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Physical defence traits enhance seedling survival of neotropical tree species
Article first published online: 3 AUG 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01320.x
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How to Cite
ALVAREZ-CLARE, S. and KITAJIMA, K. (2007), Physical defence traits enhance seedling survival of neotropical tree species. Functional Ecology, 21: 1044–1054. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01320.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 AUG 2007
- Article first published online: 3 AUG 2007
- Received 13 December 2007; accepted 26 June 2007; Handling Editor: Jim Dalling
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Keywords:
- fibre contents;
- fracture toughness;
- modulus of elasticity;
- shade tolerance;
- tissue density
Summary
- 1Physical defence traits of stems and leaves should enhance biomechanical strength and survival of seedlings. For eight neotropical tree species that differ widely in life-history strategies, we compared stem and leaf biomechanical traits of 1 and 7-month-old seedlings grown in the shaded forest understorey and in the laboratory.
- 2Material traits (biomechanical traits per unit volume, mass or cross sectional area) were positively associated with seedling survival across species. Shade tolerant species that survive well in the forest understorey had stems and leaves with greater modulus of elasticity (stiffness), fracture toughness (resistance to tear), tissue density and fibre contents, compared to less shade tolerant species.
- 3Seedling survival was most strongly correlated with stem tissue density at both 1 and 7 months (Spearman's correlation coefficient rs = 0·93 and 0·90), but was also strongly correlated with leaf density and stem toughness at 7 months (rs = 0·93 and 0·89, respectively).
- 4Multiple material traits were strongly and positively correlated with each other in both stems and leaves. However, these traits varied independently of seed and seedling size among species, indicating the unique importance of physical defence as functional traits.
- 5Structural traits of stems that integrate size with material traits, including % critical buckling height, flexural stiffness, work-to-bend and stem flexibility, showed no significant interspecific correlation with seedling survival.
- 6Modulus of elasticity and fracture toughness of stems generally increased as seedlings aged from 1 to 7 months, especially in species with high tissue density. In contrast, fracture toughness of leaf mid-vein and lamina showed inconsistent ontogenetic changes across species.
- 7These results demonstrate that biomechanical traits including tissue density and fracture toughness should be considered as important functional correlates of seedling survival and overall life-history strategies of tree species.