Affiliation:
1. School of Natural Sciences Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury ON P3E 2C6 Canada
2. Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083 China
Abstract
Summary
Integrating traits across above‐ and belowground organs offers comprehensive insights into plant ecology, but their various functions also increase model complexity. This study aimed to illuminate the interspecific pattern of whole‐plant trait correlations through a network lens, including a detailed analysis of the root system.
Using a network algorithm that allows individual traits to belong to multiple modules, we characterize interrelations among 19 traits, spanning both shoot and root phenology, architecture, morphology, and tissue properties of 44 species, mostly herbaceous monocots from Northern Ontario wetlands, grown in a common garden.
The resulting trait network shows three distinct yet partially overlapping modules. Two major trait modules indicate constraints of plant size and form, and resource economics, respectively. These modules highlight the interdependence between shoot size, root architecture and porosity, and a shoot–root coordination in phenology and dry‐matter content. A third module depicts leaf biomechanical adaptations specific to wetland graminoids. All three modules overlap on shoot height, suggesting multifaceted constraints of plant stature. In the network, individual‐level traits showed significantly higher centrality than tissue‐level traits do, demonstrating a hierarchical trait integration.
The presented whole‐plant, integrated network suggests that trait covariation is essentially function‐driven rather than organ‐specific.
Funder
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Cited by
2 articles.
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