Quantifying the extent of plant functional specialization using Grime’s CSR strategies

Ricotta, Carlo; Fratte, Michele Dalle; Pierce, Simon; Carboni, Marta; Cerabolini, Bruno Enrico Leone; Pavoine, Sandrine

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110066

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…To this end, we used the function “adonis” of the package “vegan” [ 51 ], based on Euclidean or Bray–Curtis distance for the PCA multidimensional space or the CSR ternary space, respectively. We used the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity to account for the constant sum constraint in multivariate analysis among compositional data such as the CSR ones [ 52 ]. We tested for pairwise differences in the values of the significant PCA components and each C-, S-, and R-strategy axis among the growth forms and bioenergy use types using standard univariate ANOVA with 9999 random permutations and the Benjamini and Hochberg adjustment method.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Plant Functional Traits to Define the Biomass Energy Potential of Invasive Alien Plant Species

Ceriani,

Dalle Fratte,

Agosto

et al. 2023

Plants

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The eradication of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) is mandatory worldwide, but the resulting biomass is still considered waste. The energy use of biomasses obtained from IAPS eradication may represent ecological and economic benefits, creating synergies with restoration projects. We evaluated whether the growth forms and functional types identified using the functional space of 63 IAPS corresponded to a possible bioenergy use through multivariate analysis techniques. We extracted leaf and nutrient traits and Grime’s CSR plant strategies from an existing database. We calculated the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) and gross heating value (GHV) as indicators of biochemical or thermal processes, respectively. For 10 species, we measured the above-ground biomass C:N and GHV (including leaves, stems and branches) and correlated them with those of leaves and with plant adaptive strategies. We identified four groups of IAPS indicative of the main trade-offs between plant economics and size variation, which respectively correlated with C:N and GHV. Herbaceous IAPS were better suited to biochemical processes, and woody IAPS to thermal ones. Overall, Grime’s CSR strategies were the best tool to define the IAPS bioenergy potential. In the long term, competitive and ruderal IAPSs can represent a reusable feedstock until their complete eradication.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%