Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome
AimPlant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within and across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that functional groups explain a large proportion of trait variation among species. We test wheth...
Published in: | Global Ecology and Biogeography |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2018
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21354 https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 |
id |
ftufz:oai:ufz.de:21354 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
UFZ - Publication Index (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research) |
op_collection_id |
ftufz |
language |
English |
topic |
cluster analysis community composition ecosystem function plant functional groups plant functional types plant traits tundra biome vegetation change |
spellingShingle |
cluster analysis community composition ecosystem function plant functional groups plant functional types plant traits tundra biome vegetation change Thomas, H.J.D. Myers-Smith, I.H. Bjorkman, A.D. Elmendorf, S.C. Blok, D. Cornelissen, J.H.C. Forbes, B.C. Hollister, R.D. Normand, S. Prevéy, J.S. Rixen, C. Schaepman-Strub, G. Wilmking, M. Wipf, S. Cornwell, W.K. Kattge, J. Goetz, S.J. Guay, K.C. Alatalo, J.M. Anadon‐Rosell, A. Angers‐Blondin, S. Berner, L.T. Björk, R.G. Buchwal, A. Buras, A. Carbognani, M. Christie, K. Siegwart Collier, L. Cooper, E.J. Eskelinen, Anu Maria Frei, E.R. Grau, O. Grogan, P. Hallinger, M. Heijmans, M.M.P.D. Hermanutz, L. Hudson, J.M.G. Hülber, K. Iturrate‐Garcia, M. Iversen, C.M. Jaroszynska, F. Johnstone, J.F. Kaarlejärvi, E. Kulonen, A. Lamarque, L.J. Lévesque, E. Little, C.J. Michelsen, A. Milbau, A. Nabe-Nielsen, J. Nielsen, S.S. Ninot, J.M. Oberbauer, S.F. Olofsson, J. Onipchenko, V.G. Petraglia, A. Rumpf, S.B. Semenchuk, P.R. Soudzilovskaia, N.A. Spasojevic, M.J. Speed, J.D.M. Tape, K.D. te Beest, M. Tomaselli, M. Trant, A. Treier, U.A. Venn, S. Vowles, T. Weijers, S. Zamin, T. Atkin, O.K. Bahn, M. Blonder, B. Campetella, G. Cerabolini, B.E.L. Chapin III, F.S. Dainese, M. de Vries, F.T. Díaz, S. Green, W. Jackson, R.B. Manning, P. Niinemets, Ü. Ozinga, W.A. Peñuelas, J. Reich, P.B. Schamp, B. Sheremetev, S. van Bodegom, P.M. Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
topic_facet |
cluster analysis community composition ecosystem function plant functional groups plant functional types plant traits tundra biome vegetation change |
description |
AimPlant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within and across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that functional groups explain a large proportion of trait variation among species. We test whether four commonly used plant functional groups represent variation in six ecologically important plant traits.LocationTundra biome.Time periodData collected between 1964 and 2016.Major taxa studied295 tundra vascular plant species.MethodsWe compiled a database of six plant traits (plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, seed mass) for tundra species. We examined the variation in species‐level trait expression explained by four traditional functional groups (evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs, graminoids, forbs), and whether variation explained was dependent upon the traits included in analysis. We further compared the explanatory power and species composition of functional groups to alternative classifications generated using post hoc clustering of species‐level traits.ResultsTraditional functional groups explained significant differences in trait expression, particularly amongst traits associated with resource economics, which were consistent across sites and at the biome scale. However, functional groups explained 19% of overall trait variation and poorly represented differences in traits associated with plant size. Post hoc classification of species did not correspond well with traditional functional groups, and explained twice as much variation in species‐level trait expression.Main conclusionsTraditional functional groups only coarsely represent variation in well‐measured traits within tundra plant communities, and better explain resource economic traits than size‐related traits. We recommend caution when using functional group approaches to predict tundra vegetation change, or ecosystem functions relating to plant size, such as albedo or carbon storage. We argue that ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Thomas, H.J.D. Myers-Smith, I.H. Bjorkman, A.D. Elmendorf, S.C. Blok, D. Cornelissen, J.H.C. Forbes, B.C. Hollister, R.D. Normand, S. Prevéy, J.S. Rixen, C. Schaepman-Strub, G. Wilmking, M. Wipf, S. Cornwell, W.K. Kattge, J. Goetz, S.J. Guay, K.C. Alatalo, J.M. Anadon‐Rosell, A. Angers‐Blondin, S. Berner, L.T. Björk, R.G. Buchwal, A. Buras, A. Carbognani, M. Christie, K. Siegwart Collier, L. Cooper, E.J. Eskelinen, Anu Maria Frei, E.R. Grau, O. Grogan, P. Hallinger, M. Heijmans, M.M.P.D. Hermanutz, L. Hudson, J.M.G. Hülber, K. Iturrate‐Garcia, M. Iversen, C.M. Jaroszynska, F. Johnstone, J.F. Kaarlejärvi, E. Kulonen, A. Lamarque, L.J. Lévesque, E. Little, C.J. Michelsen, A. Milbau, A. Nabe-Nielsen, J. Nielsen, S.S. Ninot, J.M. Oberbauer, S.F. Olofsson, J. Onipchenko, V.G. Petraglia, A. Rumpf, S.B. Semenchuk, P.R. Soudzilovskaia, N.A. Spasojevic, M.J. Speed, J.D.M. Tape, K.D. te Beest, M. Tomaselli, M. Trant, A. Treier, U.A. Venn, S. Vowles, T. Weijers, S. Zamin, T. Atkin, O.K. Bahn, M. Blonder, B. Campetella, G. Cerabolini, B.E.L. Chapin III, F.S. Dainese, M. de Vries, F.T. Díaz, S. Green, W. Jackson, R.B. Manning, P. Niinemets, Ü. Ozinga, W.A. Peñuelas, J. Reich, P.B. Schamp, B. Sheremetev, S. van Bodegom, P.M. |
author_facet |
Thomas, H.J.D. Myers-Smith, I.H. Bjorkman, A.D. Elmendorf, S.C. Blok, D. Cornelissen, J.H.C. Forbes, B.C. Hollister, R.D. Normand, S. Prevéy, J.S. Rixen, C. Schaepman-Strub, G. Wilmking, M. Wipf, S. Cornwell, W.K. Kattge, J. Goetz, S.J. Guay, K.C. Alatalo, J.M. Anadon‐Rosell, A. Angers‐Blondin, S. Berner, L.T. Björk, R.G. Buchwal, A. Buras, A. Carbognani, M. Christie, K. Siegwart Collier, L. Cooper, E.J. Eskelinen, Anu Maria Frei, E.R. Grau, O. Grogan, P. Hallinger, M. Heijmans, M.M.P.D. Hermanutz, L. Hudson, J.M.G. Hülber, K. Iturrate‐Garcia, M. Iversen, C.M. Jaroszynska, F. Johnstone, J.F. Kaarlejärvi, E. Kulonen, A. Lamarque, L.J. Lévesque, E. Little, C.J. Michelsen, A. Milbau, A. Nabe-Nielsen, J. Nielsen, S.S. Ninot, J.M. Oberbauer, S.F. Olofsson, J. Onipchenko, V.G. Petraglia, A. Rumpf, S.B. Semenchuk, P.R. Soudzilovskaia, N.A. Spasojevic, M.J. Speed, J.D.M. Tape, K.D. te Beest, M. Tomaselli, M. Trant, A. Treier, U.A. Venn, S. Vowles, T. Weijers, S. Zamin, T. Atkin, O.K. Bahn, M. Blonder, B. Campetella, G. Cerabolini, B.E.L. Chapin III, F.S. Dainese, M. de Vries, F.T. Díaz, S. Green, W. Jackson, R.B. Manning, P. Niinemets, Ü. Ozinga, W.A. Peñuelas, J. Reich, P.B. Schamp, B. Sheremetev, S. van Bodegom, P.M. |
author_sort |
Thomas, H.J.D. |
title |
Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
title_short |
Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
title_full |
Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
title_fullStr |
Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
title_full_unstemmed |
Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
title_sort |
traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21354 https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 |
genre |
Tundra |
genre_facet |
Tundra |
op_source |
ISSN: 1466-822X |
op_relation |
https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21354 https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 |
container_title |
Global Ecology and Biogeography |
container_volume |
28 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
78 |
op_container_end_page |
95 |
_version_ |
1784901769757720576 |
spelling |
ftufz:oai:ufz.de:21354 2023-12-10T09:54:22+01:00 Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome Thomas, H.J.D. Myers-Smith, I.H. Bjorkman, A.D. Elmendorf, S.C. Blok, D. Cornelissen, J.H.C. Forbes, B.C. Hollister, R.D. Normand, S. Prevéy, J.S. Rixen, C. Schaepman-Strub, G. Wilmking, M. Wipf, S. Cornwell, W.K. Kattge, J. Goetz, S.J. Guay, K.C. Alatalo, J.M. Anadon‐Rosell, A. Angers‐Blondin, S. Berner, L.T. Björk, R.G. Buchwal, A. Buras, A. Carbognani, M. Christie, K. Siegwart Collier, L. Cooper, E.J. Eskelinen, Anu Maria Frei, E.R. Grau, O. Grogan, P. Hallinger, M. Heijmans, M.M.P.D. Hermanutz, L. Hudson, J.M.G. Hülber, K. Iturrate‐Garcia, M. Iversen, C.M. Jaroszynska, F. Johnstone, J.F. Kaarlejärvi, E. Kulonen, A. Lamarque, L.J. Lévesque, E. Little, C.J. Michelsen, A. Milbau, A. Nabe-Nielsen, J. Nielsen, S.S. Ninot, J.M. Oberbauer, S.F. Olofsson, J. Onipchenko, V.G. Petraglia, A. Rumpf, S.B. Semenchuk, P.R. Soudzilovskaia, N.A. Spasojevic, M.J. Speed, J.D.M. Tape, K.D. te Beest, M. Tomaselli, M. Trant, A. Treier, U.A. Venn, S. Vowles, T. Weijers, S. Zamin, T. Atkin, O.K. Bahn, M. Blonder, B. Campetella, G. Cerabolini, B.E.L. Chapin III, F.S. Dainese, M. de Vries, F.T. Díaz, S. Green, W. Jackson, R.B. Manning, P. Niinemets, Ü. Ozinga, W.A. Peñuelas, J. Reich, P.B. Schamp, B. Sheremetev, S. van Bodegom, P.M. 2018-11-16 application/pdf https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21354 https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 en eng Wiley Global Ecology and Biogeography 28 (2);; 78 - 95 https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21354 https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ISSN: 1466-822X cluster analysis community composition ecosystem function plant functional groups plant functional types plant traits tundra biome vegetation change info:eu-repo/semantics/article https://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text 2018 ftufz https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12783 2023-11-12T23:35:23Z AimPlant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within and across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that functional groups explain a large proportion of trait variation among species. We test whether four commonly used plant functional groups represent variation in six ecologically important plant traits.LocationTundra biome.Time periodData collected between 1964 and 2016.Major taxa studied295 tundra vascular plant species.MethodsWe compiled a database of six plant traits (plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, seed mass) for tundra species. We examined the variation in species‐level trait expression explained by four traditional functional groups (evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs, graminoids, forbs), and whether variation explained was dependent upon the traits included in analysis. We further compared the explanatory power and species composition of functional groups to alternative classifications generated using post hoc clustering of species‐level traits.ResultsTraditional functional groups explained significant differences in trait expression, particularly amongst traits associated with resource economics, which were consistent across sites and at the biome scale. However, functional groups explained 19% of overall trait variation and poorly represented differences in traits associated with plant size. Post hoc classification of species did not correspond well with traditional functional groups, and explained twice as much variation in species‐level trait expression.Main conclusionsTraditional functional groups only coarsely represent variation in well‐measured traits within tundra plant communities, and better explain resource economic traits than size‐related traits. We recommend caution when using functional group approaches to predict tundra vegetation change, or ecosystem functions relating to plant size, such as albedo or carbon storage. We argue that ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Tundra UFZ - Publication Index (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research) Global Ecology and Biogeography 28 2 78 95 |