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opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Extreme range in adult body size reveals hidden trade-offs among sexually selected traits

Sexually selected weapons used to monopolize mating opportunities are predicted to trade-off with traits used in competition for fertilization. Yet, the limited size-range typically found among adults of a species often precludes clear comparisons between population-level and individual-level relative trait investment. The jousting weevil, Brentus anchorago (Coleoptera: Brentidae), varies more than 26-fold in body mass, which is among the most extreme adult body size ranges of any solitary terrestrial species. We reveal a trade-off at a population-level: hypermetric scaling in male weapons (slope =1.59) and a closely-mirrored reversal in allocation to post-copulatory traits (slope =0.54). Yet, at the individual-level we find the opposite pattern; males that invest relatively more in weapons for their size class also invest more in post-copulatory traits. In support of our findings from jousting weevils, across 36 dung beetle species we find the relative effect of population-level scaling increases in species with a larger range in adult body size. Our findings reveal that population-level allometries and individual level trade-offs can both be important in shaping relative trait allocation; we highlight that the adult body size range is rarely examined, but may be integral to gain a deeper understanding of trade-offs in reproductive allocation.

opencc-by-4.0May 2024View details →

Dataset of "Life history traits and cancer prevalence in birds" article

Data used in the "Life history traits and cancer prevalence in birds" article. This dataset provides taxonomic information about the bird species used in this article, as well as the species' neoplasia and malignancy prevalence, and life history trait data.

opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Ecological release and insular shifts in avian morphological traits in the Caribbean

We compared support for 3 hypotheses that might explain observed morphological variation among islands of 4 1.70 species of Caribbean land birds: ecological release from competition and predation pressure, predation pressure from 1 novel predator species (small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus), and climate. We measured wing chord, tarsus length, bill length, and mass of Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola), Black-faced Grassquits (Tiaris bicolor), Lesser Antillean Bullfinches (Loxigilla noctis), and Common Ground Doves (Columbina passerina) in Grenada, 2015–2017, and combined these measures with data from 23 other Caribbean islands collated from academic papers and researchers, for a total sample size of 6,518 individuals. We found the strongest support for the ecological release hypothesis, but each of our hypotheses received some support, suggesting that ecological release from competition, predation pressure from mongoose, and climate may all interact to influence morphological adaptations of birds to local conditions in the Caribbean.

Planteome/CO_338-chickpea-traits: CO_338-chickpea-traits ontology

Chickpea Trait Dictionary in template v5 - ICRISAT - July 2015

Planteome/CO_345-brachiaria-traits: CO_345-brachiaria-traits ontology

Brachiaria (forages) ontology TD v5 - Version Oct 2016

Planteome/CO_359-sunflower-traits: CO_359-sunflower-traits Ontology

December 2019

Data from: Trait variation and performance across varying levels of drought stress in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Background and Aims: Drought is a major agricultural challenge that is expected to worsen with climate change. A better understanding of drought responses has the potential to inform efforts to breed more tolerant plants. We assessed leaf trait variation and covariation in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in response to water limitation. Methods: Plants were grown under four levels of water availability and assessed for environmentally induced plasticity in leaf stomatal and vein traits as well as biomass (performance indicator), mass fractions, leaf area, leaf mass per area, and chlorophyll content. Key Results: Overall, biomass declined in response to stress; these changes were accompanied by responses in leaf-level traits including decreased leaf area and stomatal size, and increased stomatal and vein density. The magnitude of trait responses increased with stress severity and relative plasticity of smaller-scale leaf anatomical traits was less than that of larger-scale traits related to construction and growth. Across treatments, where phenotypic plasticity was observed, stomatal density was negatively correlated with stomatal size and positively correlated with minor vein density, but the correlations did not hold up within treatments. Four leaf traits previously shown to reflect major axes of variation in a large sunflower diversity panel under well-watered conditions (i.e., stomatal density, stomatal pore length, vein density, and leaf mass per area) predicted a surprisingly large amount of the variation in biomass across treatments, but trait associations with biomass differed within treatments. Additionally, the importance of these traits in predicting variation in biomass is mediated, at least in part, through leaf size. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the importance of leaf anatomical traits in mediating drought responses in sunflower, and highlight the role that phenotypic plasticity and multi-trait phenotypes can play in predicting productivity under complex abiotic stresses like drought.

opencc-by-4.0May 2024View details →

Understanding woody plant encroachment: A plant functional trait approach

Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.

Data from: A trait-based root acquisition-defence-decomposition framework in angiosperm tree species

Plants make trade-offs between root resource acquisition and defence ability, for adapting to the complex belowground environment. This includes forming partnerships with different types of root associating microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. These trade-offs, by mediating root chemistry, exert legacy effects on nutrient release during decomposition, which may, in turn, affect the ability of new roots to re-acquire resources, thereby generating a feedback loop. However, the linkages at the basis of this potential feedback loop remain largely unquantified. Here, we propose a trait-based root 'acquisition-defence-decomposition' conceptual framework and test the strength of relevant linkages across 90 angiosperm tree species. We show that, at the plant species level, the root-fungal symbiosis gradient within the root economics space, root chemical defence (condensed tannins), and root decomposition rate are closely linked, providing support to this framework. Beyond the dichotomy between arbuscular mycorrhizal-dominated versus ectomycorrhizal-dominated systems, we suggest a continuous shift in feedback loops, from "high arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis-low defence-fast decomposition-inorganic nutrition" by evolutionarily ancient taxa to "high ectomycorrhizal symbiosis-high defence-slow decomposition-organic nutrition" by more modern taxa. This 'acquisition-defence-decomposition' framework provides solid foundation for testable hypotheses on the multidimensional linkages between species' belowground strategies and ecosystem nutrient cycling in evolutionary context.

How do fine root traits of fast-growing trees promote soil organic carbon stabilization?

Soil represents a larger reservoir of soil organic carbon (SOC) than terrestrial vegetation, offering a great potential for reducing the widespread adverse consequences of climate change. In forests and tree plantations, fine roots significantly impact SOC stabilization through their functional traits. However, it is not obvious which fine root traits between those related to chemistry (easily decomposable or recalcitrant), to architecture or morphology are the most conducive to SOC stabilization in phylogenetically related fast-growing trees. We assessed the effects of root functional traits on SOC storage and stabilization by studying five hybrid poplar clones (Populus spp.) with different root traits in plantations located in New Liskeard, ON, Canada. We collected soil cores at depths of 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm, and determined bulk soil organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (> 53 μm, POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (< 53 μm, MAOC) fractions and fine root (< 2 mm diameter) traits. We found that root length density (RLD) was the best predictor of increased SOC stocks and MAOC among all root traits. Soil organic C stocks and MAOC were also positively correlated with root traits indicative of low chemical recalcitrance (i.e. high N and soluble compounds concentrations and low lignin/N). Such easily decomposed root matter could be readily consumed by soil microorganisms and promote adsorption of microbial by-products onto mineral surfaces. Thus, root traits that increase the soil volume explored by fine roots and are associated with easily decomposed organic compounds play a key role in SOC accumulation and persistence.

Data from: Leaf morphological traits show greater responses to changes in climate than leaf physiological traits and gas exchange variables

Adaptation to changing conditions is one of the strategies plants use to survive climate change. Here, we ask whether plants' leaf morphological and physiological traits/gas exchange variables have changed in response to recent, anthropogenic climate change. We grew seedlings from resurrected historic seeds from ex-situ seed banks and paired modern seeds in a common-garden experiment. Species pairs were collected from regions that had undergone differing levels of climate change using an emerging framework – Climate Contrast Resurrection Ecology, allowing us to hypothesise that regions with greater changes in climate (including temperature, precipitation, climate variability and climatic extremes) there would be greater trait responses in leaf morphology and physiology over time. Our found that in regions where there were greater changes in climate, there were greater changes in average leaf area, leaf margin complexity, leaf thickness and leaf intrinsic water use efficiency. Changes in leaf roundness, photosynthetic rate, stomatal density and the leaf economic strategy of our species were not correlated with changes in the climate. Our results show that leaves do have the ability to respond to changes in climate, however, there are greater inherited responses in morphological leaf traits than in physiological traits/variables, and greater responses to extreme measures of climate than gradual changes in climatic means. It is vital for accurate predictions of species' responses to impending climate change to ensure that future climate change ecology studies utilise knowledge about the difference in both leaf trait and gas exchange responses, and the climate variables that they respond to.

Data from: Environmental conditions differently shape leaf, seed and seedling trait composition between and within elevations of tropical montane forests

The composition of plant functional traits varies in response to environmental conditions due to processes of community assembly and species sorting. However, there is a lack of understanding of how plant trait composition responds to environmental conditions at different spatial scales and across the plant life cycle. We investigated the trait composition of leaves (specific leaf area), seeds (seed mass) and seedlings (initial seedling height) across elevations and within elevations in relation to soil and light conditions in a tropical montane forest in southern Ecuador. We surveyed traits and communities of adult trees, seeds and seedlings on nine plots at three elevations (1000-3000 m a.s.l.) and calculated community-weighted mean trait values to analyse trait variation across and within elevations. In addition, we measured two environmental factors (soil C/N ratio and canopy openness) to quantify local-scale variation in environmental conditions within elevations. We found that community-weighted means of specific leaf area, seed mass and initial seedling height decreased consistently with increasing elevation. Within elevations, mean trait values of trees, seeds and seedlings responded differently to local-scale environmental conditions. Specific leaf area decreased with increasing soil C/N ratio, and initial seedling height decreased with increasing canopy openness. Seed mass was associated neither with soil nor with light conditions. Our findings show that broad-scale and local-scale processes differently shape the composition of leaf, seed and seedling traits in tropical forests, indicating a scale-dependence in trait-environment associations. Furthermore, plant traits corresponding to different life stages were related differently to environmental conditions within elevations. Community assembly processes may therefore lead to differences in species sorting at early and late plant life stages.

Data from: Allocation and functional traits of trees and saplings of Bornean tree species growing under contrasting soil nutrient availabilities

The files hold the data of allocation and traits of adult trees ((i) the relationship between tree height and diameter at breast height, (ii) nutrient concentration in green leaves, senescent leaves, wood, and (iii) wood density) and saplings ((i) biomass allocation to leaves, stem, coarse roots, and fine roots, (ii) nutrient concentration in levees, senescent leaves, stem, and roots, and (iii) leaf mass per area) in Bornean tropical tree species growing under contrasting soil nutrient availabilities. Study site includes the Tawau Hills Park (4°27′N, 117°56′E, ca. 300 m asl), the Deramakot Forest Reserve (5°22′N, 117°25′E, ca. 250 m asl), and Nabawan (5°05′N, 116°29′E, ca. 500 m asl), Sabah, Malaysia. Vegetation of Tawau and Deramakot is a mixed dipterocarp forest, whereas that of Nabawan is a tropical heath forest. These sites considerably differ in soil characteristics. The forests in the Tawau Hills Park lie on the andesitic volcanic ash derived from the past eruptions ca. 27000 years ago by Mt. Magdalena, Mt. Lucia, and Mt. Maria. On the other hand, soils in the Deramakot Forest Reserve are derived from tertiary sedimentary rocks. Soils of Nabawan are classified as white sand podosol.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2014View details →

Fig. 1 in Fishing bait worm supplies in Japan in relation to their physiological traits

Fig. 1. Location of market research in Japan.

Result of LAVA-Knock: Genetic correlation via knockoffs removes confounding due to cross-trait assortative mating

Results of application to GWAS summary statistics for 36 traits. 394,060 windows are used to perform LAVA-Bonf. 64,833 windows are used to conduct LAVA-Knock. At target FDR 0.1, LAVA-Knock detects 8,421 significant windows for 4,401 locus-phenotype pairs. LAVA-Bonf with threshold 0.05/394,060 identifies 10,802 windows for 6,260 locus-phenotype pairs.

opencc-zeroDec 2023View details →

Data from: Oviposition strategies of Pieridae butterflies in nature and the role of an egg-killing plant trait therein

Most herbivorous insects are host-plant specialists that evolved detoxification mechanisms to overcome their host plant's toxins. In the evolutionary arms-races between Pieridae butterflies and Brassicaceae plants, some plant species have evolved another defence against the pierids: egg-killing. Underneath the eggs, leaves develop a so-called hypersensitive response HR-like cell death. Whether some butterflies have evolved oviposition strategies to counter-adapt against egg-killing remains to be studied. In this study, we assessed the oviposition site location of pierid butterflies on their natural host plants. We described the plant tissue on which we located the eggs of the most common Pieridae in the Netherlands: Gonepteryx rhamni, Anthocharis cardamines, Pieris rapae, P. napi, P. brassicae, and P. mannii. Additionally, we assessed expression of HR-like cell death in response to the deposited butterfly eggs. We found that both A. cardamines and G. rhamni mainly oviposited on the floral stem and the branch, respectively, and oviposited on host plants from lineages not expected to express HR in response to pierid eggs. Accordingly, no HR responses were seen. All Pieris eggs found were located on leaves of their host, the only tissue found to express HR-like cell death. Furthermore, each Pieris species was found to at least occasionally oviposit on Brassica nigra. This was the only plant species in this survey that expressed HR-like cell death in response to the eggs of P. rapae, P. napi and P. brassicae. Our observations demonstrate that HR-like cell death remains an effective defence strategy against these Pieris species and as such did not find evidence for the hypothesised counterstrategies. Surveying certain key species and disentangling the micro-evolution of oviposition strategies within a species would allow us to further investigate potential counter-adaptations that evolved against HR-like cell death. This study provides the basis for further investigation of potential counter-adaptations to egg-killing defences.

opencc-by-4.0Feb 2011View details →

Fig. 4 in Species Accumulation Curves And Similarity Traits Of A Species-Rich Fly (Diptera) Community

Fig. 4. Jackknifed NESS indices relating to the first and kth group of 50, k = 1,2,…, 20

opencc-by-4.0Feb 2011View details →

Fig. 3 in Species Accumulation Curves And Similarity Traits Of A Species-Rich Fly (Diptera) Community

Fig. 3. Quasi individual-based species accumulation curves after normalisation

opencc-by-4.0Feb 2011View details →

Fig. 1 in Species Accumulation Curves And Similarity Traits Of A Species-Rich Fly (Diptera) Community

Fig. 1. Sample-based species accumulation curves without normalisation