Multidimensional trait space outlines the effects of changes in abiotic filtering on aquatic plant community from sub-Antarctic ponds ...

• Main Authors: Douce, Pauline, Eymar-Dauphin, Pauline, Saiz, Hugo, Renault, David, Mermillod-Blondin, Florian, Simon, Laurent, Vallier, Félix, Bittebiere, Anne-Kristel
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Subjects: 580 Plants Botany; Antarctic; Kerguelen; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48350/199014; https://boris.unibe.ch/199014/

In the current context of climate changes, which causes strong habitat variation, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant community dynamics is crucial to predict species fates. The taking of inter- and intraspecific trait variability into account would aid the identification of these mechanisms. Recently, a method involving the calculation of hypervolumes (n-dimensional spaces of trait values) was developed for the study of plant responses to their environments. Through hypervolume comparison, we examined the effects of interannual variations in abiotic conditions on aquatic plant communities in ponds of the sub-Antarctic Iles Kerguelen. This model system is particularly relevant for the examination of the consequences of climate changes-related habitat variation, as aquatic plant communities are adapted to cold and overall stable habitat conditions and the sub-Antarctic climate is changing rapidly. We conducted field sampling over four years at three sites. For all aquatic species, we measured ...