Large-scale climatic and geophysical controls on the leaf economics spectrum

Leaf economics spectrum (LES) theory suggests a universal trade-off between resource acquisition and storage strategies in plants, expressed in relationships between foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), leaf mass per area (LMA), and photosynthesis. However, how environmental conditions mediate LES trait interrelationships, particularly at large biospheric scales, remains unknown because of a lack of spatially explicit data, which ultimately limits our understanding of ecosystem processes, such as primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles. We used airborne imaging spectroscopy and geospatial modeling to generate, to our knowledge, the first biospheric maps of LES traits, here centered on 76 million ha of Andean and Amazonian forest, to assess climatic and geophysical determinants of LES traits and their interrelationships. Elevation and substrate were codominant drivers of leaf trait distributions. Multiple additional climatic and geophysical factors were secondary determinants of plant traits. Anticorrelations between N and LMA followed general LES theory, but topo-edaphic conditions strongly mediated and, at times, eliminated this classic relationship. We found no evidence for simple P–LMA or N–P trade-offs in forest canopies; rather, we mapped a continuum of N–P–LMA interactions that are sensitive to elevation and temperature. Our results reveal nested climatic and geophysical filtering of LES traits and their interrelationships, with important implications for predictions of forest productivity and acclimation to rapid climate change.

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The leaf economics spectrum’s morning coffee: plant size-dependent changes in leaf traits and reproductive onset in a perennial tree crop

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa199 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adam R Martin ◽

Marney E Isaac

Keyword(s):

Environmental Conditions ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Plant Size ◽

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Size Dependent ◽

Leaf Mass ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Reproductive Onset ◽

Leaf Economics

Abstract Background and Aims Size-dependent changes in plant traits are an important source of intraspecific trait variation. However, there are few studies that have tested if leaf trait co-variation and/or trade-offs follow a within-genotype leaf economics spectrum (LES) related to plant size and reproductive onset. To our knowledge, there are no studies on any plant species that have tested whether or not the shape of a within-genotype LES that describes how traits covary across whole plant sizes, is the same as the shape of a within-genotype LES that represents environmentally driven trait plasticity. Methods We quantified size-dependent variation in eight leaf traits in a single coffee genotype (Coffea arabica var. Caturra) in managed agroecosystems with different environmental conditions (light and fertilization treatments), and evaluated these patterns with respect to reproductive onset. We also evaluated if trait covariation along a within-genotype plant-size LES differed from a within-genotype environmental LES defined with trait data from coffee growing in different environmental conditions. Key Results Leaf economics traits related to resource acquisition – maximum photosynthetic rates (A) and mass-based leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations – declined linearly with plant size. Structural traits – leaf mass, leaf thickness, and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) – and leaf area increased with plant size beyond reproductive onset, then declined in larger plants. Three primary LES traits (mass-based A, leaf N and LMA) covaried across a within-genotype plant-size LES, with plants moving towards the ‘resource-conserving’ end of the LES as they grow larger; in coffee these patterns were nearly identical to a within-genotype environmental LES. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that a plant-size LES exists within a single genotype. Our findings indicate that in managed agroecosystems where resource availability is high the role of reproductive onset in driving within-genotype trait variability, and the strength of covariation and trade-offs among LES traits, are less pronounced compared with plants in natural systems. The consistency in trait covariation in coffee along both plant-size and environmental LES axes indicates strong constraints on leaf form and function that exist within plant genotypes.

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Overwintering evergreen oaks reverse typical relationships between leaf traits in a species spectrum

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.160276 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (7) ◽

pp. 160276 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hisanori Harayama ◽

Atsushi Ishida ◽

Jin Yoshimura

Keyword(s):

Leaf Traits ◽

Global Scale ◽

Carbon Gain ◽

Leaf Mass Per Area ◽

Nitrogen Allocation ◽

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Almost All ◽

Leaf Economics ◽

Evergreen Oaks

The leaf economics spectrum has given us a fundamental understanding of the species variations in leaf variables. Across plant species, tight correlations among leaf mass per area (LMA), mass-based nitrogen ( N m ) and photosynthetic rate ( A m ) and leaf lifespan have been well known as trade-offs in leaf carbon economy. However, the regional or biome-level correlations may not be necessary to correspond with the global-scale analysis. Here, we show that almost all leaf variables in overwintering evergreen oaks in Japan were relatively well included within the evergreen-broadleaved trees in worldwide temperate forests, but N m was more consistent with that in deciduous broadleaved trees. Contrary to the universal correlations, the correlation between A m and N m among the evergreen oaks was negative and the correlation between A m and LMA disappeared. The unique performance was due to specific nitrogen allocation within leaves, i.e. the evergreen oaks with later leaf maturation had lower N m but higher nitrogen allocation to photosynthetic enzymes within leaves, to enhance carbon gain against the delayed leaf maturation and the shortened photosynthetic period due to cold winters. Our data demonstrate that correlations between leaf variables in a local scale are occasionally different from averaged global-scale datasets, because of the constraints in each biome.

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Imaging Spectroscopic Analysis of Biochemical Traits for Shrub Species in Great Basin, USA

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs10101621 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1621 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yi Qi ◽

Susan Ustin ◽

Nancy Glenn

Keyword(s):

Great Basin ◽

Land Surface ◽

Imaging Spectroscopy ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Partial Least Square Regression ◽

Leaf Mass Per Area ◽

Shrub Species ◽

Biochemical Traits ◽

Airborne Imaging

The biochemical traits of plant canopies are important predictors of photosynthetic capacity and nutrient cycling. However, remote sensing of biochemical traits in shrub species in dryland ecosystems has been limited mainly due to the sparse vegetation cover, manifold shrub structures, and complex light interaction between the land surface and canopy. In order to examine the performance of airborne imaging spectroscopy for retrieving biochemical traits in shrub species, we collected Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer—Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) images and surveyed four foliar biochemical traits (leaf mass per area, water content, nitrogen content and carbon) of sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata) and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) in the Great Basin semi-desert ecoregion, USA, in October 2014 and May 2015. We examined the correlations between biochemical traits and developed partial least square regression (PLSR) models to compare spectral correlations with biochemical traits at canopy and plot levels. PLSR models for sagebrush showed comparable performance between calibration (R2: LMA = 0.66, water = 0.7, nitrogen = 0.42, carbon = 0.6) and validation (R2: LMA = 0.52, water = 0.41, nitrogen = 0.23, carbon = 0.57), while prediction for bitterbrush remained a challenge. Our results demonstrate the potential for airborne imaging spectroscopy to measure shrub biochemical traits over large shrubland regions. We also highlight challenges when estimating biochemical traits with airborne imaging spectroscopy data.

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Restoration ecologists might not get what they want: Global change shifts trade-offs among ecosystem functions

10.1101/2020.12.21.423790 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastian Fiedler ◽

José A.F. Monteiro ◽

Kristin B. Hulvey ◽

Rachel J. Standish ◽

Michael P. Perring ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Large Scale ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

List Type ◽

Trade Offs

ABSTRACTEcological restoration increasingly aims at improving ecosystem multifunctionality and making landscapes resilient to future threats, especially in biodiversity hotspots such as Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Successful realisation of such a strategy requires a fundamental mechanistic understanding of the link between ecosystem plant composition, plant traits and related ecosystem functions and services, as well as how climate change affects these relationships. An integrated approach of empirical research and simulation modelling with focus on plant traits can allow this understanding.Based on empirical data from a large-scale restoration project in a Mediterranean-type climate in Western Australia, we developed and validated the spatially explicit simulation model ModEST, which calculates coupled dynamics of nutrients, water and individual plants characterised by traits. We then simulated all possible combinations of eight plant species with different levels of diversity to assess the role of plant diversity and traits on multifunctionality, the provision of six ecosystem functions (covering three ecosystem services), as well as trade-offs and synergies among the functions under current and future climatic conditions.Our results show that multifunctionality cannot fully be achieved because of trade-offs among functions that are attributable to sets of traits that affect functions differently. Our measure of multifunctionality was increased by higher levels of planted species richness under current, but not future climatic conditions. In contrast, single functions were differently impacted by increased plant diversity. In addition, we found that trade-offs and synergies among functions shifted with climate change.Synthesis and application. Our results imply that restoration ecologists will face a clear challenge to achieve their targets with respect to multifunctionality not only under current conditions, but also in the long-term. However, once ModEST is parameterized and validated for a specific restoration site, managers can assess which target goals can be achieved given the set of available plant species and site-specific conditions. It can also highlight which species combinations can best achieve long-term improved multifunctionality due to their trait diversity.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Global leaf trait relationships: mass, area, and the leaf economics spectrum.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.718013252.793484193 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Bernhard Schmid ◽

Dan Flynn

Keyword(s):

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Leaf Trait ◽

Leaf Economics

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FUNDAMENTAL TRADE-OFFS GENERATING THE WORLDWIDE LEAF ECONOMICS SPECTRUM

Ecology ◽

10.1890/05-1051 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 535-541 ◽

Cited By ~ 305

Author(s):

Bill Shipley ◽

Martin J. Lechowicz ◽

Ian Wright ◽

Peter B. Reich

Keyword(s):

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Leaf Economics

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Relationships among leaf traits of Australian arid zone plants: alternative modes of thermal protection

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt11284 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 471 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Ellen M. Curtis ◽

Andrea Leigh ◽

Scott Rayburg

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Structural Damage ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Thermal Protection ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Leaf Mass Per Area ◽

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Leaf Trait ◽

Leaf Mass

Despite the importance of leaf traits that protect against critically high leaf temperatures, relationships among such traits have not been investigated. Further, while some leaf trait relationships are well documented across biomes, little is known about such associations within a biome. This study investigated relationships between nine leaf traits that protect leaves against excessively high temperatures in 95 Australian arid zone species. Seven morphological traits were measured: leaf area, length, width, thickness, leaf mass per area, water content, and an inverse measure of pendulousness. Two spectral properties were measured: reflectance of visible and near-infrared radiation. Three key findings emerged: (1) leaf pendulousness increased with leaf size and leaf mass per area, the former relationship suggesting that pendulousness affords thermal protection when leaves are large; (2) leaf mass per area increased with thickness and decreased with water content, indicating alternative means for protection through increasing thermal mass; (3) spectral reflectance increased with leaf mass per area and thickness and decreased with water content. The consistent co-variation of thermal protective traits with leaf mass per area, a trait not usually associated with thermal protection, suggests that these traits fall along the leaf economics spectrum, with leaf longevity increasing through protection not only against structural damage but also against heat stress.

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Leaf economics explained by optimality principles

10.1101/2021.02.07.430028 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Han Wang ◽

I. Colin Prentice ◽

Ian J. Wright ◽

Shengchao Qiao ◽

Xiangtao Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Empirical Support ◽

Woody Species ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Carbon Gain ◽

Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽

Leaf Trait ◽

Growing Season Length ◽

Environmental Selection ◽

Optimality Principles ◽

Leaf Economics

SUMMARYThe worldwide leaf economics spectrum relates leaf lifespan (LL) to leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA)1. By combining three well-supported principles2–4, we show that an isometric relationship between these two quantities maximizes the leaf’s net carbon gain. This theory predicts a spectrum of equally competent LMA-LL combinations in any given environment, and how their optimal ratio varies across environments. By analysing two large, independent leaf-trait datasets for woody species1,5, we provide quantitative empirical support for the predicted dependencies of LL on LMA and environment in evergreen plants, and for the distinct predicted dependencies of LMA on light, temperature, growing-season length and aridity in evergreen and deciduous plants. We thereby resolve the long-standing question of why deciduous LMA tends to increase (with increasing LL) towards the equator, while evergreen LMA and LL decrease6. We also show how the statistical distribution of LMA within communities can be modelled as an outcome of environmental selection on the global pool of species with diverse values of LMA and LL.

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