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Components of leaf‐trait variation along environmental gradients
Author(s) -
Dong Ning,
Prentice Iain Colin,
Wright Ian J.,
Evans Bradley J.,
Togashi Henrique F.,
CaddyRetalic Stefan,
McInerney Francesca A.,
Sparrow Ben,
Leitch Emrys,
Lowe Andrew J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.16558
Subject(s) - specific leaf area , ecology , biology , transect , temperate climate , vapour pressure deficit , trait , deserts and xeric shrublands , adaptation (eye) , acclimatization , growing season , habitat , botany , photosynthesis , transpiration , neuroscience , computer science , programming language
Summary Leaf area (LA), mass per area (LMA), nitrogen per unit area (N area ) and the leaf‐internal to ambient CO 2 ratio (χ) are fundamental traits for plant functional ecology and vegetation modelling. Here 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 N area ) and χ (from stable carbon isotope ratios) varied almost independently among species. Across sites, however, χ and LA increased with mean growing‐season temperature (mGDD 0 ) and decreased with vapour pressure deficit (mVPD 0 ) and soil pH. LMA and N area showed the reverse pattern. Climate responses agreed with expectations based on optimality principles. Within‐species variability contributed < 10% to geographical variation in LA but > 90% for χ, with LMA and N area 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 vs species selection differs among traits.