Understanding how plant traits vary across space and time is critical for predicting responses to environmental change. This study analyzed 179 herbarium samples of Coffea canephora collected between 1900–60 and 2016–21 across the Congo Basin. Researchers measured morphological traits (specific leaf area [SLA], stomatal size [S], stomatal pore size [SPS], stomatal density [SD], maximum diffusive conductance [gcmax]) and physiological traits (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O isotopes, intrinsic water-use efficiency [iWUE]). Results revealed significant spatiotemporal variation: SLA and stomatal size increased over the past century, while SPS, SD, gcmax, δ¹³C, and iWUE decreased. Morphological traits reflected long-term environmental adaptation, whereas physiological traits responded to short-term drivers such as atmospheric CO₂ and precipitation. Trait correlations highlighted functional trade-offs: SLA was negatively correlated with iWUE, while S, SD, and gcmax were positively associated. These findings suggest a decoupling between morphology and physiology that may constrain photosynthetic performance under future climate change. Herbarium-based multitrait approaches prove valuable for reconstructing long-term plant responses and climate sensitivity in tropical understorey species.
This work is licensed under © The Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under © The Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.
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TI - Spatiotemporal variation in Coffea canephora leaf traits and iWUE in Congo Basin forests
AU - Hatangi, Y.
AU - Tas, A.S.
AU - Depecker, J.
AU - Dhed’a, B.
AU - Stoffelen, P.
AU - Cerutti, P.
AU - Bauters, M.
AU - Boeckx, P.
AU - Vandelook, F.
AU - Lassois, L.
AB - Understanding how plant traits vary across space and time is critical for predicting responses to environmental change. This study analyzed 179 herbarium samples of Coffea canephora collected between 1900–60 and 2016–21 across the Congo Basin. Researchers measured morphological traits (specific leaf area [SLA], stomatal size [S], stomatal pore size [SPS], stomatal density [SD], maximum diffusive conductance [gcmax]) and physiological traits (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O isotopes, intrinsic water-use efficiency [iWUE]). Results revealed significant spatiotemporal variation: SLA and stomatal size increased over the past century, while SPS, SD, gcmax, δ¹³C, and iWUE decreased. Morphological traits reflected long-term environmental adaptation, whereas physiological traits responded to short-term drivers such as atmospheric CO₂ and precipitation. Trait correlations highlighted functional trade-offs: SLA was negatively correlated with iWUE, while S, SD, and gcmax were positively associated. These findings suggest a decoupling between morphology and physiology that may constrain photosynthetic performance under future climate change. Herbarium-based multitrait approaches prove valuable for reconstructing long-term plant responses and climate sensitivity in tropical understorey species.
PY - 2025
UR - https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/46316/
DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf305
KW - carbon, coffee, isotopes, leaf traits, oxygen, stomata, tropical forests, water efficiency
ER -Endnote (.ciw)
%T Spatiotemporal variation in Coffea canephora leaf traits and iWUE in Congo Basin forests
%A Hatangi, Y.
%A Tas, A.S.
%A Depecker, J.
%A Dhed’a, B.
%A Stoffelen, P.
%A Cerutti, P.
%A Bauters, M.
%A Boeckx, P.
%A Vandelook, F.
%A Lassois, L.
%D 2025
%U https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/46316/
%R https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf305
%X Understanding how plant traits vary across space and time is critical for predicting responses to environmental change. This study analyzed 179 herbarium samples of Coffea canephora collected between 1900–60 and 2016–21 across the Congo Basin. Researchers measured morphological traits (specific leaf area [SLA], stomatal size [S], stomatal pore size [SPS], stomatal density [SD], maximum diffusive conductance [gcmax]) and physiological traits (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O isotopes, intrinsic water-use efficiency [iWUE]). Results revealed significant spatiotemporal variation: SLA and stomatal size increased over the past century, while SPS, SD, gcmax, δ¹³C, and iWUE decreased. Morphological traits reflected long-term environmental adaptation, whereas physiological traits responded to short-term drivers such as atmospheric CO₂ and precipitation. Trait correlations highlighted functional trade-offs: SLA was negatively correlated with iWUE, while S, SD, and gcmax were positively associated. These findings suggest a decoupling between morphology and physiology that may constrain photosynthetic performance under future climate change. Herbarium-based multitrait approaches prove valuable for reconstructing long-term plant responses and climate sensitivity in tropical understorey species.
%K carbon
%K coffee
%K isotopes
%K leaf traits
%K oxygen
%K stomata
%K tropical forests
%K water efficiency
Publication year
2025
ISSN
1095-8290
Authors
Hatangi, Y.; Tas, A.S.; Depecker, J.; Dhed’a, B.; Stoffelen, P.; Cerutti, P.; Bauters, M.; Boeckx, P.; Vandelook, F.; Lassois, L.
Language
English
Keywords
carbon, coffee, isotopes, leaf traits, oxygen, stomata, tropical forests, water efficiency
Source
Annals of Botany. : mcaf305
