Conspecific negative density dependence of trees varies with plant functional traits and environmental conditions across scales in a 60‐ha tropical rainforest dynamics plot

Biotropica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 693-702
Author(s):  
Lipeng Zang ◽  
Han Xu ◽  
Yide Li ◽  
Runguo Zang
Keyword(s):  
Density Dependence ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Negative Density Dependence

Species abundance is jointly determined by functional traits and negative density dependence in a subtropical forest in southern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weitao Wang ◽  
Yun Jiang ◽  
Buhang Li ◽  
Nianxun Xi ◽  
Yongfa Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Density Dependence ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Negative Density Dependence

Abstract Aims The factors affecting species abundance are a subject of ongoing debates in community ecology. Empirical studies have demonstrated that tree abundance is affected by plant functional traits and negative density dependence (NDD). However, few studies have focused on the combined effects of negative density dependence and plant functional traits on species abundance. Methods In this study, we used tree functional traits and two census data from a 50-ha forest dynamic plot in the Heishiding (HSD) Nature Reserve to explore the combined effects of functional traits and NDD on species abundance. Using hierarchical Bayesian models, we analyzed how neighbor densities affected the survival of saplings from 130 species and extracted posterior means of the coefficients to represent NDD. The structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was then applied to investigate the causal relationships among species functional traits, negative density dependence, and species abundance. Important findings SEM showed that tree functional traits, including specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf N content (LNC), maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax), and conspecific adult negative density dependence (CNDDadult), together explained 20% of the total variation in tree abundance. Specifically, SLA affected tree abundance both directly and indirectly via CNDDadult, with a totally negative influence on abundance. LDMC and LNC had only indirect effects mediated by CNDDadult on tree abundance. ETRmax and LA had directly negative effects on abundance, but their direct connections with CNDDadult were not observed. In addition, CNDDadult was negatively correlated with species abundance, indicating that abundant species are under stronger negative density dependence. Among these investigated traits, SLA contributed the most to the variation in CNDDadult and abundance. We argued that our findings of trait-CNDDadult-abundance relationships can improve our understanding of the determinants of species commonness and rarity in forests.

Plant-functional traits drive insect herbivory in a tropical rainforest tree community

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 125587
Author(s):  
Betsabé Ruiz-Guerra ◽  
Alfonso García ◽  
Noé Velázquez-Rosas ◽  
Diego Angulo ◽  
Roger Guevara
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Insect Herbivory ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Tree Community

scholarly journals The Influences of Disturbance Histories and Soil Properties on Aboveground Biomass through Plant Functional Traits in a Tropical Rainforest

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wensheng Bu ◽  
Cancan Zhang ◽  
Jihong Huang ◽  
Runguo Zang ◽  
Yi Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Adult Tree

Research Highlights: We try to evaluate the relative contribution of environmental factors and functional traits on aboveground biomass in a species rich tropical forest ecosystem after a 40-years natural recovery. Background and Objectives: Functional traits have a potential to incorporate community dynamics into the impacts of disturbance histories or environmental conditions on ecosystem functioning, but few studies have been conducted to understand these processes. Materials and Methods: We measured plant functional traits and soil properties in the tropical montane rainforests on Hainan Island, China, which had experienced different disturbance histories (clear cutting, selective logging, and old-growth) 40 years ago. A structural equation model was used to elucidate how disturbance histories and soil factors influence aboveground biomass (AGB) across different size classes (saplings, treelets, and adult trees) through plant functional traits. Results: The results demonstrated logging stimulated seedling establishment but decreased AGB of adult trees and wood density at community-level (CWM_WD) of sapling and adult tree. Generally, CWM_WD of sapling, treelet, and adult tree decreased linearly with the increasing of specific leaf area at community-level (CWM_SLA) in old-growth forest and these two disturbed forests. Moreover, CWM_SLA explained more variation of CWM_WD with increasing intensity of logging within sapling, treelet, and adult tree. CWM_SLA and CWM_WD not only responded to environmental conditions and disturbance intensity but also affected AGB in all size classes; meanwhile, CWM_SLA was a major driver of AGB. CWM_SLA had a stronger effect on AGB in sapling and treelet classes than on the adult tree class. Conclusions: Our results suggested that disturbance history and environmental factors could directly or indirectly affect ecosystem functioning through plant functional traits. Functional traits always had a stronger effect on AGB than environmental conditions. Moreover, CWM_SLA is a key trait that can be used to link the relationship between environmental conditions and AGB.

scholarly journals Bibliometric analysis of research trends and focuses of plant functional traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. 012102
Author(s):  
Ruiyu Fu ◽  
Zhonghua Zhang ◽  
Cong Hu ◽  
Xingbing Peng ◽  
Shaonuan Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Plant Functional Traits
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