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Plant Functional Traits: A Key Framework for Understanding and Managing Ecosystem Responses to Global Environmental Challenges

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Plant Functional Traits for Improving Productivity

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Abstract

The greatest threat to present and future biodiversity is climate change. It is estimated that climatic and related environmental changes will threaten global food security and sustainable development goals. Climate change profoundly impacts ecosystem services and disrupts the intricate interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. Plant functional diversity provides a complex nexus of biodiversity, ecosystem services, agroecosystems, and soils. Plant functional traits (PFTs) are heritable morphological, physiological, or phenological properties that influence individual performance and fitness and, in turn, the species’ responses to ecological shifts and climatic changes. The PFTs are categorized into morphological, physiological, and phenological traits, providing a comprehensive realization of how plants interact with their environment and influence ecosystem processes. The ecological roles of PFTs, their roles in community assembly, and their impact on ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration are critical components in understanding and managing the dynamics of ecosystems and their resilience in the face of environmental change. PFTs significantly influence the species’ responses to environmental changes and guide ecosystem restoration and land-use planning decisions. The chapter highlights the crucial role of plant functional traits in advancing ecological research, offering insights into species’ adaptations, community dynamics, and responses to environmental challenges. Further, integrating functional traits into interdisciplinary studies will contribute to a holistic understanding of ecological patterns and processes, informing sustainable management and conservation strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Amrender Singh Rao & Ajay Chauhan

  2. Department of Botany, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Amrender Singh Rao, Rahul Chhawri, Surender Singh Yadav & K. C. Meena

  3. Haryana Forest Department, Panchkula, Haryana, India

    K. C. Meena

  4. Kishan Lal Public College, Rewari, Haryana, India

    Pardeep Bansal

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  1. Amrender Singh Rao
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  2. Rahul Chhawri
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  3. Ajay Chauhan
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  4. Surender Singh Yadav
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  5. K. C. Meena
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology Discipline, Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Narendra Kumar

  2. Plant Physiology Discipline, Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Hukum Singh

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Rao, A.S., Chhawri, R., Chauhan, A., Yadav, S.S., Meena, K.C., Bansal, P. (2024). Plant Functional Traits: A Key Framework for Understanding and Managing Ecosystem Responses to Global Environmental Challenges. In: Kumar, N., Singh, H. (eds) Plant Functional Traits for Improving Productivity. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1510-7_15

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