Biology subjects

Cieraad, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Cieraad, E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Drivers of plant intraspecific variation are trait-specific

O_LIThe importance of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in community dynamics is increasingly being recognised, but the drivers of ITV have not yet been well-studied. Here, we analysed whether environmental conditions, biotic interactions and species features are related to ITV on a global scale. C_LIO_LIWe compiled a global species ITV database including 2064 species which occurred in 1068 communities (plots) across 19 countries with 11 functional traits. The magnitudes of species ITV in this database were calculated according to the trait-gradient analysis which is independent of the length of the environmental gradient. C_LIO_LIWe found that different traits had different main drivers, so we consider the drivers of ITV to be trait-specific. However, our findings still brought some order among these idiosyncratic patterns: leaf economics spectrum traits were more related to environmental conditions and leaf morphology traits were more related to biotic interactions. Size-related traits were related to both abiotic and biotic conditions. C_LIO_LIOur research suggests that the drivers of ITV deviated from the drivers of the mean trait values and that some trait coordination may fall apart upon climate change. Thus, our analysis enhances our understanding of trait variation and has important implications for models predicting vegetation responses to environmental change. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genetic adaptation rates differ by trait and plant type-a comprehensive meta-analysis

O_LIPlants can respond to changing climatic conditions through genetic adaptation of their functional traits. Despite the relevance of adaptation to climate change, much remains unknown about plant genetic adaptation rates, including whether these rates differ among plant characteristics and trait types. C_LIO_LIWe performed a meta-analysis to investigate patterns of genetic adaptation rates and assess how these rates differ among plant species groups, growth forms and trait types, using a newly compiled database from 74 studies, comprising 35 functional traits across 72 angiosperm species. This database specifically focuses on genetic adaptation of plant functional traits, as separating from phenotypic plasticity. C_LIO_LIBoth annual and generational adaptation rates of plant traits decrease non-linearly with increasing elapsed time since divergence. Plants adapt fastest when first introduced to a changing environment, but these rates go slow subsequently. Overall, shrubs have higher adaptation rates than trees, which confers shrubs an adaptive advantage over trees. Different adaptation rates among growth forms, life histories and trait types suggest an important additional mechanism through which climate change may affect community composition. C_LIO_LIOur study has important implications regarding plant adaptation to new environments and will improve the prediction of vegetation responses and ecosystem functioning upon climate change. C_LI

ecology↗