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 econom...

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Publié dans:The New phytologist. - 1979. - 166(2005), 2 vom: 15. Mai, Seite 485-96
Auteur principal: Wright, Ian J (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Reich, Peter B, Cornelissen, Johannes H C, Falster, Daniel S, Garnier, Eric, Hikosaka, Kouki, Lamont, Byron B, Lee, William, Oleksyn, Jacek, Osada, Noriyuki, Poorter, Hendrik, Villar, Rafael, Warton, David I, Westoby, Mark
Format: Article
Langue:English
Publié: 2005
Accès à la collection:The New phytologist
Sujets:Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Phosphorus 27YLU75U4W Nitrogen N762921K75 Potassium RWP5GA015D
Description
Résumé: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
Description:Date Completed 07.06.2005
Date Revised 08.04.2022
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137