高寒沙地不同林龄乌柳的水分生理特性及叶性状

对青海共和盆地4个林龄乌柳的水分生理特征及叶性状参数进行了对比分析.结果表明:不同林龄乌柳的相对水分亏损无显著差异.37年生乌柳的水势日均值显著低于其他3个林龄,4和11年生乌柳的水势日均值显著低于25年生乌柳.4年生乌柳的失水率显著低于其他3个林龄,25年生乌柳的失水率显著低于11年生乌柳.4年生乌柳比叶面积(SLA)显著低于其他3个林龄,其水分利用效率较高.11年生乌柳单位质量叶氮(Nmass)显著高于其他3个林龄,25年生乌柳Nmass显著高于37年生乌柳,11和25年生乌柳的光合能力较强.11年生乌柳单位质量叶磷(Pmass)显著高于25和37年生乌柳,4年生乌柳Pmass显著高于25年生乌柳.各林龄乌柳的Nmass/Pmass为5.16～6.28,其中25年生乌柳Nmass/Pmass显著高于4和11年生乌柳.4个林龄乌柳Nmass与Pmass呈显著正相关,Pmass与Nmass/Pmass和林龄呈极显著负相关,Nmass/Pmass与林龄呈显著正相关.不同生长阶段乌柳的生态适应对策不同.     

桂北岩溶区青冈栎-青檀群落植物叶片比叶面积研究

为揭示岩溶地区植物叶片比叶面积变化规律和叶片形态之间的相关关系,研究了桂北岩溶区青冈栎-青檀群落的叶片长/宽(LL/LW)、叶片厚度(LT)和比叶面积(SLA)及其之间的关系。结果表明:群落中常绿树种的LL/LW和LT显著高于落叶树种,而常绿树种的SLA显著低于落叶树种;乔木和灌木之间的LL/LW存在显著差异,但SLA和LT不存在显著差异。总体上看,SLA与LL/LW、LT之间是显著负相关关系,SLA随着LL/LW、LT的变大而逐渐减小。但LT与SLA负相关趋势比LL/LW与SLA的明显。因此,LT比LL/LW对叶片SLA的影响大,其明显影响了叶片的SLA。SLA的大小是衡量叶片获取光照能力的指标,因此岩溶区植物较厚的叶片对光照的获取能力具有较大的影响,并可导致光合作用效率的降低。     

武夷山49种木本植物叶片与细根经济谱

植物经济谱能够阐述维管植物在资源获取和储存之间的权衡策略, 为理解生态位分化和物种共存机制等提供科学依据。该研究通过对武夷山49种木本植物的单叶面积(ILA)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶碳含量(LCC)、叶氮含量(LNC)和叶磷含量(LPC)等5个叶片性状以及根组织密度(RTD)、比根长(SRL)、比根面积(SRA)、根碳含量(RCC)、根氮含量(RNC)和根磷含量(RPC)等6个细根性状进行测定, 探讨木本植物叶片与细根经济谱是否存在以及常绿和落叶物种间的植物经济谱差异。结果表明: 沿着性状贡献率相对较大的PC1轴, 能够定义出叶经济谱(LES)、根经济谱(RES)和整株植物经济谱(WPES)。大部分常绿物种分布在经济谱保守的一侧, 而大部分落叶物种聚集在获取的一侧。此外, 叶片PC1、细根PC1和整株植物PC1的两两得分之间均存在显著正相关关系, 常绿和落叶物种具有共同的异速指数, 但不存在共同的异速常数。这些结果揭示了亚热带物种叶片与细根的策略遵循着WPES的协调整合, 表明叶片、细根以及整株植物之间是采取协同变化的资源策略, 而分布于经济谱两端的常绿和落叶物种则是通过不同的方式来构建WPES。     

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林不同生境蕨类植物的叶片功能性状研究

为了解不同生境中蕨类植物的叶片功能,对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林中的6种优势蕨类植物的比叶面积、光合速率、元素含量、构建成本和水分利用效率等叶片性状进行了测定,研究了它们对环境的适应性。研究结果表明,两种附生蕨类(江南星蕨和崖姜蕨)的叶片具有较低的比叶面积(SLA)和光合速率(Aarea),较高的构建成本(CCarea)和碳同位素比率(?13C)。而两种林下土生蕨类(扇叶铁线蕨、桫椤)具有较高的Aarea和较低的?13C。生长在岩石基质上的中华里白具有最高的养分利用效率和较高的?13C。生长在溪流边的薄叶卷柏具有最高的SLA,最低的CCarea和?13C。这些揭示了蕨类植物叶片性状与生境之间具有紧密的相关性。由于附生蕨类的叶片具有高的能量投资和低的光合速率,对环境变化的适应能力弱,附生蕨类可能面临较大的生存压力。     

黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错带不同生境植物的叶性状

研究不同生境和不同植被演替阶段的叶性状,将为区域植被建设提供重要科学指导。以黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错带的典型区——神木六道沟流域为研究地点,研究了不同生境植物叶性状的种间和种内差异、退耕地植被演替过程中叶性状的变化及其相互关系。结果表明:(1)不同生境植物的光合特征和叶片结构特征的种间差异较大,这可能是植物长期适应生态环境的结果,同时也与其本身固有的遗传特性有关。(2)在物种水平上,最大光合速率(Pmax)、光合氮素利用效率(PNUE)和比叶面积(SLA)随退耕年限的增加呈显著下降趋势,而水分利用效率(WUE)、叶氮含量(Nmass)与退耕年限相关关系不显著。在群落水平上,除SLA与退耕年限的相关性不显著以外,其它指标皆与物种水平的变化趋势一致。(3)研究区32个物种的Pmax与WUE、PNUE、Nmass呈显著正相关(P0.05),而与SLA的相关关系不显著。PNUE与WUE、SLA呈显著正相关(P0.001),而与Nmass的相关性不显著;物种的Nmass与SLA呈显著正相关(P0.001)。同其它地区相比,研究区物种的Pmax、PNUE、SLA较低。具有较低Pmax、PNUE、SLA的物种可能更适宜研究区土壤贫瘠的生境。     

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。     

从异龄叶性状分析几种常绿阔叶植物变异与关联

该研究从个体与物种两个水平分析福建省鬼洞山中亚热带常绿阔叶次生林中七种阔叶树种异龄叶的平均叶面积(MLA)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶干物质含量(LDMC)三个性状的变异及关联,探讨叶性状物质分配策略对植物生活策略优化的限制性影响。结果表明:(1)对七种阔叶树种的个体和物种水平变异系数而言,均为MLA(82.9%;76.9%)SLA(38.9%;35.5%)LDMC(25.4%;23.8%);在个体和物种水平上当年生叶片MLA变异系数(71.5%;64.0%)小于往年生叶片(72.2%;65.8%),SLA、LDMC值则相反。(2)在个体和物种水平,当年生叶MLA对往年生叶MLA变异的解释率分别为50.1%和61.5%,当年生叶SLA对往年生叶SLA变异的解释率分别为56.6%和77.0%,当年生叶LDMC对往年生叶LDMC变异的解释率分别为51.7%和68.3%。(3)7种亚热带常绿阔叶植物异龄叶MLA、SLA与LDMC变化规律说明,当年生叶与往年生叶投资相同干物质,当年叶可形成更大的叶面积,且叶面积建成的消耗较往年叶小。研究认为,异龄叶性状在异龄叶间存在变异与关联,叶面积形成过程中生物量建成与消耗的协调可能影响植物叶片的发育。     

太岳山典型阔叶乔木冠层叶片性状的分布格局

以太岳山4种阔叶乔木不同冠层高度的叶片为研究对象,用LI-3000A叶面积仪和Li-6400便携式光合作用测定系统分别测定了这4种乔木不同冠层高度叶片的叶面积大小和单位面积的叶光饱和速率(Aarea);同时测定了其叶氮含量;计算了其比叶面积(SLA)、单位面积叶氮含量(Narea)、单位重量叶氮含量(Nmass)、单位重量的叶光饱和速率(Amass)和光合氮素利用效率(PNUE),对植株不同冠层高度叶片的SLA、叶氮和光合特性的空间分布格局进行了比较研究,结果表明:Aarea、Amass、Nmass、PNUE、SLA和Narea在树冠上层、中层和下层的差异均达到了极显著水平(P<0.001),表明树冠不同高度的叶片性状参数差异较大;在相同SLA下,Nmass和Narea在冠层中的分布均表现为中层>上层>下层,并出现平行位移现象;Aarea和Nmass都以中层值最大,表明冠层光合能力分布格局以中层相对较高。     

喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶林木本植物功能性状变异及其适应策略

叶片功能性状能反映植物对环境的高度适应能力和复杂生境下的自我调控能力，同时也能反映植物的基本特征和对资源的有效利用率。以木论国家级自然保护区喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶林144种优势木本植物为研究对象，测定其叶厚(LT)、叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶长宽比(L/W)、叶组织密度(LTD)叶片形态性状和12种叶元素性状特征及变异程度，并探讨植物对喀斯特生境的适应策略。结果表明：17个性状变异程度不同，其中叶面积变异系数最大，达到133.31%,叶片碳变异系数最小，为7.73%,叶元素变异程度普遍高于叶形态性状变异程度。不同叶习性物种间叶厚、比叶面积、叶长宽比、叶氮含量性状差异达到显著水平。部分叶性状呈显著相关，得到一系列最佳功能性状组合，体现植物对喀斯特地区特殊生境的适应性。沿着性状贡献率较高的PC1轴，能够定义出叶经济谱，大部分常绿植物采取经济保守策略，而大部分落叶植物则聚集在资源获取的一侧。相较于邻近非喀斯特地区，喀斯特地区植物有较小的LA、SLA。这些结果体现了喀斯特地区植物叶片形成的不同叶性状特征，以及分布于经济谱两端的常绿和落叶植物的不同资源获取策略，揭示了植物对生境的适应策略...     

外来入侵植物反枝苋对本地植物功能性状的影响

为探究外来入侵植物反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)对本地植物功能性状的影响,通过野外原位调查与室内分析相结合的方法,分析了在不同入侵压力下(无入侵、轻度入侵、重度入侵)本地植物种数、株数、生物量和叶片功能性状等特征。结果表明,随着反枝苋入侵程度的加剧,本地植物种数、株数和地上部干重逐渐降低;重度入侵下,反枝苋叶片的全氮含量(Nmass)显著增加,全碳含量(Cmass)、碳氮比(C/N)和叶片建成成本(CCmass)显著降低,比叶面积(SLA)未出现显著差异;本地植物Cmass和C/N显著降低,SLA显著增加。而轻度入侵下,反枝苋和本地植物上述性状均未存在显著差异。功能性状间相关分析表明:反枝苋的Nmass与C/N、Cmass均呈极显著负相关,而与SLA相关性不显著;本地植物Nmass与C/N呈极显著负相关,与SLA呈显著正相关,而与Cmass相关性不显著。表明较高的资源利用效率和较低的资源捕获成本是反枝苋成功入侵的原因之一。     

Leaf habit does not predict leaf functional traits in cerrado woody species

Plant species with a high leaf life span (LLS) commonly have a low specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N), and phosphorous concentration (P), whereas species with low LLS have a high SLA, N and P. However, LLS tends to be longer in species growing in low-nutrient soils and, therefore, differences in LLS and other leaf traits may not be consistent with a plant classification according to leaf habit. Here we investigated whether leaf habit is consistent with leaf economic spectrum trade-offs in cerrado (a Neotropical savanna) woody species. We analyzed the SLA, N and P of 125 woody species with a distinct leaf habit (deciduous, semideciduous, brevideciduous or evergreen). We also gathered data on the LLS (33 species), maximum net photosynthesis per leaf area (A_area, 56 species) and per leaf mass (A_mass, 31 species), comprising the most extensive database analyzed so far for the cerrado. Differences among leaf habit groups were tested using generalized linear mixed models and ANOVA. We did not find differences in SLA and N among species with a distinct leaf habit, but deciduous species had a higher leaf P concentration than evergreens. Species did not differ in LLS and A_mass, but A_area varied among groups. Semideciduous species had higher A_area values than deciduous and brevideciduous species, but all other groups had similar A_area values. Because of the small difference in the LLS, SLA, leaf N, leaf P and maximum net photosynthesis, we argue that deciduous, brevideciduous, semideciduous and evergreen species may not constitute different functional groups in cerrado woody species.     

南亚热带不同演替阶段森林优势树种叶片构建成本与机械抗性的协同关系

为探究不同演替阶段森林优势种叶片资源获取策略的差异以及叶片构建成本与机械抗性的关系,对我国南亚热带不同演替阶段森林14优势种的叶片构建成本、机械抗性、角质层厚度和比叶重等结构性状进行测定。结果表明,与演替早期相比,演替晚期优势种具有更高的单位面积叶片构建成本、叶片撕裂力以及穿透力,但其叶片最大光合速率较低;同时,单位面积叶片构建成本与机械抗性呈显著正相关关系,而叶片角质层厚度、比叶重等结构性状也与叶片构建成本、机械抗性均呈显著正相关。因此,从叶片能量投资策略上反映了南亚热带森林演替进程中叶片构建成本与机械抗性的协同关系。     

唐古特白刺叶功能性状沿气候梯度的变异特征

叶功能性状与植物的生长对策及资源利用效率密切相关,研究叶功能性状沿气候梯度的变异特征能为理解植物对气候变化的响应机制提供一种简便可行的测定指标。以我国西北荒漠地区广泛分布的唐古特白刺（Nitraria tangutorum）为研究对象,对其比叶面积（SLA）、单位质量和单位面积叶氮含量（N_mass、N_area）、单位质量和单位面积叶建成成本（CC_mass、CC_area）进行测定,分析这些叶功能性状及性状相关关系沿气候梯度的变异特征。结果表明,唐古特白刺叶功能性状（CC_area除外）在气候梯度下存在显著差异,其中,温度是决定唐古特白刺SLA变化的主要因子,SLA随着温度的增加而增加;降水和温度对唐古特白刺N_mass、N_area和CC_mass均有显著影响,N_mass和N_area随着降水和温度的增加而降低,而CC_mass呈增加趋势。沿气候梯度,唐古特白刺SLA-N_mass、CC_mass-N_mass和CC_area-N_area的线性正相关关系发生平移,导致在相同SLA、CC_mass和CC_area下,降水和温度较低的地区具有更高的N_mass和N_area。这一结果表明唐古特白刺能通过调节叶功能性状之间的关系来适应气候的变化,并形成性状间的最佳功能组合。     

Leaf functional traits of Neotropical savanna trees in relation to seasonal water deficit

The seasonal savannas (cerrados) of Central Brazil are characterized by a large diversity of evergreen and deciduous trees, which do not show a clear differentiation in terms of active rooting depth. Irrespective of the depth of the root system, expansion of new foliage in deciduous species occurs at the end of the dry season. In this study, we examined a suite of leaf traits related to C assimilation, water and nutrients (N, P) in five deciduous and six evergreen trees that were among the dominant families of cerrado vegetation. Maximum CO₂ assimilation on a mass basis (A_mass) was significantly correlated with leaf N and P, and specific leaf area (SLA; leaf area per unit of leaf mass). The highest leaf concentrations of both nutrients were measured in the newly mature leaves of deciduous species at the end of the dry period. The differences in terms of leaf N and P between evergreen and deciduous species decreased during the wet season. Deciduous species also invested less in the production of non-photosynthetic leaf tissues and produced leaves with higher SLA and maintained higher water use efficiency. Thus, deciduous species compensated for their shorter leaf payback period by maintaining higher potential payback capacity (higher values of A_mass) and lower leaf construction costs (higher SLA). Their short leafless period and the capacity to flush by the end of the dry season may also contribute to offset the longer payback period of evergreen species, although it may involve the higher cost of maintaining a deep-root system or a tight control of plant water balance in the shallow-rooted ones.     

Do higher resource capture ability and utilization efficiency facilitate the successful invasion of native plants?

The great damage caused by native invasive species on natural ecosystems is prompting increasing concern worldwide. Many studies have focused on exotic invasive species. In general, exotic invasive plants have higher resource capture ability and utilization capacity, and lower leaf construction cost (CC) compared to noninvasive plants. However, the physiological mechanisms that determine the invasiveness of native plants are poorly understood. We hypothesized that native invaders, like exotic invaders, may have higher resource capture ability and utilization efficiency compared to native noninvaders. To test this hypothesis, ecophysiological traits including light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max), specific leaf area (SLA), photosynthetic nitrogen use-efficiency (PNUE), photosynthetic energy-use efficiency (PEUE), and mass-based and area-based leaf construction cost (CC_mass and CC_area) were measured. We compared the above traits between three pairs of native invasive and noninvasive native species, and between three pairs of exotic invasive and noninvasive species in Guangzhou, southern China. Our results showed that the native invaders had higher A_max, SLA, PNUE, PEUE and lower CC_mass, CC_area, compared to native noninvaders and that these traits were also found in the exotic invaders. PNUE and PEUE in the native invaders were 150.3 and 129.0% higher, respectively, than in noninvasive native species, while these same measures in exotic invaders were 43.0 and 94.2% higher, respectively, than in exotic noninvasive species. The results indicated that native invaders have higher resource capture ability and resource utilization efficiency, suggesting that these traits may be a common biological foundation underlying successful invasion by both native and exotic invasives.     

入侵种银胶菊和三叶鬼针草与本地种气体交换特性的比较

以菊科入侵植物银胶菊(Parthenium hysterophorus)和三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa)以及与其共生的菊科本地植物小蓟(Cirsium setosum)为对象,比较了3种植物气体交换参数和叶片特性的差异。结果表明,银胶菊和三叶鬼针草的净光合速率(net photosynthetic rate,P_n)、叶绿素含量、比叶面积(specific leaf area,SLA)、叶片单位质量P含量(leaf P content per unit mass,P_(mass))、光合能量利用效率(photosynthetic energy use efficiency,PEUE)和光合氮利用效率(photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency,PNUE)均显著高于小蓟。植物叶片P_n与水分利用效率(water use efficiency,WUE)、叶片P_(mass)、SLA呈极显著正相关,植物叶片单位质量N含量(leaf P content per unit mass,N_(mass))与叶片SLA、单位质量建成成本(leaf construction cost per unit mass,CC_(mass))、叶绿素含量呈极显著正相关。与本地植物相比,较高的气体交换参数和叶片生化指标有可能是银胶菊和三叶鬼针草成功入侵的原因之一。     

Differential impact of liana colonization on the leaf functional traits of co-occurring deciduous and evergreen trees in a tropical dry scrub forest

The present study was carried out to analyze the leaf functional traits of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species in a tropical dry scrub forest. This study also intended to check whether the species with contrasting leaf habits differ in their leaf trait plasticity, responding to the canopy infestation by lianas. A total of 11 leaf functional traits were studied for eight tree species with contrasting leaf habits (evergreen and deciduous) and liana-colonization status (with or without liana). In the liana-free environment (L^–), evergreen trees had significantly higher leaf tissue density (LTD) and total chlorophyll (CHL_t) than the deciduous species. Whereas the deciduous trees had higher specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (N_mass). The leaf trait-pair relationship in the present study agreed with the well-established global trait-pair relationships (leaf thickness (LT) vs. SLA, N_mass vs. LT, SLA vs. N_mass, and LDMC vs. SLA). There was a significant difference between L⁺ and L^– individuals in leaf area (LA), petiole length (PL), SLA, LDMC, and CHL_t in the deciduous species. On the other hand, evergreen species showed marked differences across LT, SLA, LTD, N_mass, and chlorophyll components between L⁺ and L^– individuals of the same species. The results revealed the differential impact of liana colonization on the host trees with contrasting leaf habits. The deciduous species with the acquisitive strategy can have a competitive advantage over evergreen species in the exposed environments (L^–), whereas evergreen species with shade-tolerant properties were better acclimated to the shaded environments (L⁺). Therefore, liana colonization can significantly impact the C-fixation strategies of the host trees by altering their light environment and further, the magnitude of such impact may vary among species of different leaf habits. The result also indicated the patterns of convergence and divergence in some of the leaf functional traits between evergreen and deciduous species explaining the patterns of species co-existence.

     

Plastic changes of leaf mass per area and leaf nitrogen content in response to canopy openings in saplings of eight deciduous broad-leaved tree species

Leaf nitrogen content per area (N_area) is a good indicator of assimilative capacity of leaves of deciduous broad-leaved trees. This study examined the degrees of increase in N_area in response to canopy openings as leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf nitrogen content per mass (N_mass) in saplings of eight deciduous broad-leaved tree species in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Five of the species were well-branched species with a large number of small leaves (lateral-growth type), and the other three species were less-branched species with a small number of large leaves (vertical-growth type). The degrees of increase in N_area were compared between the two crown types. In closed-canopy conditions, leaves of the vertical-growth species tended to have a lower LMA and higher N_mass than those of the lateral-growth species, which resulted in similar N_area for both. LMA increased in canopy openings in the eight species, and the degrees of increase were not largely different between the lateral- and vertical-growth species. On the contrary, N_mass was unchanged in canopy openings in the eight species. As a result, N_area of each species increased in canopy openings in proportion to the increase in LMA, and the degrees of increase in N_area were similar in the lateral- and vertical-growth species. Therefore, this study showed that the degrees of increase in N_area were not correlated with the crown architecture (i.e., the lateral- and vertical-growth types).     

Leaf trait co‐variation,response and effect in a chronosequence

Question: Is there any generality in terms of leaf trait correlations and the multiple role of leaf traits (response to and/or effect on) during secondary succession? Location: A secondary successional sere was sampled at four different ages since abandonment from several years to nearly 150 years on the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. Method: Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf nitrogen (N_mass, N_area), leaf phosphorus (P_mass, P_area) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) were measured for all species recorded in the successional sere. Above‐ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and specific rate of litter mass loss (SRLML) were measured as surrogates for ecosystem properties. Soil total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were measured in each stage. Leaf traits were related to ecosystem properties and soil nutrient gradients, respectively. Results: LMA is correlated with N_area and P_area' and negatively with N_mass. Correlation between N_area and P_area was higher than between N_mass and P_mass. At the community level, field age, community hierarchy and their interaction explain 64.4 ‐ 93.5% of the variation in leaf traits. At the species level, field age explains 22.4 ‐ 45.5% of the variation in leaf traits (excl. P_area) while plant functional group has a significant effect only for N_mass. LDMC is correlated with ANPP and negatively with SRLML; P_mass is correlated with SRLML. Conclusions: Mean values of LMA, N_mass and N_area are close to the worldwide means, suggesting that large‐scale climate has a profound effect on leaf mass and leaf nitrogen allocation, while environmental gradients represented by succession have little influence on leaf‐trait values. Correlations between leaf traits, such as LMA‐N_area, LMA‐P_area and LMA‐N_mass shown in previous studies, are confirmed here. Although none of the leaf traits is proved to be both a response trait and an effect trait independent of time scale and community hierarchy, mass‐based leaf N is likely a sensitive response trait to soil C and N gradients. In addition, LDMC can be a marker for ANPP and SRLML, while mass‐based leaf P can be a marker for SRLML.     

Global patterns of intraspecific leaf trait responses to elevation

Elevational gradients are often used to quantify how traits of plant species respond to abiotic and biotic environmental variations. Yet, such analyses are frequently restricted spatially and applied along single slopes or mountain ranges. Since we know little on the response of intraspecific leaf traits to elevation across the globe, we here perform a global meta‐analysis of leaf traits in 109 plant species located in 4 continents and reported in 71 studies published between 1983 and 2018. We quantified the intraspecific change in seven morpho‐ecophysiological leaf traits along global elevational gradients: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf area (LA), nitrogen concentration per unit of area (Narea), nitrogen concentration per unit mass (Nmass), phosphorous concentration per unit mass (Pmass) and carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C). We found LMA, Narea, Nmass and δ¹³C to significantly increase and SLA to decrease with increasing elevation. Conversely, LA and Pmass showed no significant pattern with elevation worldwide. We found significantly larger increase in Narea, Nmass, Pmass and δ¹³C with elevation in warmer regions. Larger responses to increasing elevation were apparent for SLA of herbaceous compared to woody species, but not for the other traits. Finally, we also detected evidences of covariation across morphological and physiological traits within the same elevational gradient. In sum, we demonstrate that there are common cross‐species patterns of intraspecific leaf trait variation across elevational gradients worldwide. Irrespective of whether such variation is genetically determined via local adaptation or attributed to phenotypic plasticity, the leaf trait patterns quantified here suggest that plant species are adapted to live on a range of temperature conditions. Since the distribution of mountain biota is predominantly shifting upslope in response to changes in environmental conditions, our results are important to further our understanding of how plants species of mountain ecosystems adapt to global environmental change.