Assessing the generality of global leaf trait relationships

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Global Ecology
• Plant Ecology

Background:

• Understanding plant trait relationships is vital for global vegetation evolution and climate modeling.
• A comprehensive database of core leaf economics traits was compiled for numerous species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify global relationships between key plant traits.
• To investigate the 'leaf economics spectrum' and its variability.

Main Methods:

• Compiled a large database of plant species and their leaf economics traits.
• Analyzed trait intercorrelations globally and within plant functional types.
• Assessed heterogeneity in trait relationships across different sites.

Main Results:

• Core leaf traits are intercorrelated, forming a 'leaf economics spectrum'.
• Significant variation exists within plant functional types, often exceeding differences between them.
• Photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE) is part of this spectrum, while leaf K and N:P ratios are loosely related.

Conclusions:

• The 'leaf economics spectrum' provides a general framework for understanding plant trait relationships.
• Site-specific heterogeneity in trait relationships is significant but partly explained by sample size.
• Incorporating these trait relationships into vegetation-climate models is recommended.