Intraspecific trait variation drives functional responses of old-field plant communities to nutrient enrichment

Oecologia
Andrew Siefert, Mark E Ritchie

Abstract

Environmental changes are expected to shift the distribution of functional trait values in plant communities through a combination of species turnover and intraspecific variation. The strength of these shifts may depend on the availability of individuals with trait values adapted to new environmental conditions, represented by the functional diversity (FD) of existing community residents or dispersal from the regional species pool. We conducted a 3-year nutrient- and seed-addition experiment in old-field plant communities to examine the contributions of species turnover and intraspecific variation to community trait shifts, focusing on four key plant functional traits: vegetative height, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf dry matter content (LDMC). We further examined the influence of initial FD and seed availability on the strength of these shifts. Community mean height, leaf area, and SLA increased in response to fertilization, and these shifts were driven almost entirely by intraspecific variation. The strength of intraspecific shifts in height and leaf area was positively related to initial intraspecific FD in these traits. Intraspecific trait responses to fertilization varied among species, with species of short...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 23, 2018·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Jacintha EllersMarco Moretti
Dec 8, 2019·Global Change Biology·Haben BlondeelKris Verheyen
Feb 29, 2020·Plant Biology·H BlondeelK Verheyen
Jul 30, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Yan-Ming GongGuang-Hui Lv
Nov 15, 2019·Behavioral Ecology : Official Journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology·Harry R HardingAndrew N Radford
Dec 15, 2017·Oecologia·Rachel M MitchellGreg M Ames
Mar 3, 2020·Frontiers in Plant Science·Jing YangGuochun Shen
Oct 7, 2020·Global Change Biology·Maria-Theresa JessenAnu Eskelinen
Oct 11, 2020·Annals of Botany·Rachel M MitchellJustin P Wright
Dec 12, 2020·Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences·Alexander Calero HurtadoMarisa de Cássia Piccolo

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