High-dimensional coexistence of temperate tree species: functional traits, demographic rates, life-history stages, and their physical context.

ABSTRACT: Theoretical models indicate that trade-offs between growth and survival strategies of tree species can lead to coexistence across life history stages (ontogeny) and physical conditions experienced by individuals. There exist predicted physiological mechanisms regulating these trade-offs, such as an investment in leaf characters that may increase survival in stressful environments at the expense of investment in bole or root growth. Confirming these mechanisms, however, requires that potential environmental, ontogenetic, and trait influences are analyzed together. Here, we infer growth and mortality of tree species given size, site, and light characteristics from forest inventory data from Wisconsin to test hypotheses about growth-survival trade-offs given species functional trait values un

SUBMITTER: McMahon SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3031558 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature