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Sensitivity of Functional Traits to Environmental factors in a Karst Plant Community
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  • Yang Wang,
  • Limin Zhang,
  • Jin Chen,
  • Ling Feng,
  • Fangbing Li,
  • Lifei Yu
Yang Wang
Guizhou University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Limin Zhang
Guizhou University
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Jin Chen
Guizhou University
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Ling Feng
Guizhou University
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Fangbing Li
Guizhou University
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Lifei Yu
Guizhou University
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Abstract

In this study, the plant communities at five succession stages (herbage, herbage-shrub, shrub, tree-shrub, and tree) in the Zhenning Karst Plateau area of Guizhou were examined. The changes of plant functional characteristics in different succession stages were analyzed, as was the relationship between functional traits and environmental factors. The main results include the following. (1) During the succes-sion process, plant height, leaf dry matter mass, leaf area, leaf nitrogen content, and leaf phosphorus content gradually increased, whereas leaf thickness and specific leaf area decreased, and leaf C:P ratio and leaf N:P ratios did not change significantly. (2) Soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen, soil total phosphorus, soil C:N, soil C:P, and soil C:K increased at first and then decreased, reaching a peak at the tree-shrub stage. Soil total potassium fluctuated and soil bulk density gradually decreased and reached the lowest value at the tree-shrub stage. (3) Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the plant community shifted from a nutri-ent-poor soil environment to a nutrient-rich environment. Soil total phosphorus, soil C:K, soil organic mat-ter, soil C:N, and soil bulk density were the key environmental factors affecting the change of functional traits. (4) Structural equation modeling suggests that that specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen content had more sensitive responses to soil nutrient resources and environmental factors, respectively.
07 Jan 2022Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
07 Jan 2022Submission Checks Completed
07 Jan 2022Assigned to Editor
12 Jan 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Feb 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Mar 20221st Revision Received
25 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
25 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
25 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Apr 20222nd Revision Received
26 Apr 2022Submission Checks Completed
26 Apr 2022Assigned to Editor
26 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Apr 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 May 20223rd Revision Received
24 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
24 May 2022Assigned to Editor
24 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
16 Jun 20224th Revision Received
16 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
16 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
16 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
14 Jul 20225th Revision Received
15 Jul 2022Submission Checks Completed
15 Jul 2022Assigned to Editor
15 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Aug 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Aug 20226th Revision Received
12 Aug 2022Submission Checks Completed
12 Aug 2022Assigned to Editor
12 Aug 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Sep 2022Editorial Decision: Accept