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Plant functional traits with particular reference to tropical deciduous forests: A review

Journal of Biosciences volume 36, pages 963–981 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Functional traits (FTs) integrate the ecological and evolutionary history of a species, and can potentially be used to predict its response as well as its influence on ecosystem functioning. Study of inter-specific variation in the FTs of plants aids in classifying species into plant functional types (PFTs) and provides insights into fundamental patterns and trade-offs in plant form and functioning and the effect of changing species composition on ecosystem functions. Specifically, this paper focuses on those FTs that make a species successful in the dry tropical environment. Following a brief overview, we discuss plant FTs that may be particularly relevant to tropical deciduous forests (TDFs). We consider the traits under the following categories: leaf traits, stem and root traits, reproductive traits, and traits particularly relevant to water availability. We compile quantitative information on functional traits of dry tropical forest species. We also discuss trait-based grouping of plants into PFTs. We recognize that there is incomplete knowledge about many FTs and their effects on TDFs and point out the need for further research on PFTs of TDF species, which can enable prediction of the dynamics of these forests in the face of disturbance and global climate change. Correlations between structural and ecophysiological traits and ecosystem functioning should also be established which could make it possible to generate predictions of changes in ecosystem services from changes in functional composition.

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Abbreviations

Aarea :

area-based leaf maximum photosynthetic rate

Amass :

mass-based leaf maximum photosynthetic rate

ANPP:

above ground net primary production

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

Camass :

mass-based calcium concentration

CC:

leaf construction cost

Chl:

chlorophyll concentration

Cmass :

mass-based carbon concentration

DBH:

diameter at breast height

E:

leaf transpiration rate

FT:

functional trait

gc :

leaf stomatal conductance, Kmass, mass-based potassium concentration

LA:

leaf area

LAI:

leaf area index

LDMC:

leaf dry matter content

LL:

leaf life-span

LMA:

leaf mass per area

LNC:

leaf nitrogen concentration

LPC:

leaf phosphorus concentration

LSCmax :

maximum leaf specific hydraulic conductivity

LWC:

leaf water content

Namass :

mass-based sodium concentration

Nmass :

mass-based nitrogen concentration

PFT:

plant functional type

Pmass :

mass-based phosphorus concentration

Rdarea :

area-based dark respiration rate

Rdmass :

mass-based dark respiration rate

Rdmax :

maximum rate of dark respiration

SLA:

specific leaf area

SSD:

specific stem density

TDF:

tropical deciduous forest

TDMC:

twig dry matter content

WUEi:

intrinsic water use efficiency

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India, for the financial support. JSS is supported under NASI Senior Scientist Scheme. The corresponding editor and the anonymous reviewers are thanked for their valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    R K Chaturvedi & J S Singh

  2. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    A S Raghubanshi

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  1. R K Chaturvedi
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  3. J S Singh
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Correspondence to R K Chaturvedi.

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[Chaturvedi RK, Raghubanshi AS and Singh JS 2011 Plant functional traits with particular reference to tropical deciduous forests: A review. J. Biosci. 36 1–19] DOI 10.1007/s12038-011-9159-1

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Chaturvedi, R.K., Raghubanshi, A.S. & Singh, J.S. Plant functional traits with particular reference to tropical deciduous forests: A review. J Biosci 36, 963–981 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-011-9159-1

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Keywords

  • Ecosystem functioning
  • environmental change
  • functional traits
  • leaf traits
  • moisture stress
  • tropical deciduous forest