JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1): 59-66.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202204044

Special Issue: 森林生态系统生物多样性研究专题

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Taxonomic and geographic differentiation of phylogenetic conservatism of plant functional traits: a case study of maximum plant height of Chinese angiosperms

XING Bingbing(), LI Yao, MAO Lingfeng()   

  1. College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
  • Received:2022-04-19 Revised:2022-05-11 Online:2024-01-30 Published:2024-01-24
  • Contact: MAO Lingfeng E-mail:1134828488@qq.com;maolingfeng2008@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 Plant height is a fundamental component of plant ecological strategies. This study aims to elucidate the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height in Chinese angiosperms, investigate its variation across taxonomic groups and geographic regions, and explore its associations with environmental factors. 【Method】 Using data on the maximum plant height and geographic distribution of 20 295 Chinese angiosperm species, this study assessed the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height among different growth forms, taxonomic groups, and vegetation zones. The study analyzed the correlation between the phylogenetic signal (Pagel’s λ) and factors such as latitude, temperature, and precipitation. 【Result】 The maximum plant height of Chinese angiosperms exhibited a strong phylogenetic conservatism (Pagel’s λ = 0.893). Among them, herbaceous plants showed slightly lower phylogenetic conservatism compared to woody plants, while six orders including Fabales exhibited phylogenetic signals higher than 0.9. The phylogenetic signals of all plants and woody plants displayed a unimodal relationship with latitude and temperature but showed a negative correlation with precipitation. The latitudinal pattern of phylogenetic signals in herbaceous plants was less pronounced, instead showing a multi-peak relationship with temperature and precipitation. 【Conclusion】 The maximum plant height of Chinese angiosperms demonstrated a clear geographic pattern in terms of phylogenetic conservatism, but the trend varied among different growth forms. Overall, the phylogenetic conservatism of maximum plant height of angiosperms and woody plants was stronger in middle latitudes compared to both high and low latitudes.

Key words: angiosperm, functional trait, phylogenetic signal, phylogenetic conservatism, maximum plant height, China

CLC Number: