Taxonomic, phylogenetic, and environmental trade‐offs between leaf productivity and persistence

• DOI: 10.1890/08-1126.1
• Publication Date: 2009-09-29T00:17:14Z
• Authors: Jin-Sheng He; Xiangping Wang; Dan F. B. Flynn; Liang Wang; Bernhard Schmid; Jingyun Fang
• Keywords: Trait; Trade-off; Specific leaf area

Assessing the influence of climate, soil fertility, and species identity on leaf trait relationships is crucial for understanding adaptations plants to their environment interpreting across spatial scales. In a comparative field study 171 plant in 174 grassland sites China, we examined trade-offs, defined as negative covariance between two traits, persistence (leaf mass per area, LMA) productivity (mass-based photosynthetic rate, Amass, N P content, use efficiency, PNUE). We asked which extent these trade-offs were influenced by: (1) variation among within species, decomposed into due climatic variables; (2) sites, taxonomic, functional, or phylogenetic groups; (3) joint contribution sites. used mixed-model analysis partition bivariate traits trade-off components. found significant mass-based persistence-productivity LMA-Amass, LMA-N, LMA-P, LMA-PNUE consistent with previous broadscale findings. Overall, explained 14-23%, 20-34%, together 42-63% total traits. Interspecific LMA-P stronger than inter-site ones. A relatively low amount was by variables. However, LMA-N at higher precipitation greater if displayed major axis regression, combined both intra- interspecific variation. Residual weak, suggesting that intraspecific, intra-site physiology less important imposed environmental differences Our results from biomes add evidence fundamental nature productivity-persistence plants. No individual factor emerged single cause trade-offs. Rather, combination factors, each contributing range explanatory power.