TY - JOUR

T1 - Contrasting patterns of intraspecific trait variability in native and non-native plant species along an elevational gradient on Tenerife, Canary Islands

AU - Kühn, Paul

AU - Ratier Backes, Amanda

AU - Römermann, Christine

AU - Bruelheide, Helge

AU - Haider, Sylvia

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s).

PY - 2021/4/1

Y1 - 2021/4/1

N2 - Background and Aims: Non-native plant species are not restricted to lowlands, but increasingly are invading high elevations. While for both native and non-native species we expected variability of plant functional traits due to the changing environmental conditions along elevational gradients, we additionally assumed that non-native species are characterized by a more acquisitive growth strategy, as traits reflecting such a strategy have been found to correlate with invasion success. Furthermore, the typical lowland introduction of non-native species coming from multiple origins should lead to higher trait variability within populations of non-native species specifically at low elevations, and they might therefore occupy a larger total trait space. Methods: Along an elevational gradient ranging from 55 to 1925 m a.s.l. on Tenerife, we collected leaves from eight replicate individuals in eight evenly distributed populations of five native and six non-native forb species. In each population, we measured ten eco-morphological and leaf biochemical traits and calculated trait variability within each population and the total trait space occupied by native and non-native species. Key Results: We found both positive (e.g. leaf dry matter content) and negative (e.g. leaf N) correlations with elevation for native species, but only few responses for non-native species. For non-native species, within-population variability of leaf dry matter content and specific leaf area decreased with elevation, but increased for native species. The total trait space occupied by all non-native species was smaller than and a subset of that of native species. Conclusions: We found little evidence that intraspecific trait variability is associated with the success of non-native species to spread towards higher elevations. Instead, for non-native species, our results indicate that intermediate trait values that meet the requirements of various conditions are favourable across the changing environmental conditions along elevational gradients. As a consequence, this might prevent non-native species from overcoming abruptly changing environmental conditions, such as when crossing the treeline.

AB - Background and Aims: Non-native plant species are not restricted to lowlands, but increasingly are invading high elevations. While for both native and non-native species we expected variability of plant functional traits due to the changing environmental conditions along elevational gradients, we additionally assumed that non-native species are characterized by a more acquisitive growth strategy, as traits reflecting such a strategy have been found to correlate with invasion success. Furthermore, the typical lowland introduction of non-native species coming from multiple origins should lead to higher trait variability within populations of non-native species specifically at low elevations, and they might therefore occupy a larger total trait space. Methods: Along an elevational gradient ranging from 55 to 1925 m a.s.l. on Tenerife, we collected leaves from eight replicate individuals in eight evenly distributed populations of five native and six non-native forb species. In each population, we measured ten eco-morphological and leaf biochemical traits and calculated trait variability within each population and the total trait space occupied by native and non-native species. Key Results: We found both positive (e.g. leaf dry matter content) and negative (e.g. leaf N) correlations with elevation for native species, but only few responses for non-native species. For non-native species, within-population variability of leaf dry matter content and specific leaf area decreased with elevation, but increased for native species. The total trait space occupied by all non-native species was smaller than and a subset of that of native species. Conclusions: We found little evidence that intraspecific trait variability is associated with the success of non-native species to spread towards higher elevations. Instead, for non-native species, our results indicate that intermediate trait values that meet the requirements of various conditions are favourable across the changing environmental conditions along elevational gradients. As a consequence, this might prevent non-native species from overcoming abruptly changing environmental conditions, such as when crossing the treeline.

KW - Biology

KW - Intraspecific trait variation

KW - phenotypic plasticity

KW - plant functional traits

KW - functional diversity

KW - elevation gradient

KW - altitudinal gradient

KW - alien

KW - exotic

KW - invasion success

KW - forbs

KW - near-infrared spectroscopy

KW - Intraspecific trait variation

KW - phenotypic plasticity

KW - plant functional traits

KW - unctional diversity

KW - elevation gradient

KW - altitudinal gradient

KW - Alien

KW - exotic

KW - invasion success

KW - forbs

KW - near-infrard spectroscopy

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101284743&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b4061741-acbb-3c90-844d-1a9110cea401/

U2 - 10.1093/aob/mcaa067

DO - 10.1093/aob/mcaa067

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 32318707

AN - SCOPUS:85101284743

VL - 127

SP - 565

EP - 576

JO - Annals of Botany

JF - Annals of Botany

SN - 0305-7364

IS - 4

ER -