Are inter- and intraspecific variations of sapling crown traits consistent with a strategy promoting light capture in tropical moist forest?

ABSTRACT: Background and Aims Morphological variation in light-foraging strategies potentially plays important roles in efficient light utilization and carbon assimilation in spatially and temporally heterogeneous environments such as tropical moist forest understorey. By considering a suite of morphological traits at various hierarchical scales, we examined the functional significance of crown shape diversity and plasticity in response to canopy openness. Methods We conducted a field comparative study in French Guiana among tree saplings of 14 co-occurring species differing in light-niche optimum and breadth. Each leaf, axis or crown functional trait was characterized by a median value and a degree of plasticity expressed under contrasting light regimes. Key Results We found divergent patterns betw

SUBMITTER: Laurans M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055821 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature