Plant functional traits are correlated with species persistence in the herb layer of old-growth beech forests.

摘要: This paper explores which traits are correlated with fine-scale (0.25 m2) species persistence patterns in the herb layer of old-growth forests. Four beech forests representing different climatic contexts (presence or absence summer drought period) were selected along a north–south gradient Italy. Eight surveys conducted each sites during period spanning 1999–2011. We found that was sets plant functional traits, depending on local ecological context. Seed mass to be as important for northern sites, while clonal and bud-bank markedly southern characterised by drought. Leaf appeared correlate drier wetter sites. However, we attributes, i.e. helomorphic vs scleromorphic leaves, northernmost southernmost respectively. These differences appear dependent trait adaptation rather than phylogenetic history. Our findings suggest persistent might adopt an acquisitive resource-use strategy (i.e. leaves high SLA) higher seed without drought, under water-stressed conditions have conservative low increased importance resprouting ability.