Leaf trait variation captures climate differences but differs with species irrespective of functional group

Aims To clarify whether variation in leaf traits with climate differs with scale,i.e.across species and within a species,and to detect whether plant functional group affects species-specific response.Methods Leaf dry matter content(LDMC),specific leaf area(SLA),mass-and area-based leaf N(N_(mass),N_(area))and leaf P concentrations(P_(mass),P_(area))and leaf chlorophyll concentration(SPAD)were measured for 92 woody plant species in two botanical gardens in China.The two gardens share plant species in common but differ in climate.Leaf trait variation between the two gardens was examined via mean comparison at three scales:all species together,species grouped into plant functional groups and within a species.A meta-analysis was performed to summarize the species-specific responses.Important Findings At the scale of all species together,LDMC,SLA,P_(mass) and N_(mass) were significantly lower in the dry-cold habitat than in the wet-warm one,whereas N_(area) and SPAD showed an inverse pattern,indicating a significant environmental effect.The meta-analysis showed that the above-mentioned patterns persisted for SLA,N_(area) and SPAD but not for the other variables at the species-specific scale,indicating that intraspecific variation affects the overall pattern of LDMC,P_(mass) and N_(mass) and P_(area).In terms of species-specific response,posi-tive,negative or nonsignificant patterns were observed among the 92 species.Contrary to our prediction,species-specific responses within a functional group were not statistically more similar than those among functional groups.Our results indicated that leaf trait variation captured climatic difference yet species-specific responses were quite diverse irrespective of plant functional group,providing new insights for interpreting trait variability with climate.

Nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant in southwestern Sichuan Province,China

From April to July 2003 and 2004,we surveyed the nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant(Crossoptilon crossoptilon)in the Zhujie Monastery and in the mountain facing it in Sichuan Province,China.In this paper,we studied the nest characteristics and the clutch size of the pheasant.Habitat sampling method was used to determine the variables that might affect the nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant.Chi-square test was used to identify which habitat type was likely to be preferred by the bird.Independent-samples t test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to find which variables were important for the birds’nest-site selection.A total of 13 nests were found.Oak shrub was greatly preferred as nest sites(84.62%).Nests under a rock wall(7.69%)and a fallen tree(7.69%)were also found.The average clutch size of a White Eared pheasant is 7.33±0.54(range,5–11;n=12).Laying period was between April 27 and May 21.In the Zhujie area,1 nest was in the forest and 11 nests were in oak shrubs.The species preferred oak shrub as its nesting habitat(χ^(2)=8.333,df=1,P<0.05).The bird was more likely to place its nest in sites with a high coverage,i.e.0.5,1,and 2 m above the ground(independent-samples t test,P<0.05),and with a large shrub diameter(Mann–Whitney U test,P<0.05).The species are more likely to prefer sites with plant cover,shrub cover(independentsamples t test,P<0.05),and shrub height(Mann–Whitney U test,P<0.05)in a relatively small range.