Leaf size estimation based on leaf length, width and shape.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Leaf size has considerable ecological relevance, making it desirable to obtain leaf size estimations for as many species worldwide as possible. Current global databases, such as TRY, contain leaf size data for ~30 000 species, which is only ~8% of known species worldwide. Yet, taxonomic descriptions exist for the large majority of the remainder. Here we propose a simple method to exploit information on leaf length, width and shape from species descriptions to robustly estimate leaf areas, thus closing this considerable knowledge gap for this important plant functional trait.

Methods

Using a global dataset of all major leaf shapes measured on 3125 leaves from 780 taxa, we quantified scaling functions that estimate leaf size as a product of leaf length, wid

SUBMITTER: Schrader J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8414912 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature