Climate-induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Aim: Leaf inputs from riparian vegetation and its decomposition play a key role in energy and nutrients transfer in many stream ecosystems. Instream leaf-litter decomposition is mainly driven by leaf traits. Therefore, understanding and predicting leaf traits variation with current environmental changes and its putative effects on stream food webs is a critical challenge. Most studies have focused on the assumed higher interspecific leaf traits variability, with little research addressing an intraspecific perspective.
Location: Andalusia, Spain
Methods: We assessed the relative effects of climate and soil on the intraspecific variability in leaf traits of four common woody riparian species in permanent low-order Mediterranean streams along a wide aridity gradient. We used a space-for-time substitution approach to predict leaf traits changes and consequences for stream food webs in a future climate change scenario.
Results: We found that climate had a major influence on intraspecific var...