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Plant trait multilayer networks: a new framework for understanding multidimensional plant trait coordination
Yan He1, Yu Xia1, Zhaogang Liu1
1Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
The New Phytologist
|November 29, 2025
Summary
Plant trait multilayer networks (PTMNs) reveal non-native species exhibit superior coordination across plant organs. This enhanced integrative capacity aids their adjustment potential and ecosystem resilience in changing environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Plant Biology
- Network Theory
Background:
- Plant functional traits are crucial for understanding biodiversity and ecosystem responses to global change.
- Traditional plant trait network (PTN) theory has limitations in capturing coordinated trait adjustments across multiple plant organs and systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and apply the plant trait multilayer network (PTMN) framework for a more comprehensive analysis of trait relationships.
- To quantitatively assess trait interdependencies across different plant organs and functional systems.
Main Methods:
- Applied both traditional PTN and PTMN analyses to a dataset of 76 woody species in North American deciduous forests.
- Examined relationships among leaf, stem, and root traits using the PTMN framework.
Main Results:
- PTN analysis indicated non-native species had higher connectivity and integration within single-layer networks.
- PTMN analysis revealed stronger cross-layer links and more efficient coordination in non-native species across multiple organs and systems.
- Non-native species demonstrated enhanced integrative capacity and adjustment potential.
Conclusions:
- PTMNs offer a comprehensive framework for understanding plant responses to environmental change by analyzing trait interdependencies across organs and systems.
- This approach enhances predictions of biodiversity patterns and ecosystem resilience.
- The PTMN framework highlights the superior coordination and adjustment potential of non-native species.
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