PJB-2020-324
Plant functional classifications based on leaf traits in a subtropical Karst landscape
Jiangming Ma
Abstract
Forestry research in the Karst topography was well discussed recently, however, studies assessing the plant functional classifications for the special area are limited in the literatures. The objective of the current study was to classify plant functional types for typical evergreen shrubs and deciduous shrubs according to their leaf traits in the subtropical Karst landscape of south-western China. In this study, leaf traits including leaf dry weight (DW), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf area (LA), leaf thickness (LT), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf tissue density (LTD) for 16 kinds of evergreen shrubs and 10 kinds of deciduous shrubs were analyzed. Results showed that DW and LT were the principle parameters for evergreen shrubs, while DW, LT, and LA were principle parameters for deciduous shrubs in the Karst. Furthermore, it could be classified into two types for either evergreen shrubs or deciduous shrubs. They were shade-tolerant type (with higher DW and LT) and heliophyte type (with less DW and LT) for evergreen shrubs, and pioneer type (with higher DW, LT, and LA) and heliophilic type (with less DW, LT, and LA) for deciduous shrubs. These results would do favors to design vegetation restoration strategies for this unique degraded Karst ecosystem.
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