清凉峰不同海拔木本植物小枝内叶大小-数量权衡关系

权衡关系是生活史对策理论的基础, 叶大小-数量的权衡关系对理解叶大小进化具有重要的意义。该研究以单叶面积和单叶片干重表示叶大小, 用小枝干重和小枝茎干重表示小枝大小, 采用标准化主轴估计(standardized major axis estimation, SMA)和系统独立比较分析(phylogenetically independent contrast analysis, PIC)的方法, 对浙江省清凉峰自然保护区3个不同海拔落叶阔叶木本植物当年生小枝内的叶大小与数量间的关系进行研究。结果显示, 无论叶大小和小枝大小是用面积或干重表示, 在每个海拔, 叶大小与出叶强度均存在显著的等速负相关关系, 表明在落叶阔叶木本植物中发现的叶大小与出叶强度之间的权衡关系在不同生境物种中是普遍存在的, 植物在叶大小方面的种间变化, 可能不是自然选择的直接产物, 而是叶片数量变化权衡关系的一个副产物。不同海拔间的比较显示, 高海拔物种的叶面积或干重与出叶强度相关关系的y轴截距比中、低海拔物种小, 表明在出叶强度一定的情况下, 高海拔物种比低海拔物种具有更小的叶大小。与高海拔物种相比, 中海拔物种的共同斜率沿共同主轴有一个向上的位移, 表明中海拔物种比高海拔物种具有更大的叶大小, 但出叶强度更小。这些结果表明生境对叶大小-数量的权衡关系具有显著的影响, 中海拔生境具有更适宜植物生长的气候及养分条件, 而高海拔的低温等不利影响使得叶片变小。     

呼伦贝尔草原植物叶片大小与数量的权衡关系及其内在机制

叶片大小与数量的权衡关系是植物生长策略的基础,研究叶片大小与数量权衡关系的内在机制对于深刻理解植物生长策略具有重要意义。本研究以单个叶片干重表示叶大小,以单位茎上的叶片数量表示出叶强度,采用标准主轴回归分析方法研究呼伦贝尔草原植物叶片大小与数量的权衡关系以及内在机制。结果表明: 陈旗嵯岗(典型草原)和陈旗八一(草甸草原)叶片大小与出叶强度存在显著的负的等速生长关系,谢尔塔拉(草甸草原)的叶片大小与出叶强度存在显著的负的异速生长权衡关系。叶片大小和数量权衡关系的内在机制取决于叶片与茎生物量的分配机制以及茎组织密度的变化。     

兰州北山半干旱区刺槐叶大小-数量权衡与坡向间的关系

权衡关系是生活史对策理论的基础,叶大小-数量的权衡关系对理解不同生境下植物生物量分配具有重要的意义。采用标准化主轴估计(standardized major axis estimation,SMA)方法,研究了西北半干旱区兰州市北山各坡向人工林刺槐叶数量和大小的生长关系。结果表明:随坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡和南坡转变,植物群落盖度、高度和土壤含水量逐渐减小,刺槐小枝单叶面积和单叶片干重逐渐减小,出叶强度逐渐增大;4个坡向刺槐小枝出叶强度与单叶面积、单叶片干重均呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),并存在接近-1的共同斜率;随坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡和南坡转变,出叶强度与单叶面积、单叶片干重四组关系的回归方程截距均逐渐减小。刺槐叶大小-数量的权衡关系,反映了植物功能性状对异质生境的响应和适应,以及植物资源分配的权衡机制。     

亚热带常绿阔叶林植物叶小枝的异速生长

 植物生态学研究的重要内容之一是识别和定量刻画种间生态变异的主要维数,叶大小小枝大小维（谱）是其中之一,目前的研究相对比较薄弱,两者之间是异速还是等速生长关系仍存在着争论。亚热带常绿阔叶林植物叶大小-枝大小维的研究报道很少。该文以我国东部亚热带典型区域福建梅花山常绿阔叶林的68种常绿乔灌木植物为对象,进行了叶-小枝关系及其生态意义的研究。结果表明：1）小枝茎截面积与叶干重、总叶面积和单叶面积之间的SMA斜率分别为1.29、1.23和1.18,呈现异速生长关系,支持叶大小 小枝大小为异速生长的相关研究结论,但SMA斜率低于预期值,其原因及生态意义有待进一步研究;2）小枝总叶面积与单叶面积呈显著正相关,而与叶片数量不相关,反映了小枝总叶面积的增加主要是由单叶面积大小决定的,可能与这一地区湿润气候有关;而单叶面积与枝条长度呈正相关则可能反映了植物对常绿阔叶林内较弱光照环境的适应;3）叶干重同小枝干重、叶面积为等速生长关系,可能反映了植物与动物之间代谢方式的差异。     

贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林主要树种叶功能性状

以贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林5种主要树种为研究对象,分析其叶片比叶面积(SLA)、叶干重(LDW)、碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量、同位素丰度(δ13C、δ15N)等叶属性特征,阐明常绿落叶阔叶混交林主要物种叶片性状的差异以及各种性状之间的相关关系,揭示主要树种叶片的水分和养分利用效率之间的关系以及这种关系对该群落中主要树种共存的影响机制。结果表明:贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林常绿树种与落叶树种比叶面积存在显著差异,叶片C含量与N、P含量呈显著负相关,N含量和P含量呈显著正相关;SLA与N含量、N∶P呈显著正相关关系,与δ13C、C含量、C∶N呈显著负相关关系,而与P相关性不显著;叶片δ13C与C∶N相关性不显著;SLA较高的叶片具有较高的叶片N含量,较低的叶C含量、氮素利用效率(NUE)和水分利用效率(WUE);叶片的WUE和NUE之间不存在权衡关系,未采用水氮耦合的权衡机制以适应潮湿多雨的环境;孑遗植物康定木兰(Indigofera souliei)和连香树(Cercidiphyllum japonicum)均采用异于非孑遗物种的养分利用策略,形成生态位的分化而共存于群落。     

兰州市典型绿化树种叶性状间的权衡关系

植物叶性状的权衡关系反映了植物对环境的高度适应性及其在复杂生境下的自我调控能力,了解半干旱区城市绿化树种叶性状间的权衡关系,比较不同生长型(针叶和阔叶)树种异速生长的差异有助于进一步认识植物的进化机制。以兰州市典型绿化树种(13种针叶树和47种阔叶树)为对象,测量部分叶性状,采用标准化主轴估计和系统独立比较分析的方法比较不同性状间的权衡关系。结果表明:不同生长型树种叶面积、叶体积与叶片干重之间均为等速生长关系,针叶和阔叶树种间并无显著差异;叶厚与叶面积间为"此消彼长"的权衡关系,但并不显著;阔叶叶长与叶宽间异速生长斜率为0.764。兰州市典型绿化树种叶性状间的权衡可能是长期适应黄土高原特殊生境的自适应过程,也说明部分性状间存在协变关系,阔叶绿化树种的权衡表明其符合"快速投资-收益"特征。     

小兴安岭不同功能型阔叶植物的柄叶权衡

在叶水平上, 叶柄(支撑结构)与叶片(同化结构)的权衡关系受多种因素的影响, 研究不同功能型植物柄叶性状之间的权衡关系有助于更好地理解植物的生长特性与生活史策略。该研究选定小兴安岭地区典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林林内乔木、灌木、草本植物, 采用最小显著差异法比较植物叶片性状与叶柄性状在不同生活型间的变异, 并用标准化主轴法从生活型、叶型、耐阴性3个方面研究叶片与叶柄性状之间的权衡关系。结果表明: (1)不同生活型、叶型植物以及不同耐阴性乔木叶片性状与叶柄干质量之间具有显著的异速生长关系, 且斜率均小于1; (2)随着叶柄干质量增加, 乔木叶片鲜质量、叶片干质量增长速度比灌木、草本更快, 但相同叶柄干质量, 乔木叶柄所能支撑的叶片面积最小; (3)单叶植物叶片面积-叶柄干质量的回归斜率显著大于复叶植物, 叶片鲜质量-叶柄干质量的回归斜率小于复叶植物, 并且相同叶柄干质量下, 单叶植物的叶片干质量总是大于复叶植物; (4)比起喜光树种, 相同叶柄干质量, 耐阴树种的叶柄能够支撑的叶片面积与叶片鲜质量更大, 并且叶柄生物量分配比例(叶柄干质量/叶干质量)与叶片性状的回归斜率均表现为喜光树种>0, 耐阴树种<0。该研究结果表明叶片大小(叶片面积、叶片鲜质量、叶片干质量)与叶柄性状之间存在典型的权衡关系, 其在不同生活型、叶型植物及不同耐阴性乔木内的差异有助于揭示不同功能型植物的生长特性与生活史策略。     

长期增温对树线交错带岷江冷杉幼苗异龄叶大小与出叶强度关系的影响

全球气候变暖强烈影响树线交错带植物的生活史策略,异龄叶大小-出叶强度权衡关系是常绿植物生活史策略的重要内容。以川西树线交错带的岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）幼苗为例,研究气候变暖对异龄叶大小与出叶强度关系的影响。通过开顶箱（Open-top chamber, OTC）对川西王朗自然保护区树线交错带的岷江冷杉进行模拟增温,采用标准化主轴估计（Standardized major axis estimation, SMA）方法研究了叶大小（单叶质量、单叶面积）与出叶强度（基于茎生物量、茎体积）间异速生长关系对长期增温的响应及其年际变化。结果表明：使用不同参数表征叶大小与出叶强度得到的结果存在差异;多年生小枝上存在单叶质量-出叶强度的负等速权衡关系,共同主轴随小枝年龄增加而向下漂移;长期增温并不影响单叶质量与出叶强度的异速生长关系,不同年龄小枝的异速生长常数对增温具有差异性响应。增温处理中当年生小枝在相同单叶质量下的出叶强度更低,以换取叶片总数的增加,使小枝具有更大的可塑性而适应增温。本研究提供了岷江冷杉幼苗协调异龄叶大小与出叶强度从而适应长期增温的证据,为评估树木生长随气候变化而加速提供了理论参考。     

不同海拔典型竹种枝叶大小异速生长关系

为了分析竹子枝-叶大小间的权衡关系,本研究对武夷山不同海拔典型竹种(毛竹、箬竹、肿节少穗竹、毛竿玉山竹和武夷山玉山竹)小枝的叶片总质量、茎质量、单叶质量和出叶强度等性状进行测定.结果表明: 随海拔升高,5个竹种间小枝上总叶质量与茎质量的异速生长指数呈显著下降趋势.竹种内,毛竹、箬竹和肿节少穗竹总叶质量与茎质量在不同海拔上均拥有共同异速生长指数(分别为0.94、0.85、0.84).毛竿玉山竹和武夷山玉山竹的叶茎质量也存在共同异速生长指数(0.79).除武夷山玉山竹外,竹子单叶质量与出叶强度之间均呈显著的负相关关系.5个竹种的单叶质量和出叶强度之间存在共同异速生长指数-1.12.总之,竹类植物的小枝总体上倾向于在低海拔环境中着生更多的叶片,而在高海拔生境下则投资更多的生物量到茎的构造上.尽管竹种间小枝的茎投资随海拔升高而增加,但其基于茎质量的出叶强度策略取决于叶片大小的构建而不是海拔生境差异.     

从叶内生物量分配策略的角度理解叶大小的优化

叶大小的变化是许多因素综合作用的结果, 对叶大小优化机制的研究有助于我们更好地理解植物的适应进化和生活史策略。该研究通过对浙江省清凉峰常绿阔叶混交林中的19个常绿阔叶物种和30个落叶阔叶物种叶水平上的相关性状进行分析, 探讨叶内生物量分配策略对叶大小优化的限制性影响。研究结果显示: 无论叶大小用面积还是质量表示, 常绿物种和落叶物种均呈现出叶内生物量分配到支撑结构的比例随着叶大小的增加而增加的规律, 这主要是由叶柄大小与叶片大小之间显著的异速生长关系导致的。这种异速生长关系在常绿物种和落叶物种中普遍存在。然而, 由于常绿物种对叶柄具有较高的机械以及抵抗冰冻栓塞等不利环境的需求, 在某一给定的叶面积下, 常绿物种比落叶物种具有更高的叶柄生物量投资。这些结果表明: 作为整个植株支撑投资的一个重要组成部分, 叶内支撑投资所占的生物量比例对叶大小的优化具有一定的限制性影响。     

The generality of leaf size versus number trade-off in temperate woody species

Background and Aims

Trade-offs are fundamental to life-history theory, and the leaf size vs. number trade-off has recently been suggested to be of importance to our understanding leaf size evolution. The purpose of the present study was to test whether the isometric, negative relationship between leaf size and number found by Kleiman and Aarssen is conserved between plant functional types and between habitats.

Methods

Leaf mass, area and number, and stem mass and volume of current-year shoots were measured for 107 temperate broadleaved woody species at two altitudes on Gongga Mountain, south-west China. The scaling relationships of leaf size (leaf area and mass) vs. (mass- and volume-based) leafing intensity were analysed in relation to leaf habit, leaf form and habitat type. Trait relationships were determined with both a standardized major axis method and a phylogenetically independent comparative method.

Key Results

Significant negative, isometric scaling relationships between leaf size and leafing intensity were found to be consistently conserved across species independent of leaf habit, leaf form and habitat type. In particular, about 99 % of the variation in leaf mass across species could be accounted for by proportional variation in mass-based leafing intensity. The negative correlations between leaf size and leafing intensity were also observed across correlated evolutionary divergences. However, evergreen species had a lower y-intercept in the scaling relationships of leaf area vs. leafing intensity than deciduous species. This indicated that leaf area was smaller in the evergreen species at a given leafing intensity than in the deciduous species. The compound-leaved deciduous species were observed usually to have significant upper shifts along the common slopes relative to the simple-leaved species, which suggested that the compound-leaved species were larger in leaf size but smaller in leafing intensity than their simple counterparts. No significant difference was found in the scaling relationships between altitudes.

Conclusions

The negative, isometric scaling relationship between leaf size and number is largely conserved in plants, while the leaf size vs. number trade-off can be mediated by leaf properties. The isometry of the leaf size vs. number relationship may simply result from a biomass allocation trade-off, although a twig size constraint may provide an alternative mechanism.Key words: Allometry, trade-off, leafing intensity, leaf size, leaf habit, leaf form     

Effect of stem length to stem slender ratio of current-year twigs on the leaf display efficiency in evergreen and deciduous broadleaved trees

Aims Branches and leaves are the two main structural units of tree crown composition. Among the adaptive strategies of plants, the functional traits of branches and the relationships between branch traits and leaf traits determine the capacity of trees to access light and space. In this study, our objective is to test the hypothesis that leaf display efficiency is affected by the stem length to stem slender ratio within current-year twigs.Methods The stem length to stem slender ratios of current-year twigs were used as the proxy of stem structure traits. Leaf area ratio (total leaf area per stem mass), leaf density (leaf number per stem length) and leaf/stem mass ratio (total leaf mass per stem mass) were used as the proxies of leaf display efficiency. The relationship between stem structure traits and leaf display efficiency within current-year twigs were studied for 25 evergreen and 60 deciduous broadleaved woody species in Qingliang Mountain, Zhejiang, China. The standardized major axis estimation method was used to examine the scaling relationship between stem structural traits and leaf display efficiency within current-year twigs.Important findings The proxies of leaf display efficiency, measured by leaf area ratio, leaf density or leaf/stem mass ratio, were all significantly and negative correlated with stem length to stem slender ratio within current-year twigs in both evergreen and deciduous broadleaved woody species. This suggested that leaf display efficiency decreased with stem length to stem slender ratios within current-year twigs, which may reflect the role of mechanical safety and light within twigs. The slope of the relationship between leaf display efficiency and stem long-dimension structure traits in evergreen species was not significantly different from the one in deciduous species. In contrast, the y-intercept of the relationship between leaf density and stem long-dimension structure traits was significantly larger in evergreen species than in deciduous species, i.e. the leafing intensity of evergreen species was higher than that of deciduous species. Individual leaf area and specific leaf area were smaller in evergreen species than in deciduous species, which resulted in deciduous species have a larger leaf area per stem mass and leaf mass per stem mass at a given stem length to stem slender ratio compared to evergreen species. It may reflect the conservative adaptive strategy of high consumption and slow benefit in evergreen species. Our results demonstrated that leaf display efficiency could be affected by stem length, and would change with leaf life-span (deciduous versus evergreen).     

胡杨叶片大小与叶数量的权衡关系对地下水埋深的响应

本文以胡杨(Populus euphratica Oliv.)为研究对象,采用标准化主轴回归估计(SMA)方法探讨了种群叶片大小(单叶面积、单叶质量)与出叶强度(基于小枝质量、茎质量、茎体积)的异速生长关系对地下水埋深梯度(Groundwater depth,GWD)的响应及其变化规律.结果显示:随GWD增加,胡杨当年...     

Reflectance and transmittance spectra of leaves and shoots of 22 vascular plant species and reflectance spectra of trunks and branches of 12 tree species in Japan

This data paper reports spectral reflectance and transmittance data of leaves from 21 terrestrial vascular plant species (seven herbaceous, and 14 broadleaf and long-needle coniferous tree species) and of shoots from one short-needle coniferous tree species. The reflectance spectra of branches of one tree species, of the trunks of 12 tree species and ground surface of one deciduous broad-leaf forest are also reported. Optical measurements and leaf samplings were made at five sites on Honshu Island, Japan, which are typical vegetation types in East Asia, i.e., grassland, paddy field, and deciduous broad-leaf or coniferous forests. The collection and measurements were conducted for main species in each site. To include other common vegetation types in East Asia, such as evergreen broad-leaf or coniferous forests, the sample collection and the measurements were conducted at gardens and an experimental forest. Leaves of ten deciduous species were measured at different phenological stages from leaf expansion to senescence since those species shows significant seasonal changes in spectral reflectance and transmittance of leaves. Leaves at different position in a canopy (e.g., sunlit versus shaded leaves) were also measured for eight of 21 species. The spectral reflectance and transmittance from both adaxial and abaxial sides of the all leaves or needles, expect Picea abies needles. The measurements of the leaves were conducted with a spectroradiometer attached via an optical fiber to an integrating sphere. Two types of integrating spheres were used: a model LI-1800-12 (Li-Cor) and an RTS-3ZC integrating sphere (Analytical Spectral Devices). A leaf clip accessory was also used instead of an integrating sphere for measuring the leaves of two species. All data were measured within the 350–2,500-nm spectral range with 1-nm steps between measurements but the data obtained by LI-1800 is unavailable in 1,650–1,740, 1,890–1,950, and 2,050–2,500 nm because of a large amount of noise. These data are used as input parameters in a radiative transfer model designed to estimate the leaf area index from radiation reflected from a canopy surface.     

中国主要森林生态系统水文功能的比较研究(英文)

 基于中国不同区域生态站的观测资料,着重从降雨截留（林冠截留、枯枝落叶层截持和土壤蓄水）、调节径流和蒸散等3个方面对我国主要森林生态系统的水文生态功能进行了比较研究。各生态系统林冠年截留量在134～626 mm间变动,由大到小排列为：热带山地雨林,亚热带西部山地常绿针叶林,热带半落叶季雨林,温带山地落叶与常绿针叶林,寒温带、温带山地常绿针叶林,亚热带竹林,亚热带、热带东部山地常绿针叶林,寒温带、温带山地落叶针叶林,温带、亚热带落叶阔叶林,亚热带山区常绿阔叶林,亚热带、热带西南山地常绿针叶林,南亚热带常绿阔叶林,亚热带山地常绿阔叶林。枯落物持水量可以达到自身干重的2～5倍,但也因林型而异。土壤非毛管持水量变动在36～142 mm之间,平均89 mm。常绿阔叶林的非毛管持水量通常高于100 mm,而寒温带/温带落叶阔叶林和常绿针叶林通常低于100 mm. 土壤的非毛管持水量通常占生态系统中截持水量的90%,其次是枯落物和林冠层。这说明,森林土壤在调节降雨截留中占有重要地位,其水文功能的大小取决于土壤结构和空隙度,而这些恰恰又受枯落物和森林植被特征的影响。森林皆伐后,一般地表径流会显著地增加,而适当抚育措施则对地表径流影响不大。流域径流受诸多因素的影响,包括植被、土壤、气候、地形、地貌以及人类影响导致的流域景观变化,比较研究表明森林变化对流域径流的影响尚未得到一致的规律性的结果。通过对比研究不同森林的蒸散变化,发现随降雨量的增加,森林蒸散量略有增加,而相对蒸散率却在下降,相对蒸散率在40%～90%间变动。     

亚热带常绿林不同冠层小枝叶面积-叶生物量关系研究

叶面积与叶生物量的关系对于理解植物叶片的碳收益和投资权衡策略具有重要意义。收益递减假说认为植物的叶面积与叶生物量成显著异速生长关系，其异速生长指数<1.0，但该假说是否适用于不同生活型（常绿与落叶）亚热带木本植物不同冠层高度（上下冠层）当年生小枝的叶片仍不清楚。以江西亚热带常绿阔叶林的69种常绿与落叶木本植物当年生小枝上的叶为研究对象，采用标准化主轴回归估计（standardized major axis estimation，SMA）方法检验不同冠层高度和生活型叶面积与叶生物量的异速生长关系。结果显示：（1）当年生小枝叶生物量在不同冠层高度和生活型的植物中无显著差异（P>0.05），叶面积在常绿和落叶植物中有显著差异（P<0.05），常绿和落叶植物的比叶重存在显著差异（P<0.05），而落叶植物的比叶重在不同冠层高度存在显著差异（P<0.05），同一冠层，常绿植物比叶重显著高于落叶植物（P<0.05）；（2）69种植物的叶面积与叶生物量异速生长指数具有物种特异性，60.9%的物种叶面积与叶生物量呈等速生长关系；（3）不同冠层和生活型植物的叶面积与叶生物量呈等速生长关系，但其异速生长常数在不同冠层高度与生活型间存在差异。这些结果表明冠层高度和生活型未改变叶面积-生物量之间的等速生长关系，不支持"收益递减"假说。     

Leaf size versus leaf numbertrade-offs in dioecious angiosperms

Aims We explore the possible role of leaf size/number trade-offs for the interpretation of leaf size dimorphism in dioecious plant species.Methods Total above-ground biomass (both male and female) for three herbaceous dioecious species and individual shoots (from both male and female plants) for three woody dioecious species were sampled to record individual leaf dry mass, number of leaves, dry mass of residual above-ground tissue (all remaining non-leaf biomass), number of flowers/inflorescences (for herbaceous species) and number of branches.Important findings For two out of three woody species and two out of three herbaceous species examined, male plants produced smaller leaves but with higher leafing intensity—i.e. more leaves per unit of supporting (residual) shoot tissue or plant body mass—compared with females. Male and female plants, however, did not differ in shoot or plant body mass or branching intensity. We interpret these results as possible evidence for a dimorphic leaf deployment strategy that promotes both male and female function, respectively. In male plants, capacity as a pollen donor may be favored by selection for a broadly spaced floral display, hence favoring relatively high leafing intensity because this provides more numerous axillary meristems that can be deployed for flowering, thus requiring a relatively small leaf as a trade-off. In one herbaceous species, higher leafing intensity in males was associated with greater flower production than in females. In contrast, in female plants, selection favors a relatively large leaf, we propose, because this promotes greater capacity for localized photosynthate production, thus supporting the locally high energetic cost of axillary fruit and seed development, which in turn requires a relatively low leafing intensity as a trade-off.     

The leaf size/number trade-off in herbaceous angiosperms

Aims In this study, we examined the extent to which between-species leaf size variation relates to variation in the intensity of leaf production in herbaceous angiosperms. Leaf size variation has been most commonly interpreted in terms of biomechanical constraints (e.g. affected by plant size limitations) or in terms of direct adaptation associated with leaf size effects in optimizing important physiological functions of individual leaves along environmental gradients (e.g. involving temperature and moisture). An additional interpretation is explored here, where adaptation may be more directly associated with the number of leaves produced and where relatively small leaf size then results as a trade-off of high 'leafing intensity'—i.e. number of leaves produced per unit plant body size.Methods The relationships between mean individual leaf mass, number of leaves and plant body size were examined for 127 species of herbaceous angiosperms collected from natural populations in southern Ontario, Canada.Important findings In all, 88% of the variation in mean individual leaf mass across species, spanning four orders of magnitude, is accounted for by a negative isometric (proportional) trade-off relationship with leafing intensity. These results parallel those reported in recent studies of woody species. Because each leaf is normally associated with an axillary bud or meristem, having a high leafing intensity is equivalent to having a greater number of meristems per unit body size—i.e. a larger 'bud bank'. According to the 'leafing intensity premium' hypothesis, because an axillary meristem represents the potential to produce either a new shoot or a reproductive structure, high leafing intensity should confer greater architectural and/or reproductive plasticity (with relatively small leaf size required as a trade-off). This greater plasticity, we suggest, should be especially important for smaller species since they are likely to suffer greater suppression of growth and reproduction from competition within multi-species vegetation. Accordingly, we tested and found support for the prediction that smaller species have not just smaller leaves generally but also higher leafing intensities, thus conferring larger bud banks, i.e. more meristems per unit plant body size.