Variation of leaf traits in plant communities of central Argentina under different climatic conditions and land use
Leaf functional traits in a plant community are the result of the effect of environmental conditions and have a direct impact on ecosystem properties and functioning. We analyzed the variations of five leaf functional traits in plant communities from central Argentina under different climatic conditions and anthropogenic use determining changes in physiognomy. Study sites were located in Córdoba province (Argentina) within four phytogeographic units categorized according to their climatic condition based on an aridity index; they were named as ‘climatic units’ 1, 2, 3 and 4, following a gradient from lower to higher temperature and aridity. In each climatic unit we selected six sites located in two physiognomies corresponding to different degrees of anthropogenic use: 3 sites in woodlands (less use), and 3 sites in grasslands/shrublands (more intense use). We measured five leaf traits (specific leaf area [SLA], leaf dry matter content [LDMC], leaf toughness, leaf thickness and decomposability), and we calculated the community weighted mean for each trait for each site. The variations in functional leaf traits were mainly determine by climatic conditions. The physiognomic change, because of anthropogenic use, also affected these variations, but this effect was conditioned by climate. Under colder and wetter climatic conditions, the removal of tree species result in communities dominate mainly by grasses with conservative foliar trait values (e.g., lower SLA, higher leaf toughness and lower decomposability). However, in warmer and drier climatic conditions, the removal of tree species did not imply a change in the functional strategy of the community as it resulted in an increase dominance of grasses and dicotyledonous shrub species with relatively lower foliar toughness and high decomposability. Our results show the interactive effect of climate and anthropogenic use on the variations in leaf functional traits and the complexity to predict the effects of such variations on ecosystem processes.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2021
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1237 |
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