Community Ecology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 13: Issue 2
Trait-convergence and divergence assembly patterns in a temperate forest herbaceous layer along the gradient of canopy closure
Authors:
F. Joner

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M. Anand University of Guelph School of Environmental Sciences Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada

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V. Pillar Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Departamento de Ecologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500 Porto Alegre, RS Brazil Caixa Postal: 15007 CEP: 91540-000

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Pages:
178–184
Online Publication Date:
21 Nov 2012
Publication Date:
01 Dec 2012
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.13.2012.2.7
Keywords:
Assembly rules; Deciduous; Ecosystem functioning; Environmental filters; Evergreen; Forest understory; Herbaceous synusia; Limiting similarity; Trait dispersion
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Gradients of physical conditions and biological interactions of species may generate assembly patterns of trait-convergence and trait-divergence in the structure of plant communities. Here we report evidence on the effect of canopy closure on non-random patterns in the functional structure of herbaceous plant communities in temperate forest. We evaluated SLA (specific leaf area), leaf area and shape, dry matter content, presence of rhizomes, and plant height and inclination. In one of the three sites surveyed we found clear patterns of both trait-convergence and trait-divergence. Along the canopy closure gradient we observed communities formed by species with large SLA and long and narrow leaves being replaced by communities formed by species with smaller SLA and rounded leaves, which we interpret as environmental filtering producing such a trait-convergence. Further, communities located in more open sites contained more distinct species in terms of SLA, leaf area and leaf shape, i.e., indicating a divergence pattern along the canopy closure gradient. The other study sites showed no significant patterns when analyzed alone. When the three sites were analyzed jointly, a significant pattern of convergence for plant inclination was found. Although subjected to local variation and historical agents, our study presents consistent patterns of both trait-convergence and divergence and evidence of assembly rules and non-random patterns in communities of herbaceous plants along a canopy closure gradient.

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Cover Community Ecology
Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies
Print ISSN:
1585-8553
Online ISSN:
1588-2756

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Community Ecology
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2000
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 3
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
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Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
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Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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ISSN 1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2756 (Online)

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