The acquisitive-conservative axis of leaf trait variation emerges even in homogeneous environments.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The acquisitive-conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait covariation within species are scarcer, and have mostly dealt with variation in response to environmental gradients. Little work has been published on intraspecific patterns of leaf trait covariation in the absence of strong environmental variation.

Methods

We analysed covariation of four leaf functional traits [specific leaf area (SLA) leaf dry matter content (LDMC), force to tear (Ft) and leaf nitrogen content (Nm)] in six Poaceae and four Fabaceae species common in the dry Chaco forest of Central Argentina, growing in the field and i

SUBMITTER: Gorne LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9113165 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature