Phenotypic plasticity to light and nutrient availability alters functional trait ranking across eight perennial grassland species.

ABSTRACT: Functional traits are often used as species-specific mean trait values in comparative plant ecology or trait-based predictions of ecosystem processes, assuming that interspecific differences are greater than intraspecific trait variation and that trait-based ranking of species is consistent across environments. Although this assumption is increasingly challenged, there is a lack of knowledge regarding to what degree the extent of intraspecific trait variation in response to varying environmental conditions depends on the considered traits and the characteristics of the studied species to evaluate the consequences for trait-based species ranking. We studied functional traits of eight perennial grassland species classified into different functional groups (forbs vs. grasses) and varying in t

SUBMITTER: Siebenkas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4417138 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature