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Global effects of soil and climate on leaf photosynthetic traits and rates
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Research paper. Marie et al 2015.docx | Accepted version | 108.18 kB | Microsoft Word | View/Open |
Maire_etal_accepted_suppmat[1254].docx | Supporting information | 2.89 MB | Microsoft Word | View/Open |
Title: | Global effects of soil and climate on leaf photosynthetic traits and rates |
Authors: | Maire, V Wright, IJ Prentice, IC Batjes, NH Bhaskar, R Van Bodegom, PM Cornwell, WK Ellsworth, D Niinemets, U Ordonez, A Reich, PB Santiago, LS |
Item Type: | Journal Article |
Abstract: | Aim The influence of soil properties on photosynthetic traits in higher plants is poorly quantified in comparison with that of climate. We address this situation by quantifying the unique and joint contributions to global leaf‐trait variation from soils and climate. Location Terrestrial ecosystems world‐wide. Methods Using a trait dataset comprising 1509 species from 288 sites, with climate and soil data derived from global datasets, we quantified the effects of 20 soil and 26 climate variables on light‐saturated photosynthetic rate (Aarea), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf nitrogen and phosphorus (Narea and Parea) and specific leaf area (SLA) using mixed regression models and multivariate analyses. Results Soil variables were stronger predictors of leaf traits than climatic variables, except for SLA. On average, Narea, Parea and Aarea increased and SLA decreased with increasing soil pH and with increasing site aridity. gs declined and Parea increased with soil available P (Pavail). Narea was unrelated to total soil N. Joint effects of soil and climate dominated over their unique effects on Narea and Parea, while unique effects of soils dominated for Aarea and gs. Path analysis indicated that variation in Aarea reflected the combined independent influences of Narea and gs, the former promoted by high pH and aridity and the latter by low Pavail. Main conclusions Three environmental variables were key for explaining variation in leaf traits: soil pH and Pavail, and the climatic moisture index (the ratio of precipitation to potential evapotranspiration). Although the reliability of global soil datasets lags behind that of climate datasets, our results nonetheless provide compelling evidence that both can be jointly used in broad‐scale analyses, and that effects uniquely attributable to soil properties are important determinants of leaf photosynthetic traits and rates. A significant future challenge is to better disentangle the covarying physiological, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that underpin trait–environment relationships. |
Issue Date: | 1-Jun-2015 |
Date of Acceptance: | 1-Apr-2015 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/69844 |
DOI: | https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12296 |
ISSN: | 1466-822X |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Start Page: | 706 |
End Page: | 717 |
Journal / Book Title: | Global Ecology and Biogeography |
Volume: | 24 |
Issue: | 6 |
Copyright Statement: | © 2015 John Wiley & Sons. This is the accepted version of the article, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12296 |
Keywords: | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Ecology Geography, Physical Environmental Sciences & Ecology Physical Geography Least-cost theory of photosynthesis nitrogen phosphorus photosynthesis plant functional traits soil fertility soil pH stomatal conductance ECONOMICS SPECTRUM NITROGEN NUTRIENT WATER VARIABILITY PHOSPHORUS CARBON PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURE PATTERNS 0602 Ecology 0501 Ecological Applications |
Publication Status: | Published |
Online Publication Date: | 2015-04-07 |
Appears in Collections: | Department of Life Sciences Grantham Institute for Climate Change |