Table S2: Ecological significance and correlated traits for all traits with at least two observations in our database
Trait
Ecological significance and correlates
References
Bark thickness
Trunk insulation against fire, pathogen, frost and drought, and trunk
Vines 1968; Niklas 1999; Cornelissen et al. 2003; Chave &
mechanical strength
Muller-Landau 2006; Paine et al. 2010; Hodgson et al. 2011;
Brando et al. 2012; Dantas & Pausas 2013; PérezHarguindeguy et al. 2013
Lateral spread
Leaf C
Vegetative spread, clonal growth, tolerance to shade, tolerance to mowing,
Lavorel & Garnier 2002; Westoby & Wright 2006; Gross et
aboveground volume, competitive ability, persistence and flammability
al. 2007; Klimešová & De Bello 2009
Leaf palatability, leaf decomposability, leaf lignin, leaf lignin:N ratio, growth Poorter & Bergkotte 1992; Poorter et al. 1992; Enriquez et
rates, leaf density and leaf dry matter content
al. 1993; Schädler et al. 2003; Niinemets et al. 2007;
Fortunel et al. 2009
Leaf C:N
Leaf palatability to herbivores, leaf nutritional quality and leaf
Taylor et al. 1989; Schädler et al. 2003; Agrawal & Fishbein
decomposability
2006
Leaf dry matter Structural support of the leaf, anti-herbivory resistance, leaf decomposability, Cornelissen et al. 2003; Kazakou et al. 2006; Fortunel et al.
content
leaf lignin, leaf celluloses, leaf hemicelluloses, leaf tissue density, leaf life-
2009; Hodgson et al. 2011; Pérez-Harguindeguy et al. 2013
span , leaf toughness, relative growth rate of the plant, response to
disturbance, resource strategy and heat stress
Leaf K
leaf water content, leaf succulence, leaf water storage, leaf water
remobilization and leaf decomposability
Cornelissen & Thompson 1997; Cornelissen et al. 1997
Trait
Ecological significance and correlates
References
Leaf N
Leaf decomposability, leaf palatability, net photosynthetic capacity,
Taylor et al. 1989; Reich et al. 1992, 1997, 1999; Enriquez
maximum respiration rate, , mass-based maximum photosynthetic rate, leaf
et al. 1993; Cornelissen et al. 1997, 2003; Schädler et al.
diffusive conductance, leaf lignin:N ratio, leaf density, leaf dry matter
2003; Niinemets et al. 2007; Fortunel et al. 2009
content, leaf lifespan, relative growth rate and N availability in the soil,
Leaf N:P ratio
Leaf P
Limitation by soil N in relation to P, relative growth rate and biomass
Koerselman & Meuleman 1996; Güsewell 2004; Reich &
production
Oleksyn 2004
Leaf decomposability, nutritional quality to herbivores, relative growth rate
Enriquez et al. 1993; Cornelissen et al. 2003; Kazakou et al.
and P availability in the soil
2006
Leaf tissue
Photosynthetic potential per unit dry mass, concentrations of assimilative leaf Niinemets 2001; Westoby et al. 2002; Niinemets et al. 2007
density
compounds, intercellular transfer conductance to CO2, leaf elasticity, leaf
life-span, leaf N content, precipitation and solar irradiance.
Leaf δ13C
Water use efficiency, the ratio of internal to atmospheric CO2 concentration,
Damesin et al. 1998; Van de Water et al. 2002; Pérez-
pre-down water potential, leaf thickness, leaf N, stomatal conductance,
Harguindeguy et al. 2013
stomatal density, soil moisture, air temperature, atmospheric pCO2 and
atmospheric pO2
Plant height
Competitive vigor, whole plant fecundity, growth time between disturbances, Gaudet & Keddy 1988; Thomas & Bazzaz 1999; Cornelissen
photosynthetic behavior and probability of fire escape
et al. 2003; Wakeling et al. 2011; Higgins et al. 2012
Trait
Ecological significance and correlates
References
Specific leaf
Mechanical strength, leaf N, lignin content, leaf digestibility, leaf life-span,
Reich et al. 1997, 1999, 1992; Niinemets & Kull 1994;
area
leaf palatability, leaf decomposability, nutrient strategy, shade-tolerance,
Cornelissen et al. 1996, 2003, 2004; Poorter & De Jong
relative growth rate, maximum photosynthetic rate, maximum respiration
1999; Niinemets 2001; Westoby et al. 2002; Schädler et al.
rate, net photosynthetic capacity, leaf diffusive conductance, leaf thickness,
2003; Kazakou et al. 2006; Poorter et al. 2009; Hodgson et
leaf toughness, leaf tissue density, leaf habit, leaf succulence, submergence,
al. 2011
light availability, temperature, water stress and CO2 atmospheric
concentration
Wood density
Growth-survival tradeoff, vegetative recovery ratio, mechanical resistance
(Enquist et al. 1999; Santiago et al. 2004; Chave et al. 2006;
against physical damage, resistance against pathogen, water storage in the
Van Gelder et al. 2006; Curran et al. 2008; Poorter et al.
trunk, soil fertility, protection against mechanical damage, net CO2
2008; Pérez-Harguindeguy et al. 2013)
assimilation per unit leaf area, net CO2 assimilation per unit leaf mass,
hydraulic safety, precipitation and altitude
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