title: The global spectrum of plant form and function.
abstract: Earth is home to a remarkable diversity of plant forms and life histories, yet comparatively few essential trait combinations have proved evolutionarily viable in today's terrestrial biosphere. By analysing worldwide variation in six major traits critical to growth, survival and reproduction within the largest sample of vascular plant species ever compiled, we found that occupancy of six-dimensional trait space is strongly concentrated, indicating coordination and trade-offs. Three-quarters of trait variation is captured in a two-dimensional global spectrum of plant form and function. One major dimension within this plane reflects the size of whole plants and their parts; the other represents the leaf economics spectrum, which balances leaf construction costs against growth potential. The global plant trait spectrum provides a backdrop for elucidating constraints on evolution, for functionally qualifying species and ecosystems, and for improving models that predict future vegetation based on continuous variation in plant form and function.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kattge
authors.affiliation: Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes H C
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR 5553, CNRS - Université Grenoble Alpes, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavorel
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dray
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra. 27 Calle 9, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reu
authors.affiliation: Landscape Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleyer
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.|AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts, Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment and Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK.
authors.forename: I Colin
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (UMR 5175), CNRS-Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bönisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westoby
authors.affiliation: Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poorter
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.|Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Penrith New South Wales 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.affiliation: Evolution &Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Moles
authors.affiliation: Collections , The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dickie
authors.affiliation: Center for Biodiversity Management, P.O. Box 120, Yungaburra, Queensland 4884, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Gillison
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052, USA.|Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, Missouri 63121, USA.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zanne
authors.affiliation: UMR 5174 Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS &Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 31062, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chave
authors.affiliation: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama.
authors.forename: S Joseph
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Komarov Botanical Institute, Prof. Popov Street 2, St Petersburg 197376, Russia.
authors.forename: Serge N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sheremet'ev
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1202 BIOGECO, F-33610 Cestas, France.|Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, F-33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jactel
authors.affiliation: International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA.|INRA, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, 97310 Kourou, French Guiana.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baraloto
authors.affiliation: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 3, I-21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cerabolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DiSAA), University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis, Jodrell Building, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB, UK.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirkup
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Bioestadística, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), 7170 Turrialba, 30501, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casanoves
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joswig
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falczuk
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rüger
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10, 07745 Jena, Germany.|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Miguel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mahecha
authors.affiliation: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lucas D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gorné
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D014644:Genetic Variation; D038622:Internationality; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010944:Plants / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D012098:Reproduction; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen