Leaf-Height (LHS) Traits in Some Plant Species in Different Habitats in a Subalpine Region in Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract

Plant functional traits have been used to obtain maximum information on plant growth and resource-use strategy. Westoby (1998) developed a functional strategy called LHS (specific leaf area, plant height and seed weight) and these traits are assumed to encompass the main functional differences among plant species because leaf, plant morphological and reproductive traits play an important role in any type of the functional classification systems. The study area is Persembe Plateau is situated in the eastern part of central Black Sea region of Turkey and included a subalpine area. It is characterized by the presence of meanders. The aim of the study is to classify plant species which occupied different habitat types from steppe to meanders by using LHS traits and to find which of these traits were significantly associated with plant species in different habitat types in a subalpine region. It has been found significant differences with respect to LHS and clonal traits in plant species in different habitats. In aquatic habitats, clonal traits were dominant because these species have no seed production. As a result, it has been found that different habitats cause changes in resource use patterns, plant height and seed weight of plant species.