Provenance Variation in Functional Traits of European Forest Trees: Meta-Analysis reveals Effects of Taxa and Age despite critical Research Gaps

Provenance Variation in Functional Traits of European Forest Trees: Meta-Analysis reveals Effects of Taxa and Age despite critical Research Gaps | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 9 May 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Provenance Variation in Functional Traits of European Forest Trees: Meta-Analysis reveals Effects of Taxa and Age despite critical Research Gaps Authors : Samuel Aspalter 0009-0004-6891-4631 [email protected] , Albert Ciceu , Carlos Landivar , Debojyoti Chakraborty , and Silvio Schüler Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174679575.51119538/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 392 views 146 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Climate change is driving profound transformations in European forests. Understanding the adaptive potential of tree species is a key challenge for conservation and adaptation measures. A critical component of this adaptive potential lies in the intraspecific variation of functional traits. The long tradition in ecological genetics resulted in a plethora of studies across species, regions age classes and traits. Prior syntheses have rarely quantified trait-specific patterns and their variation across taxa and tree age. We conducted a systematic literature search to examine intraspecific variation in natural European tree populations. We identified four approaches to study intraspecific variation (i.e. provenance-effects, provenance environment interaction-effects, clinal-effects and transfer-effects). For each approach, we compared their prevalence to show an effect while also accounting for species, species group, and age. Our results found that intraspecific variation is common in European tree species, with tested traits showing significant provenance effects (73%), provenance environment-interaction effects (45%), linear clinal-effects (30%) and linear transfer-effects (38%). While growth traits were predominantly studied, several other traits showed higher frequencies of significant results. Specifically, reproduction, survival, phenology, plant morphology, plasticity, drought and frost tolerance are highly relevant but still understudied in comparison to growth. Conifer species demonstrated a higher prevalence of intraspecific variation compared to broadleaves. Despite the research clearly focusing on young trials, older trials tended to show higher frequencies of effects in phenology, growth, plant morphology and survival, suggesting accumulating environmental selection with growing tree age. Europe lacks essential information on intraspecific variation of tree species for the diversification, conservation and adaptation of its forests, especially in southern and south-eastern parts, where many species harbor high genetic diversity and are most vulnerable. The significant influence of age urges for a reanalysis, reestablishment, and maintenance of long-term trials. These trials should consider species and environmental conditions relevant for future scenarios. Supplementary Material File (main document_eande.docx) Download 1.11 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 09 May 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 6 Aug 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords comparative ecological experiment plants population ecology terrestrial theory Authors Affiliations Samuel Aspalter 0009-0004-6891-4631 [email protected] Austrian Research Centre for Forests View all articles by this author Albert Ciceu Austrian Research Centre for Forests View all articles by this author Carlos Landivar Austrian Research Centre for Forests View all articles by this author Debojyoti Chakraborty Austrian Research Centre for Forests View all articles by this author Silvio Schüler Austrian Research Centre for Forests View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 392 views 146 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Samuel Aspalter, Albert Ciceu, Carlos Landivar, et al. Provenance Variation in Functional Traits of European Forest Trees: Meta-Analysis reveals Effects of Taxa and Age despite critical Research Gaps. Authorea . 09 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174679575.51119538/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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