comparatively, R. pseudoacacia, H. rhamnoides, and C. korshinskii had much higher δ 13 C values than the other six species, while A. sacrorum had the lowest δ 13 C value. There was no significant difference in foliar δ 13 C value among five species, P. tabulaeformis, Z. jujuba, R. parvifolius, L. davurica, and A. cristatum. Considering the life forms categorized from nine C 3 species, trees and shrubs had significantly higher δ 13 C values than herbs (p<0.001). The deciduous tree R. pseudoacacia had much higher δ 13 C value than the evergreen tree P. tabulaeformis (p<0.01). Among the four shrubs, foliar δ 13 C values in H. rhamnoides and C. korshinskii were markedly higher (p<0.01) than those in Z. jujuba and R. parvifolius. Among the three herbs, L. davurica and A. cristatum had significantly higher δ 13 C values than A. sacrorum (p<0.01). Leguminous species such as R. pseudoacacia, C. korshinskii, and L. davurica as well as a non-leguminous species with nitrogen-fixation capacity, H. rhamnoides, had higher δ 13 C values than other non-leguminous species with same life-form. The mean δ 13 C value increased by about 7 % from Yangling in the south to Shenmu in the north as climatic drought increased, and foliar δ 13 C values differed much (p<0.001) among the seven sites. For nine species in the Loess Plateau, foliar δ 13 C values were significantly and negatively (p<0.001) correlated with the mean annual precipitation, moreover, an increase of 100 mm in annual precipitation would result in a decrease of 1.2 ‰ in δ 13 C value.

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Functional groups based on leaf physiology: are they spatially and temporally robust?

Cited by 21 publications

References 37 publications

Intraspecific variability and reaction norms of forest understorey plant species traits

Intraspecific variability and reaction norms of forest understorey plant species traits

Root traits and taxonomic affiliation of nine herbaceous species grown in glasshouse conditions

Foliar δ<sup>13</sup>C values of nine dominant species in the Loess Plateau of China

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