Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Relating Stomatal Conductance to Leaf Functional Traits
Published on: October 12, 2015
Inclusion of vein traits improves predictive power for the leaf economic spectrum: a response to Sack et al. (2013)
Benjamin Blonder1, Cyrille Violle2, Lisa Patrick Bentley3
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, PO Box 210088, Tucson, AZ, USA bblonder@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Our model for the worldwide leaf economics spectrum (LES) based on venation networks (Blonder et al., 2011, 2013) was strongly criticized by Sack et al. (2013) in this journal. Here, we show that the majority of criticisms by Sack et al. are based on mathematical and conceptual misunderstandings. Using empirical data from both our original study as well as others in the literature, we show support for our original hypothesis, that venation networks provide predictive power and conceptual unification for the LES. In an effort to reconcile differing viewpoints related to the role of leaf venation traits for the LES, we highlight several lines of further investigation.
More Related Videos
06:04Author Spotlight: Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plant Structure-Function Relationships for Climate-Resilient Crops
Published on: July 12, 2024
06:11Author Spotlight: Improved Methods for Preparing Transverse Sections and Unrolled Whole Mounts of Maize Leaf Primordia for Fluorescence and Confocal Imaging
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Light Acquisition
Veins of Upper Limbs
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
Veins of Lower Limbs
Formed by the union of the medial and lateral plantar veins, the posterior tibial vein, rising through the calf muscle, assimilates the fibular vein. The anterior tibial vein, a superior extension of the foot's dorsalis pedis vein, merges with the posterior tibial vein at the...
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Veins as Blood Reservoirs
Veins
Structure of Veins:
The structure of veins is specifically designed to assist in the low-pressure transportation of...