Shoot flammability of vascular plants is phylogenetically conserved and related to habitat fire-proneness and growth form

Cui, Xinglei; Paterson, Adrian M.; Wyse, Sarah V.; Alam, Azharul; Maurin, Kévin J. L.; Pieper, Robin; Cubino, Josep Padullés; O'Connell, Dean M.; Donkers, Djessie; Bréda, Julien; Buckley, Hannah; Perry, George L.; Curran, Timothy J.

doi:10.1038/s41477-020-0635-1

Cited by 38 publications

(37 citation statements)

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“…Thus, although flammability is a compound trait affected by many functional traits, it retains phylogenetically conserved patterns. Phylogenetic analysis of the shoot flammability of 194 vascular plant species (from 72 families) showed a statistically significant phylogenetic signal in shoot flammability across the Trachaeophyta (Cui et al ., 2020), indicating that flammability was phylogenetically conserved at higher taxonomic levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…D. fiordense ) could not be ignited (Table S1). The existence of high flammability among Dracophyllum species confirms that high flammability species can occur in communities that rarely experience fire (Bowman et al ., 2014; Calitz et al ., 2015; Wyse et al ., 2016; Cui et al ., 2020). Despite the wide variation in the genus, shoot flammability was generally more similar in close relatives than distant relatives (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, a weak phylogenetic signal suggests that a trait varies randomly across the phylogeny, implying that the trait is not passed down from ancestors (Kamilar & Muldoon, 2010). However, phylogenetic signal has rarely been used in studies of the evolution of plant flammability (but see Cui et al ., 2020). Flammability can be quantified by four flammability variables: ignitability (how easily a plant ignites), sustainability (the length of time a plant sustains flames), combustibility (the intensity at which a plant burns), and consumability (the percentage of biomass consumed by fire) (Anderson, 1970; Martin et al ., 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shoot‐level flammability across the Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) phylogeny: evidence for flammability being an emergent property in a land with little fire

et al. 2020

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Summary Plant flammability varies across species, but the evolutionary basis for this variation is not well understood. Phylogenetic analysis of interspecific variation in flammability can provide insights into the evolution of plant flammability. We measured four components of flammability (ignitability, sustainability, combustibility and consumability) to assess the shoot‐level flammability of 21 species of Dracophyllum (Ericaceae). Using a macroevolutionary approach, we explored phylogenetic patterns of variation in shoot‐level flammability. Shoot‐level flammability varied widely in Dracophyllum. Species in the subgenus Oreothamnus had higher flammability and smaller leaves than those in the subgenus Dracophyllum. Shoot flammability (ignitability, combustibility and consumability) and leaf length showed phylogenetic conservatism across genus Dracophyllum, but exhibited lability among some closely related species, such as D. menziesii and D. fiordense. Shoot flammability of Dracophyllum species was negatively correlated with leaf length and shoot moisture content, but had no relationship with the geographic distribution of Dracophyllum species. Shoot‐level flammability varied widely in the genus Dracophyllum, but showed phylogenetic conservatism. The higher flammability of the subgenus Oreothamnus may be an incidental or emergent property as a result of the evolution of flammability‐related traits, such as smaller leaves, which were selected for other functions and incidentally changed flammability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shoot‐level flammability across the Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) phylogeny: evidence for flammability being an emergent property in a land with little fire

et al. 2020

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“…In comparison the non-Pinus Pinaceae create litter which is distinct from any of the other species in the dataset as highlighted by Cornwell, Elvira, van Kempen, van Logtestijn, Aptroot, et al (2015). Future studies could integrate the flammability data synthesised in this study with species phylogeny to explore the evolutionary patterns of litter bed flammability, similar to the approach of Cui et al (2020) for shoot flammability and expanding on the analysis of Zhao et al (2016).…”

Section: Applications and Next Stepsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Recent studies have quantified interspecific variation in flammability at the leaf-level and shoot-level for a range of plant species (Alam et al, 2020;Cui et al, 2020). However, an equivalent examination of patterns at the litter bed-scale has not yet been made.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf traits predict global patterns in the structure and flammability of forest litter beds

et al. 2020

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1. Fallen plant material such as leaves, needles and branches form litter beds which strongly influence fire ignition and spread. Traits of the dominant species influence litter flammability directly by determining how individual leaves burn and indirectly through the structure of the litter bed. However, we are yet to determine the relative importance of these different drivers across a range of plant species from different biomes. 2. We undertook a meta-analysis, combining leaf trait, litter structure and flammability data for 106 species from North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The dataset encompassed broad-leaved and coniferous species from seven different experimental studies. Relationships between leaf traits, litter structure and key flammability metrics-sustainability, combustibility and consumability-were analysed using bivariate and piecewise structural equation modelling (SEM). 3. Traits which characterise the three-dimensional nature of the leaf and how much space a leaf occupies showed much stronger associations to litter structure and flammability than other morphological traits. Leaf curl, surface area to volume ratio (SAV) and SLA predominately influence litter flammability indirectly via litter structure with SLA being the only leaf trait which had a negative direct effect on flame duration. Packing ratio and bulk density were influenced by different combinations of leaf traits and, in turn, they aligned with different flammability metrics. Bulk density predicted flame spread rate and flame duration whereas packing ratio predicted consumption. 4. Synthesis. We identified key leaf and litter traits which influence different components of litter bed flammability. Importantly, we show that the effects of these leaf and litter traits are consistent across a wide range of taxa and biomes. Our study represents a significant step towards developing trait-based models for predicting surface wildfire behaviour. Such models will more flexibly accommodate future shifts in the composition of plant species triggered by altered fire regimes and climate change.

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Spore traits mediate disturbance effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition and mutualisms

Hopkins

Bennett

2023

Ecology

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Trait‐based approaches in ecology are powerful tools for understanding how organisms interact with their environment. These approaches show particular promise in disturbance and community ecology contexts for understanding how disturbances like prescribed fire and bison grazing influence interactions between mutualists like arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their plant hosts. In this work we examined how disturbance effects on AM fungal spore community composition and mutualisms were mediated by selection for specific functional spore traits at both the species and community level. We tested these questions by analyzing AM fungal spore communities and traits from a frequently burned and grazed (bison) tallgrass prairie system and using these spores to inoculate a plant growth response experiment. Selection for darker, pigmented AM fungal spores, changes in the abundance and volume of individual AM fungal taxa, and altered sporulation, were indicators of fire and grazing effects on AM fungal community composition. Disturbance associated changes in AM fungal community composition were then correlated with altered growth responses of Schizachyrium scoparium grass. Our work shows that utilization of trait‐based approaches in ecology can clarify the mechanisms that underly belowground responses to disturbance, and provide a useful framework for understanding interactions between organisms and their environment.

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Shoot flammability of vascular plants is phylogenetically conserved and related to habitat fire-proneness and growth form

Cited by 38 publications

References 41 publications

Shoot‐level flammability across the Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) phylogeny: evidence for flammability being an emergent property in a land with little fire

Shoot‐level flammability across the Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) phylogeny: evidence for flammability being an emergent property in a land with little fire

Leaf traits predict global patterns in the structure and flammability of forest litter beds

Spore traits mediate disturbance effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition and mutualisms

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