Modulation of leaf economic traits and trait relationships by climate

Abstract

AimOur aim was to quantify climatic influences on key leaf traits and relationships at the global scale. This knowledge provides insight into how plants have adapted to different environmental pressures, and will lead to better calibration of future vegetation-climate models.Location The data set represents vegetation from 175 sites around the world.Methods For more than 2500 vascular plant species, we compiled data on leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf life span (LL), nitrogen concentration (N mass ) and photosynthetic capacity (A mass ). Site climate was described with several standard indices. Correlation and regression analyses were used for quantifying relationships between single leaf traits and climate. Standardized major axis (SMA) analyses were used for assessing the effect of climate on bivariate relationships between leaf traits. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to summarize multidimensional trait variation.Results At hotter, drier and higher irradiance sites, (1) mean LMA and leaf N per area were higher; (2) average LL was shorter at a given LMA, or the increase in LL was less for a given increase in LMA (LL-LMA relationships became less positive); and (3) A mass was lower at a given N mass , or the increase in A mass was less for a given increase in N mass . Considering all traits simultaneously, 18% of variation along the principal multivariate trait axis was explained by climate.Main conclusions Trait-shifts with climate were of sufficient magnitude to have major implications for plant dry mass and nutrient economics, and represent substantial selective pressures associated with adaptation to different climatic regimes.

Can we predict dispersal guilds based on the leaf-height-seed scheme in a disjunct cerrado woodland?

“…SLA has a strong association with site irradianceat higher irradiance sites, SLA is lower (Wright et al, 2005). Thus, for species dispersed by abiotic mechanisms, which are predominantly found in the upper strata of cerrado woodlands with closed canopies (Oliveira and Moreira, 1992) and consequently are supposed to face more irradiance, we expect lower values of SLA than for animal-dispersed species.…”

Footprints of divergent selection in natural populations of Castanopsis fargesii (Fagaceae)

“…Leaf mass per area of C. fargesii was shown to be negatively correlated with mean annual temperature and precipitation (Dong et al, 2009). Leaf trait associated with high leaf mass per area had been interpreted as an adaptation under very dry conditions in evergreen species (Wright et al, 2005). Given these patterns, blue copper-binding proteins might be involved in trichome production and drought tolerance of C. fargesii, providing a potential avenue for further detailed investigation.…”

Diversity of deciduousness and phenological traits of key Indian dry tropical forest trees

“…Wood density along with LMA and resource use (photosynthesis) rate may significantly relate to the extent of deciduousness (which is reciprocal to leaf longevity) in tropical trees because all these characteristics are closely related to leaf longevity (Reich et al, 1997). Due to increased stem wood density and LMA, tree species tend to have longer average leaf life span and slower growth rate (Reich et al, 1992;Wright et al, 2005).…”