Julia I Burton1, Steven S Perakis2, J Renée Brooks3, Klaus J Puettmann4. 1. Department of Sustainable Resources Management, State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, 320 Bray Hall, 1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA. 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA. 3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Ecology Division, 200 SW 35th, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA. 4. Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
Abstract
PREMISE: Determining which traits characterize strategies of coexisting species is important to developing trait-based models of plant communities. First, global dimensions may not exist locally. Second, the degree to which traits and trait spectra constitute independent dimensions of functional variation at various scales continues to be refined. Finally, traits may be associated with existing categorical groupings. METHODS: We assessed trait integration and differentiation across 57 forest understory plant species in Douglas-fir forests of western Oregon, United States. We combined measurements for a range of traits with literature-based estimates of seed mass and species groupings. We used network analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination (NMS) to determine the degree of integration. RESULTS: We observed a strong leaf economics spectrum (LES) integrated with stem but not root traits. However, stem traits and intrinsic water-use efficiency integrated LES and root traits. Network analyses indicated a modest grouping of a priori trait dimensions. NMS indicated that multivariate differences among species were related primarily to (1) rooting depth and plant height vs. specific root length, (2) the LES, and (3) leaf size vs. seed mass. These differences were related to species groupings associated with growth and life form, leaf lifespan and seed dispersal mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: The strategies of coexisting understory plant species could not be reduced to a single dimension. Yet, species can be characterized efficiently and effectively for trait-based studies of plant communities by measuring four common traits: plant height, specific leaf area, leaf size, and seed mass.
PREMISE: Determining which traits characterize strategies of coexisting species is important to developing trait-based models of plant communities. First, global dimensions may not exist locally. Second, the degree to which traits and trait spectra constitute independent dimensions of functional variation at various scales continues to be refined. Finally, traits may be associated with existing categorical groupings. METHODS: We assessed trait integration and differentiation across 57 forest understory plant species in Douglas-fir forests of western Oregon, United States. We combined measurements for a range of traits with literature-based estimates of seed mass and species groupings. We used network analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination (NMS) to determine the degree of integration. RESULTS: We observed a strong leaf economics spectrum (LES) integrated with stem but not root traits. However, stem traits and intrinsic water-use efficiency integrated LES and root traits. Network analyses indicated a modest grouping of a priori trait dimensions. NMS indicated that multivariate differences among species were related primarily to (1) rooting depth and plant height vs. specific root length, (2) the LES, and (3) leaf size vs. seed mass. These differences were related to species groupings associated with growth and life form, leaf lifespan and seed dispersal mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: The strategies of coexisting understory plant species could not be reduced to a single dimension. Yet, species can be characterized efficiently and effectively for trait-based studies of plant communities by measuring four common traits: plant height, specific leaf area, leaf size, and seed mass.
Authors: Sandra Díaz; Jens Kattge; Johannes H C Cornelissen; Ian J Wright; Sandra Lavorel; Stéphane Dray; Björn Reu; Michael Kleyer; Christian Wirth; I Colin Prentice; Eric Garnier; Gerhard Bönisch; Mark Westoby; Hendrik Poorter; Peter B Reich; Angela T Moles; John Dickie; Andrew N Gillison; Amy E Zanne; Jérôme Chave; S Joseph Wright; Serge N Sheremet'ev; Hervé Jactel; Christopher Baraloto; Bruno Cerabolini; Simon Pierce; Bill Shipley; Donald Kirkup; Fernando Casanoves; Julia S Joswig; Angela Günther; Valeria Falczuk; Nadja Rüger; Miguel D Mahecha; Lucas D Gorné Journal: Nature Date: 2015-12-23 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: M Luke McCormack; Ian A Dickie; David M Eissenstat; Timothy J Fahey; Christopher W Fernandez; Dali Guo; Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari; Erik A Hobbie; Colleen M Iversen; Robert B Jackson; Jaana Leppälammi-Kujansuu; Richard J Norby; Richard P Phillips; Kurt S Pregitzer; Seth G Pritchard; Boris Rewald; Marcin Zadworny Journal: New Phytol Date: 2015-03-10 Impact factor: 10.151
Authors: Ian J Wright; David D Ackerly; Frans Bongers; Kyle E Harms; Guillermo Ibarra-Manriquez; Miguel Martinez-Ramos; Susan J Mazer; Helene C Muller-Landau; Horacio Paz; Nigel C A Pitman; Lourens Poorter; Miles R Silman; Corine F Vriesendorp; Cam O Webb; Mark Westoby; S Joseph Wright Journal: Ann Bot Date: 2006-04-04 Impact factor: 4.357