Intraspecific trait variation and allocation strategies of calcareous grassland species: Results from a restoration experiment

Andrade, Bianca Ott; Overbeck, Gerhard E.; Pilger, Gabriele E.; Hermann, Julia‐Maria; Conradi, Timo; Boldrini, Ilsi Iob; Kollmann, Johannes

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2014.08.007

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…), the latter occurring because interspecific trait variation is most often larger than intraspecific trait variation, as has also been observed at our study site (Andrade et al. ).…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 85%

Impacts of visitor trampling on the taxonomic and functional community structure of calcareous grassland

Conradi

Strobl

Wurfer

et al. 2015

Applied Vegetation Science

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Question: Does long-term visitor trampling close to hiking trails affect the taxonomic and functional composition and diversity of a calcareous grassland, thus reducing its nature conservation value?Location: Ancient calcareous grassland (nature reserve Garchinger Heide) in the Munich Gravel Plain, south Germany.Methods: We sampled plant species composition at four distance classes representing different trampling intensities along replicated transects running perpendicular to 20-yr-old hiking trails in the nature reserve. We used a combination of distance-based multivariate methods and a series of univariate tests to study the effects of trampling on a number of conservation-relevant aspects of taxonomic and functional plant community composition and diversity.Results: The different trampling intensities led to a significant variation in plant species composition that was driven by trait-mediated responses, mainly of traits related to dispersal and regeneration, but these patterns only occurred close to the trails (<1.5 m). Except directly on the trails, species richness, the number of habitat specialists and threatened species, as well as Functional Richness were not or marginally affected by trampling. Multivariate dispersion within levels of trampling intensities and evenness, the latter measured for either species or traits, remained constant across the gradient of trampling intensity.Conclusions: Even after 20 yr of exposure to different intensities of trampling, calcareous grassland vegetation showed only few and spatially limited compositional responses, while its nature conservation value was not affected. Therefore, marked hiking trails are a good compromise between meeting the needs for recreation and environmental education, and the conservation of threatened habitat specialists and should be preferred to alternatives such as undirected access that would result in spatially extensive changes in community structure.

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“…), the latter occurring because interspecific trait variation is most often larger than intraspecific trait variation, as has also been observed at our study site (Andrade et al. ).…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 85%

Impacts of visitor trampling on the taxonomic and functional community structure of calcareous grassland

Conradi

Strobl

Wurfer

et al. 2015

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…), mainly because interspecific trait variability is most often larger than intraspecific variation, as has also been demonstrated for this system in our study areas by Andrade et al . ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Species pools and environmental sorting control different aspects of plant diversity and functional trait composition in recovering grasslands

Conradi

Kollmann

2016

Journal of Ecology

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1. Succession theory argues that the taxonomic and functional structure of assembling communities is regulated by the interplay of local environmental conditions and regional factors such as available species pools or landscape configurations that moderate dispersal. Yet, the relative importance of these factors and whether they control different aspects of community structure, for example species diversity or the composition of plant traits, is not well understood. This limits predictions of spatial variation in successional outcomes. 2. We explored patterns of species diversity and traits in recovering calcareous grasslands that varied in environmental conditions, age, past and present spatial landscape configuration, as well as in the propagule pressure they receive from historical grasslands that have large and functionally distinct species pools. Mixed-effects modelling and multimodel inference were used to dissect the leading drivers of species diversity and functional composition. 3. Propagule pressure from the regional species pools of old grasslands during early stages of grassland re-assembly was an important determinant of community structure, with significant effects not only on species diversity but also on the composition of traits related to resource economics. Such species pool effects exceeded positive influences of environmental heterogeneity on species richness and confounded well-known diversity-environment and trait-environment relationships. 4. As an orthogonal axis of community assembly, environmental sorting occurred along a gradient of soil texture that discriminated species according to their canopy height andto a smaller extentphenology. Additionally, high grassland perimeter-area ratios favoured specialist species richness and increased the proportion of species with predicted poor epizoochorous and wind dispersal. 5. Synthesis. We provide empirical evidence that both species pool effects and local environmental sorting operate during community assembly of recovering calcareous grasslands, but that they influence different aspects of plant community structure. Further, we show that geographic variation in propagule pressure from large and functionally distinct source species pools can confound diversityenvironment and trait-environment relationships. Therefore, besides accounting for environmental factors, considering the location of source species pools, as well as their compositional and functional characteristics, is a prerequisite for robust predictions of contingencies in taxonomic and functional community structure of successional habitats.

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“…As secondary roots only established under control treatment conditions, we were unable to document plasticity of SRL and RTD in secondary roots. Results from other studies of primary root growth in species of Festuca indicate that plasticity of SRL in secondary roots in response to drought is higher than in primary roots (Sun et al 2013;Andrade et al 2014), a relationships that needs further investigation. The finding of higher RTD and SRL of primary roots compared with secondary roots is in line with other studies (Kong et al 2010).…”

Section: Morphological Plasticitymentioning

confidence: 94%

Root growth plasticity to drought in seedlings of perennial grasses

2019

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Aim Root growth strategies may be critical for seeding survival and establishment under dry conditions, but these strategies and their plasticity are little known. We aim to document the ability of young grass seedlings to adjust their root system architecture, root morphology and biomass allocation to roots to promote water uptake and survival under progressive drought. Methods Seedlings growing in columns filled with sand and exposed to drought or well-watered controls were repeatedly harvested for determination of biomass fractions, root length, −architecture and-morphology in a greenhouse experiment. Allometric scaling exponents and standardised major axis regression were used to investigate allocation patterns. Results Young seedlings were able to sustain leaf turgor and functions during eight weeks of progressive drought through phenotypic plasticity of the primary root system producing deeper and simpler roots. Biomass allocation to roots decreased or did not respond, and other components of root morphology showed only moderate plasticity. Conclusion Our results suggest that morphological and architectural plasticity of the primary root system may well be key features for dehydration avoidance and survival in grass seedlings under moderate drought when allocation of biomass to roots and development of secondary roots are constrained.

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Intraspecific trait variation and allocation strategies of calcareous grassland species: Results from a restoration experiment

Cited by 13 publications

References 36 publications

Impacts of visitor trampling on the taxonomic and functional community structure of calcareous grassland

Impacts of visitor trampling on the taxonomic and functional community structure of calcareous grassland

Species pools and environmental sorting control different aspects of plant diversity and functional trait composition in recovering grasslands

Root growth plasticity to drought in seedlings of perennial grasses

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