Plant functional traits, ecosystem structure, and land-use history along a climatic gradient in central-western Argentina.

DIAZ S; CABIDO ,M.; ZAK,M.; MARTINEZ CARRETERO, E.; ARANIBAR, J.

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 1999 vol. 10 p. 651 - 660

1100-9233

This paper deals with theoretical concepts, methodological steps, and case studies related to the use of plant functional traits in the assessment of vegetation responses to climate and land use. Trait- enviromment links are considered, and special emphasis is put on the links between vegetation structrure and ecosystem function, and on the role of disturbance history in determining vegetation responses to land use at present. As a basis for discussion, published and new case studies from central- western Argentina are presented. Similar plant traits measured with different levels of precision are utilized in the description of ecosystem structure in different land-use situations along a steep regional climatic gradient. The general protocol followed in the case studies represents a data- driven, non- herarchical, low- tech approach, tat can be applied to a wide range of spatial scales, from plots to regions. Climatic factors (including extreme events and seasonality), disturbance frequency and intensity, and disturbance history are suggested as key factors to be consiered in global comparisons of vegetation responses to land use and in predictive models of ecosystem dynamics.