Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations
A trait-based approach can be used to effectively elucidate the adaptive strategies of trees in response to climate change, although the strategies of saplings remain unclear. Therefore, the adaptative strategies of saplings and the relative contributions to their elevational distribution were detec...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
|
| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002902 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849423700117422080 |
|---|---|
| author | Zuhua Wang Xia Cai Min Liu Haibo Li Jiayan Jiang Jugang Wang Fagen Qiu |
| author_facet | Zuhua Wang Xia Cai Min Liu Haibo Li Jiayan Jiang Jugang Wang Fagen Qiu |
| author_sort | Zuhua Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A trait-based approach can be used to effectively elucidate the adaptive strategies of trees in response to climate change, although the strategies of saplings remain unclear. Therefore, the adaptative strategies of saplings and the relative contributions to their elevational distribution were detected. Eight leaf-absorptive root traits of 163 individuals across 41 saplings were investigated, and the soil properties and climate factors were also investigated along an elevational gradient on Mt. Fanjingshan, Tongren, Guizhou, China. Principal component analysis revealed three key dimensions of trait variation: (1) the root economics spectrum, explaining 33 % of variation; (2) the leaf economics spectrum, explaining 28 %; and (3) the root collaboration gradient, explaining 17 %. Notably, ericoid mycorrhizal species exhibited more acquisitive root strategies (higher specific root length and specific root area) than arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal species, while arbuscular mycorrhizal species showed more acquisitive leaf traits (higher specific leaf area and leaf N). Along the elevational gradient, arbuscular mycorrhizal species shifted toward acquisitive root traits, ectomycorrhizal species developed thinner roots, and ericoid mycorrhizal species displayed a unique dual strategy - increasing root acquisitiveness while maintaining conservative leaf traits. Soil properties, particularly temperature and nitrogen availability, were the primary drivers of trait variation and sapling distribution, explaining 79–83 % of elevational variation. Our results demonstrate that mycorrhizal type fundamentally influences trait coordination, with plants exhibiting distinct whole-plant strategies along environmental gradients. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating mycorrhizal associations when predicting plant responses to environmental change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ae9fb7e8f2d4245ad2d4fcf8333d3af |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ae9fb7e8f2d4245ad2d4fcf8333d3af2025-08-20T03:30:32ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-09-0161e0368910.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03689Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associationsZuhua Wang0Xia Cai1Min Liu2Haibo Li3Jiayan Jiang4Jugang Wang5Fagen Qiu6College of A&F Engineering and Planning, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China; Corresponding author at: College of A&F Engineering and Planning, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China.Forestry Bureau of Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311700, ChinaCollege of A&F Engineering and Planning, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, ChinaFanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration of Guizhou, Tongren, Guizhou 554400, ChinaForestry Bureau of Xingyi, Xingyi, Guizhou 562400, ChinaCollege of A&F Engineering and Planning, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, ChinaCollege of A&F Engineering and Planning, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou 554300, ChinaA trait-based approach can be used to effectively elucidate the adaptive strategies of trees in response to climate change, although the strategies of saplings remain unclear. Therefore, the adaptative strategies of saplings and the relative contributions to their elevational distribution were detected. Eight leaf-absorptive root traits of 163 individuals across 41 saplings were investigated, and the soil properties and climate factors were also investigated along an elevational gradient on Mt. Fanjingshan, Tongren, Guizhou, China. Principal component analysis revealed three key dimensions of trait variation: (1) the root economics spectrum, explaining 33 % of variation; (2) the leaf economics spectrum, explaining 28 %; and (3) the root collaboration gradient, explaining 17 %. Notably, ericoid mycorrhizal species exhibited more acquisitive root strategies (higher specific root length and specific root area) than arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal species, while arbuscular mycorrhizal species showed more acquisitive leaf traits (higher specific leaf area and leaf N). Along the elevational gradient, arbuscular mycorrhizal species shifted toward acquisitive root traits, ectomycorrhizal species developed thinner roots, and ericoid mycorrhizal species displayed a unique dual strategy - increasing root acquisitiveness while maintaining conservative leaf traits. Soil properties, particularly temperature and nitrogen availability, were the primary drivers of trait variation and sapling distribution, explaining 79–83 % of elevational variation. Our results demonstrate that mycorrhizal type fundamentally influences trait coordination, with plants exhibiting distinct whole-plant strategies along environmental gradients. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating mycorrhizal associations when predicting plant responses to environmental change.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002902Functional traitsLeaf economics spectrumRoot economics spectrumSpecies distributionMt. Fanjingshan |
| spellingShingle | Zuhua Wang Xia Cai Min Liu Haibo Li Jiayan Jiang Jugang Wang Fagen Qiu Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations Global Ecology and Conservation Functional traits Leaf economics spectrum Root economics spectrum Species distribution Mt. Fanjingshan |
| title | Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| title_full | Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| title_fullStr | Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| title_short | Elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest: Insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| title_sort | elevational adaptation and distribution of woody saplings in a mountain forest insights from functional traits and mycorrhizal associations |
| topic | Functional traits Leaf economics spectrum Root economics spectrum Species distribution Mt. Fanjingshan |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002902 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zuhuawang elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT xiacai elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT minliu elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT haiboli elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT jiayanjiang elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT jugangwang elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations AT fagenqiu elevationaladaptationanddistributionofwoodysaplingsinamountainforestinsightsfromfunctionaltraitsandmycorrhizalassociations |