Topography consistently drives intra- and inter-specific leaf trait variation within tree species complexes in a Neotropical forest

Schmitt Sylvain, Herault Bruno, Ducouret Emilie, Baranger Anne, Tysklind Niklas, Heuertz Myriam, Marcon Eric, Cazal Saint Omer, Derroire Géraldine. 2020. Topography consistently drives intra- and inter-specific leaf trait variation within tree species complexes in a Neotropical forest. Oikos, 129 (10) : 1521-1530.

https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.07488

Article de revue ; Article de recherche ; Article de revue à facteur d'impact

	Version Online first - Anglais Accès réservé aux personnels Cirad Utilisation soumise à autorisation de l'auteur ou du Cirad. oik.07488.pdf Télécharger (780kB) \| Demander une copie
	Version publiée - Anglais Accès réservé aux personnels Cirad Utilisation soumise à autorisation de l'auteur ou du Cirad. 596178.pdf Télécharger (781kB) \| Demander une copie

Quartile : Q1, Sujet : ECOLOGY

Liste HCERES des revues (en SHS) : oui

Thème(s) HCERES des revues (en SHS) : Psychologie-éthologie-ergonomie

Résumé : Tropical forests shelter the highest species diversity worldwide, although genus diversity is lower than expected. In the species‐rich genera, species complexes are composed of closely‐related species that share large amounts of genetic variation. Despite the key role of species complexes in diversification, evolution and functioning of ecological communities, little is known on why species complexes arise and how they are maintained in Neotropical forests. Examining how individual phenotypes vary along environmental gradients, within and among closely‐related species within species complexes, can reveal processes allowing species coexistence within species complexes. We examined leaf functional trait variation with topography in a hyperdiverse tropical forest of the Guiana Shield. We collected leaf functional traits from 766 trees belonging to five species in two species complexes in permanent plots encompassing a diversity of topographic positions. We tested the role of topography on leaf functional trait variation with a hierarchical Bayesian model, controlling for individual tree diameter effect. We show that, mirroring what has been previously observed among species and communities, individual leaf traits covary from acquisitive to conservative strategy within species. Moreover, decreasing wetness from bottomlands to plateaus was associated with a shift of leaf traits from an acquisitive to a conservative strategy both across and within closely‐related species. Our results suggest that intraspecific trait variability widens species' niches and converges at species' margins where niches overlap, potentially implying local neutral processes. Intraspecific trait variability favors local adaptation and divergence of closely‐related species within species complexes. It is potentially maintained through interspecific sharing of genetic variation through hybridization.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : variation phénotypique, hybridation interspécifique, forêt tropicale, topographie, région néotropicale, anatomie végétale, morphologie végétale

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Guyane française, France

Mots-clés complémentaires : Complexe d'espèces

Mots-clés libres : Intraspecific variability, Leaf traits, Paracou, Species complex, Syngameon, Tropical forests

Classification Agris : F40 - Écologie végétale
F50 - Anatomie et morphologie des plantes

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 1 (2019-) - Biodiversité

Auteurs et affiliations