Plant trait - environmental linkages among contrasting landscapes and climate regimes in temperate eucalypt woodlands

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Wills ◽  
Peter J. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Global Pattern ◽  
Landscape Gradients ◽  
Ecological Sorting ◽  
Floristic Variation

Ecological sorting of species along climate and landscape gradients is a fundamental global pattern. However, the extent to which functional traits reflect floristic turnover in response to interactions between climate and landscape gradients is rarely assessed. We tested whether floristic variation among sites within a bioregion was more strongly correlated with soil fertility or climate. We then examined the relationship between floristic composition, environment and the co-variation of selected vegetative and regenerative functional traits. This allowed us to assess the ecological sorting of species along soil fertility and rainfall gradients and to detect any resource compensation effects via interactions between these factors. Floristic differences were equally associated with soil fertility and climate contrasts but species’ trait patterns were more strongly associated with soil fertility than rainfall. No interactive effects, which would suggest resource compensation, were detected. Instead, more fertile sites consistently had more forbs, annuals and grasses in comparison with less fertile sites which were dominated by woody species and had a higher abundance of graminoids. Three broad mechanisms for sorting of species based on trait patterns are proposed (1) differences in the fundamental regenerative and growth niche, (2) resource competition during establishment and (3) disturbance-mediated sorting.

THE INFLUENCE OF SOILS ON THE FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF AN AREA OF BRAZILIAN CERRADO VEGETATION

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Neri ◽  
C. E. G. R. Schaefer ◽  
A. F. Silva ◽  
A. L. Souza ◽  
W. G. Ferreira-Junior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Pearson’S Correlation ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Pearson's Correlation ◽  
Floristic Variation

This study investigated the influence of soil factors on the structure, richness and distribution of woody Cerrado species within the National Forest of Paraopeba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Individuals with basal stem circumference ≥ 10 cm were sampled in five plots of 20 × 100 m. The study was conducted in five environments with different physiognomies and types of soils. A total of 132 species were recorded. The species with the greatest importance values varied between different areas, as did structure. Canonical correspondence analysis ordination showed three different groups closely related to soil fertility and Al levels. These relations were also confirmed by Pearson’s correlation where richness was positively related to pH, K, Ca, Mg and P and negatively to Al. The basal area was positively correlated with levels of P, Mg, Ca and T (base saturation) and negatively with Al, also using Pearson’s correlation. Likewise, density was positively correlated with Mg and negatively with Al. The analysis shows that soil fertility and the concentration of Al are two of the most important factors responsible for structural and floristic variation and for differentiating dystrophic and mesotrophic Cerradão.

A phytogeographic analysis of the woody elements of New World savannas

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Lenthall ◽  
S. Bridgewater ◽  
P. A. Furley
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Savanna Vegetation ◽  
Great Heterogeneity ◽  
Southern Amazonia ◽  
Floristic Variation

An analysis was made of the floristic composition of 45 savanna sites located throughout the southern neoarctic and neotropics. A total of 533 woody species were recorded from published and reliable unpublished floristic lists; of these, 234 species (44%) were from 10 Brazilian cerrado sites, with 187 (80%) of them restricted to the cerrado biome. The cerrados were clearly shown to be the most diverse New World savanna system with a high degree of endemism. The data were analysed using two multivariate techniques: TWINSPAN and DCA. Four phytogeographic zones were identified: Central Brazil and Bolivia extending to Southern Amazonia; north of Amazonia extending across the isthmus of Central America and including the Caribbean; Belize, Guatemala and Southern Mexico; and north of the Mexican Plateau. The analyses revealed gradients of floristic variation associated with latitude and longitude, and showed the great heterogeneity of savanna vegetation.

scholarly journals The length of the dry season may be associated with leaf scleromorphism in cerrado plants

2015 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 1691-1699 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCELO C. SOUZA ◽  
AUGUSTO C. FRANCO ◽  
MUNDAYATAN HARIDASAN ◽  
DAVI R. ROSSATTO ◽  
JANAÍNA F. DE ARAÚJO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Core Region ◽  
The Other ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Fertility Rates ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Central Brazil

Despite limitations of low fertility and high acidity of the soils, the cerrado flora is the richest amongst savannas. Many cerrado woody species show sclerophyllous leaves, which might be related to the availability of water and nutrients in the soil. To better understand the function and structure of cerrado vegetation within its own variations, we compared two cerrado communities: one in its core region in central Brazil (Brasília, DF) and the other on its southern periphery (Itirapina, SP). We contrasted the length of the dry season, soil fertility rates, leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and the specific leaf area (SLA) between these communities. The dry season was shorter on the periphery, where the soil was more fertile although more acidic. Plants from the periphery showed higher SLA and higher leaf concentrations of N, P, Ca and Mg. We propose that the higher SLA of plants from the periphery is related to the shorter dry season, which allows better conditions for nutrient uptake.

scholarly journals Floristic composition of the Montane Forest in the Almadina-Barro Preto axis, Southern Bahia, Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Macielle Macedo Coelho ◽  
André Márcio Amorim
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Arboreal Habit

The aim of this study is to survey the angiosperms of two montane forest remnants in the southern Bahia, Brazil: Corcovado (SCO) and Pedra Lascada (SPL). Both fragments are located in the municipality of Almadina and Barro Preto, respectively, and are 18 km distant from each other. We sampled 899 species of angiosperms distributed in 437 genera and 116 families. The SCO was the richest area with 678 species, distributed in 367 genera and 100 families. SPL showed 466 species in 269 genera and 88 families. The percentage of species identified was 85.8% and of this total, 37.7% are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, 11.2% are endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo and 7% are disjunct between the Atlantic Forest and Amazon. The remaining percentages (44.3%) were of species widely distributed. The richest families in the two areas were Orchidaceae (10%), Rubiaceae (7%), Bromeliaceae (5.5%), Melastomataceae (4.2%) and Poaceae (4%). The richest genera were Psychotria (2%),Piper (1.8%), Ocotea (1.6%),Vriesea (1.5%) and Peperomia (1.4%). More than half of the recorded species showed non-arboreal habit, regarding life forms documented. That comes against the assertion that many authors in the tropical forests, where species richness in angiosperms is expected for non-woody species, especially in montane forests. Twelve species have been identified as new, but seven others already described from collections previously obtained in these two areas. Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae and Bromeliaceae showed significant richness in this study these families are commonly reported as the richest in other inventories in the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia reinforcing their importance to the regional flora. The high levels of richness, endemism, and the growing numbers of new taxonomic discoveries from the SPL and SCO sites indicate the biological importance of these two forest remnants. The implementation of parks or other protected environmental reserves would be essential to the conservation of its species.

scholarly journals Quantitative estimates of deciduousness in woody species from a seasonally dry tropical forest are related to leaf functional traits and the timing of leaf flush

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souparna Chakrabarty ◽  
Sheetal Sharma ◽  
Shatarupa Ganguly ◽  
Asmi Jezeera ◽  
Neha Mohanbabu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Leaf Phenology ◽  
Deciduous Species ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Quantitative Estimates

AbstractLeaf phenology based classification of woody species into discrete evergreen and deciduous categories is widely used in ecology, but these categories hide important variation in leaf phenological behaviour. Few studies have examined the continuous nature of deciduousness and our understanding of variation in quantitative estimates of leaf shedding behaviour and the causes and consequences of this is limited. In this study we monitored leaf phenology in 75 woody species from a seasonally dry tropical forest to quantify three quantitative measures of deciduousness, namely: maximum canopy loss, duration of deciduousness, and average canopy loss. Based on proposed drought tolerance and drought avoidance strategies of evergreen and deciduous species, respectively, we tested whether the quantitative measures of deciduousness were related to leaf functional traits. Additionally, to understand the functional consequences of variation in deciduousness we examined relationships with the timing of leaf flushing and senescing. We found wide and continuous variation in quantitative measures of deciduousness in these coexisting species. Variation in deciduousness was related to leaf function traits, and the timing of leaf flushing. Along a continuous axis ranging from evergreen to deciduous species, increasing deciduousness was associated with more acquisitive leaf functional traits, with lower leaf mass per area and leaf dry matter content, and greater leaf nitrogen content. These results indicate that the continuous nature of deciduousness is an important component of resource acquisition strategies in woody species from seasonally dry forests.

scholarly journals Woody Species Indicator of Soil Fertility and Their Socio-economic Value in the Sudano-guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Adamawa Cameroon

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Massai Tchima Jacob ◽  
Ibrahima Adamou ◽  
Ngakou Albert ◽  
Babe Ndara Gregoire ◽  
Maigari Pale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Woody Species

scholarly journals Short-Term Nitrogen Addition Does Not Significantly Alter the Effects of Seasonal Drought on Leaf Functional Traits in Machilus pauhoi Kanehira Seedlings

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Yu ◽  
Dongliang Cheng ◽  
Baoyin Li ◽  
Chaobin Xu ◽  
Zhongrui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Subtropical China ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Seasonal Drought

Research Highlights: Short-term nitrogen (N) addition did not significantly alter the effects of seasonal drought on the leaf functional traits in Machilus pauhoi Kanehira seedlings in N-rich subtropical China. Background and Objectives: Seasonal drought and N deposition are major drivers of global environmental change that affect plant growth and ecosystem function in subtropical China. However, no consensus has been reached on the interactive effects of these two drivers. Materials and Methods: We conducted a full-factorial experiment to analyze the single and combined effects of seasonal drought and short-term N addition on chemical, morphological and physiological traits of M. pauhoi seedlings. Results: Seasonal drought (40% of soil field capacity) had significant negative effects on the leaf N concentrations (LNC), phosphorus (P) concentrations (LPC), leaf thickness (LT), net photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Gs), and predawn leaf water potential (ψPD), and significant positive effects on the carbon:N (C:N) ratio and specific leaf area (SLA). Short-term N addition (50 kg N·hm−2·year−1 and 100 kg N·hm−2·year−1) tended to decrease the C:N ratio and enhance leaf nutrient, growth, and photosynthetic performance because of increased LNC, LPC, LT, leaf area (LA), SLA, A, E, and ψPD; however, it only had significant effects on LT and Gs. No significant interactive effects on leaf traits were detected. Seasonal drought, short-term N addition, and their interactions had significant effects on soil properties. The soil total C (STC), nitrate N (NO3−-N) and soil total N (STN) concentrations were the main factors that affected the leaf traits. Conclusions: Seasonal drought had a stronger effect on M. pauhoi seedling leaf traits than short-term N deposition, indicating that the interaction between seasonal drought and short-term N deposition may have an additive effecton M. pauhoi seedling growth in N-rich subtropical China.

scholarly journals Flowering Phenology Shifts in Response to Functional Traits, Growth Form, and Phylogeny of Woody Species in a Desert Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Xiao-Dong Yang ◽  
Arshad Ali ◽  
Guang-Hui Lv ◽  
Yan-Xin Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Desert Area
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