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Data for "Trait-based response of deadwood and tree-related microhabitats to decline in temperate lowland and montane forests"

Sampling design and case studies The study was conducted in two French regions, the Loire valley and the French Pyrenees, and one German region, the Bavarian mountains. In the Loire valley, we studied two lowland sites in oak-dominated (both Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Quercus robur L.) forests, one in the Orleans State Forest (107-174 m a.s.l.) and one in the Vierzon State Forest (120-190 m a.s.l.). The main secondary species in these forests were hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). In 2020, we selected nine plots to represent a decline gradient in each of these forests. While the Orleans Forest was healthy overall, the Vierzon Forest had undergone several decline events due to successive droughts aggravated by edaphic factors. In the Pyrenees, we studied two sites in montane forests dominated by silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), whose decline is mainly the result of successive droughts occurring since the 1980’s, and with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) as secondary species. In 2017, we selected 43 plots: (i) 21 plots in the Aure Valley (854-1570 m a.s.l.) and (ii) 22 plots on the Sault Plateau (705-1557 m a.s.l.). The severe summer drought of 2003 had significant effects on tree mortality in oak and fir forests (Cours and others, 2022). Finally, we studied 19 plots of montane forest in the Bavarian Forest National Park, dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) with European beech and silver fir as the main secondary species (Bässler and others, 2009). The dieback results from several cycles of windstorms followed by bark beetle (Ips typographus (L.)) outbreaks (Müller and others, 2010), the dominant drivers of forest dynamics in Norway spruce forests in temperate Europe (Zemlerová and others, 2023). This dieback phenomenon was more severe than either of the aforementioned drought-induced declines, and resulted in greater tree mortality (Cours and others, 2021). In the fir and oak forests in France, our plots were set up in managed forests, and the surrounding forest was also predominantly managed. On the other hand, in the German spruce forest, our plots were set up both within the core area of the Bavarian Forest National Park, and in the surrounding zone (BIOKLIM project), with little or no human intervention (Müller and others, 2010). Field measurements Plots were set up with a Bitterlich relascope with an opening angle corresponding to counting factor n° 1 (ratio 1/50), and mean plot area was about 0.3 ha. For each tree within the plot, we recorded its status (i.e. dead, living, snag, log), tree-species and diameter at breast height (DBH; minimum DBH recorded = 17.5 cm for living trees and logs, 7.5 cm for snags, 67.5 cm for very large trees). We took the proportion of dead trees in basal area (i.e. the ratio of the cumulative basal area of standing and lying dead trees to the basal area of all the trees in the plot), hereinafter referred to as “mortality rate”, as a proxy for the level of local stand decline. Note that this “mortality rate” does not reflect true overall mortality rate in managed oak forests, as foresters removed most valuable declining trees. We visually inventoried TreMs on living trees, logs and snags, and included the 47 types described by Larrieu et al. (2018). For each deadwood item (length > 1 m) in the plot, we measured its decay stage (from 1 = hard dead wood fully covered with bark to 4 = soft wood without bark), length, diameter at mid-length for logs and snags < 4 m long, and DBH for dead trees and snags > 4 m. Deadwood was classified in the following categories: ground-lying (logs and uprooted dead trees) vs standing (snags and standing dead trees); small and mid-size (less than 40 cm in diameter) vs large and very large (more than 40 cm in diameter); and fresh (decay class 1 and 2) vs decayed (decay stage 3 and 4). We calculated the total number of items per hectare by allocating a coefficient Nd related to diameter (d) to each item observed in the relascope sampling: (Nd = π 108 [ArcTan(1/50)/(π d)]2). We estimated TreM diversity and the number of deadwood types per plot. We compiled a list of eco-morphological traits for woody elements (i.e., life status (living, dead) and vertical position (downed, standing), decay stage and diameter) and for TreMs detected in the field (TreM nature, association with deadwood (saproxylic, epixylic, mould), type of bearing substrate (i.e., living tree, dead tree or snag, and log), position in the tree (i.e. base, trunk, crown), degree of wetness, life span or ontogenesis).

Bringing light onto the Raunkiæran shortfall: A comprehensive review of traits used in functional animal ecology

Trait-based approaches elucidate the mechanisms underlying biodiversity response to, or effects on, the environment. Nevertheless, the Raunkiæran shortfall – the dearth of knowledge on species traits and their functionality – presents a challenge in the application of these approaches. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the trends and gaps in trait-based animal ecology in terms of taxonomic resolution, trait selection, ecosystem type, and geographical region. In addition, we suggest a set of crucial steps to guide trait selection and aid future research to conduct within and cross-taxon comparisons. We identified 1,655 articles using virtually all animal groups published from 1999 to 2020. Studies were concentrated in vertebrates, terrestrial habitats, and the Palearctic realm, and mostly investigated trophic and habitat dimensions. Additionally, they focused on response traits (79.4%) and largely ignored intraspecific variation (94.6%). Almost 36% of the datasets did not provide the rationale behind the selection of morphological traits. The main limitations of trait-based animal ecology were the use of trait averages and a rare inclusion of intraspecific variability. Nearly one-fifth of the studies based only on response traits conclude that trait diversity impacts ecosystem processes or services without justifying the connection between them or measuring them. We propose a guide for standardising trait collection that includes: (i) determining the type of trait and the mechanism linking the trait to the environment, ecosystem, or the correlation between the environment, trait, and ecosystem, (ii) using a "periodic table of niches" to select the appropriate niche dimension to support a mechanistic trait selection, and (iii) selecting the relevant traits for each retained niche dimension. By addressing these gaps, trait-based animal ecology can become more predictive. This implies that future research will likely focus on collaborating to understand how environmental changes impact animals and their capacity to provide ecosystem services and goods.

Decoupling of functional traits from intraspecific patterns of growth and drought stress resistance

Intraspecific variation in functional traits may mediate tree species' drought resistance, yet it remains unknown if trait variation is due to genotype (G), environment (E), or GxE interactions. Understanding the drivers of intraspecific trait variation and whether variation mediates drought response can improve predictions of species' response to future drought. Using populations of quaking aspen spanning a climate gradient, we investigated intraspecific variation in functional traits in the field as well as the influence of G and E among propagules in a common garden. We also tested for trait-mediated trade-offs in growth and drought stress tolerance. We observed intraspecific trait variation among the populations, yet this variation did not necessarily translate to higher drought stress tolerance in hotter/drier populations. Additionally, plasticity in the common garden was low, especially in propagules derived from the hottest/driest population. We found no growth-drought stress tolerance trade-offs and few traits exhibited significant relationships with mortality in the natural populations, suggesting that intraspecific trait variation among the traits measured did not strongly mediate responses to drought stress. Our results highlight the limits of trait-mediated responses to drought stress and the complex GxE interactions that may underly drought stress tolerance variation in forests in dry environments.

Effects of long-term mowing on leaf- and root-associated bacterial community structures are linked to functional traits in 11 plant species from a temperate steppe

<ol> <li>Long-term mowing can cause morphological stuntedness of plants, thus reducing grassland productivity and exacerbating grassland degradation. Although plant microbiomes can enhance plant resistance against disturbance, considerable uncertainty exists regarding how mowing and mowing-induced plant trait plasticity affect plant microbiomes in natural grasslands. </li> <li>Here we examined the responses of leaf-/root-associated bacterial (LAB/RAB) communities of 11 dominant herbaceous perennials (6 replicates per species) to a 17-year mowing treatment in a temperate grassland. We also measured leaf/root physiological and morphological traits and analyzed the relationships among mowing practice, bacterial community structures, and leaf/root trait parameters. </li> <li>We found that both leaf and root functional traits showed interspecific variations (variations across different plant species), while only the leaf traits exhibited intraspecific variation (treatment-induced variations within plant species) between the treatments. Similarly, the LAB community structure was more sensitive to mowing but less influenced by host species identity, compared to the RAB community. The RAB community structure was primarily shaped by host species identity, while mowing was a secondary influencing factor. </li> <li> The different patterns of LAB and RAB communities in response to mowing could be specifically explained by the inter-/intraspecific variations of the related leaf and root traits. The LAB community was strongly correlated with the leaf traits which exhibited mowing-induced plasticity (intraspecific variation), with the correlations with nitrogen resorption efficiency and aboveground dry weight being the greatest. The root traits were important indicators of bacterial community structure in the root compartment across the hosts, rather than between the treatments. Root tissue density showed the strongest interspecific variation, and was identified as an overwhelming driver of the RAB community. The shifts in LAB/RAB communities under mowing were largely attributed to the increased proportions of Actinobacteria. The high mowing sensitivity of the LAB community was associated with the enrichment of soil-derived Actinobacteria in leaves under mowing. Actinobacteria were also the main keystone taxa in the bacterial community networks under mowing. </li> <li>Our results demonstrate that the magnitude of plant-associated microbial community response to long-term mowing is plant compartment- and trait-variation-dependent, and advance our understanding of the leaf/root microbiome-trait relationships in complex plant communities.</li> </ol>

Genetic dissection of triplicated chromosome 21 orthologs yields varying skeletal traits in Down syndrome model mice

Down syndrome (DS) phenotypes result from triplicated genes, but effects of three copy genes are not well known. A mouse mapping panel genetically dissecting human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) syntenic regions was used to investigate the contributions and interactions of triplicated Hsa21 orthologous genes on mouse chromosome 16 (Mmu16) on skeletal phenotypes. Skeletal structure and mechanical properties were assessed in femurs of male and female Dp9Tyb, Dp2Tyb, Dp3Tyb, Dp4Tyb, Dp5Tyb, Dp6Tyb, Ts1Rhr, and Dp1Tyb;Dyrk1a+/+/- mice. Dp1Tyb mice, with the entire Hsa21 homologous region of Mmu16 triplicated, display bone deficits similar to those of humans with DS and served as a baseline for other strains in the panel. Bone phenotypes varied based on triplicated gene content, sex, and bone compartment. Three copies of Dyrk1a played a sex-specific, essential role in trabecular deficits and may interact with other genes to influence cortical deficits related to DS. Triplicated genes in Dp9Tyb and Dp2Tyb mice improved some skeletal parameters. As triplicated genes can both improve and worsen bone deficits, it is important to understand the interaction between and molecular mechanisms of skeletal alterations affected by these genes.

Prevalence Of Sickle Cell Trait and Needs Assessment Forfor Uptake of Sickle Cell Screening Among Secondary School Students in Kampala City, Uganda

This study aimed to determine the burden of SCT and factors influencing uptake of screening services among secondary school students in Uganda. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Data from: Rhizodeposition through root senescence and root exudation of atmospheric C and N by legumes is controlled by traits indicative of resource acquisition and root development

Legume crop production has many benefits for agricultural systems. Through the rhizodeposition process, they release a significant amount of C and N into the soil, increasing soil organic C and reducing the use of N fertilizer. Rhizodeposition is known as a dynamic process influenced by many factors. The aim of this study was to study the contribution of root exudation and root senescence to the rhizodeposition of atmospheric C and N during vegetative and reproductive growth in annual and perennial legumes and to understand how this is linked to the fixation capacities of C and N and root functional traits. An original approach that combined 13CO2 labeling and the 15N dilution method was developed to measure the rhizodeposition of atmospheric C and N throughout plant growth by two annual grain legumes (pea and faba bean) and two perennial forage legumes (white and crimson clovers). C rhizodeposition was found to increase proportionally with N rhizodeposition during reproductive development and the differences observed between species were related to the C and N fixation abilities. The use of root traits such as specific root length, root tissue density, and root dry matter content suggests a strong contribution of root exudation to C rhizodeposition at vegetative growth and a strong contribution of root senescence to both C and N rhizodeposition during reproductive growth. Synthesis: Both C and N rhizodeposition appeared to be controlled by traits indicative of resource acquisition and root development.

Using social media and personality traits to assess software developers' emotional polarity

Companion DATA Title:     Using social media and personality traits to assess software developers' emotional polarity Authors:      Leo Moreira Silva     Marília Gurgel Castro     Miriam Bernardino Silva     Milena Santos     Uirá Kulesza     Margarida Lima     Henrique Madeira Journal:         PeerJ Computer Science Github:     <a href="https://github.com/leosilva/peerj_computer_science_2022">https://github.com/leosilva/peerj_computer_science_2022</a> ------------------------------------------------------------ The folders contain: Experiment_Protocol.pdf: document that present the protocol regarding recruitment protocol, data collection of public posts from Twitter, criteria for manual analysis, and the assessment of Big Five factors from participants and psychologists. English version. /analysis     analyzed_tweets_by_psychologists.csv: file containing the manual analysis done by psychologists     analyzed_tweets_by_participants.csv: file containing the manual analysis done by participants     analyzed_tweets_by_psychologists_solved_divergencies.csv: file containing the manual analysis done by psychologists over 51 divergent tweets' classifications /dataset     alldata.json: contains the dataset used in the paper /ethics_committee     committee_response_english_version.pdf: contains the acceptance response of Research Ethics and Deontology Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. English version.     committee_response_original_portuguese_version: contains the acceptance response of Research Ethics and Deontology Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Portuguese version.     committee_submission_form_english_version.pdf: the project submitted to the committee. English version.     committee_submission_form_original_portuguese_version.pdf: the project submitted to the committee. Portuguese version.     consent_form_english_version.pdf: declaration of free and informed consent fulfilled by participants. English version.     consent_form_original_portuguese_version.pdf: declaration of free and informed consent fulfilled by participants. Portuguese version.     data_protection_declaration_english_version.pdf: personal data and privacy declaration, according to European Union General Data Protection Regulation. English version.     data_protection_declaration_original_portuguese_version.pdf: personal data and privacy declaration, according to European Union General Data Protection Regulation. Portuguese version. /notebooks     General - Charts.ipynb: notebook file containing all charts produced in the study, including those in the paper     Statistics - Lexicons and Ensembles.ipynb: notebook file with the statistics for the five lexicons and ensembles used in the study     Statistics - Linear Regression.ipynb: notebook file with the multiple linear regression results     Statistics - Polynomial Regression.ipynb: notebook file with the polynomial regression results     Statistics - Psychologists versus Participants.ipynb: notebook file with the statistics between the psychologists and participants manual analysis     Statistics - Working x Non-working.ipynb: notebook file containing the statistical analysis for the tweets posted during work period and those posted outside of working period /surveys     Demographic_Survey_english_version.pdf: survey inviting participants to enroll in the study. We collect demographic data and participants' authorization to access their public Tweet posts. English version.     Demographic_Survey_portuguese_version.pdf: survey inviting participants to enroll in the study. We collect demographic data and participants' authorization to access their public Tweet posts. Portuguese version.     Demographic_Survey_answers.xlsx: participants' demographic survey answers     ibf_pt_br.doc: the Portuguese version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) instrument to infer participants' Big Five polarity traits.     ibf_en.doc: translation in English of the Portuguese version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) instrument to infer participants' Big Five polarity traits.     ibf_answers.xlsx: participantes' and psychologists' answers for BFI ------------------------------------------------------------ We have removed from dataset any sensible data to protect participants' privacy and anonymity. We have removed from demographic survey answers any sensible data to protect participants' privacy and anonymity.

Data and code for: Sex-specific trait architecture in a sexually size dimorphic spider

Sexual dimorphism, or sex-specific trait expression, may evolve when selection favours different optima for the same trait between sexes, i.e., under antagonistic selection. Intra-locus sexual conflict exists when the sexually dimorphic trait under antagonistic selection is based on genes shared between sexes. A common assumption is that the presence of sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) indicates that sexual conflict has been, at least partly, resolved via decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes. However, whether and how decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes has been realised often remains unknown. We tested for differences in architecture of adult body size between sexes in a species with extreme SSD, the African hermit spider (Nephilingis cruentata), where adult female body size greatly exceeds that of males. Specifically, we estimated the sex-specific importance of genetic and maternal effects on adult body size among individuals that we laboratory-reared for up to eight generations. Quantitative genetic model estimates indicated that size variation in females is to a larger extent explained by direct genetic effects than by maternal effects, but in males to a larger extent by maternal than by genetic effects. We conclude that this sex-specific body-size architecture enables body-size evolution to proceed much more independently than under a common architecture to both sexes.

Interactions between belowground traits and rhizosheath fungal and bacterial communities for phosphorus acquisition

1. Plant-soil microbes interactions play a central role in plant nutrient acquisition and thus ecosystem functioning and nutrient availability in agroecosystems. Adjustments in root morphology, root exudation and associations with microorganisms such as arbuscular mychorrizal fungi are common for phosphorus acquisition. Yet how plant belowground functional traits interact with microbial communities for P-acquisition remains largely unknown, limiting our understanding of phosphorus availability in agroecosystems. 2. Interactions between belowground functional traits and rhizosheath soil microbial communities for P-acquisition were investigated across eight herbaceous species with contrasting root traits. Root morphological and physiological traits involved in P-acquisition were quantified simultaneously with PLFA (phospholipid fatty acid) and NLFA (neutral lipid fatty acid) microbial bioindicators. 3. Multiple correlations were observed between root morphology, root exudates and rhizosheath fungal and bacterial communities. Root exudates and in particular release of malate and malonate were strongly linked with indicators of Gram-negative bacteria, which were correlated with changes in rhizosheath soil P concentration and plant P content. 4. Our results suggest that root exudation of carboxylates may play an important role in plant-soil microorganism interactions for P-acquisition, underlining their likely role in shaping microbial communities. Incorporating these interactions in biogeochemical models would lead to better predicting power and understanding of P cycling and ecosystem functioning.

opencc-by-4.0May 2024View details →

Species phylogeny, ecology and root traits as predictors of root exudate composition

In this study, a total of 65 neophytes (alien species introduced after 1500 A.D.), belonging to 51 genera and 25 families, occurring in the Czech Republic, were used. The species set represented plant families only from eudicots with Asteraceae, Brassicaceae Amaranthaceae, Polygonaceae and Fabaceae as the major families having 4 or more species. We measured different root morphological and biochemical traits (including exudate profiles) of these plant species grown in a controlled system.

Root trait values of 11 trees and shrubs grown on mine tailings

<ol> <li>Root traits play significant roles in plant resource-use strategies, and are good predictors of plant growth and survival. However, their predicting role in phytoremediation remains poorly understood and we know much less about the functional covariation of root traits with soil heavy metal (HM) contamination.</li> <li>The objective of this study was to assess the importance of root traits to predict phytoremediation services and to quantify biomass cost (BC) for HM accumulation in eleven woody species grown on a Pb-Zn mine tailing of Southeastern China. Sixteen traits associated with root morphological and chemical features, as well as HM accumulation characteristics, were measured to examine whether there is a RES under HM stressors and whether the covariation among root traits was related to individual or multiple heavy metal translocation and bioconcentration.</li> <li>Our findings provide evidence for a multidimensional RES including one main trend of 'slow-fast' strategy, and a trend representing a trade-off between root system size and root tissue density, indicating root proliferation strategy in a metal-contaminated soil. Another trade-off between root cadmium concentration and root dry matter content implied the existence of a presumable biomass cost for HM accumulation, which was proved to be constrained by RES.</li> <li>Root traits were good predictors of individual or multiple HM translocation and bioconcentration, and linked with phytoremediation services: roots with more acquisitive traits promote HM translocation, whilst conservative roots fostered bioconcentration.</li> <li>This study demonstrates that woody species grown on HM-contaminated soils exhibit different capacities for accumulating or translocating HMs depending on their root system shapes, and their position on the RES. Our results highlighted the importance of root size-related traits in the framework of RES when plants face unfavorable soil conditions and narrow the gap in trait-based ecology. We, for the first time, define and quantify the biomass cost for HM accumulation, providing a better understanding of the resource-allocation theory.</li> </ol>

Plant trait responses to variation in N and P availability

<ol> <li>Global change drivers such as eutrophication and plant invasions will create novel environments for many plant species. Through adaptive trait plasticity plants may maintain their performance under these novel conditions and may outcompete those showing low adaptive trait plasticity. In a greenhouse study, we determined if plasticity in traits is adaptive or maladaptive in endangered, non-endangered and invasive plant species in response to variation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability (N:P ratios 1.7, 15 and 135) and whether plastic trait responses are adaptive and/or costly for fitness (i.e. biomass). </li> <li>Species choice comprised 17 species from three functional groups (legumes, non-legume forbs and grasses), either classified as endangered, non-endangered or invasive. After two months plants were harvested and nine traits related to carbon assimilation and nutrient uptake were measured (leaf area, SLA, LDMC, SPAD, RMR, root length, SRL, root surface area and PME activity).</li> <li> We found more traits responding plastically to variation in P than in N. Plasticity only created costs when P was varied. Plasticity in traits was mostly adaptively neutral towards fitness, with plasticity in three traits being similarly adaptive across all species groups: SPAD (as a measure of chlorophyll content, adaptive to N and P limitation), leaf area and root surface area (adaptive to P limitation). We found little differences in trait plasticity between endangered, non-endangered and invasive species. </li> <li> Synthesis. Along a gradient from N limitation, balanced N:P supply and P limitation we found that the type of fluctuating nutrient (i.e. if N or P is varied) is decisive for the adaptive value of a trait. Variation in P availability (from balanced supply to P limitation) created both a stronger reduction in fitness as well as created plasticity costs in more traits than variation in N availability (from balanced supply to N limitation). However, the patterns observed in our study may change if nutrient availability is altered, either by nutrient inputs or by a shift in nutrient availabilities, e.g. by decreasing N input as foreseen by European Legislation, but without simultaneously decreasing P input. </li> </ol>

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2023View details →

Trans-eQTL effects on risk of type 1 diabetes: a test of the sparse effector (omnigenic) hypothesis of complex trait genetics (supplementary data)

This repository contains summary-level data generated by performing <a href="https://github.com/molepi-precmed/trans-qtls">Genomewide aggregated trans- effects (GATE) analysis</a> in case-control study of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

Data from: Phenotypic clines in herbivore resistance and reproductive traits in wild plants along an agricultural gradient

The conversion of natural landscapes to agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. While many studies examine how landscape modification affects species diversity, a trait-based approach can provide new insights into species responses to environmental change. Wild plants persisting in heavily modified landscapes provide a unique opportunity to examine species' responses to land use change. Trait expression within a community plays an important role in structuring species interactions, highlighting the potential implications of landscape mediated trait changes on ecosystem functioning. Here we test the effect of increasing agricultural landscape modification on defensive and reproductive traits in three commonly occurring Brassicaceae species to evaluate plant responses to landscape change. We collected seeds from populations at spatially separated sites with variation in surrounding agricultural land cover and grew them in a greenhouse common garden, measuring defensive traits through an herbivore no-choice bioassay as well as reproductive traits such as flower size and seed set. In two of the three species, plants originating from agriculturally dominant landscapes expressed a consistent reduction in flower size and herbivore leaf consumption. One species also showed reduced fitness associated with increasingly agricultural landscapes. These findings suggest that wild plants are responding to landscape modification, highlighting that species diversity alone does not fully capture the effects of land use change.

Data from: Maintenance and expansion of genetic and trait variation following domestication in a clonal crop: Enset tGBS individual genotype data

Clonal propagation enables favourable crop genotypes to be rapidly selected and multiplied. However, the absence of sexual propagation can lead to low genetic diversity and accumulation of deleterious mutations, which may eventually render crops less resilient to pathogens or environmental change. To better understand this trade-off, we characterise the domestication and contemporary genetic diversity of Enset (Ensete ventricosum), an indigenous African relative of bananas (Musa) and principal starch staple for 20 million Ethiopians. Wild enset is strictly sexually outcrossing, but in cultivation is propagated clonally and associated with diversification and specialisation into hundreds of named landraces. We applied tGBS sequencing to generate genome-wide genotypes for 192 accessions from across enset's cultivated distribution, and surveyed 1340 farmers on enset agronomic traits. Overall, reduced heterozygosity in the domesticated lineage was consistent with a domestication bottleneck that retained 37% of wild diversity. However, an excess of putatively deleterious missense mutations at low frequency present as heterozygotes suggested accumulation of mutational load in clonal domesticated lineages. Our evidence indicates that the major domesticated lineages initially arose through historic sexual recombination associated with a domestication bottleneck, followed by amplification of favourable genotypes through an extended period of clonal propagation. Among domesticated lineages we found significant phylogenetic signal for multiple farmer-identified food, nutrition and disease resistance traits and little evidence of contemporary recombination. Development of future-climate adapted genotypes may require crop breeding, but outcrossing risks exposing deleterious alleles as homozygotes. This trade-off may partly explain the ubiquity and persistence of clonal propagation over recent centuries of comparative climate stability.

Higher predation rate need not and did not lead to higher risk-induced trait responses in related zooplankton species

Predators can directly affect prey populations both through predation (consumption of prey) and risk-induced trait responses (RITRs) that reduce predation risk but are often associated with a fitness cost. Thousands of studies make clear that RITRs (also termed anti-predator or defensive traits) including changes in behavior, morphology, and life history, are employed by numerous taxa across diverse ecological systems, and there is large variation in their magnitude. A natural goal is to elucidate the species and circumstances for which and to what magnitude RITRs are expected. A candidate hypothesis is that prey species that experience higher mortality from a predator will exhibit a higher RITR. This hypothesis is an intuitive extension of the fact that invulnerable animals are not expected to exhibit an RITR, while vulnerable species are. We present an example that clarifies why this relationship is not always expected and when it is expected. Other factors may influence the level of the RITR leading to the possibility that a positive relationship is not expected. We elucidate this problem using a mesocosm experiment with a fish-cladoceran system in which there is large variability in the predation rate on different cladoceran species. Results not only did not show a positive relationship but rather a negative trend between predation rate and the RITR. In fact, highly-preyed-upon taxa did not respond, while the least-preyed-upon taxa had the largest responses. These results clarify how the level of predation risk interacts with many factors to determine the RITR of prey.

Habitat preferences and functional traits drive longevity in Himalayan high-mountain plants

Plant lifespan has important evolutionary, physiological, and ecological implications related to population persistence, community stability, and resilience to ongoing environmental change impacts. Although biologists have long been puzzled over the extraordinary variation in plant lifespan and its causes, our understanding of interspecific variability in plant lifespan and the key internal and external factors influencing longevity remains limited. Here, we demonstrate the concurrent impacts of environmental, morphological, physiological, and anatomical constraints on interspecific variation in longevity among >300 vascular dicot plant species naturally occurring at an elevation gradient (2800-6150 m) in the western Himalayas. First, we show that plant longevity (ranging from 1 to 100 years) is largely related to species' habitat preferences. Ecologically stressful habitats such as alpine and subnival host long-lived species, while productive ruderal and wetland habitats contain a higher proportion of shorter-lived species. Second, longevity is influenced by growth form with monocarpic forbs having the shortest lifespan and woody shrubs having the highest. Small-statured cushion plants with compact canopies and deep roots, most found on cold and infertile alpine and subnival soils, had a higher chance of achieving longevity. Third, plant traits reflecting plant adaptations to stress and disturbance affect interspecific differences in plant longevity. We show that longevity and growth are negatively correlated. Slow-growing species are those that have a higher chance of reaching a high age. Finally, higher longevity was associated with high leaf carbon and phosphorus, low root phosphorus and nitrogen, and with large bark-xylem ratio. Our findings suggest that plant longevity in high elevation is intricately determined by a combination of habitat preferences and growth form, as well as the plant growth rate and physiological processes.

opencc-by-4.0Jan 2020View details →

Soil variation response is mediated by growth trajectories rather than functional traits in a widespread pioneer Neotropical tree

Description of Soil_DataTrees.csv <ul> <li>Tree_label: Label of trees on the field, there are 70 trees</li> <li>Tree_site: Site on which the tree has been sampled; COU: Counami; SPA: Sparouine</li> <li>Descr_date: Date of tree sampling</li> <li>Soil_type: Type of soil; FS: ferralitic soils; WS: white-sand soils</li> <li>Soil_sample: Label of soil sample</li> <li>H2Osoil: Soil water content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Clay: Soil clay content (g kg-1)</li> <li>SiltTh: Soil thin silt content (g kg-1)</li> <li>SiltCo: Soil coarse silt content (g kg-1)</li> <li>SandTh: Soil thin sand content (g kg-1)</li> <li>SandCo: Soil coarse sand content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Csoil: Soil carbon content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Nsoil: Soil nitrogen content (g kg-1)</li> <li>CNsoil: Soil carbon:nitrogen ratio</li> <li>MOsoil: Soil organic matter content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Ptotsoil: Soil total phosphorus content (g 100g-1)</li> <li>Kcec: Soil potassium:CEC[cation-exchange capacity] ratio</li> <li>Cacec: Soil calcium:CEC ratio</li> <li>Mgcec: Soil magnesium:CEC ratio</li> <li>Nacec: Soil sodium:CEC ratio</li> <li>Alcec: Soil aluminum:CEC ratio</li> <li>Fecec: Soil iron:CEC ratio</li> <li>Mncec: Soil manganese:CEC ratio</li> <li>Hcec: Soil hydrogen:CEC ratio</li> <li>pHsoil: Soil pH (cmol kg-1)</li> <li>CECsoil: Soil cation-exchange capacity (cmol kg-1)</li> <li>Indexsoil: Soil index of fertility = (K+Ca+Mg+Na)/CEC</li> </ul> K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Fe, Mn, H were initially measured in cmol kg-1   Description of Trait_DataTrees.csv <ul> <li>Tree_label: Label of the tree on the field. There are 70 trees</li> <li>Tree_site: Site of sampling; COU: Counami; SPA: Sparouine</li> <li>Descr_date: Date of tree sampling</li> <li>Calendar_day: Day of the year (between 1 and 365) of tree sampling</li> <li>Soil_type: Type of the soil; FS: ferralitic soils; WS: white-sand soils</li> <li>PCA1_soil: Coordinates of the trees along the first axis of PCA (principal component analysis) with soil data, used as a quantitative soil index on FS-WS soil gradient</li> <li>mesHeight: Measured tree height (m)</li> <li>Height: Tree height based on the sum of all internodes length (m)</li> <li>Dbh: Tree diameter at height breast (cm)</li> <li>Age: Tree age (year)</li> <li>Order: Number of branching order</li> <li>Brtot: Total number of branches branching from the trunk</li> <li>Leaftot: Total number of leaves</li> <li>Fltot: Total number of inflorescences</li> <li>Acrown: Total estimated crown area (m²)</li> <li>INA1: Number of trunk internodes</li> <li>Brbear: Number of A2 bearing branches</li> <li>Brdead: Number of A2 dead branches</li> <li>Br1stH: First branching height</li> <li>Fl1stH: First flowering height</li> <li>Br1stIN: First branching node rank</li> <li>Fl1stIN: First flowering node rank</li> <li>Br1stAge: First branching age</li> <li>Fl1stAge: First flowering age</li> <li>LL: Leaf lifespan (day)</li> <li>Lpet: Petiole length (cm)</li> <li>Apet: Petiole cross-sectional area (mm²)</li> <li>Nlobe: Number of leaf lobes</li> <li>LMA: Leaf mass area (g m-2)</li> <li>Thleaf: Leaf thickness (µm)</li> <li>Aleaf: Estimated individual leaf area (cm²)</li> <li>Chlleaf: Leaf chlorophyll content (mg ml-1)</li> <li>H20resleaf: Leaf residual water content (%)</li> <li>dC13leaf: δ13C content (&permil;)</li> <li>Cleaf: Leaf carbon content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Nleaf: Leaf nitrogen content (g kg-1)</li> <li>CNleaf: Leaf carbon:nitrogen ratio</li> <li>Pleaf: Leaf phosphorus content (g kg-1)</li> <li>Kleaf: Leaf potassium content (g kg-1)</li> <li>WSG: Wood specific gravity (g cm-3)</li> </ul>     <ul> <li>Tree_label: Label of the tree</li> <li>Soil_type: Type of the soil; FS: ferralitic soils; WS: white-sand soils</li> <li>rank_base: Rank of the internode from the base of the tree</li> <li>rank_top: Rank of the internode from the apex of the tree</li> <li>phyllochron: Phyllochron, number of days for the production of one leaf</li> <li>date: Estimated date of tree germination</li> <li>nb_day_base: Number of days since estimated germination</li> <li>nb_day_top: Age of the internode in days at tree sampling</li> <li>AS_rank_base: Rank of the annual shoot from the base of the tree</li> <li>As_rank_top: Rank of the annual shoot from the apex of the tree</li> <li>AS_nodes_base: Number of internodes per annual shoot</li> <li>AS_length_base: Length of the annual shoot (cm)</li> <li>AS_br_base: Number of A2 branches on the annual shoot</li> <li>AS_flo_base: Number of inflorescences on the annual shoot</li> <li>lg_en: Internode length (cm)</li> <li>ht_en: Cumulated height of the tree based on the sum of internode length (cm)</li> <li>ma_lgen: Moving average of internode length</li> <li>resi_lgen: Residuals of internode length</li> </ul>

Datasets: Urbanisation generates multiple trait syndromes for terrestrial animal taxa worldwide

This repository contains the datasets used in the main article: <ul> <li>There is one Excel file per taxonomic group (amphibians, bats, bees, birds, ground beetles, and reptiles).</li> <li>Each file consists of three Excel spreadsheets: "Species" = matrix of species by sites; "Sites" = ID and coordinates of sites + urban and forest land cover variables; "Traits" = matrix of species by traits.</li> <li>Each spreadsheet contains the raw data used for the analyses in the article. For more information on how to handle the data, see the "Method" section.</li> </ul>