Leaf form and function – towards a radical new approach

Grubb, P. J.

doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00491.x

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This resulted in a higher leaf compactness, which can be interpreted as a protective mechanism decreasing photochemical damages to the photosynthetic apparatus (Abril and Hanano, 1998;Castro-Díez et al, 1998;Gratani and Varone, 2004). The results suggest that changes in the internal leaf structure may play an adaptive role in response to climatic factors which change during the year, and in particular, the highest LMA of summer leaves can be used as a measure of investment per unit of leaf area in full sun (Grubb, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Physiological, morphological and anatomical trait variations between winter and summer leaves of Cistus species

Catoni

Gratani

Varone

2012

Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Physiological, morphological and anatomical trait variations between winter and summer leaves of Cistus species

Catoni

Gratani

Varone

2012

Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants

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“…All the considered species produced significantly thicker sun leaves compared to shade ones (on an average 0.45 times); it was due in particular to palisade mesophyll (61%, mean of the three species), spongy mesophyll (38%), and the superior cuticle (36%) thickness. The higher leaf consistency (higher LMA) of sun leaves could be used as a measure of investment per unit leaf area in condition of full sun, according to Grubb (2002), while the larger and thinner shade leaves (higher SLA) were more advantageous for light capture under low light, according to the results of Gratani and Foti (1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Leaf plasticity in response to light of three evergreen species of the Mediterranean maquis

Gratani

Covone

Larcher

2006

Trees

171

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Morphological, anatomical, biochemical and physiological traits of sun and shade leaves of adult Quercus ilex, Phillyrea latifolia and Pistacia lentiscus shrub species co-occurring in the Mediterranean maquis at Castelporziano (Latium) were studied. Fully expanded sun leaves had 47% (mean of the three species) greater leaf mass area (LMA) and 31% lower specific leaf area (SLA) than shade leaves. Palisade parenchyma thickness contributed on an average 42% to the total leaf thickness, spongy layer 43%, upper epidermal cells 5%, and upper cuticle thickness 3%. Stomatal size was greater in sun (25.5 mu m) than in shade leaves (23.6 mu m). Total chlorophyll content per fresh mass was 71% greater in shade than in sun leaves, and nitrogen content was the highest in sun (13.7 mg g(-1)) than in shade leaves (11.8 mg g(-1)). Difference of net photosynthetic rates (P (N)) between sun and shade leaves was 97% (mean of the three species). The plasticity index (sensu Valladares et al., New Phytol 148:79-91, 2000a) was the highest for physiological leaf traits (0.86) than for morphological, anatomical and biochemical ones. Q. ilex had the highest plasticity index of morphological, anatomical and physiological leaf traits (0.37, 0.28 and 0.71, respectively) that might explain its wider ecological distribution. The higher leaf plasticity of Q. ilex might be advantageous in response to varying environmental conditions, including global change

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“…While abiotic constraints must broadly limit the range of possible trait values in a community, several studies have emphasized that a large proportion of ‘global trait space’ can be present within a single location or community (Grubb ; Westoby & Wright ; Richardson et al. ; Liu et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare species drive local trait diversity in two geographically disjunct examples of a naturally rare alpine ecosystem in New Zealand

Richardson

Williams

Mason

et al. 2012

J Vegetation Science

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Question Is there evidence for similar community assembly processes in two geographically disjunct examples of a rare alpine ecosystem? Location Two alpine granite gravel fields 610 km apart along a fault line in western South Island, New Zealand – the Lookout Range and Mt Titiroa. Methods Plot‐based vascular plant composition and traits for 86 species (height, seed length, leaf size and nutrient concentrations) were used to examine community structure reflecting assembly processes. We examined species richness, trait values averaged across species and plots, relationships between trait pairs using standardized major axis (SMA) regression and phylogenetically independent contrasts (PIC), relationships between abundance and trait values, and functional diversity indices against null models. Lastly, we partitioned taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity within and across alpine ranges. Results Functional and phylogenetic turnover of diversity between the two locations was low (2.9% and 6.3%, respectively) relative to turnover of taxonomic diversity (75%). Species‐level traits were similar between the two locations, except leaf P, which was higher at Mt Titiroa. Plot‐level average traits were all significantly higher on Mt Titiroa. Relationships between species‐level traits were typically non‐significant at both locations, or significant only at a single location. In contrast, relationships between plot‐level trait values were frequently significant and consistent across the two locations. At both locations, dominant species had a narrow range of similar trait values, while rare species had a wide range of values. Within plots, we found both trait convergence and divergence. Associations of trait values among dominant and rare species were largely non‐random but inconsistent between the two locations. Conclusions The two locations had a similar pool of trait values but often differed in how those traits were assembled. Results demonstrate that dominant species are subject to rigorous filters during community assembly leading to trait convergence, but rare species contributed to trait diversity and trait divergence. Models of community assembly can often predict traits of dominant species but must consider the importance of rare species as a source of local trait diversity, even in species‐poor communities under severe environmental conditions.

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Leaf form and function – towards a radical new approach

Cited by 25 publications

References 21 publications

Physiological, morphological and anatomical trait variations between winter and summer leaves of Cistus species

Physiological, morphological and anatomical trait variations between winter and summer leaves of Cistus species

Leaf plasticity in response to light of three evergreen species of the Mediterranean maquis

Rare species drive local trait diversity in two geographically disjunct examples of a naturally rare alpine ecosystem in New Zealand

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