The global spectrum of plant form and function

Sandra Díaz (), Jens Kattge, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen, Ian J. Wright, Sandra Lavorel, Stéphane Dray, Björn Reu, Michael Kleyer, Christian Wirth, I. Colin Prentice, Eric Garnier, Gerhard Bönisch, Mark Westoby, Hendrik Poorter, Peter B. Reich, Angela T. Moles, John Dickie, Andrew N. Gillison, Amy E. Zanne, Jérôme Chave, S. Joseph Wright, Serge N. Sheremet’ev, Hervé Jactel, Christopher Baraloto, Bruno Cerabolini, Simon Pierce, Bill Shipley, Donald Kirkup, Fernando Casanoves, Julia S. Joswig, Angela Günther, Valeria Falczuk, Nadja Rüger, Miguel D. Mahecha and Lucas D. Gorné
Additional contact information
Sandra Díaz: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Jens Kattge: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Johannes H. C. Cornelissen: Systems Ecology, Vrije Universiteit
Ian J. Wright: Macquarie University
Sandra Lavorel: Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR 5553, CNRS – Université Grenoble Alpes
Stéphane Dray: Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, Université Lyon 1, CNRS
Björn Reu: Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig
Michael Kleyer: Landscape Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg
Christian Wirth: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
I. Colin Prentice: Macquarie University
Eric Garnier: Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (UMR 5175), CNRS-Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE
Gerhard Bönisch: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Mark Westoby: Macquarie University
Hendrik Poorter: Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Peter B. Reich: University of Minnesota
Angela T. Moles: Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia
John Dickie: Collections , The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place
Andrew N. Gillison: Center for Biodiversity Management
Amy E. Zanne: George Washington University
Jérôme Chave: UMR 5174 Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS & Université Paul Sabatier
S. Joseph Wright: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Serge N. Sheremet’ev: Komarov Botanical Institute
Hervé Jactel: INRA, UMR1202 BIOGECO
Christopher Baraloto: International Center for Tropical Botany, Florida International University
Bruno Cerabolini: University of Insubria
Simon Pierce: University of Milan
Bill Shipley: Université de Sherbrooke
Donald Kirkup: Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis, Jodrell Building, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Fernando Casanoves: Unidad de Bioestadística, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
Julia S. Joswig: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Angela Günther: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Valeria Falczuk: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Nadja Rüger: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Miguel D. Mahecha: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Lucas D. Gorné: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Nature, 2016, vol. 529, issue 7585, 167-171

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/nature16489

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