Inherent Variation in Growth Rate Between Higher Plants: A Search for Physiological Causes and Ecological Consequences

Lambers, Hans; Poorter, Hendrik

doi:10.1016/s0065-2504(03)34004-8

Cited by 689 publications

(685 citation statements)

References 281 publications

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“…Root morphological traits, especially SRL have been found to show important implications for soil exploration and root physiology (Lambers and Poorter 1992;Comas and Eissenstat 2009). SRL was measured in our study, with Tilia amurensis (4.8 to 91.3 mg −1 ) being much thinner and longer fine roots compared with Pinus koraiensis (3.2 to 37.3 mg −1 ) (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional relationships between morphology and respiration of fine roots in two Chinese temperate tree species

Sun

2011

Plant Soil

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Fine root morphology is closely linked with physiological functions. However, we have limited understanding of relationships between morphological traits and respiration of fine roots. In this study, we measured the fine root respiration rates of Tilia amurensis Rupr. and Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc with a simplified specially designed root-chamber system in the field. We found that mean diameter and specific root length (SRL) exhibited significant power relationships with fine root respiration in both species. Respiration rates of smaller fine roots (<0.5 mm for Tilia amurensis and <0.7 mm for Pinus koraiensis) in mean diameter were much higher and varied widely compared with those larger diameter class (0.6-1.8 mm for Tilia amurensis and 0.8-1.9 mm for Pinus koraiensis). Moreover, significant positive relationships existed between fine root nitrogen (N) concentration and respiration in both species. For Tilia amurensis, SRL explained more of the variability in respiration (84%) than diameter or N concentration, while for Pinus koraiensis, fine root N concentration explained more of the variability in respiration (79%) than diameter or SRL. Our results suggest that fine roots are composed of individual roots differing markedly in respiration and morphology, rather than identical units as traditionally assumed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional relationships between morphology and respiration of fine roots in two Chinese temperate tree species

Sun

2011

Plant Soil

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“…The first is ontogenetic. There is a strong negative relationship between LMA and early seedling growth rates; however, direct limitation of growth rates by large LMA decreases in importance as trees mature and leaf number increases (Lambers and Poorter 1992, Reich et al 1992, Poorter et al 2009). In this study, the LMA-RGR 95 relationship was substantially stronger for saplings (r 2 ¼ 0.24) than for large trees (r 2 ¼ 0.067).…”

Section: Leaf Mass Per Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional traits and the growth–mortality trade‐off in tropical trees

Wright

Kitajima

Kraft

et al. 2010

Ecology

889

1,080

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A trade-off between growth and mortality rates characterizes tree species in closed canopy forests. This trade-off is maintained by inherent differences among species and spatial variation in light availability caused by canopy-opening disturbances. We evaluated conditions under which the trade-off is expressed and relationships with four key functional traits for 103 tree species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The trade-off is strongest for saplings for growth rates of the fastest growing individuals and mortality rates of the slowest growing individuals (r2 = 0.69), intermediate for saplings for average growth rates and overall mortality rates (r2 = 0.46), and much weaker for large trees (r2 < or = 0.10). This parallels likely levels of spatial variation in light availability, which is greatest for fast- vs. slow-growing saplings and least for large trees with foliage in the forest canopy. Inherent attributes of species contributing to the trade-off include abilities to disperse, acquire resources, grow rapidly, and tolerate shade and other stresses. There is growing interest in the possibility that functional traits might provide insight into such ecological differences and a growing consensus that seed mass (SM), leaf mass per area (LMA), wood density (WD), and maximum height (H(max)) are key traits among forest trees. Seed mass, LMA, WD, and H(max) are predicted to be small for light-demanding species with rapid growth and mortality and large for shade-tolerant species with slow growth and mortality. Six of these trait-demographic rate predictions were realized for saplings; however, with the exception of WD, the relationships were weak (r2 < 0.1 for three and r2 < 0.2 for five of the six remaining relationships). The four traits together explained 43-44% of interspecific variation in species positions on the growth-mortality trade-off; however, WD alone accounted for > 80% of the explained variation and, after WD was included, LMA and H(max) made insignificant contributions. Virtually the full range of values of SM, LMA, and H(max) occurred at all positions on the growth-mortality trade-off. Although WD provides a promising start, a successful trait-based ecology of tropical forest trees will require consideration of additional traits.

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“…Typically, it is expected that plants with low construction costs (e.g., high Specific Leaf Area, SLA) and short tissue longevity will have fast growth rates. For tree seedlings/saplings, leaf traits such as SLA have been shown to be positively related to growth rates and support the LES growth-survival trade-off (Wright and Westoby 1999, Lambers and Poorter 2004, Wright et al 2010, H erault et al 2011. Given that studies have found the LES traits explain a high proportion of variation of plant strategies across ecosystems, it is expected that mature fast-growing trees would show higher SLA and leaf nutrient values compared to slowgrowing trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree leaf trade‐offs are stronger for sub‐canopy trees: leaf traits reveal little about growth rates in canopy trees

Wills

Herbohn

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

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Can morphological plant functional traits predict demographic rates (e.g., growth) within plant communities as diverse as tropical forests? This is one of the most important next-step questions in trait-based ecology and particularly for global reforestation efforts. Due to the diversity of tropical tree species and their longevity, it is difficult to predict their performance prior to reforestation efforts. In this study, we investigate if simple leaf traits are predictors of the more complex ecological process of plant growth in regenerating selectively logged natural forest within the Wet Tropics (WTs) bioregion of Australia. This study used a rich historical data set to quantify tree growth within plots located at Danbulla National Park and State Forest on the Atherton Tableland. Leaf traits were collected from trees that have exhibited fast or slow growth over the last ~50 yr of measurement. Leaf traits were found to be poor predictors of tree growth for trees that have entered the canopy; however, for sub-canopy trees, leaf traits had a stronger association with growth rates. Leaf phosphorus concentrations were the strongest predictor of Periodic Annual Increment (PAI) for trees growing within the sub-canopy, with trees with higher leaf phosphorus levels showing a higher PAI. Sub-canopy tree leaves also exhibited stronger trade-offs between leaf traits and adhere to theoretical predictions more so than for canopy trees. We suggest that, in order for leaf traits to be more applicable to reforestation, size dependence of traits and growth relationships need to be more carefully considered, particularly when reforestation practitioners assign mean trait values to tropical tree species from multiple canopy strata.

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Inherent Variation in Growth Rate Between Higher Plants: A Search for Physiological Causes and Ecological Consequences

Cited by 689 publications

References 281 publications

Functional relationships between morphology and respiration of fine roots in two Chinese temperate tree species

Functional relationships between morphology and respiration of fine roots in two Chinese temperate tree species

Functional traits and the growth–mortality trade‐off in tropical trees

Tree leaf trade‐offs are stronger for sub‐canopy trees: leaf traits reveal little about growth rates in canopy trees

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