Deng, X., Carvajal, D.E., Urrutia-Jalabert, R. et al. (7 more authors) (2025) Quantifying the functional composition and potential resilience hotspots across a large latitudinal and environmental gradient in South American forests. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 142. 104704. ISSN: 1569-8432
Abstract
Accurately inferring plant functional trait composition, diversity, and redundancy across space and time is pivotal for understanding environmental change impacts on forests’ biodiversity and functioning. Here, we tested the capabilities of combining in-situ and remote sensing approaches to deliver accurate estimates of functional trait composition, diversity, and redundancy of temperate forest vegetation in South America (30°S to 53°S) considering leaf and stem morphological, nutrient, hydraulic, and photosynthetic traits. We identified hydrological stress, soil properties, and topography as key drivers of plant functional trait distribution and variation. Further, hydrological stress and soil properties were key determinants of functional diversity and redundancy across a large latitudinal gradient. Functional diversity peaked across Mediterranean forests, occupying between 30°S to 35°S. Functional diversity and redundancy were both high at latitudes between 35°S and 42°S, coinciding with Valdivian rainforests. Conversely, functional redundancy peaked between 42°S and 48°S, corresponding to Austral forests. Towards the southernmost extent of the study area, functional diversity and redundancy were both low between 48°S and 53°S, corresponding to the Magellanic subpolar forests. Our results highlight areas in South American temperate forests where both plant functional diversity and redundancy were maximal, hence potentially pointing towards areas more resilient to environmental change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Remote sensing, Functional traits, Functional diversity, Functional redundancy, Temperate forests, Trait-environment relationships |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NERC, RCUK Shared Services Centre Ltd NE/S011811/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2025 11:58 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2025 11:58 |
Published Version: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jag.2025.104704 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:229384 |
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