Microanatomical traits track climate gradients for a dominant C4 grass species across the Great Plains, USA.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Andropogon gerardii is a highly productive C4 grass species with a large geographic range throughout the North American Great Plains, a biome characterized by a variable temperate climate. Plant traits are often invoked to explain growth rates and competitive abilities within broad climate gradients. For example, plant competition models typically predict that species with large geographic ranges benefit from variation in traits underlying high growth potential. Here, we examined the relationship between climate variability and leaf-level traits in A. gerardii, emphasizing how leaf-level microanatomical traits serve as a mechanism that may underlie variation in commonly measured traits, such as specific leaf area (SLA).

Methods

Andropogon gerardii leaves

SUBMITTER: Bachle S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7988519 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature