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The worldwide leaf economics spectrum
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 07:55 authored by Wright, IJ, Reich, PB, Westoby, M, Ackerly, DD, Baruch, Z, Bongers, F, Cavender-Bares, J, Chapin, T, Cornelissen, JHC, Diemer, M, Flexas, J, Garnier, E, Groom, PK, Gulias, J, Hikosaka, K, Lamont, BB, Lee, T, Lee, W, Lusk, C, Midgley, JJ, Navas, ML, Niinemets, U, Oleksyn, J, Osada, N, Poorter, H, Poot, P, Lynda PriorLynda Prior, Pyankov, VI, Roumet, C, Thomas, SC, Tjoelker, MG, Veneklaas, EJ, Villar, RBringing together leaf trait data spanning 2,548 species and 175 sites we describe, for the first time at global scale, a universal spectrum of leaf economics consisting of key chemical, structural and physiological properties. The spectrum runs from quick to slow return on investments of nutrients and dry mass in leaves, and operates largely independently of growth form, plant functional type or biome. Categories along the spectrum would, in general, describe leaf economic variation at the global scale better than plant functional types, because functional types overlap substantially in their leaf traits. Overall, modulation of leaf traits and trait relationships by climate is surprisingly modest, although some striking and significant patterns can be seen. Reliable quantification of the leaf economics spectrum and its interaction with climate will prove valuable for modelling nutrient fluxes and vegetation boundaries under changing land-use and climate.
History
Publication title
NatureVolume
428Issue
6985Pagination
821-827ISSN
0028-0836Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan St, London, England, N1 9XwRights statement
Copyright © 2004 Nature Publishing GroupRepository Status
- Restricted