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The global spectrum of plant form and function
Title: | The global spectrum of plant form and function |
Authors: | Diaz, S Kattge, J Cornelissen, JHC Wright, IJ Lavorel, S Dray, S Reu, B Kleyer, M Wirth, C Prentice, IC Garnier, E Boenisch, G Westoby, M Poorter, H Reich, PB Moles, AT Dickie, J Gillison, AN Zanne, AE Chave, J Wright, SJ Sheremet'ev, SN Jactel, H Baraloto, C Cerabolini, B Pierce, S Shipley, B Kirkup, D Casanoves, F Joswig, JS Guenther, A Falczuk, V Rueger, N Mahecha, MD Gorne, LD |
Item Type: | Journal Article |
Abstract: | Earth is home to a remarkable diversity of plant forms and life histories, yet comparatively few essential trait combinations have proved evolutionarily viable in today’s terrestrial biosphere. By analysing worldwide variation in six major traits critical to growth, survival and reproduction within the largest sample of vascular plant species ever compiled, we found that occupancy of six-dimensional trait space is strongly concentrated, indicating coordination and trade-offs. Three-quarters of trait variation is captured in a two-dimensional global spectrum of plant form and function. One major dimension within this plane reflects the size of whole plants and their parts; the other represents the leaf economics spectrum, which balances leaf construction costs against growth potential. The global plant trait spectrum provides a backdrop for elucidating constraints on evolution, for functionally qualifying species and ecosystems, and for improving models that predict future vegetation based on continuous variation in plant form and function. |
Issue Date: | 23-Dec-2015 |
Date of Acceptance: | 26-Nov-2015 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/56792 |
DOI: | https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature16489 |
ISSN: | 0028-0836 |
Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
Start Page: | 167 |
End Page: | U73 |
Journal / Book Title: | Nature |
Volume: | 529 |
Issue: | 7585 |
Copyright Statement: | Copyright © 2015, Springer Nature |
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 LEAF ECONOMICS SPECTRUM RELATIVE GROWTH-RATE RAIN-FOREST TREES HAWAIIAN METROSIDEROS-POLYMORPHA TRAIT-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS KERNEL DENSITY-ESTIMATION FOLIAR NITROGEN ISOTOPES DRY-MATTER CONTENT SEED SIZE PHOTOSYNTHETIC CAPACITY Biodiversity Databases, Factual Genetic Variation Internationality Models, Biological Nitrogen Organ Size Phenotype Plant Development Plant Leaves Plant Physiological Phenomena Plant Stems Plants Reproduction Seeds Selection, Genetic Species Specificity MD Multidisciplinary General Science & Technology |
Publication Status: | Published |
Appears in Collections: | Department of Life Sciences Grantham Institute for Climate Change Faculty of Natural Sciences |