Towards multivariate functional trait syndromes: Predicting foliar water uptake in trees

Chin, Alana R. O.; Guzmán‐Delgado, Paula; Görlich, Anna; HilleRisLambers, Janneke

doi:10.1002/ecy.4112

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Moreover, through the use of a meaningful summarizing index, our study enables us to explain the link between demography and individual traits in a way that makes logical sense. Since we know from previous studies that traits are not independent from each other and "form" trait types, more specifically in this case behavioral syndromes [35,40,41,[72][73][74][75], we used a trait index based on the link between phenotypical trait values and ciliate behaviors previously observed in T. thermophila [72], rather than individual trait values, for the analysis. Importantly, we looked at the change in this index over the length of the experiment rather than just at the initial or final values, as traits can be plastic and change in response to the environment [38,39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate

de Bruin,

De Laender,

Jadoul

et al. 2024

BMC Ecol Evo

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Background Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same species respond differently to environmental change. More specifically, variation of demographic responses fosters buffering of demography, while variation of trait responses fosters buffering of functioning. Understanding how both responses are related is important for predicting biodiversity loss and its consequences. In this study, we aimed to empirically assess whether population-level trait responses to multiple environmental change drivers are related to the demographic response to these drivers. To this end, we measured demographic and trait responses in microcosm experiments with two species of ciliated protists. For three clonal strains of each species, we measured responses to two environmental change drivers (climate change and pollution) and their combination. We also examined if relationships between demographic and trait responses existed across treatments and strains. Results We found different demographic responses across strains of the same species but hardly any interactive effects between the two environmental change drivers. Also, trait responses (summarized in a survival strategy index) varied among strains within a species, again with no driver interactions. Demographic and trait responses were related across all strains of both species tested in this study: Increasing intrinsic growth and self-limitation were associated with a shift in survival strategy from sit-and-wait towards flee. Conclusions Our results support the existence of a link between a population’s demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers in two species of ciliate. Future work could dive deeper into the specifics of phenotypical trait values, and changes therein, related to specific life strategies in different species of ciliate and other zooplankton grazers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate

de Bruin,

De Laender,

Jadoul

et al. 2024

BMC Ecol Evo

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“…Leaf traits profoundly affect leaf water absorption capacity [7,46,47]. SLW is one of the important indicators used to reflect the morphological characteristics of plant leaves.…”

Section: Foliar Water Uptake Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Foliar Water Uptake and Its Relationship with Photosynthetic Capacity and Anatomical Structure between Female and Male Populus euphratica at Different Growth Stages

Chen

Wang

et al. 2023

Forests

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Foliar water uptake (FWU) is considered to be a common phenomenon in most terrestrial plants. As a supplementary water source, it plays an important role in the growth and survival of plants in arid areas. However, there is no research to explain the water absorption of plant leaves from the perspective of gender specificity. To this end, we carried out a leaf water absorption capacity experiment and in situ wetting field experiment, respectively, in the early (Initial), middle (Mid) and end (End) of the growth season of male and female Populus euphratica. The results of the leaf water absorption capacity experiment showed that the FWU capacity of male and female P. euphratica showed an increasing trend with the growth period and reached the maximum at the End period. The FWU capacity of female P. euphratica was significantly greater than that of male P. euphratica after the Initial stage. The water absorption speed (k) of male and female leaves also increased with the growth period, but the increase was not significant. The increase in leaf water content per mg of water absorbed per unit of leaf area (LWCA) of male P. euphratica was always greater than that of female P. euphratica. Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water saturated deficit (WSD) and water absorption parameters (FWU capacity, k) were significantly correlated. The results of the in situ wetting field experiment show that humidification significantly increased the predawn water potential (Mid period) of female and male P. euphratica leaves and the net photosynthetic rate (Mid period) of male P. euphratica leaves, but had no significant effect on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and anatomical structure. The MFA results show that the water status of male and female P. euphratica leaves was significantly correlated with photosynthetic parameters, fluorescence parameters and anatomical parameters. Our results show that the foliar water uptake capacity of female P. euphratica leaves was stronger than that of male P. euphratica and shows significant dynamic changes during the growing season. This was because female P. euphratica has a developed water storage structure. Foliar water uptake can effectively improve the water status and photosynthetic capacity of male and female P. euphratica, and this improvement was more significant during the most intense period of soil water stress. These findings will deepen our understanding of the ecological adaptation of dioecious plants to foliar water uptake.

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Towards multivariate functional trait syndromes: Predicting foliar water uptake in trees

Chin,

Guzmán‐Delgado,

Görlich

et al. 2023

Ecology

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Analysis of functional traits is a cornerstone of ecology, yet individual traits seldom explain useful amounts of variation in species distribution or climatic tolerance, and their functional significance is rarely validated experimentally. Multivariate suites of interacting traits could build an understanding of ecological processes and improve our ability to make sound predictions of species success in our rapidly changing world. We use foliar water uptake capacity as a case study because it is increasingly considered to be a key functional trait in plant ecology due to its importance for stress-tolerance physiology. However, the traits behind the trait, that is, the features of leaves that determine variation in foliar water uptake rates, have not been assembled into a widely applicable framework for uptake prediction. Focusing on trees, we investigated relationships among 25 structural traits, leaf osmotic potential (a source of free energy to draw water into leaves), and foliar water uptake in 10 diverse angiosperm and conifer species. We identified consistent, multitrait "uptake syndromes" for both angiosperm and conifer trees, with differences in key traits revealing suspected differences in the water entry route between these two clades and an evolutionarily significant divergence in the function of homologous structures. A literature review of uptake-associated functional traits, which largely documents similar univariate relationships, provides additional support for our proposed "uptake syndrome." Importantly, more than half of shared traits had opposite-direction influences on the capacity of leaves to absorb water in angiosperms and conifers. Taxonomically targeted multivariate trait syndromes provide a useful tool for trait selection in ecological research, while highlighting the importance of micro-traits and the physiological verification of their function for advancing trait-based ecology.

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Towards multivariate functional trait syndromes: Predicting foliar water uptake in trees

Cited by 6 publications

References 65 publications

Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate

Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate

Foliar Water Uptake and Its Relationship with Photosynthetic Capacity and Anatomical Structure between Female and Male Populus euphratica at Different Growth Stages

Towards multivariate functional trait syndromes: Predicting foliar water uptake in trees

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