Assessing the generality of global leaf trait relationships.
Global-scale quantification of relationships between plant traits gives insight into the evolution of the world's vegetation, and is crucial for parameterizing vegetation-climate models. A database was compiled, comprising data for hundreds to thousands of species for the core 'leaf economics' traits leaf lifespan, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic capacity, dark respiration, and leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, as well as leaf potassium, photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE), and leaf N : P ratio. While mean trait values differed between plant functional types, the range found within groups was often larger than differences among them. Future vegetation-climate models could incorporate this knowledge. The core leaf traits were intercorrelated, both globally and within plant functional types, forming a 'leaf economics spectrum'. While these relationships are very general, they are not universal, as significant heterogeneity exists between relationships fitted to individual sites. Much, but not all, heterogeneity can be explained by variation in sample size alone. PNUE can also be considered as part of this trait spectrum, whereas leaf K and N : P ratios are only loosely related.
Wright
Ian J
IJ
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia. iwright@rna.bio.mq.edu.au
Reich
Peter B
PB
Cornelissen
Johannes H C
JH
Falster
Daniel S
DS
Garnier
Eric
E
Hikosaka
Kouki
K
Lamont
Byron B
BB
Lee
William
W
Oleksyn
Jacek
J
Osada
Noriyuki
N
Poorter
Hendrik
H
Villar
Rafael
R
Warton
David I
DI
Westoby
Mark
M
D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000502:physiology; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000502:physiology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology
D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium