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Leaf dry matter content and lateral spread predict response to land use change for six subalpine grassland species
- Source :
- Journal of Vegetation Science, Journal of Vegetation Science, Wiley, 2007, 18 (2), pp.289-300
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2007.
-
Abstract
- International audience; Question: Land-use change has a major impact on terrestrial plant communities by affecting fertility and disturbance. We test how particular combinations of plant functional traits can predict species responses to these factors and their abundance in the field by examining whether trade-offs at the trait level (fundamental trade-offs) are linked to trade-offs at the response level (secondary trade-offs). Location: Central French Alps. Methods: We conducted a pot experiment in which we characterized plant trait syndromes by measuring whole plant and leaf traits for six dominant species, originating from contrasting subalpine grassland types. We characterized their response to nutrient availability, shading and clipping. We quantified factors linked with different land usage in the field to test the relevance of our experimental treatments. Results: We showed that land management affected nutrient concentration in soil, light availability and disturbance intensity. We identified particular suites of traits linked to plant stature and leaf structure which were associated with species responses to these environmental factors. Leaf dry matter content separates fast and slow growing species. Height and lateral spread separated tolerant and intolerant species to shade and clipping. Discussion and Conclusion: Two fundamental trade-offs based on stature traits and leaf traits were linked to two secondary trade-off, based on response to fertilization shade and mowing. Based on these trade-offs, we discuss four different species strategies which could explain and predict species distributions and traits syndrome at community scale under different land-uses in subalpine grasslands.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
plant functional trait
Plant functional types
competitive-response
[SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity
Plant Science
trait relationships
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
biotic interactions
primary
dominant species
secondary trade-off
species strategy
French Alps
trade-off
disturbance
[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment
2. Zero hunger
stress tolerance
Ecology
fungi
food and beverages
15. Life on land
strategies
low-rainfall
relative importance
[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
ecosystems
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 11009233
- Volume :
- 18
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Vegetation Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....bc2eb2cd6ee582354547136f0b13eafe
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2007.tb02540.x