Morphological, physiological and anatomical traits of plant functional types in temperate grasslands along a large-scale aridity gradient in northeastern China

Abstract

At the species level, plants can respond to climate changes by changing their leaf traits; however, there is scant information regarding the responses of morphological, physiological and anatomical traits of plant functional types (PFTs) to aridity. Herein, the leaf traits of five PFTs representing 17 plant species in temperate grasslands were examined along a large-scale aridity gradient in northeastern China. The results show that leaf thickness in shrubs, perennial grasses and forbs increased with heightened aridity. Trees increased soluble sugar content, but shrubs, perennials and annual grasses enhanced proline accumulation due to increasing aridity. Moreover, vessel diameter and stomatal index in shrubs and perennial grasses decreased with increasing aridity, but stomatal density and vascular diameter of five PFTs were not correlated with water availability. In conclusion, divergences in adaptive strategies to aridity among these PFTs in temperate grasslands were likely caused by differences in their utilization of water resources, which have different temporal and spatial distribution patterns. Leaf traits of shrubs and perennial grasses had the largest responses to variability of aridity through regulation of morphological, physiological and anatomical traits, which was followed by perennial forbs. Trees and annual grasses endured aridity only by adjusting leaf physiological processes.

Genetic variability and heritability of some morphological and physiological traits in Fagus orientalis Lipsky along an elevation gradient in Hyrcanian forests

“…This result is consistent with the findings reported in previous studies (Chapolagh Paridari et al, 2013;Gratani et al, 2012). Also, this result is consistent with the findings of Guo et al (2017), which showed an opposite pattern in SDW and RWC values in the shrubs along elevation gradients. Poulos et al (2012) showed that RWC changed more within elevation gradients for four pine species.…”

Traits link drought resistance with herbivore defence and plant economics in semi‐arid grasslands: The central roles of phenology and leaf dry matter content

“…Thus, these traits appear to be good proxies for drought tolerance in these grasslands. Leaf thickness can influence leaf N•area −1 and water use efficiency (Wright, Reich, & Westoby, 2003), and increases with increasing aridity (Guo, Ma, Yuan, & Wang, 2017;Niinemets, 2001). High leaf pubescence increases reflectance of solar radiation, minimizing the need for transpirational cooling; it can also increase resistance of the leaf boundary layer to diffusion, thereby minimizing water vapour movement away from the leaf surface (Skelton, Midgley, Nyaga, Johnson, & Cramer, 2012).…”

Intraspecific Trait Variability in Andropogon gerardii, a Dominant Grass Species in the US Great Plains

“…Plant functional traits (PFTs) are commonly used to identify species' differences in growth, allocation, and competition in relation to environmental effects to reflect plant economics (Grime, 1979;Edwards et al, 2007;Guo et al, 2017;Volaire, 2018). PFTs represent morphological and physiological adaptations that often predict plant responses to biotic (competition, herbivory, etc.…”