Leaf economics and plant hydraulics drive leaf : wood area ratios
Mencuccini, Maurizio (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Rosas, Teresa (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Rowland, Lucy (University of Exeter. College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Choat, Brendan (University of Western Sydney. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment)
Cornelissen, J. H. C. (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Department of Ecological Science)
Jansen, Steven (Ulm University. Institue of Systematic Botany and Ecology)
Kramer, Koen (Wageningen University and Research)
Lapenis, Andrei (University at Albany. Department of Geography)
Manzoni, Stefano (Stockholm University. Bolin Centre for Climate Research)
Niinemets, Ülo (Estonian University of Life Sciences)
Reich, Peter (Western Sydney University. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment)
Schrodt, Franziska (University of Nottingham. School of Geography)
Soudzilovskaia, Nadejda (Leiden University. Institute of Environmental Sciences)
Wright, Ian J (Macquarie University. Department of Biological Sciences)
Martínez Vilalta, Jordi 1975- (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	Biomass and area ratios between leaves, stems and roots regulate many physiological and ecological processes. The Huber value Hv (sapwood area/leaf area ratio) is central to plant water balance and drought responses. However, its coordination with key plant functional traits is poorly understood, and prevents developing trait-based prediction models. - Based on theoretical arguments, we hypothesise that global patterns in Hv of terminal woody branches can be predicted from variables related to plant trait spectra, that is plant hydraulics and size and leaf economics. - Using a global compilation of 1135 species-averaged Hv, we show that Hv varies over three orders of magnitude. Higher Hv are seen in short small-leaved low-specific leaf area (SLA) shrubs with low Ks in arid relative to tall large-leaved high-SLA trees with high Ks in moist environments. All traits depend on climate but climatic correlations are stronger for explanatory traits than Hv. Negative isometry is found between Hv and Ks, suggesting a compensation to maintain hydraulic supply to leaves across species. - This work identifies the major global drivers of branch sapwood/leaf area ratios. Our approach based on widely available traits facilitates the development of accurate models of above-ground biomass allocation and helps predict vegetation responses to drought.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación CGL2017-89149-C2-1-RRP Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2013-46808-R
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Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Biomechanics ; Corner's rules ; Huber value ; Leaf economics spectrum ; Leaf size ; Trait trade-off ; Wood density ; Xylem hydraulics
Published in:	The new phytologist, Vol. 224, issue 4 (December 2019) , p. 1544-1556, ISSN 1469-8137

DOI: 10.1111/nph.15998

Postprint 36 p, 948.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles