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Influence of the Systematic Position at the Family Level on the Leaf Functional Traits of Steppe Plants

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Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract—

The significance of the systematic position for the traits of a leaf, mesophyll, chloroplasts, and pigment complex in steppe plants has been examined for three families (Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Rosaceae) from different geographical regions of Russia and Mongolia. The species belonging to a particular family affects, first of all, the parameters of the whole leaf–its thickness and density–as well as the size and number of mesophyll cells. In contrast, mesophyll parameters and pigment content independent of the taxon, and both reflect the convergent response of plants belonging to different taxa to climate.

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Funding

This study was performed within the framework of the budgetary theme of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, project nos. AAAA-A17-117011810036-3 and FEWZ-2020-0009, and with support from Russian Foundation for Basic Research grants nos. 19-54-53015 and 17-29-05019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanical Garden, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620144, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    P. K. Yudina, L. A. Ivanov, D. A. Ronzhina & L. A. Ivanova

  2. Tyumen State University, 625003, Tyumen, Russia

    P. K. Yudina, L. A. Ivanov, D. A. Ronzhina & L. A. Ivanova

  3. Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia

    O. A. Anenkhonov

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  1. P. K. Yudina
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  2. L. A. Ivanov
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  3. D. A. Ronzhina
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  4. O. A. Anenkhonov
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Correspondence to P. K. Yudina.

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Translated by M. Shulskaya

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Yudina, P.K., Ivanov, L.A., Ronzhina, D.A. et al. Influence of the Systematic Position at the Family Level on the Leaf Functional Traits of Steppe Plants. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 13, 533–544 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S199542552005011X

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