Seasonal Patterns and Species Variability in the Leaf Traits of Dominant Plants in the Tropical Rainforests of Hainan Island, China

The leaf traits measured in multiple species are known to vary between seasons, but there is a knowledge gap relating to the seasonal variability and environmental adaptation of plants in tropical rainforests. To investigate the dynamics of the functional traits of dominant species in tropical rainforests and the differences in their adaptation strategies to seasonal drought, the results of this study can provide a scientific basis for tropical rainforest conservation resource protection. Six dominant species, including three trees (Hopea reticulata, Vatica mangachapoi, and Diospyros chunii) and three vine plants (Ancistrocladus tectorius, Phanera khasiana, and Uvaria sanyaensis), in tropical lowland rainforest in the Ganzaling Nature Reserve of Hainan province were selected as study objectives. The key leaf traits were studied using the paraffin section method, leaf epidermis segregation method, and Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system in June, September, December, 2019, and March, 2020. Results showed that significant differences in photosynthetic physiology and morphological and structural parameters among species, as well as seasonal variability, were observed in leaf photosynthetic physiology, but not in leaf morphological or structural parameters. A phenotypic plasticity index (PPI) analysis revealed more variability in leaf photosynthetic physiology (Average PPI = 0.37) than in leaf anatomical structure and morphology (Average PPI = 0.26), suggesting that they adapt to seasonal changes primarily by regulating photosynthetic physiological parameters rather than leaf morphology or anatomical structure. The dominant trees were found to have higher water use efficiency, leaf dry-matter content, and smaller leaf areas compared to vine plants. This indicates that the dominant tree species depend on high water use efficiency and leaf morphological characteristics to adapt to seasonal changes. The majority of leaf anatomical structure parameters associated with drought tolerance were higher in the three dominant vine species, indicating that the dominant vine species adapted to drought stress primarily by altering the leaf anatomical structure This study provides information on how tropical rainforest plants adapt to seasonal drought as well as supporting the protection of tropical rainforest ecosystems.