Multiscale Regulation of Leaf Traits in Woody Plants as an Adaptation to a Post-Earthquake Environment in Broadleaved Forests of Southwestern China

Abstract

Functional traits are important indicators for examining ecological processes and after-effects of plant community restoration after large-scale geological disturbance. Sample sites with and without landslides in typical forest ecosystems within the region that experienced the highest intensity of the Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake in China were selected in this study, and the characteristics, variations, relationships and influencing factors of woody plant traits at the species, individual and functional type scales were studied. The total interspecific and intraspecific variation of woody plant functional traits was 62.02% and 14.86%, respectively. Differences in woody plant traits were observed at multiple ecological scales on landslides compared with those on nonlandslides. The differentiation of functional traits of recovering communities significantly decreased among woody plant functional types (WFTs) on landslides after the earthquake, indicating disruption and reorganization of the original functional structure. Woody plants on landslides adapted to the new environment by adjusting their leaf traits to improve light use efficiency and adopting rapid ecological strategies. In contrast, woody plants on nonlandslides were more inclined to accumulate material and support structures. Leaf thickness was sensitive to earthquakes. Leaf traits showed a high degree of synergy in their environmental response.