Abstract
The general applicability of CSR classification (a methodology for applying CSR theory) has not been tested outside Britain. We hypothesised that principal axes of trait variation for plant species native to southern European continental, sub-alpine and alpine bioclimatic zones correlate with CSR classification scores. Functional traits were quantified in situ for 506 species of 57 families. Multivariate analysis revealed three main modes in which plants invested biomass: (1) architectural extension of individual ramets (tall canopies, large leaves), (2) durable tissues (high leaf dry matter contents and carbon contents, low specific leaf areas) or (3) regenerative development (early, extensive flowering with delicate, nitrogen-rich leaves). These were highly significantly correlated with the extent of competitive ability (C), stress-tolerance (S) and ruderalism (R), respectively, determined by CSR classification. Despite being calibrated using only 43 British species, CSR classification is consistent with trait variation in a phylogenetically broader sample of species native to a wider range of bioclimatic zones.
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Acknowledgements
Comments by Eric Garnier and David Ackerly improved earlier versions of the manuscript. This study was funded by the Native Flora Centre of the Lombardy Region (CFA), based at Parco Monte Barro, Lecco, Italy, and the University of Insubria, Varese. SP was funded in part by a research fellowship (assegno di ricerca) from the Italian government and then as a fixed-term researcher/junior lecturer (ricercatore a tempo determinato) funded by the CFA and Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche.
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11258_2010_9753_MOESM1_ESM.xls
Appendix S1 The FIFTH database: the functional trait values for species in this database were used to produce the PCA and CSR classification during the present study (Microsoft Excel format). (XLS 795 kb)
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Cerabolini, B.E.L., Brusa, G., Ceriani, R.M. et al. Can CSR classification be generally applied outside Britain?. Plant Ecol 210, 253–261 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-010-9753-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-010-9753-6