Latitudinal Variation in Leaf and Tree Traits of the Mangrove <i>Avicennia germinans</i> (Avicenniaceae) in the Central Region of the Gulf of Mexico

Méndez‐Alonzo, Rodrigo; López–Portillo, Jorge; Rivera‐Monroy, Victor H.

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2008.00397.x

Cited by 51 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(89 reference statements)

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“…), and is also concordant with previous reports from latitudinal gradients where any increase in hydraulic availability and temperature favours increases in tree height (Méndez‐Alonzo et al. ; Moles et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Altitudinal changes in tree leaf and stem functional diversity in a semi‐tropical mountain

Hernández-Calderón

Méndez‐Alonzo²,

Martínez-Cruz

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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Question Along an altitudinal gradient of 2000 m in a semi‐tropical mountain, we explored the relation between tree specific diversity and community functional composition by studying variations in tree allometry, stem and leaf functional traits, and their relationship with temperature and precipitation. Location Tequila Volcano, Jalisco, Mexico (20°48′ N, 103°51′ W). Methods We surveyed tree specific diversity, five forest structural parameters and six functional traits in ten horizontal transects (50–75 m in length) located every 200 m along a 2000‐m gradient (from 800 to 2800 m a.s.l.). We calculated alpha and beta diversity, and quantified the community‐weighted means for wood and bark density, Huber value (sapwood to leaf area ratio), leaf area, leaf dry mass content and leaf mass per unit area. The patterns of association were explored using Pearson correlations, and summarized using PCA. Results Alpha diversity was independent of altitude, and species turnover was almost complete between consecutive transects. Altitude (and its associated abiotic factors, temperature and precipitation) were highly correlated with functional traits. Maximum tree height, total basal area and the community‐weighted mean values for leaf mass per unit area, leaf dry mass content, and the Huber values were positively correlated with altitude, and the opposite was found for the number of basal stems. Stem and leaf trait values were correlated along the altitudinal gradient. Conclusions Altitude imposes environmental filters at the community scale that determine a high species replacement. Stem and leaf traits were correlated along the gradient; trees at higher altitudes were taller with a single stem, higher density of wood and bark, and leaves with higher leaf mass per area and dry mass content than in the low‐altitude sites. These results suggest the consistency of a fast–slow acquisitive trade‐off across environments, tending to promote slow acquisition and high longevity at higher altitudes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Altitudinal changes in tree leaf and stem functional diversity in a semi‐tropical mountain

Hernández-Calderón

Méndez‐Alonzo²,

Martínez-Cruz

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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“…Although USA range‐margin A. germinans are smaller than conspecifics towards the range core (Feher et al, ), these small‐statured individuals exhibited a change in functional traits consistent with greater cold tolerance. A similar trade‐off in plant size and leaf traits exists for A. germinans along Atlantic Mexico (Méndez‐Alonzo, López‐Portillo, & Rivera‐Monroy, ), and freeze experiments have demonstrated that this transition towards cold‐tolerant leaf traits in East Florida A. germinans correlates with greater freeze tolerance at the range margin (Cook‐Patton et al, ). Additional systematic changes towards USA mangrove range limits include narrower xylem vessel architecture (Madrid et al, ), precocious reproduction and increased propagule size (Dangremond & Feller, ), and greater reproductive success (Goldberg & Heine, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Is the central‐marginal hypothesis a general rule? Evidence from three distributions of an expanding mangrove species, Avicennia germinans (L.) L

et al. 2020

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The central‐marginal hypothesis (CMH) posits that range margins exhibit less genetic diversity and greater inter‐population genetic differentiation compared to range cores. CMH predictions are based on long‐held “abundant‐centre” assumptions of a decline in ecological conditions and abundances towards range margins. Although much empirical research has confirmed CMH, exceptions remain almost as common. We contend that mangroves provide a model system to test CMH that alleviates common confounding factors and may help clarify this lack of consensus. Here, we document changes in black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) population genetics with 12 nuclear microsatellite loci along three replicate coastlines in the United States (only two of three conform to underlying “abundant‐centre” assumptions). We then test an implicit prediction of CMH (reduced genetic diversity may constrain adaptation at range margins) by measuring functional traits of leaves associated with cold tolerance, the climatic factor that controls these mangrove distributional limits. CMH predictions were confirmed only along the coastlines that conform to “abundant‐centre” assumptions and, in contrast to theory, range margin A. germinans exhibited functional traits consistent with greater cold tolerance compared to range cores. These findings support previous accounts that CMH may not be a general rule across species and that reduced neutral genetic diversity at range margins may not be a constraint to shifts in functional trait variation along climatic gradients.

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“…Across precipitation gradients that span the transition from humid to arid climates, there is often: (a) a decrease in the coverage of coastal wetland plants (Bucher & Saenger, ; Gabler et al, ; Longley, ; Montagna, Gibeaut, & Tunnell, ; Osland et al, ; Osland, Feher, et al, ); (b) a decrease in coastal wetland plant canopy height (Feher et al, ; Gabler et al, ; Lot‐Helgueras, Vázquez‐Yanes, & Menéndez, ; Méndez‐Alonzo, López‐Portillo, & Rivera‐Monroy, ); (c) a decrease in aboveground biomass (Gabler et al, ; Hutchison, Manica, Swetnam, Balmford, & Spalding, ; Rovai et al, ); and (d) a shift in coastal wetland plant functional group dominance, from plant communities dominated by graminoid and/or mangrove plants to plant communities dominated by succulent salt marsh plants and/or microbial mats (i.e., wetlands that lack vascular plants; unvegetated salt flats) (Gabler et al, ; Saenger, ; Yando et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and plant controls on soil organic matter in coastal wetlands

Osland

Gabler

Grace

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

122

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Coastal wetlands are among the most productive and carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth. Long-term carbon storage in coastal wetlands occurs primarily belowground as soil organic matter (SOM). In addition to serving as a carbon sink, SOM influences wetland ecosystem structure, function, and stability. To anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change, there is a need to advance understanding of environmental controls on wetland SOM. Here, we investigated the influence of four soil formation factors: climate, biota, parent materials, and topography. Along the northern Gulf of Mexico, we collected wetland plant and soil data across elevation and zonation gradients within 10 estuaries that span broad temperature and precipitation gradients. Our results highlight the importance of climate-plant controls and indicate that the influence of elevation is scale and location dependent. Coastal wetland plants are sensitive to climate change; small changes in temperature or precipitation can transform coastal wetland plant communities. Across the region, SOM was greatest in mangrove forests and in salt marshes dominated by graminoid plants. SOM was lower in salt flats that lacked vascular plants and in salt marshes dominated by succulent plants. We quantified strong relationships between precipitation, salinity, plant productivity, and SOM. Low precipitation leads to high salinity, which limits plant productivity and appears to constrain SOM accumulation. Our analyses use data from the Gulf of Mexico, but our results can be related to coastal wetlands across the globe and provide a foundation for predicting the ecological effects of future reductions in precipitation and freshwater availability. Coastal wetlands provide many ecosystem services that are SOM dependent and highly vulnerable to climate change. Collectively, our results indicate that future changes in SOM and plant productivity, regulated by cascading effects of precipitation on freshwater availability and salinity, could impact wetland stability and affect the supply of some wetland ecosystem services.

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Latitudinal Variation in Leaf and Tree Traits of the Mangrove Avicennia germinans (Avicenniaceae) in the Central Region of the Gulf of Mexico

Cited by 51 publications

References 60 publications

Altitudinal changes in tree leaf and stem functional diversity in a semi‐tropical mountain

Altitudinal changes in tree leaf and stem functional diversity in a semi‐tropical mountain

Is the central‐marginal hypothesis a general rule? Evidence from three distributions of an expanding mangrove species, Avicennia germinans (L.) L

Climate and plant controls on soil organic matter in coastal wetlands

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