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(American Journal of Botany. 2007;94:1459-1469.)
© 2007 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Ecology

Functional diversity of carbon-gain, water-use, and leaf-allocation traits in trees of a threatened lowland dry forest in Hawaii1

Darren R. Sandquist4 and Susan Cordell

2Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834 USA; 3Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA

ABSTRACT

We examined carbon-gain, water-use, and leaf-allocation traits for six tree species of a Hawaiian dry forest to better understand the functional diversity within this threatened ecosystem. Tropical dry forests are among the most endangered ecosystems on Earth, and in Hawaii, as elsewhere, declining biodiversity threatens ecosystem processes that may depend on forest functional diversity. We found broad variation among species including a two-fold difference for mean photosynthetic rate, a greater than three-fold difference for predawn water potential, and a nearly three-fold difference for leaf life span. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation of species based on carbon-gain vs. water-use related axes, and {delta}13C analysis revealed differing limitations (supply vs. demand) on carbon assimilation. The broad functional variation not only spanned traditional classifications (avoiders vs. tolerators), but also included unusual strategies (e.g., fast growth with drought tolerance). Correlations among traits, including leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and %N, followed typical global patterns, but some exceptions appeared as a result of unique life-history characteristics, such as latex-rich sap and root parasitism. Elucidating functional variation provides important information that can be used to link plant biodiversity with ecosystem processes and also facilitate the management and preservation of tropical dry forests and other threatened communities.

Key Words: functional diversity • Hawaiian dry forest • leaf allocation • photosynthetic gas exchange • stable isotopes • water relations






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