Inter- and Intraspecific Variation Patterns of Leaf Phenotypic Traits in Two Sympatric Pine Species

Individual persistence under changing climate conditions can be aided by phenotypic plasticity. Needle morphology reflects pine species' adaptation to their habitats, and adaptive plasticity is beneficial to pine survival. As two closely related pines, Pinus massoniana Lamb. and Pinus hwangshanensis W. Y. Hsia sympatrically occur in the subtropical region of China, forming hilly forests (i.e., subtropical evergreen needleleaf forests) at lower elevations and montane forests (i.e., temperate evergreen needleleaf forests) at medium and high elevations. However, little is known about the intraspecific phenotypic variation patterns of the two pine species and their relationship with environmental factors. Here, we investigated the interspecific and intraspecific variation patterns of needle traits in the two sympatric pine species, focusing on six traits-i.e., leaf length, leaf thickness, leaf width, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content-as well as the relationship between needle traits and environmental factors. We found significant phenotypic trait differences among populations of each species. Except for leaf length and leaf width, variation within species was greater than variation between species in the needle traits measured. Even more intriguingly, the leaf size traits (i.e., length, width, thickness) were more conservative than the leaf economic traits (i.e., specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content). In other words, the intraspecific variability of the former was weaker than that of the latter. The nature of P. massoniana needle traits was mainly shaped by latitude, while the needle traits of P. hwangshanensis were significantly affected by annual precipitation. Therefore, phenotypic plasticity may be an essential mechanism for the two pine species to better cope with changing external conditions. The intraspecific variation patterns found in the two pine species and the relationships between traits and environmental factors can provide substantial scientific data for large-scale exploration of intraspecific phenotypic variation in pine species and their breeding practice.

Automated summary

The needle traits of Pinus massoniana are mainly shaped by latitude, while the needle traits of Pinus hwangshanensis are significantly affected by annual precipitation. The intraspecific variability is stronger for leaf economic traits compared to leaf size traits.