In the early XXI century climatic changes have expanded globally. The effect of temperature on plants may vary at different latitudes, at the boundaries of species ranges, and under different ecological conditions. Structural differences among individuals within a species & between species may alter their patterns. Besides, there are significant differences in mean response across taxonomic groups.

Physiological traits such as fresh and dry leaf area/weight ratios, leaf carbon and nitrogen concentrations are among the distinguishing characteristics of various plant functional types. An extended list of traits includes the pollination mode and phenological traits. The plant functional types could be based on structural traits related to plant life forms.

In theory trait variation in response to environmental changes is expected to have a bell-shaped curve. However, some skewed curves have been observed in experiments conducted within an altitudinal range in a single latitudinal zone.

The current issue is dedicated to all these issues and changes under recent climatic control:

(1) plant functional traits in different taxonomic groups;

(2) identifying plant functional traits for various ecosystems;

(3) plant functional traits and climatic changes.