Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats
Abstract This study investigates drought resistance-growth trade-offs in dominant tree species across elevationally stratified habitats (depression, middle slope, hilltop) of Nonggang karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China. Analysis of 38 species along a 190-meter aridity gradient reveals d...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97550-x |
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| author | Jing Wang Bin Wang Denghui Wang Yanping Dong Jianxing Li Fang Lu Wanglan Tao Yili Guo Wusheng Xiang Meilan Wen Xiankun Li |
| author_facet | Jing Wang Bin Wang Denghui Wang Yanping Dong Jianxing Li Fang Lu Wanglan Tao Yili Guo Wusheng Xiang Meilan Wen Xiankun Li |
| author_sort | Jing Wang |
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| description | Abstract This study investigates drought resistance-growth trade-offs in dominant tree species across elevationally stratified habitats (depression, middle slope, hilltop) of Nonggang karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China. Analysis of 38 species along a 190-meter aridity gradient reveals drought resistance enhancement through foliar modifications: 56.79% increase in cuticle thickness, 56.42% denser palisade mesophyll thickness, and 36.48% expansion in spongy mesophyll thickness, accompanied by 45.67% growth reduction. Structural equation modeling confirms a significant drought resistance-growth trade-off (β = − 0.504), indicating carbon allocation constraints. Hilltop species employ an anisohydric strategy combining stomatal optimization (4.45% shorter length, 27.17% wider apertures achieving 33.10% increased opening) with 15.52% reduced upper epidermis cell width and cuticle thickening, enhancing hydraulic efficiency despite 111.63% elevated dark respiration rates. This high-resistance/low-growth strategy contrasts with depression-adapted species showing superior low-light performance: 30.35% higher quantum yield and 63.44% lower light compensation points compared to hilltop counterparts. Environmental driver analysis identifies soil moisture (β = − 0.706) and bedrock exposure (β = − 0.594) as key factors shaping trait divergence. Drought suppresses growth through dual pathways: direct resource limitation (β = − 0.667) and indirect metabolic costs of resistance traits (β = − 0.469). Coordinated leaf trait evolution reduces niche overlap via drought-growth trade-offs, establishing habitat filtration-mediated biodiversity maintenance in karst ecosystems. These results provide a multidimensional framework for balancing stress resistance and productivity in tropical karst vegetation restoration. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0aee05d82c75497a8e6bc375070b6f7f2025-08-20T04:02:45ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-97550-xTrade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitatsJing Wang0Bin Wang1Denghui Wang2Yanping Dong3Jianxing Li4Fang Lu5Wanglan Tao6Yili Guo7Wusheng Xiang8Meilan Wen9Xiankun Li10Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesZhongshan County Second Senior High SchoolGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesCollege of Earth Sciences, Guilin University of TechnologyGuangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract This study investigates drought resistance-growth trade-offs in dominant tree species across elevationally stratified habitats (depression, middle slope, hilltop) of Nonggang karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China. Analysis of 38 species along a 190-meter aridity gradient reveals drought resistance enhancement through foliar modifications: 56.79% increase in cuticle thickness, 56.42% denser palisade mesophyll thickness, and 36.48% expansion in spongy mesophyll thickness, accompanied by 45.67% growth reduction. Structural equation modeling confirms a significant drought resistance-growth trade-off (β = − 0.504), indicating carbon allocation constraints. Hilltop species employ an anisohydric strategy combining stomatal optimization (4.45% shorter length, 27.17% wider apertures achieving 33.10% increased opening) with 15.52% reduced upper epidermis cell width and cuticle thickening, enhancing hydraulic efficiency despite 111.63% elevated dark respiration rates. This high-resistance/low-growth strategy contrasts with depression-adapted species showing superior low-light performance: 30.35% higher quantum yield and 63.44% lower light compensation points compared to hilltop counterparts. Environmental driver analysis identifies soil moisture (β = − 0.706) and bedrock exposure (β = − 0.594) as key factors shaping trait divergence. Drought suppresses growth through dual pathways: direct resource limitation (β = − 0.667) and indirect metabolic costs of resistance traits (β = − 0.469). Coordinated leaf trait evolution reduces niche overlap via drought-growth trade-offs, establishing habitat filtration-mediated biodiversity maintenance in karst ecosystems. These results provide a multidimensional framework for balancing stress resistance and productivity in tropical karst vegetation restoration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97550-xKarst seasonal rainforestHeterogeneous habitatLeaf anatomical traitsDrought resistanceGrowth rate |
| spellingShingle | Jing Wang Bin Wang Denghui Wang Yanping Dong Jianxing Li Fang Lu Wanglan Tao Yili Guo Wusheng Xiang Meilan Wen Xiankun Li Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats Scientific Reports Karst seasonal rainforest Heterogeneous habitat Leaf anatomical traits Drought resistance Growth rate |
| title | Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| title_full | Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| title_fullStr | Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| title_short | Trade-off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| title_sort | trade off strategies between drought resistance and growth rate of dominant tree species in karst forests within heterogeneous habitats |
| topic | Karst seasonal rainforest Heterogeneous habitat Leaf anatomical traits Drought resistance Growth rate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97550-x |
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