Relationships among ecologically important dimensions of plant trait variation in seven neotropical forests.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

When ecologically important plant traits are correlated they may be said to constitute an ecological 'strategy' dimension. Through identifying these dimensions and understanding their inter-relationships we gain insight into why particular trait combinations are favoured over others and into the implications of trait differences among species. Here we investigated relationships among several traits, and thus the strategy dimensions they represented, across 2134 woody species from seven Neotropical forests.

Methods

Six traits were studied: specific leaf area (SLA), the average size of leaves, seed and fruit, typical maximum plant height, and wood density (WD). Trait relationships were quantified across species at each individual forest as well as across th

SUBMITTER: Wright IJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2802905 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature