Study of functional traits in the Quercus genus: acquisitive versus conservative resource-use strategies

Abstract

De la Riva, E.G., Pérez-Ramos, I.M., Navarro-Fernández, C.M., Olmo, M., Marañón, T., Villar, R. 2014. Functional traits in the Quercus genus: acquisitive versus conservative resource-use strategies. Ecosistemas 23(2): 82-89. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2014.23-2.11

Quercus species constitute one of the most abundant and important group of woody plant species in the Iberian Peninsula, and its geographical distribution is largely determined by water availability, soil type and management history. Understanding the variation of their morpho-functional traits can help us to better understand the degree of diversification of species belonging to the same genus and the mechanisms that control their distribution patterns. The main objectives of this study are: (i) to analyze the relationships between different functional traits in the Quercus genus and test how these functional traits are related with species-specific resource-use strategies; and (ii) to explore the coordination between functional traits at the leaf, stem and root levels. The sampling was conducted in Sierra Morena (Córdoba) and Sierra del Aljibe (Cádiz). Several key functional traits were measured at the leaf, stem, root, plant-size and physiological level in five species of Quercus (Q. canariensis, Q. coccifera, Q. faginea, Q. ilex and Q. suber). The results of this study showed that the studied Quercus species exhibit clear different patterns in their functional strategies that are related to their distribution. This distribution shows a gradient from species associated to a conservative use of resources in water-limited conditions to more acquisitive species which are more dominant in wetter areas. In turn, we found a strong coordination between functional traits belonging to different plant organs (leaves, stem and roots), supporting the existence of an “economic spectrum” at the whole plant level.