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Functional traits explain light and size response of growth rates in tropical tree species
Author(s) -
Rüger Nadja,
Wirth Christian,
Wright S. Joseph,
Condit Richard
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/12-0622.1
Subject(s) - intraspecific competition , biology , trait , ecology , allometry , functional response , specific leaf area , life history theory , tree (set theory) , growth rate , life history , botany , mathematics , photosynthesis , geometry , computer science , predation , programming language , predator , mathematical analysis
Relationships between functional traits and average or potential demographic rates have provided insight into the functional constraints and trade‐offs underlying life‐history strategies of tropical tree species. We have extended this framework by decomposing growth rates of ∼130 000 trees of 171 Neotropical tree species into intrinsic growth and the response of growth to light and size. We related these growth characteristics to multiple functional traits (wood density, adult stature, seed mass, leaf traits) in a hierarchical Bayesian model that accounted for measurement error and intraspecific variability of functional traits. Wood density was the most important trait determining all three growth characteristics. Intrinsic growth rates were additionally strongly related to adult stature, while all traits contributed to light response. Our analysis yielded a predictive model that allows estimation of growth characteristics for rare species on the basis of a few easily measurable morphological traits.