---
OA_place: publisher
OA_type: free access
_id: '22503'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: "Plant trait diversity in many vegetation models is crudely represented using
    a discrete classification of a handful of ‘plant types’ (named plant functional
    types; PFTs). The parameterization of PFTs reflects mean properties of observed
    plant traits over broad categories ignoring most of the inter‐ and intraspecific
    plant trait variability.\r\n\r\nTaking advantage of a multivariate leaf‐trait
    distribution (leaf economics spectrum), as well as documented plant drought strategies,
    we generate an ensemble of hypothetical species with coordinated attributes, rather
    than using few PFTs. The behavior of these proxy species is tested using a mechanistic
    ecohydrological model that translates plant traits into plant performance. Simulations
    are carried out for a range of climates representative of different elevations
    and wetness conditions in the European Alps. Using this framework we investigate
    the sensitivity of ecosystem response to plant trait diversity and compare it
    with the sensitivity to climate variability.\r\n\r\nPlant trait diversity leads
    to highly divergent vegetation carbon dynamics (fluxes and pools) and to a lesser
    extent water fluxes (transpiration). Abiotic variables, such as soil water content
    and evaporation, are only marginally affected.\r\n\r\nThese results highlight
    the need for revising the representation of plant attributes in vegetation models.
    Probabilistic approaches, based on observed multivariate whole‐plant trait distributions,
    provide a viable alternative."
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Christoforos
  full_name: Pappas, Christoforos
  last_name: Pappas
- first_name: Simone
  full_name: Fatichi, Simone
  id: cf8e546b-a9b0-11f0-a43b-aa89ed1b56d6
  last_name: Fatichi
- first_name: Paolo
  full_name: Burlando, Paolo
  last_name: Burlando
citation:
  ama: 'Pappas C, Fatichi S, Burlando P. Modeling terrestrial carbon and water dynamics
    across climatic gradients: does plant trait diversity matter? <i>New Phytologist</i>.
    2016;209(1):137-151. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590">10.1111/nph.13590</a>'
  apa: 'Pappas, C., Fatichi, S., &#38; Burlando, P. (2016). Modeling terrestrial carbon
    and water dynamics across climatic gradients: does plant trait diversity matter?
    <i>New Phytologist</i>. Wiley. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590">https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590</a>'
  chicago: 'Pappas, Christoforos, Simone Fatichi, and Paolo Burlando. “Modeling Terrestrial
    Carbon and Water Dynamics across Climatic Gradients: Does Plant Trait Diversity
    Matter?” <i>New Phytologist</i>. Wiley, 2016. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590">https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590</a>.'
  ieee: 'C. Pappas, S. Fatichi, and P. Burlando, “Modeling terrestrial carbon and
    water dynamics across climatic gradients: does plant trait diversity matter?,”
    <i>New Phytologist</i>, vol. 209, no. 1. Wiley, pp. 137–151, 2016.'
  ista: 'Pappas C, Fatichi S, Burlando P. 2016. Modeling terrestrial carbon and water
    dynamics across climatic gradients: does plant trait diversity matter? New Phytologist.
    209(1), 137–151.'
  mla: 'Pappas, Christoforos, et al. “Modeling Terrestrial Carbon and Water Dynamics
    across Climatic Gradients: Does Plant Trait Diversity Matter?” <i>New Phytologist</i>,
    vol. 209, no. 1, Wiley, 2016, pp. 137–51, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590">10.1111/nph.13590</a>.'
  short: C. Pappas, S. Fatichi, P. Burlando, New Phytologist 209 (2016) 137–151.
das_tickbox: '1'
date_created: 2026-07-27T12:30:24Z
date_published: 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-08-03T14:15:57Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1111/nph.13590
extern: '1'
external_id:
  pmid:
  - '26389742'
intvolume: '       209'
issue: '1'
keyword:
- aggregation biases
- carbon andwater dynamics
- fallacy of averages
- inter-and intraspecific plant trait diversity
- plantfunctional types (PFTs)
- plant trait spectra
- vegetation modeling
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: ' https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13590'
month: '01'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
page: 137-151
pmid: 1
publication: New Phytologist
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1469-8137
  issn:
  - 0028-646X
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Modeling terrestrial carbon and water dynamics across climatic gradients:
  does plant trait diversity matter?'
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 209
year: '2016'
...