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Intraindividual variation in light-related functional traits: magnitude and structure of leaf trait variability across global scales in Olea europaea trees

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Abstract

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Light-related leaf traits variation is structured among individuals and within individuals in a latitudinal pattern from the equator (high variation) toward the poles (lower variation).

Abstract

Intraspecific variation in leaf functional traits can play a crucial role at multiple ecological scales. However, our understanding of leaf functional trait variation (FV) across spatial scales is limited. Moreover, the influence of FV in specific responses to the environment remains poorly assessed. We investigated FV across multiple nested ecological scales in a set of leaf traits related to light interception and photosynthetic performance in eight populations of Olea europaea trees distributed over a wide latitudinal gradient (~60°). Specifically, we measured SLA, leaf shape, leaf’s spatial position (leaf angles) and leaf’s potential exposure to direct sunlight (silhouette area of the leaf blade and silhouette to area ratio of the leaf blade). The variability in leaf traits revealed two main patterns depending on the considered trait. Differences among sites absorbed >50% of the trait variation related to leaf shape and structure. Conversely, traits related to leaf position and exposure to direct light varied mostly within individuals among crown positions. The variation within trees for multiple traits ranged from 4 to 14%. Trees of equatorial populations had wider, thinner and more exposed leaves to direct light than trees of the remaining populations. The FV for multiple leaf traits at the tree scale was spatially structured within the tree crown and was higher for populations at the equator than for populations located in other latitudes. The differences among traits and scales in the magnitude of FV revealed a complex structure that could be linked to local adaptation.

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Abbreviations

L azi :

The angle between the projection of a normal vector from the leaf adaxial surface and the true north

L tilt :

The angle of the leaf adaxial surface (0° vertical, +90° horizontal facing upward, −90° horizontal leaf with the adaxial side facing down)

L width :

Maximum leaf width (cm)

L length :

Maximum leaf length (cm)

LDM:

Leaf dry mass (g)

SLA:

Specific leaf area (cm2 g−1)

L index :

L length/L width (dimensionless)

SAL:

Silhouette area of the leaf blade (cm2)

STAR:

Silhouette area to leaf area ratio (%)

SALlow :

Silhouette area of the leaf blade during the day of the year with minimum sun elevation angle at midday for each population (cm2)

SALhigh :

Silhouette area of the leaf blade during the day of the year with maximum sun elevation angle at midday for each population (cm2)

SALmed :

Silhouette area of the leaf blade during a day of the year with sun elevation angle at midday between SALlow and SALhigh for each population (cm2)

STARlow :

Silhouette area to leaf area ratio during the day of the year with minimum sun elevation angle at midday for each population (%)

STARhigh :

Silhouette area to leaf area ratio during the day of the year with maximum sun elevation angle at midday for each population (%)

STARmed :

Silhouette area to leaf area ratio during a day of the year with sun elevation angle at midday between STARlow and STARhigh for each population (%)

FVP :

Functional variance between populations

FVBI :

Functional variance between individuals

FVWI :

Functional variance within individuals

LT:

Leaf variance within trees

LP:

Leaf variance within populations

LS:

Leaf variance within sites

TP:

Tree variance within populations

TS:

Tree variance within sites

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Acknowledgements

Our special thanks go to A. Vázquez, M. Johnson and S. Pichillou for their exceptional assistance in the field and to J. Messier for sharing the R script used for bootstrapping and CI estimations. We are also indebted to the Madrid Regional Govt. [project REMEDINAL 3 (S2013/MAE-2719)].

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Author notes

  1. §Deceased author: Luis Balaguer.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Adrián G. Escribano-Rocafort, Agustina B. Ventre-Lespiaucq & Juan A. Delgado

  2. Department of Plant Biology I, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Granado-Yela & Luis Balaguer

  3. Department of Ecology, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Rafael Rubio de Casas

  4. Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, Almería, Spain

    Rafael Rubio de Casas

  5. UMR 5175 CEFE-Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS), 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 05, France

    Rafael Rubio de Casas

  6. Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933, Madrid, Spain

    Adrián Escudero

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  1. Adrián G. Escribano-Rocafort
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Correspondence to Adrián G. Escribano-Rocafort.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy (CGL2009-10392, BES-2010-032767 to A.G.E-R).

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Escribano-Rocafort, A.G., Ventre-Lespiaucq, A.B., Granado-Yela, C. et al. Intraindividual variation in light-related functional traits: magnitude and structure of leaf trait variability across global scales in Olea europaea trees. Trees 31, 1505–1517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1565-z

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