Differential ecological strategies in functional traits among coexisting tree species in a Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2022.0255

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Comparing functional traits of coexisting tree species in natural forests can reveal the adaptation strategies of different tree species to different habitats, which is essential for understanding the coexistence mechanism of the local forest community and guiding forest restoration.
Methods In this study, we compared the functional traits of five coexisting tree species in a Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest, the zonal vegetation in the Qinling Mountains, and further examined the difference in the traits space defined by the first two principal component analysis (PCA) axes to reveal the differences of these tree species in ecological strategies.
Important findings The results showed that there were obvious differences in the above- and belowground functional traits of different tree species, especially in the strategies of leaf resource acquisition and defense. Specifically, Acer davidii tended to have more acquisitive leaf traits and fine root traits, while Carpinus cordata was relatively more conservative in leaf and fine root traits. Lindera obtusiloba was inclined to have leaves with high resistance and defense ability, while leaves of Cornus kousa subsp. chinensis showed low resistance and defense ability. The dominant species, Q. aliena var. acuteserrata, occupied the middle position along the strategy gradient. The differences in the functional traits and their combinations of coexisting tree species in Q. aliena var. acuteserrata forest reflect their differences in ecological strategies and niches, which may contribute to their stable coexistence.

Key words: functional trait, ecological strategy, species coexistence, Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest, Qinling Mountains

YUAN Ya-Ni, ZHOU Zhe, CHEN Bin-Zhou, GUO Yao-Xin, YUE Ming. Differential ecological strategies in functional traits among coexisting tree species in a Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2023, 47(9): 1270-1277.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2022.0255

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2023/V47/I9/1270

Figures/Tables 5

References 33

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器官 Organ	功能性状 Functional trait	缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit
叶 Leaf	叶厚度 Leaf thickness	LT	mm
	叶面积 Leaf area	LA	cm²
	叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	LDMC	g·g^-1
	比叶质量 Leaf mass per unit area	LMA	g·cm^-2
	叶氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	LNC	mg·g^-1
	叶碳含量 Leaf carbon content	LCC	mg·g^-1
	叶碳氮比 Leaf carbon nitrogen ratio	Leaf C:N
茎 Stem	木质密度 Wood density	WD	g·cm^-3
细根 Fine root	比根长 Specific root length	SRL	cm·g^-1
	根氮含量 Root nitrogen content	RNC	mg·g^-1
	根碳含量 Root carbon content	RCC	mg·g^-1
	根碳氮比 Root carbon nitrogen ratio	Root C:N

器官 Organ	功能性状 Functional trait	缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit
叶 Leaf	叶厚度 Leaf thickness	LT	mm
	叶面积 Leaf area	LA	cm²
	叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	LDMC	g·g^-1
	比叶质量 Leaf mass per unit area	LMA	g·cm^-2
	叶氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	LNC	mg·g^-1
	叶碳含量 Leaf carbon content	LCC	mg·g^-1
	叶碳氮比 Leaf carbon nitrogen ratio	Leaf C:N
茎 Stem	木质密度 Wood density	WD	g·cm^-3
细根 Fine root	比根长 Specific root length	SRL	cm·g^-1
	根氮含量 Root nitrogen content	RNC	mg·g^-1
	根碳含量 Root carbon content	RCC	mg·g^-1
	根碳氮比 Root carbon nitrogen ratio	Root C:N

功能性状 Functional trait	PCA1	PCA2	PCA3
LT	-0.17	-0.17	0.33
LA	-0.03	0.29	0.39
LDMC	0.25	0.41	0.22
LMA	0.06	0.04	0.11
LNC	-0.44	-0.08	0.18
LCC	0.16	0.52	0.07
Leaf C:N	0.44	0.25	-0.20
WD	0.30	-0.16	0.42
SRL	0.08	-0.23	-0.25
RNC	-0.45	0.22	0.05
RCC	0.11	-0.38	0.40
Root C:N	0.41	-0.34	0.08
方差贡献率 Variance contribution (%)	32.45	19.30	13.25

功能性状 Functional trait	PCA1	PCA2	PCA3
LT	-0.17	-0.17	0.33
LA	-0.03	0.29	0.39
LDMC	0.25	0.41	0.22
LMA	0.06	0.04	0.11
LNC	-0.44	-0.08	0.18
LCC	0.16	0.52	0.07
Leaf C:N	0.44	0.25	-0.20
WD	0.30	-0.16	0.42
SRL	0.08	-0.23	-0.25
RNC	-0.45	0.22	0.05
RCC	0.11	-0.38	0.40
Root C:N	0.41	-0.34	0.08
方差贡献率 Variance contribution (%)	32.45	19.30	13.25