Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits
Abstract Despite their claimed low intraspecific variability, plant reproductive traits are less frequently used in functional ecology. Here we focused on underrepresented plant organs, i.e. flowers and fruits, by comparing their traits with well‐established leaf traits. We evaluated 16 functional t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-07-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11690 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850059723298045952 |
|---|---|
| author | Sonia Paź‐Dyderska Andrzej M. Jagodziński |
| author_facet | Sonia Paź‐Dyderska Andrzej M. Jagodziński |
| author_sort | Sonia Paź‐Dyderska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Despite their claimed low intraspecific variability, plant reproductive traits are less frequently used in functional ecology. Here we focused on underrepresented plant organs, i.e. flowers and fruits, by comparing their traits with well‐established leaf traits. We evaluated 16 functional traits (six floral, six fruit, and four leaf traits) in a randomly selected group of woody species under comparable environmental conditions. We aimed to assess interspecific and intraspecimen variability and explore the potential of the proposed flower and fruit traits for ecological research. Traits related to the dry mass of flowers and fruits exhibited the highest interspecific variability, while carbon content traits in flowers and leaves had the lowest. At a specimen level, specific leaf area revealed the highest variation. Carbon content traits for all organs demonstrated the least intraspecimen variability, with flower carbon content being the least variable. Our study revealed connections between the newly proposed traits and widely recognized functional traits, uncovering intriguing links between the established traits and the floral and fruit traits upon which we focused. This complements the already well‐recognized variability in plant form and function with additional insights into reproductive processes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a99a3a82e4584c6091ea7ae49b8bf6c4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-a99a3a82e4584c6091ea7ae49b8bf6c42025-08-20T02:50:48ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.11690Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traitsSonia Paź‐Dyderska0Andrzej M. Jagodziński1Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik PolandInstitute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik PolandAbstract Despite their claimed low intraspecific variability, plant reproductive traits are less frequently used in functional ecology. Here we focused on underrepresented plant organs, i.e. flowers and fruits, by comparing their traits with well‐established leaf traits. We evaluated 16 functional traits (six floral, six fruit, and four leaf traits) in a randomly selected group of woody species under comparable environmental conditions. We aimed to assess interspecific and intraspecimen variability and explore the potential of the proposed flower and fruit traits for ecological research. Traits related to the dry mass of flowers and fruits exhibited the highest interspecific variability, while carbon content traits in flowers and leaves had the lowest. At a specimen level, specific leaf area revealed the highest variation. Carbon content traits for all organs demonstrated the least intraspecimen variability, with flower carbon content being the least variable. Our study revealed connections between the newly proposed traits and widely recognized functional traits, uncovering intriguing links between the established traits and the floral and fruit traits upon which we focused. This complements the already well‐recognized variability in plant form and function with additional insights into reproductive processes.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11690floral and fruit traitsorgansplant functional traitsreproductiontraits variabilitytrees and shrubs |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Paź‐Dyderska Andrzej M. Jagodziński Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits Ecology and Evolution floral and fruit traits organs plant functional traits reproduction traits variability trees and shrubs |
| title | Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits |
| title_full | Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits |
| title_fullStr | Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits |
| title_short | Potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology: A quantitative comparison of variability in floral, fruit, and leaf traits |
| title_sort | potential of reproductive traits in functional ecology a quantitative comparison of variability in floral fruit and leaf traits |
| topic | floral and fruit traits organs plant functional traits reproduction traits variability trees and shrubs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11690 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT soniapazdyderska potentialofreproductivetraitsinfunctionalecologyaquantitativecomparisonofvariabilityinfloralfruitandleaftraits AT andrzejmjagodzinski potentialofreproductivetraitsinfunctionalecologyaquantitativecomparisonofvariabilityinfloralfruitandleaftraits |