Intraspecific leaf trait variability along a boreal-to-tropical community diversity gradient.

ABSTRACT: Disentangling the mechanisms that shape community assembly across diversity gradients is a central matter in ecology. While many studies have explored community assembly through species average trait values, there is a growing understanding that intraspecific trait variation (ITV) can also play a critical role in species coexistence. Classic biodiversity theory hypothesizes that higher diversity at species-rich sites can arise from narrower niches relative to species-poor sites, which would be reflected in reduced ITV as species richness increases. To explore how ITV in woody plant communities changes with species richness, we compiled leaf trait data (leaf size and specific leaf area) in a total of 521 woody plant species from 21 forest communities that differed dramatically in species ri

SUBMITTER: Bastias CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5328268 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature