Global relationships in tree functional traits

Daniel S. Maynard (), Lalasia Bialic-Murphy, Constantin M. Zohner, Colin Averill, Johan Hoogen, Haozhi Ma, Lidong Mo, Gabriel Reuben Smith, Alicia T. R. Acosta, Isabelle Aubin, Erika Berenguer, Coline C. F. Boonman, Jane A. Catford, Bruno E. L. Cerabolini, Arildo S. Dias, Andrés González-Melo, Peter Hietz, Christopher H. Lusk, Akira S. Mori, Ülo Niinemets, Valério D. Pillar, Bruno X. Pinho, Julieta A. Rosell, Frank M. Schurr, Serge N. Sheremetev, Ana Carolina Silva, Ênio Sosinski, Peter M. Bodegom, Evan Weiher, Gerhard Bönisch, Jens Kattge and Thomas W. Crowther
Additional contact information
Daniel S. Maynard: ETH Zürich
Lalasia Bialic-Murphy: ETH Zürich
Constantin M. Zohner: ETH Zürich
Colin Averill: ETH Zürich
Johan Hoogen: ETH Zürich
Haozhi Ma: ETH Zürich
Lidong Mo: ETH Zürich
Gabriel Reuben Smith: ETH Zürich
Alicia T. R. Acosta: Roma Tre University
Isabelle Aubin: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Erika Berenguer: University of Oxford
Coline C. F. Boonman: Radboud University
Jane A. Catford: King’s College London
Bruno E. L. Cerabolini: University of Insubria
Arildo S. Dias: Goethe University, Institute for Physical Geography
Andrés González-Melo: Universidad del Rosario
Peter Hietz: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Christopher H. Lusk: University of Waikato
Akira S. Mori: The University of Tokyo
Ülo Niinemets: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Valério D. Pillar: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Bruno X. Pinho: Univ Montpellier, INRAe, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD
Julieta A. Rosell: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán
Frank M. Schurr: University of Hohenheim
Serge N. Sheremetev: Komarov Botanical Institute
Ana Carolina Silva: Santa Catarina State University
Ênio Sosinski: Embrapa Clima Temperado
Peter M. Bodegom: Leiden University
Evan Weiher: University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Gerhard Bönisch: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Jens Kattge: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Thomas W. Crowther: ETH Zürich

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Due to massive energetic investments in woody support structures, trees are subject to unique physiological, mechanical, and ecological pressures not experienced by herbaceous plants. Despite a wealth of studies exploring trait relationships across the entire plant kingdom, the dominant traits underpinning these unique aspects of tree form and function remain unclear. Here, by considering 18 functional traits, encompassing leaf, seed, bark, wood, crown, and root characteristics, we quantify the multidimensional relationships in tree trait expression. We find that nearly half of trait variation is captured by two axes: one reflecting leaf economics, the other reflecting tree size and competition for light. Yet these orthogonal axes reveal strong environmental convergence, exhibiting correlated responses to temperature, moisture, and elevation. By subsequently exploring multidimensional trait relationships, we show that the full dimensionality of trait space is captured by eight distinct clusters, each reflecting a unique aspect of tree form and function. Collectively, this work identifies a core set of traits needed to quantify global patterns in functional biodiversity, and it contributes to our fundamental understanding of the functioning of forests worldwide.

Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30888-2

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30888-2

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