A worldwide analysis of within-canopy variations in leaf structural, chemical and physiological traits across plant functional types.

ABSTRACT: Extensive within-canopy light gradients importantly affect the photosynthetic productivity of leaves in different canopy positions and lead to light-dependent increases in foliage photosynthetic capacity per area (AA). However, the controls on AA variations by changes in underlying traits are poorly known. We constructed an unprecedented worldwide database including 831 within-canopy gradients with standardized light estimates for 304 species belonging to major vascular plant functional types, and analyzed within-canopy variations in 12 key foliage structural, chemical and physiological traits by quantitative separation of the contributions of different traits to photosynthetic acclimation. Although the light-dependent increase in AA is surprisingly similar in different plant functional ty

SUBMITTER: Niinemets U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5818144 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature