A multi-trait approach reveals the structure and the relative importance of intra- vs. interspecific variability in plant traits
A multi-trait approach reveals the structure and the relative importance of intra- vs. interspecific variability in plant traits
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01727.x
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发表时间：
2010-12-01
影响因子：
5.2
通讯作者：
Lavorel, Sandra
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Albert, Cecile Helene;Thuiller, Wilfried;Lavorel, Sandra
P > 1。功能性状被广泛应用于物种的功能描述、分类和排序。越来越多的证据表明，种内和种间的功能变异性对群落动态和生态系统功能具有重要影响。然而，用物种来表达功能性状的一个核心假设意味着，与种间变异性相比，它们的种内变异性可以忽略不计，这一假设很少得到实证检验。然后，我们解决了四个问题：种内功能变异性与种间变异性相比可以忽略不计吗？主要的资源经济权衡和功能策略对个体性状变异是否稳健？一旦考虑到种内变异性，物种排名或排序在物种范围内是否稳健？可以通过叶片特征来区分物种吗？采用环境分层抽样设计，收集了13种常见植物的5个功能性状，并对其生活史和性状进行了对比。然后在不同的环境条件下对每个物种的分布范围内的几个种群进行采样。通过单性状和多性状分析的原始组合，我们强调了种内变异性对整体功能性状变异性的不可忽略的贡献（类似于30%）。虽然不影响一般和众所周知的功能权衡和策略，但种内功能变异性有可能改变物种排序，并产生功能连续体，而不是明确的物种分类。确定种内的功能变异性是否可以被认为是可以忽略不计的——物种由平均性状值代表——或者不是——物种由多变量性状分布代表——是多个生态学问题的关键问题。然而，这个决定不能是通用的，而是取决于所研究的系统和选择的性状和物种，以及研究目标。
P>1. Functional traits have been extensively used to describe, group and rank species according to their functions. There is now growing evidence that intraspecific functional variability, as well as interspecific variability, can have significant effects on community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. A core hypothesis for the use of functional traits expressed as species means, that their intraspecific variability is negligible compared with their interspecific variability, has however been too rarely tested empirically. We then addressed four questions: Is intraspecific functional variability across species ranges negligible compared with interspecific variability? Are the major resource economics trade-off and functional strategies robust to individual trait variability? Are species rankings or ordination robust across species ranges once considering intraspecific variability? Can species be discriminated by their leaf traits?2. Using an environmentally stratified sampling design within an alpine catchment, we collected five functional traits for 13 common plant species with contrasting life histories and traits. Several populations from a range of environmental conditions were then sampled for each species across their ranges.3. With an original combination of single-trait and multi-trait analyses, we highlighted a non-negligible contribution of intraspecific variability to overall functional trait variability (similar to 30%). Although not affecting general and well-known functional trade-offs and strategies, intraspecific functional variability had the potential to alter species ordination and produced a functional continuum rather than a clear-cut species classification.4. Deciding whether intraspecific functional variability can be considered as negligible - species being represented by mean trait values -, or not - species being represented by multivariate trait distributions -, is an essential question for multiple ecological issues. However, this decision cannot be generic, but will depend on the studied system and selected traits and species, as well as on study objectives.