Hydraulic limitations imposed by crown placement determine final size and shape of Quercus rubra L. leaves

The canopies of large broad‐leaf trees exhibit significant heterogeneity in both micro‐environmental conditions and leaf morphology. Whether the visible differences in the size and shape of leaves from the top and bottom of the crown are determined prior to bud break or result from different patterns of leaf expansion is not known. Analysis of ontogenetic changes of both the degree of lobing and vein density in Quercus rubra demonstrates that leaves throughout the crown are identical in size and shape at the time of bud break. Morphological adaptation to the local micro‐environment takes place during the expansion phase and starts after the determination of the vascular architecture has been completed. Leaves from the bottom of the crown undergo greater expansion in the tissue close to the main veins than occurs either in the more peripheral tissue of the same leaf or anywhere in leaves from the top of the crown. This results in a water transport system that is well suited to the low evaporative rates near the bottom of the crown, but inadequate for the conditions found at the top of the tree. Acclimation of leaf form and function based upon differential expansion may be entirely driven by the local hydraulic demand during the expansion phase, resulting in leaf size and vein density being determined during development by the same hydraulic properties which will constrain the size of leaf that can be functionally supported at maturity.     

Structural and hydraulic correlates of heterophylly in Ginkgo biloba

This study investigates the functional significance of heterophylly in Ginkgo biloba, where leaves borne on short shoots are ontogenetically distinct from those on long shoots. Short shoots are compact, with minimal internodal elongation; their leaves are supplied with water through mature branches. Long shoots extend the canopy and have significant internodal elongation; their expanding leaves receive water from a shoot that is itself maturing. Morphology, stomatal traits, hydraulic architecture, Huber values, water transport efficiency, in situ gas exchange and laboratory-based steady-state hydraulic conductance were examined for each leaf type. Both structure and physiology differed markedly between the two leaf types. Short-shoot leaves were thinner and had higher vein density, lower stomatal pore index, smaller bundle sheath extensions and lower hydraulic conductance than long-shoot leaves. Long shoots had lower xylem area:leaf area ratios than short shoots during leaf expansion, but this ratio was reversed at shoot maturity. Long-shoot leaves had higher rates of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration than short-shoot leaves. We propose that structural differences between the two G. biloba leaf types reflect greater hydraulic limitation of long-shoot leaves during expansion. In turn, differences in physiological performance of short- and long-shoot leaves correspond to their distinct ontogeny and architecture.     

中国东部南北样带暖温带区栎属树种叶片形态性状对气候条件的响应

植物叶片的形态性状能够有效地反映生存环境的变化, 并且影响植物的基本行为和功能。该研究通过获取植物标本提供的叶片形态信息, 结合相关分析和标准化主轴分析, 探讨了南北样带暖温带区栎属(Quercus)树种叶片形态性状对气候条件的响应及适应策略。结果表明: 在南北样带暖温带区, 随着气候条件的变化, 栎属树种的叶片形态性状发生显著的变化。随着年平均气温的降低和年日照时数的增加, 栎属树种叶面积增加, 以利于吸收更多的光照辐射, 并增加叶片的边界层阻力, 减少叶片热量的散失; 而叶片分裂程度的增加不仅可以降低热量的散失, 也可以提高叶片液流的波动以增强叶片的生理活动; 叶脉密度随温度的升高、光照强度和降水量的增加而增加, 以响应叶片蒸腾作用的增强, 提高水分的运输能力和叶片的支撑能力。此外, 为适应南北样带暖温带区气候条件的变化, 栎属树种的叶片形成了一系列的形态性状组合, 随着叶面积的增加, 叶柄长度和叶片分裂程度逐渐增加, 而叶脉密度降低; 随着叶片倾向于向长条状发展, 叶柄长度和叶脉密度也随之增加。     

Differential leaf expansion can enable hydraulic acclimation to sun and shade

Although leaf size is one of the most responsive plant traits to environmental change, the functional benefits of large versus small leaves remain unclear. We hypothesized that modification of leaf size within species resulting from differences in irradiance can allow leaves to acclimate to different photosynthetic or evaporative conditions while maintaining an efficient balance between hydraulic supply (vein density) and evaporative demand. To test this, we compared the function and anatomy of leaf hydraulic systems in the leaves of a woody angiosperm (Toona ciliata M. Roem.) grown under high and low irradiance in controlled conditions. Our results confirm that in this species, differential leaf expansion regulates the density of veins and stomata such that leaf hydraulic conductance and stomatal conductance remain proportional. A broader sample of field-grown tree species suggested that differences in leaf venation and stomatal traits induced by sun and shade were not regulated by leaf size in all cases. Our results, however, suggest that leaf size plasticity can provide an efficient way for plants to acclimate hydraulic and stomatal conductances to the contrasting evaporative conditions of sun and shade.     

树冠位置对香樟叶形态性状和异速生长关系的影响

为深入了解树冠位置对植物叶形态性状的影响,在常绿乔木香樟树冠上下2层和东南西北4个方位开展调查取样,系统分析了不同树冠位置间叶形态性状(叶长、叶宽、叶厚、叶柄长、叶柄直径和叶形指数)及其异速生长关系的差异性。结果表明,叶形态性状在不同树冠方位间均差异显著,但上下2层变化趋势不完全一致。在树冠上层,除叶形指数和叶炳长外,其余4个性状均表现为东侧最大。在树冠下层,除叶形指数外,其余5个性状指标均表现为东侧最小。在同一方位上,叶形态性状在上下2层间也存在一定差异,其中叶形指数多为下层高于上层,而其他形态性状多呈相反趋势。此外,树冠层次和方位的交互作用对叶片长、叶片厚、叶柄长和叶柄直径有显著影响。各层次和各方位叶形态性状间多为异速生长关系(即异速生长指数不等于1),且多无显著差异。在所有树冠层次和树冠方位,叶宽与叶厚、叶宽与叶炳长、叶长与叶厚及叶长与叶柄长之间均呈异速生长关系。可见,树冠位置对香樟叶形态性状的影响较大,但形态性状间的异速生长关系相对稳定,这是香樟叶形态性状表型可塑性和内在关系稳定性的重要体现。     

Plastic leaf morphology in three species of Quercus: The more exposed leaves are smaller,more lobated and denser

Phenotypic plasticity and developmental instability in leaf traits are common in oak species but the role of environmental factors is not well understood. To decipher possible correlations between different leaf traits and effects of the position of leaves within the tree canopy, we quantified the plasticity of three leaf traits of 30 trees of Quercus alba L., Quercus palustris Muench and Quercus velutina Lam. We hypothesized that trees could modify the shape of their leaves for better adaptation to the variable microclimate within the canopy. Our results demonstrated that the south and north outer leaves were significantly smaller, more lobed and denser than those situated in the inner canopy. The order of leaves on the branch accounted for the plasticity of leaf traits in Q. alba only. Plasticity of lobing in Q. alba and Q. velutina depended on the height of the trees. We detected fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in all three species, but the source of variation depended on branch position in Q. velutina only. FA was more pronounced in north-facing leaves. Plasticity of the leaf traits ranged from small to medium. Plasticity of leaf area and leaf mass per area (LMA) depended on the branch position. However, the plasticity of lobation was not affected by the location of a branch within the tree canopy. Quercus alba and Q. palustris had similar plastic responses but the plasticity of Q. velutina was significantly smaller. We concluded that individual plants detect and cope with environmental stress through vegetative organ modification.     

光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗生长及形态特征的影响

对生长于不同光照环境(林内和林外)下的蒙古栎幼苗的形态特征进行了比较.结果表明,光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗的生物量及其分配具有明显影响,林外幼苗单株生物量为林外的4.48倍,其中以根系生物量的差别为最大,林外为林内的6.23倍;林外与林内幼苗根冠比分别为2.70和1.11.在不同的光照条件下,蒙古栎幼苗的叶片形态表现出明显不同,林外叶片比叶面积明显低于林内,分别为139.55cm2/g 和284.94cm2/g,林内约为林外的2.04倍;一次生长叶面积林外明显低于林内,总叶面积则高于林内.二次生长使蒙古栎幼苗的叶面积有明显增加,但是经过二次生长后,幼苗的单株生物量没有明显增加,说明二次生长叶片对于蒙古栎幼苗生物量的积累没有明显贡献;光照对于蒙古栎主干及根系的形态具有明显影响,林外幼苗高(包括二次生长)明显低于林内幼苗,而地径则相反,林外幼苗根系的长度和直径则明显高于林内幼苗;林外幼苗顶芽体积明显大于林内幼苗.同时,林外幼苗的二次生长导致顶芽体积明显下降,从而对翌年的高生长量和未来干型产生影响.认为,蒙古栎幼苗通过形态上的一系列可塑性变化来适应不同的光环境以获取最大的碳收益.     

叶片结构的水力学特性对植物生理功能影响的研究进展

叶片是植物进行光合、呼吸、蒸腾作用的主要器官, 早期的研究主要集中于水分在叶片中的运输路径, 而对叶脉结构及其生态学意义研究甚少。近年来关于叶片叶脉结构、气孔结构的功能及叶片水力学特性的意义研究已经成为植物生理生态的研究热点。该文综述了叶脉的结构性状的指标(叶脉密度、直径、间距等), 叶片水力学结构特性对植物生长、水分运输、气体交换、光合作用等生理功能的影响, 及其与植物对干旱适应性之间的关系。叶脉结构是决定叶片生理功能的基础, 因此在未来的工作中应分析比较不同种类植物叶脉结构形态与导水、光合、呼吸、同化作用之间的关系, 建立植物茎干-枝-叶系统水力传导的机理性模型, 用以探索不同植物功能结构和高效用水生理生态学机制, 据此评估不同种类植物在未来气候情景下的地位。     

散孔材与环孔材树种枝干、叶水力学特性的比较研究

为揭示散孔材与环孔材树种树木水分生理特性的差异,选取了常见的3种散孔材落叶树种(毛白杨、法国梧桐和樱花)和3种环孔材落叶树种(刺槐、合欢和白蜡),研究了其枝干与叶水力学性质的差异及其协调性。结果表明:3种环孔材树种枝干横截面积基础上的最大比导水率(Ks-max)大于3种散孔材树种,但其木质部对空穴化的脆弱性(P50branch)高于散孔材树种,6种树木枝干的水分传输能力和抵抗空穴化能力之间存在一种相互制约的权衡关系。3种散孔材与3种环孔材树种的叶最大水力导度(Kl-max)和水力脆弱性(P50leaf)并无显著差异;对于3种散孔材树种,叶的水力脆弱性要高于枝干,但对3种环孔材树种而言,枝干的水力脆弱性要高于叶。6种树木枝干和叶的水力学性质(Kmax、P50)之间并无相关关系。这些结果表明:散孔材与环孔材树种的枝干水力学特性有明显差异,但叶水力学特性无差异;枝干与叶水力学性质之间是相互独立的。     

Vertical variation and economic strategy of leaf trait of major tree species in a typical mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest

分析不同树种叶片性状的变化有助于了解植物群落结构。该文通过对典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林15种阔叶树种的比叶质量、叶片厚度、叶干物质含量、叶绿素含量指数、叶片碳、氮、磷含量的测定, 分析了冠层高度对叶性状及叶性状间相关关系的影响。结果表明, 水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)和大青杨(Populus ussuriensis)上层的比叶质量显著大于下层, 而其他树种冠层间的比叶质量无显著变化; 叶绿素含量指数在白桦(Betula platyphylla)和春榆(Ulmus japonica)冠层间的分布分别为上层显著大于下层和上层显著大于中层; 单位质量氮含量在水曲柳的中层显著大于上层。叶片性状间存在着广泛的相关性, 比叶质量与叶片厚度、干物质含量在三层间均呈显著正相关关系, 而有些性状, 只在一或二个冠层中存在一定的相关性。山杨(Populus davidiana)和大青杨的叶片倾向于选择光合能力较低、营养浓度较低、呼吸速率较慢的一端, 而黄檗(Phellodendron amurense)和山槐(Maackia amurensis)叶片更倾向于光合能力强、营养物质浓度高的一端。不同树种对光照响应的差异可能会改变不同冠层中叶片的形态和化学性状, 从而有助于群落构建和物种共存。     

典型阔叶红松林主要树种叶性状的垂直变异及经济策略

分析不同树种叶片性状的变化有助于了解植物群落结构。该文通过对典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林15种阔叶树种的比叶质量、叶片厚度、叶干物质含量、叶绿素含量指数、叶片碳、氮、磷含量的测定, 分析了冠层高度对叶性状及叶性状间相关关系的影响。结果表明, 水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)和大青杨(Populus ussuriensis)上层的比叶质量显著大于下层, 而其他树种冠层间的比叶质量无显著变化; 叶绿素含量指数在白桦(Betula platyphylla)和春榆(Ulmus japonica)冠层间的分布分别为上层显著大于下层和上层显著大于中层; 单位质量氮含量在水曲柳的中层显著大于上层。叶片性状间存在着广泛的相关性, 比叶质量与叶片厚度、干物质含量在三层间均呈显著正相关关系, 而有些性状, 只在一或二个冠层中存在一定的相关性。山杨(Populus davidiana)和大青杨的叶片倾向于选择光合能力较低、营养浓度较低、呼吸速率较慢的一端, 而黄檗(Phellodendron amurense)和山槐(Maackia amurensis)叶片更倾向于光合能力强、营养物质浓度高的一端。不同树种对光照响应的差异可能会改变不同冠层中叶片的形态和化学性状, 从而有助于群落构建和物种共存。     

日本中部10种树木叶片中氮和磷的季节变化及其转移

从叶完全展开到生长季结束,对常绿阔叶树种日本米储、具柄冬青、铁冬青、红楠和海桐及落叶阔叶树种袍栎、栓皮栎、日本朴、银杏和日本树五加的叶N和P含量进行了测定．结果表明,在整个生长季中,常绿阔叶树种中的日本米储和铁冬青的新叶和老叶的N和P含量呈现初期高、中期较低、后期上升的趋势;具柄冬青和海桐新叶的N和P含量的变化趋势与日本米储和铁冬青相似,而其老叶的N和P含量随季节推移而逐渐下降;红楠新叶和老叶的N含量呈现上升的趋势,其新叶和老叶的P含量则呈下降趋势;落叶阔叶树种的叶N和P含量随着时间的推移不断减少．各树种的N转移率为43％～75％,P为62％～84％．常绿阔叶树种的N平均转移率与落叶阔叶树种相似,而其P平均转移率大于落叶阔叶树种．所有树种的N平均转移率小于P平均转移率．     

Herbivory in canopy gaps created by a typhoon varies by understory plant leaf phenology

1. Availabilities of light and soil nitrogen for understory plants vary by extent of canopy gap formation through typhoon disturbance. We predicted that variation in resource availability and herbivore abundance in canopy gaps would affect herbivory through variation in leaf traits among plant species. We studied six understory species that expand their leaves before or after canopy closure in deciduous forests. We measured the availabilities of light, soil nitrogen, soil water content, and herbivore abundance in 20 canopy gaps (28.3–607.6 m²) formed by a typhoon and in four undisturbed stands. We also measured leaf traits and herbivory on understory plants. 2. The availabilities of light and soil nitrogen increased with increasing gap size. However, soil water content did not. The abundance of herbivorous insects (such as Lepidoptera and Orthoptera) increased with increasing gap size. 3. Concentrations of condensed tannins, total phenolics, and nitrogen in leaves and the leaf mass per area increased in late leaf expansion species with increasing gap size, whereas none of the leaf traits varied by gap size in early leaf expansion species. 4. Herbivory increased on early leaf expansion species with increasing gap size, but decreased on late leaf expansion species. In these late leaf expansion species, total phenolics and C : N ratio had negative relationships with herbivory. 5. These results suggested that after typhoon disturbance, increased herbivory on early leaf expansion species can be explained by increased herbivore abundance, whereas decreased herbivory on late leaf expansion species can be explained by variation in leaf traits.     

南京地区落叶栎林主要木本植物的展叶动态研究

 植物的展叶过程是由自身遗传因子决定的,同时又受到多种生态因子的调节,反映了植物的生活史对策和群落物种多样性的维持机制。在2001和2002年的3～6月间,不定期记录了南京地区三个落叶栎(Quercus spp.)林中主要木本植物的展叶情况,包括被标记标准枝的叶数、叶的长度、宽度、叶面积、叶干重等参数。结果表明在所调查的落叶栎林中,林冠层物种的成熟叶面积和单位叶面积干重都显著大于林下层物种;最早展叶的物种为林下层物种,但林冠层展叶顺序与林下层无显著差异。叶面积越大、单位叶面积干重越小的物种展叶越晚;林冠层物种展叶较林下层快,物种成熟叶面积越大,展叶速率越大。最后对展叶顺序和展叶速度的生态学意义作了讨论。     

Climate and plant trait strategies determine tree carbon allocation to leaves and mediate future forest productivity

Forest leaf area has enormous leverage on the carbon cycle because it mediates both forest productivity and resilience to climate extremes. Despite widespread evidence that trees are capable of adjusting to changes in environment across both space and time through modifying carbon allocation to leaves, many vegetation models use fixed carbon allocation schemes independent of environment, which introduces large uncertainties into predictions of future forest responses to atmospheric CO₂ fertilization and anthropogenic climate change. Here, we develop an optimization‐based model, whereby tree carbon allocation to leaves is an emergent property of environment and plant hydraulic traits. Using a combination of meta‐analysis, observational datasets, and model predictions, we find strong evidence that optimal hydraulic–carbon coupling explains observed patterns in leaf allocation across large environmental and CO₂ concentration gradients. Furthermore, testing the sensitivity of leaf allocation strategy to a diversity in hydraulic and economic spectrum physiological traits, we show that plant hydraulic traits in particular have an enormous impact on the global change response of forest leaf area. Our results provide a rigorous theoretical underpinning for improving carbon cycle predictions through advancing model predictions of leaf area, and underscore that tree‐level carbon allocation to leaves should be derived from first principles using mechanistic plant hydraulic processes in the next generation of vegetation models.     

Physiological and morphological acclimation of shade-grown tree seedlings to late-season canopy gap formation

Because acclimation to canopy gaps may involve coordination of new leaf production with morphological or physiological changes in existing, shade-developed leaves, we examined both new leaf production and photosynthesis of existing leaves on shade-grown seedlings after exposure to a late-season canopy gap. Midway through the summer, we transferred potted, shade-grown seedlings of four co-occurring temperate deciduous tree species representing a range of shade-tolerance categories and leaf production strategies to gaps. Shade-tolerant Acer saccharum was the least responsive to gap conditions. It produced few new, high-light acclimated leaves and increases in photosynthetic rates of shade-developed leaves appeared stomatally limited. Intermediately shade-tolerant Fraxinus americana and Quercus rubra responded most, by producing new leaves and increasing photosynthetic rates of existing shade-developed leaves to levels not significantly different from gap-grown controls within four weeks of gap exposure. Shade-intolerant Liriodendron tulipifera was intermediate in response. In these species, the degree of shoot-level morphological acclimation (new leaf production) and leaf-level physiological acclimation (photosynthetic increases in existing leaves) appear coupled. Mechanisms of acclimation also appear related to intrinsic patterns of nitrogen use and mobilization, the ability to adjust stomatal conductance, and shade tolerance.     

Decline of leaf hydraulic conductance with dehydration: relationship to leaf size and venation architecture

Across plant species, leaves vary enormously in their size and their venation architecture, of which one major function is to replace water lost to transpiration. The leaf hydraulic conductance (K(leaf)) represents the capacity of the transport system to deliver water, allowing stomata to remain open for photosynthesis. Previous studies showed that K(leaf) relates to vein density (vein length per area). Additionally, venation architecture determines the sensitivity of K(leaf) to damage; severing the midrib caused K(leaf) and gas exchange to decline, with lesser impacts in leaves with higher major vein density that provided more numerous water flow pathways around the damaged vein. Because xylem embolism during dehydration also reduces K(leaf), we hypothesized that higher major vein density would also reduce hydraulic vulnerability. Smaller leaves, which generally have higher major vein density, would thus have lower hydraulic vulnerability. Tests using simulations with a spatially explicit model confirmed that smaller leaves with higher major vein density were more tolerant of major vein embolism. Additionally, for 10 species ranging strongly in drought tolerance, hydraulic vulnerability, determined as the leaf water potential at 50% and 80% loss of K(leaf), was lower with greater major vein density and smaller leaf size (|r| = 0.85-0.90; P < 0.01). These relationships were independent of other aspects of physiological and morphological drought tolerance. These findings point to a new functional role of venation architecture and small leaf size in drought tolerance, potentially contributing to well-known biogeographic trends in leaf size.     

闽楠叶形态与叶脉网络性状关系对城市生长环境的响应

植物叶形态与叶脉网络功能性状的协同变异与权衡关系,对深入理解植物叶脉网络功能性状对环境变异的生态适应,以及预测植物物种生活习性对城市化过程的响应具有重要意义。闽楠作为珍贵的常绿阔叶树种,正在城市绿化中逐步推广。针对不同生长环境中（行道与植物园混交林）的闽楠,开展了叶形态与叶脉网络功能性状关系对城市生长环境的响应研究。研究结果表明：闽楠叶性状值基本满足正态分布,各性状变异系数保持在10%-20%之间,群体内性状变异较为丰富,单因素方差分析表明两种环境对叶形态性状的影响比叶脉网络系统的影响更明显;两种生长环境下闽楠叶形态性状组与叶脉网络功能性状组都具有极显著相关性,行道和植物园混交林典型性相关系数分别为0.804和0.795,叶形态性状与叶脉直径呈显著正相关,形态性状、叶脉直径与初级脉密度呈显著负相关;闽楠在响应城市生长环境的过程中呈现出相应的经济权衡机制,行道环境中闽楠以较大的初级脉密度和较小叶面积来确保水分获取和光合之间的平衡,植物园闽楠则采用较低初级叶脉密度、较高叶面积和叶脉直径的叶形态和叶脉网络构建模式。在选择闽楠作为城市绿化树种时,可将叶片形态性状组与叶脉网络功能性状组的协同变化和权衡关系作为选种依据,以提高闽楠在城市环境中的成活率和适应性。     

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL PATTERNS OF SPECIFIC LEAF WEIGHT IN SUCCESSIONAL NORTHERN HARDWOOD TREE SPECIES

Temporal and spatial patterns of specific leaf weight (SLW, g/m²) were determined for deciduous hardwood tree species in natural habitats in northern lower Michigan to evaluate the utility of SLW as an index of leaf photosynthetic capacity. No significant diurnal changes in SLW were found. Specific leaf weight decreased and then increased during leaf expansion in the spring. Most species, especially those located in the understory, then had relatively constant SLW for most of the growing season, followed by a decline in SLW during autumn. Specific leaf weight decreased exponentially down through the canopy with increasing cumulative leaf area index. Red oak (Quercus rubra), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (A. saccharum), and beech (Fagus grandifolia) generally had successively lower SLW, for leaves at any one level in the canopy. On a given site, comparisons between years and comparisons of leaves growing within 35 cm of each other showed that differences in SLW among species were not due solely to microenvironmental effects on SLW. Bigtooth aspen, red oak, and red maple on lower-fertility sites had lower SLW than the same species on higher-fertility sites. Maximum CO₂ exchange rate, measured at light-saturation in ambient CO₂ and leaf temperatures of 20 to 25 C, increased with SLW. Photosynthetic capacities of species ranked by SLW in a shaded habitat suggest that red oak, red maple, sugar maple, and beech are successively better adapted to shady conditions.     

Response of leaf morphological traits of relict-endemic Symplocos species (S. coccinea and S. speciosa) to elevation and abiotic fluctuations

Abiotic fluctuations in montane ecosystems trigger changes in the hydric functional traits of tree species. These variations are better recognized in tree species inhabiting montane humid ravine slopes with different elevation, as is the case of many areas across the Mexican Neotropical montane forests. Little is known about the response of tree towards elevation gradients and abiotic changes. In this study, we analyzed the leaf morphological variation of two rare and Mexican endemic Symplocos species (S. coccinea and S. speciosa) occurring eastern Mexico on sites with different microclimate and elevation but similar floristic composition. We quantified how the abiotic factors (i.e. canopy openness, soil temperature, soil moisture, and litter depth) and site elevation influence the leaf traits of these tree species. Symplocos coccinea (with toothed leaf margins) is adapted to high humid conditions and high canopy coverage, while S. speciosa (with almost entire leaf margins) is resilient to environments with moisture deficit and high temperatures. Process-based research with fine-spatial scales at montane ecosystems are needed to understand the resilience and morphological variations of montane tree species under climate change worldwide. In this study, we confirmed that the Symplocos leaf morphological traits (i.e. leaf length, leaf width, leaf shape index, leaf base angle and vein density) are strongly influenced by abiotic conditions (i.e. canopy openness, litterfall depth, soil moisture and soil temperature).