Leaf size and leaf display of thirty-eight tropical tree species.

Oecologia
Lourens Poorter, Danaë M A Rozendaal

Abstract

Trees forage for light through optimal leaf display. Effective leaf display is determined by metamer traits (i.e., the internode, petiole, and corresponding leaf), and thus these traits strongly co-determine carbon gain and as a result competitive advantage in a light-limited environment. We examined 11 metamer traits of sun and shade trees of 38 coexisting moist forest tree species and determined the relative strengths of intra- and interspecific variation. Species-specific metamer traits were related to two variables that represent important life history variation; the regeneration light requirements and average leaf size of the species. Metamer traits varied strongly across species and, in contrast to our expectation, showed only modest changes in response to light. Intra- and interspecific responses to light were only congruent for a third of the traits evaluated. Four traits, amongst which leaf size, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf area ratio at the metamer level (LAR) showed even opposite intra- and interspecific responses to light. Strikingly, these are classic traits that are thought to be of paramount importance for plant performance but that have completely different consequences within and across species. Sun tree...Continue Reading

References

Aug 17, 1999·Nature·M E Ritchie, H Olff
Apr 23, 2004·Nature·Ian J WrightRafael Villar
Nov 24, 2005·Journal of Experimental Botany·Hendrik PoorterChristian Körner
May 16, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Karl J NiklasIan J Wright
Apr 1, 2007·American Journal of Botany·Lars MarkesteijnFrans Bongers

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Citations

Jun 9, 2009·The New Phytologist·Céline LeroyRégis Céréghino
Apr 26, 2019·Journal of Plant Research·Itsuka HiranoKoichi Takahashi
May 22, 2018·Frontiers in Plant Science·Shuyan LinPeijian Shi
Jul 1, 2017·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Timothy E HighamKarl J Niklas
Feb 23, 2020·Frontiers in Plant Science·Roberta E MartinYadvinder Malhi
Dec 12, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Jun SunDongliang Cheng

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