Leaf economics and hydraulic traits are decoupled in five species‐rich tropical‐subtropical forests |
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| Authors: | Le Li M Luke McCormack Chengen Ma Deliang Kong Qian Zhang Xiaoyong Chen Hui Zeng Ülo Niinemets Dali Guo |
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| Institution: | 1. Center of Forest Ecosystem Studies and Qianyanzhou Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;3. The Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Urban Environment, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China;4. School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China;5. Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and the Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China;6. Department of Plant Physiology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia;7. Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia |
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| Abstract: | Leaf economics and hydraulic traits are critical to leaf photosynthesis, yet it is debated whether these two sets of traits vary in a fully coordinated manner or there is room for independent variation. Here, we tested the relationship between leaf economics traits, including leaf nitrogen concentration and leaf dry mass per area, and leaf hydraulic traits including stomatal density and vein density in five tropical‐subtropical forests. Surprisingly, these two suites of traits were statistically decoupled. This decoupling suggests that independent trait dimensions exist within a leaf, with leaf economics dimension corresponding to light capture and tissue longevity, and the hydraulic dimension to water‐use and leaf temperature maintenance. Clearly, leaf economics and hydraulic traits can vary independently, thus allowing for more possible plant trait combinations. Compared with a single trait dimension, multiple trait dimensions may better enable species adaptations to multifarious niche dimensions, promote diverse plant strategies and facilitate species coexistence. |
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| Keywords: | Functional divergence leaf carbon isotope composition (δ 13C) leaf dry mass per area leaf economics spectrum leaf hydraulics leaf nitrogen concentration stomatal density vein density woody angiosperms |
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