Lewandrowski Wolfgang, Tudor Emily P, Ajduk Hayden, Tomlinson Sean, Stevens Jason C
Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia.
School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
Conserv Physiol. 2024 May 24;12(1):coae030. doi: 10.1093/conphys/coae030. eCollection 2024.
Defining plant ecophysiological responses across natural distributions enables a greater understanding of the niche that plants occupy. Much of the foundational knowledge of species' ecology and responses to environmental change across their distribution is often lacking, particularly for rare and threatened species, exacerbating management and conservation challenges. Combining high-resolution species distribution models (SDMs) with ecophysiological monitoring characterized the spatiotemporal variation in both plant traits and their interactions with their surrounding environment for the range-restricted Rye & Trudgen, and a common, co-occurring generalist, subsp. (L.S.Sm.) Chinnock., from the semi-arid Pilbara and Gascoyne region in northwest Western Australia. The plants reflected differences in gas exchange, plant health and plant water relations at sites with contrasting suitability from the SDM, with higher performance measured in the SDM-predicted high-suitability site. Seasonal differences demonstrated the highest variation across ecophysiological traits in both species, with higher performance in the austral wet season across all levels of habitat suitability. The results of this study allow us to effectively describe how plant performance in is distributed across the landscape in contrast to a common, widespread co-occurring species and demonstrate a level of confidence in the habitat suitability modelling derived from the SDM in predicting plant function determined through intensive ecophysiology monitoring programmes. In addition, the findings also provide a baseline approach for future conservation actions, as well as to explore the mechanisms underpinning the short-range endemism arid zone systems.
界定植物在自然分布范围内的生态生理反应，有助于更深入地了解植物所占据的生态位。物种生态学及其在分布范围内对环境变化的反应的许多基础知识往往缺失，尤其是对于珍稀和受威胁物种而言，这加剧了管理和保护的挑战。将高分辨率物种分布模型（SDMs）与生态生理监测相结合，描绘了分布范围受限的赖氏画眉草（Rye & Trudgen）和一种常见的、同时出现的广适性物种，即李氏画眉草（subsp. (L.S.Sm.) Chinnock.）在西澳大利亚西北部半干旱皮尔巴拉和加斯科因地区的植物性状及其与周围环境相互作用的时空变化。这些植物反映了与物种分布模型预测的适宜性不同的地点在气体交换、植物健康和植物水分关系方面的差异，在物种分布模型预测的高适宜性地点测量到更高的性能。季节差异表明，这两个物种的生态生理性状在整个季节变化最大，在所有栖息地适宜性水平上，澳大利亚湿季的性能更高。本研究结果使我们能够有效地描述与一种常见的、广泛分布的同时出现的物种相比，画眉草属植物的性能在景观中的分布情况，并证明了对基于物种分布模型得出的栖息地适宜性模型在预测通过密集生态生理学监测计划确定的植物功能方面的信心水平。此外，这些发现还为未来的保护行动提供了一种基线方法，以及探索支撑干旱区系统短程特有现象的机制。
