Root traits explain plant species distributions along climatic gradients yet challenge the nature of ecological trade-offs

Laughlin Daniel C., Mommer Liesje, Sabatini Francesco Maria, Bruelheide Helge, Kuyper Thom W., McCormack M. Luke, Bergmann Joana, Freschet Grégoire T., Guerrero-Ramírez Nathaly R., Iversen Colleen M., Kattge Jens, Meier Ina C., Poorter Hendrik, Roumet Catherine, Semchenko Marina, Sweeney Christopher J., Valverde-Barrantes Oscar J., van der Plas Fons, van Ruijven Jasper, York Larry M., Aubin Isabelle, Burge Olivia R., Byun Chaeho, Ćušterevska Renata, Dengler Jürgen, Forey Estelle, Guerin Gregory Richard, Herault Bruno, Jackson Robert B., Karger Dirk Nikolaus, Lenoir Jonathan, Lysenko Tatiana, Meir Patrick, Niinemets Ulo, Ozinga Wim A., Peñuelas Josep, Reich Peter B., Schmidt Marco, Schrodt Franziska, Velázquez Eduardo, Weigelt Alexandra. 2021. Root traits explain plant species distributions along climatic gradients yet challenge the nature of ecological trade-offs. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 5 (8) : 1123-1134.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01471-7

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

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Quartile : Outlier, Sujet : ECOLOGY / Quartile : Outlier, Sujet : EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Résumé : Ecological theory is built on trade-offs, where trait differences among species evolved as adaptations to different environments. Trade-offs are often assumed to be bidirectional, where opposite ends of a gradient in trait values confer advantages in different environments. However, unidirectional benefits could be widespread if extreme trait values confer advantages at one end of an environmental gradient, whereas a wide range of trait values are equally beneficial at the other end. Here, we show that root traits explain species occurrences along broad gradients of temperature and water availability, but model predictions only resembled trade-offs in two out of 24 models. Forest species with low specific root length and high root tissue density (RTD) were more likely to occur in warm climates but species with high specific root length and low RTD were more likely to occur in cold climates. Unidirectional benefits were more prevalent than trade-offs: for example, species with large-diameter roots and high RTD were more commonly associated with dry climates, but species with the opposite trait values were not associated with wet climates. Directional selection for traits consistently occurred in cold or dry climates, whereas a diversity of root trait values were equally viable in warm or wet climates. Explicit integration of unidirectional benefits into ecological theory is needed to advance our understanding of the consequences of trait variation on species responses to environmental change.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : système racinaire, physiologie végétale, biogéographie, facteur écologique, facteur du milieu, écologie

Mots-clés complémentaires : Gradient de température

Mots-clés libres : Biogeography, Community ecology, Ecophysiology, Natural variation in plants

Classification Agris : F60 - Physiologie et biochimie végétale
F40 - Écologie végétale

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

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