Functional coordination between leaf traits and biomass allocation and growth of four herbaceous species in a newly established reservoir riparian ecosystem in China.

ABSTRACT: The flood-dry-flood cycle in the reservoir riparian zone (RRZ) of the Three Gorges Dam has dramatically altered the riparian ecosystem structure and composition. Previous field studies have shown that leaf traits varied greatly and were restricted to the lower-investment and faster-return end of the global leaf spectrum, which are typical characteristics of fast-growing species. However, it is unclear as to the mechanism underpinning the growth potential of these species and how it will respond to soil nutrient availability and temperature. Here, we linked the plant functional traits of four representative dominant C₄ herbaceous species (Setaria viridis, Echinochloa crusgalli, Cynodon dactylon and Hemarthria altissima) to their relative growth rates (

SUBMITTER: Xiong G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303726 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature