Plant Ecology & Diversity最新文献

{"title":"Structural diversity is a key driver of above-ground biomass in tropical forests","authors":"Ayushi Kurian, Kanda Naveen Babu, Narayanan Ayyappan","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2277282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2277282","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground A gamut of abiotic and biotic factors is related to the amount of above-ground biomass (AGB) produced in ecosystems. Some factors have direct and others indirect relationships with AGB. Detailed analyses in tropical forests are few but much needed for better understanding the potential impacts of global change drivers and for mitigating impacts.Aims Here, we examined the relationship between AGB and different predictor variables and quantitatively evaluated their relative importance in lowland to lower montane deciduous and lower montane – montane evergreen forest types. We hypothesised that the relationship between AGB and climate, topography, structural diversity, species diversity (alpha and beta) and phylogenetic diversity would differ between the two forest types.Methods We inventoried trees from 114 plots (each 0.1 ha) and used partial least square (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the direct and indirect relationship between AGB and the predictor variables.Results We found that structural diversity variables, stem density and tree girth, were significantly and positively related to AGB in both forest types, displaying a stronger relationship in montane evergreen forests (w = 0.65 for density and 0.89 for tree girth). In the deciduous forest, alpha and phylogenetic diversity were also important factors, whereas beta and phylogenetic diversity were important in the evergreen forest. The effects of topography and climate varied between forest types, with elevation and precipitation being related to AGB directly and indirectly through their relationship with structural diversity.Conclusion Our results suggest that structural diversity is a key driver of tropical forest biomass, both directly and indirectly. This fundamental understanding can aid in the predictive efforts of biodiversity conservation and forest management.Policy highlightsStructural diversity affects biomass, directly and indirectly facilitating the importance of monitoring and land-use planning.A structurally diversified forest can be considered while selecting reserves for conservation.Prioritizing the preservation and improvement of structural diversity in forests is crucial.Assessing forest productivity requires considering stand characteristics and biodiversity.KEYWORDS: Climatedeciduous forestevergreen foresttree diversityWestern ghatsDisclaimerAs a service to authors and researchers we are providing this version of an accepted manuscript (AM). Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proofs will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). During production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal relate to these versions also. Declaration of competing interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest.AcknowledgementsWe thank the Karnataka Forest Department for providing the necessary permissions","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135272072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modelling the future distribution of rare bryophytes in Scotland: the importance of the inclusion of habitat loss","authors":"Anna Ferretto, Pete Smith, David Robert Genney, Robin Matthews, Mostafa Hadizadeh, Rob Brooker","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2274839","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2274839","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground Species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used to predict species ranges and their future distribution under climate change scenarios, mostly using only climatic variables. An important factor that is usually neglected, is the habitat of the species that are being modelled. Even when included, it is often considered a fixed factor, but in reality, it is also subjected to changes.Aims In this study, we assessed if this omission can lead to different projected distributions of the species.Methods For this purpose, we applied an ensemble of SDMs, and we projected the distribution of rare bryophyte species in Scotland in the 2050s. Bryophytes are generally very climate-reliant and lend themselves to bioclimatic studies, and we selected species different grades of affinity with blanket bogs, which are threatened by climate change. Blanket bog extension was included in the model as an explanatory variable, and the models were run for three 2050s scenarios: once with the current blanket bog distribution and twice using the blanket bog distribution derived from two bioclimatic models (Lindsay modified and Blanket Bog Tree model), under the same climate change projections.Results The results showed some differences in the predicted future distribution of those species with a strong relationship with blanket bogs, when habitat changes were accounted for. For example, Sphagnum majus, the species with the highest affinity with blanket bog in our study, was not predicted to change its future distribution when blanket bog is held constant at the current level, but was predicted to lose up to 60% of its current suitable area when the projected loss of blanket bog is included.Conclusion Our results suggest that adding future habitat changes could improve the reliability of SDMs in the first steps of planning for conservation and restoration.KEYWORDS: Blanket bogbryophytesclimate changespecies distribution modelsensembleDisclaimerAs a service to authors and researchers we are providing this version of an accepted manuscript (AM). Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proofs will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). During production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal relate to these versions also. AcknowledgementsWe thank Andrew Coupar for his help in defining the list of bryophyte species for the study, Astley Hastings and the ADVENT project for providing the Land Cover Map and Christopher Ellis for his technical advice with Maxent. We also thank the many anonymous reviewers who have contributed to greatly improving the manuscript from its first version to this final one. This work was supported by a Studentship from the Macaulay Development Trust (Grant Number: E000646-507 00).Declaration of InterestsThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or p","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135272693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of distance from conspecific and heterospecific co-flowering plants on pollination and fecundity in the nectarless orchid <i>dactylorhiza sambucina</i>","authors":"Karl J. Duffy","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2270992","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2270992","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground The relative influence of both conspecific and heterospecific plant density on the fecundity of generalist rewardless plants is unclear.Aims To test whether distance from both conspecific and heterospecific plants influence pollen removal, deposition, and fruit set in the nectarless orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina that co-flowers with the rewarding Ranunculus apenninus.Methods I experimentally translocated D. sambucina inflorescences and measured pollen removal and deposition rates. I measured plant height and distance to D. sambucina and R. apenninus plants in 30 D. sambucina patches of varying density. I quantified the proportion of pollen removed, pollinia deposited, and fruit set and tested whether these vary according to plant height and distance to both D. sambucina and R. apenninus.Results Translocated inflorescences outside the population had a higher proportion of pollen removal than control plants within the population, while pollinia deposition rates did not differ. Increased D. sambucina height increased pollen removal rates, while increasing distance from R. apenninus resulted in both increased pollen deposition and fruit set.Conclusion Pollination and fecundity of a nectarless orchid may increase with increasing distance from rewarding heterospecifics. This study improves our understanding of how the fecundity of rewardless plants is influenced by co-flowering plants.KEYWORDS: Fecunditynearest neighbour distancepollinationplant fitnessspatial aggregationDisclaimerAs a service to authors and researchers we are providing this version of an accepted manuscript (AM). Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proofs will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). During production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal relate to these versions also. AcknowledgementsI am grateful to Nona Mellaerts for invaluable assistance with field work and Giampiero Ciaschetti for advice in the field. This work was funded by a Starting Investigator Research Grant (Programma STAR) from the University of Naples Federico II and Compagnia San Paolo.I thank an anonymous reviewer and Richard Abbott for their thoughtful comments on the manuscript.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the Programma STAR .","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136034532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of pollinators of the tropical bromeliad <i>tillandsia stricta</i> sol. (Bromeliaceae) in the Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro","authors":"Caio C. C. Missagia, Cassio J. O. Mendes, Maria Alice S. Alves","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2261927","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2261927","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground Most bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) species have specialised flowers for specific pollinators, establishing a mutualistic relationship. However, other animals may also pollinate bromeliads, though it is logical to assume that specialised flowers are more compatible with one specific group of pollinators.Aims We compared the performance of a hummingbird (Thalurania glaucopis) and a butterfly (Heliconius erato) as pollinators of flowers classified as ornithophilous of the bromeliad Tillandsia stricta (Bromeliaceae).Methods We applied the single visit method with seed counting, and measured corolla tube length of flowers. We also conducted observations on plants to determine the effectiveness of pollination by the hummingbird and the butterfly.Results Both animal species pollinated flowers, although the hummingbird was a more frequent and effective pollinator, resulting in greater seed production. The corolla tube length of T. stricta was a significant predictor of seeds produced per flower following interactions with the hummingbird, but not with the butterfly.Conclusion Our results indicate a more intimate flower – pollinator relationship between T. stricta and the hummingbird than the butterfly in this population of the bromeliad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.KEYWORDS: Atlantic ForestBrazilBromeliaceaefloral syndromehummingbirdspollinationDisclaimerAs a service to authors and researchers we are providing this version of an accepted manuscript (AM). Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proofs will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). During production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal relate to these versions also. AcknowledgementsResearch in Pedra Branca State Park (PEPB: Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca) was authorised by the Rio de Janeiro State Environment Institute (INEA: Instituto Estadual do Ambiente) through permit number 008/2015. The authors thank PEPB for logistical support. They are also grateful to Stephen Ferrari for his review of the English text. The authors also thank the editors (including the subject editor, Richard Abbott) and the anonymous reviewers for the valuable contributions which greatly improved the manuscript. Funding for this study was provided by the Brazilian Coordination for Higher Education Personnel Training (CAPES: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) by granting C.C.C.M. a doctoral research scholarship and C.J.O.M with a master’s scholarship (this study was financed in part by CAPES—Finance Code 001). The Rio de Janeiro State Research Foundation (FAPERJ: Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) provided C.C.C.M. with a grant (DSC-10 process E_01/201.955/2017) and supported the research of M.A.S.A. (CNE processes E-26/203191/2015, E-26/202.835/2018, E-26/201126/2022). The Brazilian Nati","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135386849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between vegetation, plant functional diversity and environment on rock outcrops in the Western Ghats, India","authors":"Aboli Kulkarni, Rohan Shetti, Bhushan K. Shigwan, Smrithy Vijayan, Mandar N. Datar","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2255999","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2255999","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground Rock outcrops support specialist plant communities that are often adapted to highly seasonal climates and heterogeneous soil cover. However, the relationship between environmental parameters and plant functional types remains unexplored in many regions of the world, including the Northern Western Ghats (NWG) in India.Aims In the present work, we aimed to characterise the vegetation of high and low elevation rock outcrops in the NWG, and investigate the relationship between plant functional types and environmental variables.Methods Vegetation surveys were conducted on 16 high elevation and 14 low elevation sites using a transect and quadrat method. Floristic data were used to calculate plant diversity and plant functional type abundance. The relationship between vegetation and climatic (temperature, precipitation) and soil (soil carbon and nitrogen) variables was explored using cluster and ordination analysis.Results Rock outcrop sites were grouped into two clusters based on elevation, distance from the sea and mean diurnal range. Plant functional type abundance was related to macro-environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation and soil nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen.Conclusions We inferred that the distribution and dominance of different plant functional types in the NWG are related to primarily by elevation (a proxy for temperature) and distance from the sea.Key policy highlightsVegetation of the NWG rock outcrops differ significantly based on elevation.Precipitation, temperature variables and distance from the sea are the key parameters associating with the difference in vegetation across elevation.Since vegetation on rock outcrops differs across elevations; it is essential to protect the outcrops at high as well as low elevations across the entire NWG.KEYWORDS: Indian rock outcropsvegetation-environment relationshipdiurnal rangeplant functional typeephemeral vegetationDisclaimerAs a service to authors and researchers we are providing this version of an accepted manuscript (AM). Copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proofs will be undertaken on this manuscript before final publication of the Version of Record (VoR). During production and pre-press, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal relate to these versions also. AcknowledgmentsAK, BS, SV and MND are thankful to the Director, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune for facilities and encouragement. The authors thank Dr. Aparna Watve and Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian for critical discussions. AK would like to thank Dr. Girish Kulkarni and Dr. Sameer Padhye for solving some doubts related to R.Disclosure statementNo potential competing interest was reported by the authorData availability statementThe authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.Supplementary materialSupplemental data for th","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135059823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecohydrological niche segregation among desert shrubs in a gypsum-calcareous formation, north-western Iran","authors":"Alexander Rudov, Laura de la Puente, Sara Palacio, Arash Sharifi, José Ignacio Querejeta, Juan Pedro Ferrio, Hossein Rahmaninia, Hossein Akhani","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2023.2255985","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2255985","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTBackground Xerophilic subshrubs exhibit multiple functional types and frequently show hydrological niche segregation. In the poorly studied Irano-Turanian gypsum deserts, knowledge of the ecohydrological strategies of different plant species is essential to understand community complexity in these vulnerable ecosystems.Aim We studied the ecohydrological strategies of five co-existing subshrub members of Caryophyllales, ascertaining if their rooting architecture, gypsum affinity or photosynthetic pathway determined their water uptake, and if gypsum crystallisation water could be a relevant water source for plants in different seasons.Methods We conducted soil and xylem sampling for isotope analyses in spring and summer and extracted water by cryogenic vacuum distillation. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions were determined and compared with visual representation and Bayesian Mixing Models to determine species ecohydrological strategies.Results Species – season interactions were related to differences in xylem sap isotopic composition. Three basic strategies relying on contrasting the use of free topsoil moisture and deep soil water could be detected and were in part explained by rooting architecture. Plant gypsum affinity and photosynthetic pathways did not have a significant effect on the water sources used by the plants.Conclusions Ecohydrological niche segregation was explained partly by rooting architecture and species-specific traits. Gypsum crystallisation water was not used in summer by the studied species.KEYWORDS: Caryophyllalesdesert subshrubsgypsumIranniche segregationstable isotopeswater use AcknowledgmentsThis paper is in part the result of postdoctoral studies of AR and AS in the Halophytes and C4 Plants Research Laboratory, University of Tehran. The authors would like to express their gratitude to Maryam Malekmohammadi (Halophytes and C4 Plants Research Laboratory, University of Tehran) for her participation in fieldwork. Finally, the authors would like to thank three anonymous reviewers and the editor for their immense help and precious feedback to improve this manuscriptDisclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Author contributionsHA and SP designed the study; AS, HA, AR, IQ, HR and SP performed fieldwork; AR ran water extractions with contributions from IQ, LP and PF; LP and PF analysed data; HR performed the soil gypsum content analysis; LP and AR led manuscript writing with contributions from all authors.Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2255985Additional informationFundingThe study was supported by grants from the Research Council and International Office, University of Tehran, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Project H2020-MSCA-RISE-GYPWORLD GA No. 777803), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN, PID2019-111159GB-C31), and the Spanish ","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135306787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant affinity to extreme soils and foliar sulphur mediate species-specific responses to sheep grazing in gypsum systems","authors":"Andreu Cera, G. Montserrat-Martí, A. Luzuriaga, Y. Pueyo, S. Palacio","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2022.2155079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2022.2155079","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Background Plants growing on extreme soils have mainly been described in relation to their adaptations to edaphic conditions, although herbivores may also be an important factor in these ecosystems. Gypsum soils occur in drylands often where livestock practices occur. However, it is unknown whether plant traits related to gypsum soil constraints are associated with resistance to herbivory. Aims In order to assess whether gypsum specialist species might be favoured at higher grazing levels and to detect the traits involved, we evaluated the responses of gypsum specialists vs. generalists to three intensities of livestock pressure. Methods We analysed the relative cover shifts of species along a livestock gradient, and variation in canopy height, canopy area, leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulphur (S), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Results We found that gypsum-specialists responded by increasing or maintaining their cover at medium and high grazing pressure, whereas most generalists responded by decreasing it. Gypsum-specialists showed higher leaf S than generalists, regardless of grazing intensity. All species showed similar patterns for traits linked to loss of above-ground biomass when grazing increased. Conclusions Plant affinity to gypsum soils mediates vulnerability to grazing with foliar S possibly being a defence trait.","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43553251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Introduction to special issue: the ecology and evolution of plants in extreme environments","authors":"F. Picó, R. Abbott, L. Llambí, N. Rajakaruna, Alexander S. T. Papadopulos, L. Nagy","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2022.2164703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2022.2164703","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In plant ecology, extreme environments are those that pose physiological or other limitations to plant growth, especially for non-adapted taxa. In these environments, the severity of climate conditions and/or the limitations imposed by particular soil substrates represent major selective pressures for plants, leading to the evolution of a wide array of functional traits, specific strategies and adapted taxa. In this special issue, we present a collection of papers that focuses on plants in various extreme environments, including the Arctic and Antarctic, regions with serpentine and gypsum soils, high mountain areas and deserts. The papers include a broad array of methods to study the ecology and evolution of plants in extreme environments, such as field surveys, greenhouse and field experiments, molecular phylogenetic analyses and/or physiological measurements. Overall, this special issue showcases research on how plants thrive in extreme environments which, in turn, may provide pointers to how plant communities might respond to living in increasingly challenging environments resulting from unprecedented land-use changes and climate warming at the present time and in the future.","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47049174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Specific leaf area is lower on ultramafic than on neighbouring non-ultramafic soils","authors":"Thomas J. Samojedny, Claudia Garnica-Díaz, Dena L. Grossenbacher, G. Adamidis, P. Dimitrakopoulos, S. Siebert, M. Spasojevic, C. Hulshof, N. Rajakaruna","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2022.2160673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2022.2160673","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Background Specific leaf area (SLA) is a core trait within the leaf economic spectrum that describes differences in plant performance and productivity. Research on the sources of variation in the leaf economic spectrum and SLA has primarily focused on climate. Much less is known about SLA variation across unusual edaphic environments, such as on ultramafic soils. Aims To determine the role of ultramafic soils as a driver of SLA variation. Methods We measured SLA for dominant species on paired ultramafic and non-ultramafic soils in five biogeographically distinct regions around the globe and compared mean SLA values to globally reported values. Results SLA was lower on ultramafic than on non-ultramafic soils in all regions, except Puerto Rico, and both climate and soil were important drivers of SLA. For three of the five regions, SLA values on ultramafic soils were lower than the global average. Conclusions Soils can be a major driver of SLA along with climate. Low SLA on ultramafic soil points to selection for stress resistance strategies. Furthermore, in some bioregions, SLA values on ultramafic soils were among the lowest on the planet and thus represent globally rare phenotypes that should be conserved within these unique edaphic habitats.","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45497462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal tolerance and growth responses to in situ soil water reductions among alpine plants","authors":"Emma E. Sumner, S. Venn","doi":"10.1080/17550874.2022.2160674","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2022.2160674","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Background Changes to precipitation patterns and warming temperatures are predicted to reduce the water available to Australian alpine plants during the growing season. Soil water deficits are likely to co-occur with frost extremes that are common throughout the year and heatwaves which are increasing in severity with ongoing climate change. Aims We aimed to determine whether co-occurring reductions in soil moisture would affect the capacity of alpine plants to tolerate temperature extremes. Methods We used small rainout shelters to impose a drought treatment in situ in the alpine zone, which chronically reduced soil moisture in plots of alpine plant species including evergreen shrubs, graminoids and perennial forbs. We determined photosynthetic freezing tolerance and heat tolerance during the growing season across 2 years, and measured plant growth, in response to the drought treatment. Results Thermal tolerance was insensitive to chronically reduced soil moisture, and graminoids exhibited overall greater freezing and heat tolerance thresholds than other life forms. The drought treatment improved shrub growth, likely due to the amelioration of wind and the slightly warmer temperatures provided by the rainout shelters. Conclusion We conclude that Australian alpine plants maintain high tolerances to both high- and low-temperature extremes during the growing season and are relatively robust to combined temperature extremes and reductions in near-surface soil moisture that are likely to occur with ongoing climate warming.","PeriodicalId":49691,"journal":{"name":"Plant Ecology & Diversity","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43187039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}