Elevation-Related Variation in Leaf Stomatal Traits as a Function of Plant Functional Type: Evidence from Changbai Mountain, China

Abstract

Understanding the variation in stomatal characteristics in relation to climatic gradients can reveal the adaptation strategies of plants, and help us to predict their responses to future climate changes. In this study, we investigated stomatal density (SD) and stomatal length (SL) in 150 plant species along an elevation gradient (540–2357 m) in Changbai Mountain, China, and explored the patterns and drivers of stomatal characteristics across species and plant functional types (PFTs: trees, shrubs, and herbs). The average values of SD and SL for all species combined were 156 mm–2 and 35 µm, respectively. SD was higher in trees (224 mm–2) than in shrubs (156 mm–2) or herbs (124 mm–2), and SL was largest in herbs (37 µm). SD was negatively correlated with SL in all species and PFTs (P<0.01). The relationship between stomatal characteristics and elevation differed among PFTs. In trees, SD decreased and SL increased with elevation; in shrubs and herbs, SD initially increased and then decreased. Elevation-related differences in SL were not significant. PFT explained 7.20–17.6% of the total variation in SD and SL; the contributions of CO2 partial pressure (), precipitation, and soil water content (SWC) were weak (0.02–2.28%). Our findings suggest that elevation-related patterns of stomatal characteristics in leaves are primarily a function of PFT, and highlight the importance of differences among PFTs in modeling gas exchange in terrestrial ecosystems under global climate change.

Contrasting responses of leaf stomatal characteristics to climate change: a considerable challenge to predict carbon and water cycles

“…a). These findings suggest that the response of stomatal frequency differs among different plant life forms (Wang et al ., ). Regression analysis revealed that the stomatal frequency initially increased and then decreased with increasing elevation (Fig.…”

“…It is known that environmental changes can influence stomatal development (Fraser et al, 2009;Hill et al, 2015). Thus, an elevation gradient also provides a powerful setting in which to test the responses of stomatal frequency to changing environmental conditions because large changes in environmental factors can occur over short distances (Qiang et al, 2003;Wang et al, 2014). Studies of the effects of altitude on SD have shown a range of responses along elevation gradients, including decreases (Schoettle & Rochelle, 2000), increases (Kouwenberg et al, 2007), and no change (Wang et al, 2014).…”

“…Thus, an elevation gradient also provides a powerful setting in which to test the responses of stomatal frequency to changing environmental conditions because large changes in environmental factors can occur over short distances (Qiang et al, 2003;Wang et al, 2014). Studies of the effects of altitude on SD have shown a range of responses along elevation gradients, including decreases (Schoettle & Rochelle, 2000), increases (Kouwenberg et al, 2007), and no change (Wang et al, 2014). Some researchers observed an initial increase in SD followed by a decrease with increasing elevation (Qiang et al, 2003;Luo et al, 2006).…”

One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and A. digitata

“…The difference between our results and theirs could be a consequence of us looking at a wider geographic area rather than individual populations, or a difficulty in accurately counting and measuring stomata on herbarium specimens. It is also noteworthy that abiotic factors can influence stomatal size and density along elevational, temperature, and water gradients (Körner & Cochrane, 1985;Kluge & Kessler, 2007;Wang & al., 2014). Such variation is likely in baobabs given evidence of higher stomatal density and smaller guard cells in high-temperature and low-rainfall areas in Benin, though this relationship was not also found in Malawi (Sanchez, 2010;Sanchez & al., 2010).…”

Stomatal density in Quercus petraea and Q. robur natural populations in Northern Turkey

“…Phenotypic plasticity is influenced by several environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, water availability and atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (Bradshaw & Hardwick, 1989;Sultan, 2000). Stomatal density is a suitable phenotypic characteristic for understanding the long-term adaptation and short-term response of plant species to changing environmental conditions at large spatial scales (Hetherington & Woodward, 2003;Bresson et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014). Furthermore, studies exploring stomatal characteristics such as stomatal density may give information about the degree to which plants that are grown outside their natural habitats adapt to new environmental conditions (Sevik et al, 2017).…”