@article{fdi:010071865,
  title = {{S}hift in functional traits along soil fertility gradient reflects non-random community assembly in a tropical {A}frican rainforest},
  author = {{L}ibalah, {M}. {B}. and {D}roissart, {V}incent and {S}onke, {B}. and {H}ardy, {O}. {J}. and {D}rouet, {T}. and {P}escador, {D}. {S}. and {K}enfack, {D}. and {T}homas, {D}. {W}. and {C}huyong, {G}. {B}. and {C}outeron, {P}ierre},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground and aims - {T}here is increasing recognition that plant traits mediate environmental influence on species distribution, justifying non-random community assembly. {W}e studied the influence of local scale edaphic factors on the distribution of functional traits in a tropical rainforest of {C}ameroon with the aim to find correlations between the main edaphic gradient and community functional trait metrics (weighted mean trait, functional divergence and intraspecific variation). {M}ethods - {W}ithin the {K}orup {F}orest {D}ynamics {P}lot (50 ha), we randomly selected 44 quadrats of 0.04 ha each, collected soils and analysed 11 topography and soil variables. {L}eaves were harvested from all 98 tree species found in the quadrats to calculate community trait metrics [quadrat-level weighted mean (q(k)) and functional divergence ({FD}iv(k))] for leaf area ({LA}), specific leaf area ({SLA}), leaf phosphorus ({LPC}), leaf nitrogen concentration ({LNC}) and nitrogen to phosphorus ratio ({N}:{P} ratio). {W}e examined relationships between the main edaphic gradient with q(k), with {FD}iv(k) and with intraspecific variation and interpreted correlations as the effects of abiotic filtering and competitive interaction. {K}ey results - {S}oil fertility was the main edaphic gradient and was significantly correlated with q(k) for {LPC}, {LNC} and {LA} and with {FD}iv(k) for {LPC}, {N}: {P} ratio, {LA} and {SLA}, confirming the influence of abiotic filtering and competitive interaction by the soil fertility gradient, respectively. {F}or a given trait, quadrats were either over-dispersed or under-dispersed, accounting for 7-33 % of non-random trait distribution along the soil fertility gradient. {T}rends in intraspecific traits variation were consistently lower than quadrat-level mean traits along the soil fertility gradient. {C}onclusions - {T}his study demonstrates the influence of soil fertility gradient on local scale community trait distribution and its contribution to non-random community assembly.},
  keywords = {{A}biotic filtering ; {C}ameroon ; intraspecific trends ; {K}orup {N}ational {P}ark ; leaf traits ; {CAMEROUN} ; {KORUP} {PARC} {NATIONAL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant {E}cology and {E}volution},
  volume = {150},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {265--278},
  ISSN = {2032-3913},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.5091/plecevo.2017.1318},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071865},
}