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Spatially explicit correlates of plant functional traits inform landscape patterns of resource quality

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Abstract

Context

Spatially explicit correlates of foliar elemental, stoichiometric, and phytochemical (ESP) traits represent links to landscape patterns of resource quality.

Objectives

We investigate spatial correlates for multiple foliar ESP traits at the species level and across species at the trait level for five boreal forest understory plants.

Methods

On the island of Newfoundland, Canada, we collected plot-level foliar material from four chronosequenced forest grids. We integrate plot-level response variables of foliar elemental (C, N, P, percent and quantity), stoichiometric (C:N, C:P, N:P), and phytochemical (terpenoids) traits, with spatial predictors available for the whole landscape to test multiple competing hypotheses. These hypotheses include the effects of land cover (e.g., coniferous, deciduous, mixedwood), productivity (e.g., enhanced vegetation index), biotic (e.g., stand age/height, canopy closure) and abiotic (e.g., elevation, aspect, slope) factors.

Results

Spatial correlates of foliar ESP traits were generally species specific. However, at the trait level, some species shared spatial predictors, notably for foliar percent carbon, C:P, N:P, sesquiterpene traits. Here we highlight that foliar C, C:P, and sesquiterpene traits between different species were explained by abiotic spatial correlates alone. Similarly, foliar terpenoid traits between different species were related to a combination of abiotic and biotic factors (mean R2 = 0.26).

Conclusions

Spatial-trait relationships mainly occur at the species level, with some commonalities at the trait level. By linking plot-level foliar ESP traits to spatial predictors, we can map plant chemical composition patterns that influence landscape-scale ecosystem processes and thus inform sustainable landscape management.

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Data availability

The datasets and associated R code used to conduct research presented in this manuscript are available on Figshare.com at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11911455.v1. The Forest Resource Inventory datasets provided by the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Federal Government of Canada may be made available upon request, however additional permission through these agencies may be required.

Code availability

The R code used to conduct research presented in this manuscript are available on Figshare.com at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11911455.v1.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Forest Science Innovation (CFSI); Memorial University of Newfoundland SEEDS funding to SJL, EVW, YFW; Mitacs Accelerate Grant to YFW, SJL and EVW; Canada Foundation for Innovation funding to YFW, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Discovery Grant to YFW). In-kind support was provided by Parks Canada—Terra Nova National Park and the CFSI, with thanks to Janet Feltham and Blair Adams. In addition, we would also like to thank the Landscape Ecology and Spatial Analysis lab at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Thank you to three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments that helped to substantially improve an earlier version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Forest Science and Innovation to YFW (Grant #221273), SJL (Grant #221274), and EVW (Grant #221275), Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Innovate NL Leverage R&D to EVW & SJL (Grant #5404.1884.102) and Ignite R&D to SJL (Grant #5404.1696.101) programs, Mitacs Accelerate Graduate Research Internship program to YW, EVW, & SJL (Grant #IT05904), the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund to EVW & SJL (Grant #35973), and a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Discovery Grant to YFW (Grant #RGPIN-2015-05799).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, Canada

    Travis R. Heckford, Shawn J. Leroux, Eric Vander Wal, Matteo Rizzuto, Juliana Balluffi-Fry, Isabella C. Richmond & Yolanda F. Wiersma

  2. British Columbia Government, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Cariboo Region, 640 Borland Street, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 4T1, Canada

    Travis R. Heckford

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  1. Travis R. Heckford
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Contributions

TH, SJL, YFW, EVW and MR contributed to the study conception and design. TH and MR collected data and analyses were performed by TH. The manuscript was drafted by TH and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Travis R. Heckford.

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Heckford, T.R., Leroux, S.J., Vander Wal, E. et al. Spatially explicit correlates of plant functional traits inform landscape patterns of resource quality. Landsc Ecol 37, 59–80 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01334-3

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