Climate-induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Abstract

Aim: Leaf litter inputs from riparian vegetation and its decomposition play a key role in energy and nutrient transfer in many stream ecosystems. Instream leaf litter decomposition is driven by both leaf traits and environmental conditions. Therefore, understanding and predicting leaf trait variation under current environmental changes and their putative interactive effects on stream food webs is a critical challenge. Most studies have focussed on the assumed higher interspecific leaf trait variability, with little research addressing an intraspecific perspective. Location: Andalusia, Spain. Methods: We assessed the relative effects of climate and soil conditions on the plasticity of leaf traits of four common woody riparian species in permanent low-order Mediterranean streams across a wide aridity gradient. We used a space-for-time substitution approach to predict leaf trait changes and consequences for stream food webs in a future climate change scenario. Results: Overall, we found that aridity had a major influence on leaf trait plasticity but with opposite patterns depending on plant functional type, although soil was the strongest predictor in some cases. Results indicated that leaf quality—linked to palatability and decomposability—of Alnus glutinosa, Salix atrocinerea and Rubus ulmifolius (deciduous/semi-deciduous) will decrease with forecasted aridification, whereas the palatability of the evergreen Nerium oleander will increase. We observed higher trait plasticity than interspecific variation for leaf P, Ca and Mg concentrations and C:P ratio. Main conclusions: Our findings suggest a decrease of intraspecific leaf quality in riparian deciduous species with global warming in a relatively short term. In a longer term, this may merge with the forecasted dieback of deciduous species in riparian corridors of temperate climate zones. These changes have the potential to significantly impair ecosystem functioning of Mediterranean mountain streams currently under deciduous gallery forests.