Table 2 Effects of phenotypic plasticity on maintaining competitive dominance and varying niche differences

From: Functional traits and phenotypic plasticity modulate species coexistence across contrasting climatic conditions

 

Functional traits

Changes in competitive hierarchy (z-scores and p-values)

Changes in niche differences (r-values and p-values)

Whole-plant traits

Plant height

−0.581, 0.561

−0.081, 0.645

Plant volume

−0.079, 0.937

0.057, 0.375

Morphological traits

Leaf size

0.785, 0.432

0.011, 0.454

Specific leaf area

1.131, 0.258

−0.038, 0.584

Leaf dry matter content

−2.248, 0.025

0.066, 0.407

Root diameter

−1.904, 0.048

0.061, 0.398

Specific root area

0.003, 0.992

−0.177, 0.788

Root density

−0.944, 0.345

−0.211, 0.841

Physiological leaf traits

Max. Photosynthesis

−0.143, 0.886

−0.104, 0.754

Stomatal conductance

−0.514, 0.609

0.084, 0.381

Convexity

0.631, 0.527

0.429, <0.001

Light compensation point

−1.369, 0.170

0.176, 0.192

Light saturation point

−1.391, 0.164

-0.403, 0.976

Leaf nitrogen content

−0.962, 0.335

-0.287, 0.955

Leaf carbon content

−1.073, 0.283

0.115, 0.233

Carbon isotope ratio

−0.047, 0.962

0.013, 0.439

Nitrogen isotope ratio

−0.874, 0.393

0.245, 0.078

Reproductive traits

Reproductive phenology

−0.683, 0.539

0.368, <0.0001

  1. The information gathered in this table are the results from the correlations between species’ differences in trait plasticity induced by drought and: (i) the maintenance of competitive hierarchy (first column; Spearman correlations for ranked data); and (ii) changes in niche differences (second column; Mantel tests). Bold letters indicate those significant relationships at p < 0.05. Spearman correlations for ranked data involve a one-tailed analysis whereas Mantel tests involve a two-tailed analysis. Seed mass is not included as it did not present differences in species’ average trait values between treatments
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