Components of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients

Ning Dong; Iain Colin Prentice; Ian J. Wright; Bradley J. Evans; Henrique F. Togashi; Stefan Caddy-Retalic; Francesca A. McInerney; Ben Sparrow; Emrys Leitch; Andrew J. Lowe

doi:10.1111/nph.16558

Components of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients

Ning Dong^*, Iain Colin Prentice, Ian J. Wright, Bradley J. Evans, Henrique F. Togashi, Stefan Caddy-Retalic, Francesca A. McInerney, Ben Sparrow, Emrys Leitch, Andrew J. Lowe

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Leaf area (LA), mass per area (LMA), nitrogen per unit area (N_area) and the leaf-internal to ambient CO₂ ratio (χ) are fundamental traits for plant functional ecology and vegetation modelling. Here we aimed to assess how their variation, within and between species, tracks environmental gradients.

Measurements were made on 705 species from 116 sites within a broad north–south transect from tropical to temperate Australia. Trait responses to environment were quantified using multiple regression; within- and between-species responses were compared using analysis of covariance and trait-gradient analysis.

Leaf area, the leaf economics spectrum (indexed by LMA and N_area) and χ (from stable carbon isotope ratios) varied almost independently among species. Across sites, however, χ and LA increased with mean growing-season temperature (mGDD₀) and decreased with vapour pressure deficit (mVPD₀) and soil pH. LMA and N_area showed the reverse pattern. Climate responses agreed with expectations based on optimality principles. Within-species variability contributed < 10% to geographical variation in LA but > 90% for χ, with LMA and N_area intermediate.

These findings support the hypothesis that acclimation within individuals, adaptation within species and selection among species combine to create predictable relationships between traits and environment. However, the contribution of acclimation/adaptation vs species selection differs among traits.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	82-94
Number of pages	13
Journal	New Phytologist
Volume	228
Issue number	1
Early online date	21 Mar 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16558
Publication status	Published - Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

acclimation
adaptation
intraspecific variation
leaf area
leaf economics spectrum
plant functional traits
species selection
trait-gradient analysis

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10.1111/nph.16558

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title = "Components of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients",

abstract = "Leaf area (LA), mass per area (LMA), nitrogen per unit area (Narea) and the leaf-internal to ambient CO2 ratio (χ) are fundamental traits for plant functional ecology and vegetation modelling. Here we aimed to assess how their variation, within and between species, tracks environmental gradients. Measurements were made on 705 species from 116 sites within a broad north–south transect from tropical to temperate Australia. Trait responses to environment were quantified using multiple regression; within- and between-species responses were compared using analysis of covariance and trait-gradient analysis. Leaf area, the leaf economics spectrum (indexed by LMA and Narea) and χ (from stable carbon isotope ratios) varied almost independently among species. Across sites, however, χ and LA increased with mean growing-season temperature (mGDD0) and decreased with vapour pressure deficit (mVPD0) and soil pH. LMA and Narea showed the reverse pattern. Climate responses agreed with expectations based on optimality principles. Within-species variability contributed < 10% to geographical variation in LA but > 90% for χ, with LMA and Narea intermediate. These findings support the hypothesis that acclimation within individuals, adaptation within species and selection among species combine to create predictable relationships between traits and environment. However, the contribution of acclimation/adaptation vs species selection differs among traits.",

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author = "Ning Dong and Prentice, {Iain Colin} and Wright, {Ian J.} and Evans, {Bradley J.} and Togashi, {Henrique F.} and Stefan Caddy-Retalic and McInerney, {Francesca A.} and Ben Sparrow and Emrys Leitch and Lowe, {Andrew J.}",

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AU - Dong, Ning

AU - Prentice, Iain Colin

AU - Wright, Ian J.

AU - Evans, Bradley J.

AU - Togashi, Henrique F.

AU - Caddy-Retalic, Stefan

AU - McInerney, Francesca A.

AU - Sparrow, Ben

AU - Leitch, Emrys

AU - Lowe, Andrew J.

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PY - 2020/10

Y1 - 2020/10

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AB - Leaf area (LA), mass per area (LMA), nitrogen per unit area (Narea) and the leaf-internal to ambient CO2 ratio (χ) are fundamental traits for plant functional ecology and vegetation modelling. Here we aimed to assess how their variation, within and between species, tracks environmental gradients. Measurements were made on 705 species from 116 sites within a broad north–south transect from tropical to temperate Australia. Trait responses to environment were quantified using multiple regression; within- and between-species responses were compared using analysis of covariance and trait-gradient analysis. Leaf area, the leaf economics spectrum (indexed by LMA and Narea) and χ (from stable carbon isotope ratios) varied almost independently among species. Across sites, however, χ and LA increased with mean growing-season temperature (mGDD0) and decreased with vapour pressure deficit (mVPD0) and soil pH. LMA and Narea showed the reverse pattern. Climate responses agreed with expectations based on optimality principles. Within-species variability contributed < 10% to geographical variation in LA but > 90% for χ, with LMA and Narea intermediate. These findings support the hypothesis that acclimation within individuals, adaptation within species and selection among species combine to create predictable relationships between traits and environment. However, the contribution of acclimation/adaptation vs species selection differs among traits.

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ER -

Components of leaf-trait variation along environmental gradients

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