Optimal biomass allocation to leaves across global terrestrial ecosystems
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Zhou, Boya
Prentice, Colin I
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Leaves influence global climate and water resources by regulating the flows of CO₂, energy, and water between
the atmosphere and land. Here we developed a theoretical framework that predicts the optimal annual fraction of
biomass production allocated to the production of new leaves (ηf) as the product of the optimal leaf area index
(LAI) and the optimal ratio of leaf mass–per–area to the leaf life cycle (LMA/LC), divided by annual total biomass
production (BP). All quantities depend on local environmental variables, with different solutions (embedding a climatic aridity effect on optimal LMA/LC) for evergreen and deciduous plants. Using a global compilation of ηf data, we show that this theory predicts the emergent responses of ηf to growing–season temperature and aridity. These responses arise from the trade–offs among the environmental sensitivities of LMA/LC, LAI, and BP. It is predicted that the rising CO₂ is steadily reducing the fraction of biomass production allocated to leaves.
the atmosphere and land. Here we developed a theoretical framework that predicts the optimal annual fraction of
biomass production allocated to the production of new leaves (ηf) as the product of the optimal leaf area index
(LAI) and the optimal ratio of leaf mass–per–area to the leaf life cycle (LMA/LC), divided by annual total biomass
production (BP). All quantities depend on local environmental variables, with different solutions (embedding a climatic aridity effect on optimal LMA/LC) for evergreen and deciduous plants. Using a global compilation of ηf data, we show that this theory predicts the emergent responses of ηf to growing–season temperature and aridity. These responses arise from the trade–offs among the environmental sensitivities of LMA/LC, LAI, and BP. It is predicted that the rising CO₂ is steadily reducing the fraction of biomass production allocated to leaves.
Date Acceptance
2026-09-28
Citation
Global Change Biology
ISSN
1354-1013
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Global Change Biology
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the author’s accepted manuscript will be made available under a CC-BY License in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy).
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted