Microclimatic Effects on Functional Traits of Arctostaphylos crustacea ssp. crustacea in Alameda County, California, USA
Authors: Hsiao, L.
Date: 2025-10-06 · Version: 1
DOI: 10.1101/2025.10.03.680375 Category: Plant Biology
Model Organism: Arctostaphylos crustacea ssp. crustacea
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The study examined how microclimatic factors influence leaf morphology and photosynthetic productivity in Arctostaphylos crustacea ssp. crustacea across two chaparral sites in California, finding that higher light and lower soil moisture increased leaf mass per area, leaf angle steepness, and photosynthetic rates. Linear mixed‑model analysis identified light level as the strongest predictor, with vapor pressure deficit, soil moisture, leaf temperature, and leaf angle also contributing, highlighting the role of combined microclimatic interactions in driving intraspecific trait variation.
microclimate leaf mass per area (LMA) photosynthesis intraspecific trait variation chaparral ecosystems