Trait Gradient Analysis for Evergreen and Deciduous Species in a Subtropical Forest

Abstract

Leaf habits (e.g., evergreen or deciduous) can reflect strategies of species adapting to varied environmental conditions. However, how species with different leaf habits coexist within a plant community is still poorly understood. Trait gradient analysis is a new approach to partition plant functional trait variations into alpha (within-community) and beta (among-community) components to quantify the effects of environmental filtering and biotic competition on community assembly. Here, on the basis of establishing forty-eight forest dynamic plots in a subtropical evergreen and deciduous broadleaved mixed forest in central China and measuring of seven functional traits, we compared the trait variation patterns and influencing factors of evergreen and deciduous species by using the trait gradient analysis method. The results showed that there were significant differences between functional traits for evergreen and deciduous species. Alpha trait components consistently varied more widely than beta components. The correlation between species trait mean and the alpha of each trait was highly significant, but there was no significant correlation between beta and alpha trait values. There were relatively weak or nonexistent significant correlations among species mean trait values and alpha trait values of different functional traits. However, the beta trait value showed high and significant correlations in both evergreen and deciduous species. Our results indicated that evergreen and deciduous species adopt similar adaptation strategies (beta component) in the context of environmental change in the community. However, the species initially came to coexist via the ecological positioning of traits (alpha component), which helped reduce competition so individuals could obtain more resources.

Differential impact of liana colonization on the leaf functional traits of co-occurring deciduous and evergreen trees

“…Westoby and wright (2006) and de Souza (2020) have also reported a similar convergence in leaf traits of species with contrasting leaf habits. The observed convergence in the species traits other than structural traits suggests the role of environmental ltering (Yao et al 2020), which may favour the taxa that are functionally more similar (Webb 2002), signifying the co-occurrence of evergreen and deciduous leaf habits. Several studies have addressed the advantages of having a longer or shorter leaf life span (Aerts 1995;Chabot and Hicks 1982;Kikuzawa 1991) in co-occurring deciduous and evergreen species.…”

Variation in the Functional Traits of Forest Vegetation along Compound Habitat Gradients in Different Climatic Zones in China

“…Seven forest dynamic plots (20 m × 20 m) were established in different climatic regions of China, and a total of 46,280 individual plants with a DBH ≥ 1 cm were marked, identified to species, and measured for DBH and height. The selected biotic factors represent the growth situation of vegetation in the community and are significantly correlated with the overall productivity and canopy closure, reflecting the differences in competitive ability among different species in the community [21,28].…”

“…The geographic differentiation patterns of functional trait compositions in forest vegetation observed across different climate zones reflects differences in plant-growth strategies (resource-conservation versus resource acquisition strategies) and the diversity of functional traits in the community. In cold-and warm-temperate climate regions with low temperatures and rainfall levels, deciduous tree species generally occupy the canopy and have relatively high SLAs and low WDs, enabling them to rapidly obtain nutrients and light during the growing season [21]. In environments with superior habitat conditions, evergreen tree species generally acquire a low SLA and a high LDMC to improve the utilization efficiency of resources (such as light), resist pest erosion, and enhance resource acquisition [20,21,31].…”

“…(2) soil and community structures are the main factors that affect functional-composition differences within the same climatic zone; and (3) the geographical distribution patterns of forest vegetation functional compositions (mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis) across climatic regions may exhibit systematic changes, showing coordinated increases or decreases. An increasingly harsh and changing environment has reduced functional diversities, leading to a narrower range of conservative growth strategies [20,21]. Community and biogeographical changes in functional diversities across gradients reflect the directions of ecological strategy shifts.…”

Comparative analyses of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) plastomes: Insights into genomic features, mutational hotspots, and adaptive evolution

“…have adapted to high latitudes towards a deciduous habit but the species in low latitudes towards a evergreen habit (Lee et al, 1996;Duangjai et al 2009), while few taxa are endemic to island environments (Turner et al, 2016). Therefore, to understand the strategies to adapt to different environmental conditions, the research for leaf habits of Diospyros has great significance (Tomlinson, et al 2013;Yao, et al, 2020). The high-latitude or high-elevation species, such as D. kaki Thunb.…”