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Global climatic drivers of leaf size
Title: | Global climatic drivers of leaf size |
Authors: | Wright, IJ Dong, N Maire, V Prentice, IC Westoby, M Diaz, S Gallagher, RV Jacobs, BF Kooyman, R Law, EA Leishman, MR Niinemets, U Reich, PB Sack, L Villar, R Wang, H Wilf, P |
Item Type: | Journal Article |
Abstract: | Leaf size varies by over a 100,000-fold among species worldwide. Although 19th-century plant geographers noted that the wet tropics harbor plants with exceptionally large leaves, the latitudinal gradient of leaf size has not been well quantified nor the key climatic drivers convincingly identified. Here, we characterize worldwide patterns in leaf size. Large-leaved species predominate in wet, hot, sunny environments; small-leaved species typify hot, sunny environments only in arid conditions; small leaves are also found in high latitudes and elevations. By modeling the balance of leaf energy inputs and outputs, we show that daytime and nighttime leaf-to-air temperature differences are key to geographic gradients in leaf size. This knowledge can enrich “next-generation” vegetation models in which leaf temperature and water use during photosynthesis play key roles. |
Issue Date: | 1-Sep-2017 |
Date of Acceptance: | 2-Aug-2017 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/54224 |
DOI: | https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aal4760 |
ISSN: | 0036-8075 |
Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
Start Page: | 917 |
End Page: | 921 |
Journal / Book Title: | SCIENCE |
Volume: | 357 |
Issue: | 6354 |
Copyright Statement: | © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse. This is the author’s version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science on Vol. 357, Issue 6354, pp. 917-921 DOI: 10.1126/science.aal4760. This is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License (http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse?_ga=2.148216823.1378504448.1511865513-886351291.1511865513). |
Sponsor/Funder: | AXA Research Fund |
Funder's Grant Number: | AXA Chair Programme in Biosphere and Climate Impacts |
Keywords: | Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics PLANTS TEMPERATURES ENERGY LEAVES CONSTRAINTS ENVIRONMENT MORPHOLOGY PATTERNS RAINFALL TRAITS MD Multidisciplinary General Science & Technology |
Publication Status: | Published |
Appears in Collections: | Department of Life Sciences Faculty of Natural Sciences |