Water plant functional groups: a trait-based classification database for Australian plants

Trait-based functional classifications of species offer improved generality in predicting responses to environmental conditions. Water plant functional groups (WPFG) are one such classification. Grouping plant species based on traits associated with germination, growth and reproductive requirements, WPFG have proven useful in examining plant trait-hydrological relationships in aquatic plant research in Australia. Here, we collate existing information from across academic, government and personal databases to create the most comprehensive compilation of plant taxa assignments to WPFG available. Taxonomic nomenclature was first standardized using accepted names under the Australian Plant Census/Australian Plant Name Index. We then assessed agreement among source classifications and derived a consensus-weighted fuzzy classification that retains uncertainty in WPFG assignment at both the species- and genus-level. The resulting database provides evidence-based classifications for the most commonly observed water plants in temperate Australia, including evidence of affinity to all functional groups. This approach supports greater consistency, transparency and reproducibility in WPFG assignment across studies while allowing users to select the level of classification most appropriate to their application. The database is freely available for download from the Zenodo digital repository.