Trait Similarity in Sedges is Not Strongly Influenced By Habitat Conditions

Abstract

Sedge plants are members of the Cyperaceae family. Cyperacae consist of grass-like species with unjointed triangular stems and solid pith. The stress dominance hypothesis predicts stressful conditions will cause trait clustering because coexisting species must possess conservative traits that allow species to succeed in poor conditions (Weiher and Keddy 1995, Swenson and Enquist 2007). Favorable conditions will lead to overdispersion because there are sufficient resources for one species to dominate and exclude others. These ideas drove the summer 2017 sedge study to investigate how sedge trait similarity and difference varies across habitats.