Components of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDong, N.
dc.contributor.authorPrentice, I.C.
dc.contributor.authorWright, I.J.
dc.contributor.authorEvans, B.J.
dc.contributor.authorTogashi, H.F.
dc.contributor.authorCaddy-Retalic, S.
dc.contributor.authorMcInerney, F.A.
dc.contributor.authorSparrow, B.
dc.contributor.authorLeitch, E.
dc.contributor.authorLowe, A.J.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.descriptionFirst published:21 March 2020
dc.description.abstractLeaf area (LA), mass per area (LMA), nitrogen per unit area (Narea ) and the leaf-internal to ambient CO2 ratio (χ) are fundamental traits for plant functional ecology and vegetation modelling. We aimed to assess how their variation, within and between species, tracks environmental gradients. Measurements were made on 705 species from 116 sites within a broad north-south transect from tropical to temperate Australia. Trait responses to environment were quantified using multiple regression; within- and between-species responses were compared using analysis of covariance and trait-gradient analysis. Leaf area, the leaf economics spectrum (indexed by LMA and Narea ), and χ (from stable carbon isotope ratios) varied almost independently among species. Across sites, however, χ and LA increased with mean growing-season temperature (mGDD0 ) and decreased with vapour pressure deficit (mVPD0 ) and soil pH. LMA and Narea showed the reverse pattern. Climate responses agreed with expectations based on optimality principles. Within-species variability contributed <10% to geographic variation in LA but >90% for χ, with LMA and Narea intermediate. These findings support the hypothesis that acclimation within individuals, adaptation within species, and selection among species combine to create predictable relationships between traits and environment. However, the contribution of acclimation/adaptation versus species selection differs among traits.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityNing Dong, Iain Colin Prentice, Ian J. Wright, Bradley J. Evans, Henrique F. Togashi, Stefan Caddy‐Retalic ... et al.
dc.identifier.citationNew Phytologist, 2020; 228(1):82-94
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/nph.16558
dc.identifier.issn0028-646X
dc.identifier.issn1469-8137
dc.identifier.orcidCaddy-Retalic, S. [0000-0003-4870-4202]
dc.identifier.orcidMcInerney, F.A. [0000-0002-2020-6650]
dc.identifier.orcidSparrow, B. [0000-0003-2566-1895]
dc.identifier.orcidLowe, A.J. [0000-0003-1139-2516]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/125603
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP170103410
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT110100793
dc.rights© 2020 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16558
dc.subjectAcclimation
dc.subjectadaptation
dc.subjectintraspecific variation
dc.subjectleaf area
dc.subjectleaf economics spectrum
dc.subjectplant functional traits
dc.subjectspecies selection
dc.subjecttrait-gradient analysis
dc.titleComponents of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Collections

Mathematical Sciences publications