scholarly journals Functional trait values, not trait plasticity, drive the invasiveness of Rosa sp. in response to light availability

2016 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 2058-2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Murphy ◽  
Jean H. Burns ◽  
Marie Fougère-Danezan ◽  
Rebecca E. Drenovsky
Keyword(s):  
Light Availability ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Trait Plasticity

scholarly journals Functional Trait Plasticity but Not Coordination Differs in Absorptive and Transport Fine Roots in Response to Soil Depth

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Zhongyue Li ◽  
Zhengquan Wang ◽  
Jiacun Gu
Keyword(s):  
Fine Roots ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Root Branching ◽  
Trait Plasticity

Absorptive and transport fine roots (diameter ≤ 2 mm) differ greatly in anatomy, morphology, and physiology, as well as their responses to environmental changes. However, it is still not well understood how their functional traits and biomass repartition respond to resource variability associated with increasing soil depth. Herein, we sampled the first five order roots of three hardwoods, i.e., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. at surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface (20–30 cm) soil layers, respectively, and measured root biomass, anatomy, morphology, chemistry, and physiology at the branch-order level. Based on the anatomical characteristics, absorptive and transport fine roots were identified within each order, and their amounts and functional trait plasticity to soil depth were examined. The results showed that across soil layers, the first three order roots were mainly absorptive roots, while the fourth- and fifth-order roots were transport ones. From surface to subsurface soil layers, both the number and biomass proportion of absorptive fine roots decreased but those of transport fine roots increased. Transport fine root traits were more plastic to soil depth than absorptive ones, especially for the conduit-related traits. Absorptive fine roots in surface soil generally had stronger potential for resource acquisition than those in deeper soil, as indicated by their longer specific root length and greater root branching density. In comparison, transport fine roots in deeper soil were generally enhanced in their transportation function, with wider stele and higher hydraulic conductivity. Our findings suggest that functional specialization via multi-trait plasticity and coordination in both absorptive and transport fine roots along the soil depth would benefit the efficient soil resource exploitation of trees in forest ecosystems.

scholarly journals Both functional trait divergence and trait plasticity confer polyploid advantage in changing environments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wei ◽  
Richard Cronn ◽  
Aaron Liston ◽  
Tia-Lynn Ashman
Keyword(s):  
Functional Trait ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
Fitness Advantage ◽  
Common Gardens ◽  
Trait Plasticity ◽  
Extensive Test ◽  
Wild Strawberry ◽  
Evolutionary Success

ABSTRACTPolyploidy, or whole genome duplication, exists in all eukaryotes and is thought to drive ecological and evolutionary success especially in plants. The mechanisms of polyploid success in ecologically relevant contexts, however, remain largely unknown. Here we conducted an extensive test of functional trait divergence and trait plasticity in conferring polyploid fitness advantage in changing environments by growing clonal replicates of a worldwide genotype collection of six polyploid and five diploid wild strawberry (Fragaria) species in three climatically different common gardens. Among leaf functional traits, we detected divergence in means but not plasticities between polyploids and diploids, suggesting that increased genomic redundancy does not necessarily translate into broader phenotypic amplitude in polyploids. Across the heterogeneous garden environments, however, polyploids exhibited fitness advantage, which was conferred by both trait means and adaptive trait plasticities, supporting a ‘jack-and-master’ hypothesis for polyploids. Our findings provide unparalleled insight into the prevalence and persistence of polyploidization.

scholarly journals Functional trait divergence and trait plasticity confer polyploid advantage in heterogeneous environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 221 (4) ◽  
pp. 2286-2297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wei ◽  
Richard Cronn ◽  
Aaron Liston ◽  
Tia‐Lynn Ashman
Keyword(s):  
Functional Trait ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Trait Plasticity

scholarly journals Functional trait differences and trait plasticity mediate biotic resistance to potential plant invaders

2018 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1607-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Conti ◽  
Svenja Block ◽  
Madalin Parepa ◽  
Tamara Münkemüller ◽  
Wilfried Thuiller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biotic Resistance ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Plant Invaders ◽  
Trait Plasticity

scholarly journals Linking plant functional trait plasticity and the large increase in forest water use efficiency

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (9) ◽  
pp. 2393-2408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodoros Mastrotheodoros ◽  
Christoforos Pappas ◽  
Peter Molnar ◽  
Paolo Burlando ◽  
Trevor F. Keenan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Plant Functional Trait ◽  
Trait Plasticity ◽  
Use Efficiency

scholarly journals Functional significance of dinitrogen fixation in sustaining coral productivity under oligotrophic conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1818) ◽  
pp. 20152257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulisse Cardini ◽  
Vanessa N. Bednarz ◽  
Malik S. Naumann ◽  
Nanne van Hoytema ◽  
Laura Rix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Availability ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Chlorophyll Synthesis ◽  
Dinitrogen Fixation ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Hermatypic Corals ◽  
Northern Red Sea

Functional traits define species by their ecological role in the ecosystem. Animals themselves are host–microbe ecosystems (holobionts), and the application of ecophysiological approaches can help to understand their functioning. In hard coral holobionts, communities of dinitrogen (N 2 )-fixing prokaryotes (diazotrophs) may contribute a functional trait by providing bioavailable nitrogen (N) that could sustain coral productivity under oligotrophic conditions. This study quantified N 2 fixation by diazotrophs associated with four genera of hermatypic corals on a northern Red Sea fringing reef exposed to high seasonality. We found N 2 fixation activity to be 5- to 10-fold higher in summer, when inorganic nutrient concentrations were lowest and water temperature and light availability highest. Concurrently, coral gross primary productivity remained stable despite lower Symbiodinium densities and tissue chlorophyll a contents. In contrast, chlorophyll a content per Symbiodinium cell increased from spring to summer, suggesting that algal cells overcame limitation of N, an essential element for chlorophyll synthesis. In fact, N 2 fixation was positively correlated with coral productivity in summer, when its contribution was estimated to meet 11% of the Symbiodinium N requirements. These results provide evidence of an important functional role of diazotrophs in sustaining coral productivity when alternative external N sources are scarce.

scholarly journals Growth and competitive abilities of the federally endangered Lindera melissifolia and the potentially invasive Brunnichia ovata in varying densities, hydrologic regimes, and light availabilities

Botany ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy S. Hawkins ◽  
Nathan Schiff ◽  
A. Dan Wilson ◽  
Theodor D. Leininger ◽  
Margaret S. Devall
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Active Management ◽  
First Year ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Habitat Disturbances ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors ◽  
Relationship Of

Brunnichia ovata (Walter) Shinners is a native, perennial, woody vine with the potential to become an aggressive competitor of the federally endangered shrub Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume. Our study simulated habitat disturbances to hydrologic regime and light availability that may occur naturally, or through active management practices aimed at ensuring the sustainability of L. melissifolia, and we determined the species responses to these changes. First-year plants of L. melissifolia and B. ovata were grown at varying densities, in flooding or nonflooding treatments, and receiving 100%, 47%, or 21% light availabilities. For both species, density effects, in combination with light availability and flooding regime influenced total biomass accumulation. Brunnichia ovata exhibited a high degree of plasticity with respect to biomass allocated between above- and below-ground tissues in response to flooding, whereas biomass allocation in L. melissifolia was relatively unaffected. Interspecific competition occurred primarily in nonflooding treatments. Our study highlighted the complexity of the relationship of L. melissifolia and B. ovata with regard to functional trait responses to changes in abiotic and biotic factors, and indicated that it will be necessary to consider entire plant community responses to mitigate increased competitive interactions and ensure the survival of L. melissifolia populations.

Dominance determines fish community biomass in a temperate seagrass ecosystem

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Matthius Eger ◽  
Rebecca J. Best ◽  
Julia Kathleen Baum
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Community Biomass ◽  
Ecosystem Valuation ◽  
Species Abundances

Biodiversity and ecosystem function are often correlated, but there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. Ecosystem functions such as primary or secondary production may be maximized by species richness, evenness in species abundances, or the presence or dominance of species with certain traits. Here, we combined surveys of natural fish communities (conducted in July and August, 2016) with morphological trait data to examine relationships between diversity and ecosystem function (quantified as fish community biomass) across 14 subtidal eelgrass meadows in the Northeast Pacific (54° N 130° W). We employed both taxonomic and functional trait measures of diversity to investigate if ecosystem function is driven by species diversity (complementarity hypothesis) or by the presence or dominance of species with particular trait values (selection or dominance hypotheses). After controlling for environmental variation, we found that fish community biomass is maximized when taxonomic richness and functional evenness is low, and in communities dominated by species with particular trait values – those associated with benthic habitats and prey capture. While previous work on fish communities has found that species richness is positively correlated with ecosystem function, our results instead highlight the capacity for regionally prevalent and locally dominant species to drive ecosystem function in moderately diverse communities. We discuss these alternate links between community composition and ecosystem function and consider their divergent implications for ecosystem valuation and conservation prioritization.

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