Leaf-trait variation explained by the hypothesis that plants maximize their canopy carbon export over the lifespan of leaves
-
Altmetric Citations
McMurtrie, Ross; Dewar, Roderick
Description
Measured values of four key leaf traits (leaf area per unit mass, nitrogen concentration, photosynthetic capacity, leaf lifespan) co-vary consistently within and among diverse biomes, suggesting convergent evolution across species. The same leaf traits co-vary consistently with the environmental conditions (light intensity, carbon-dioxide concentration, nitrogen supply) prevailing during leaf development. No existing theory satisfactorily explains all of these trends. Here, using a simple model...[Show more]
dc.contributor.author | McMurtrie, Ross | |
---|---|---|
dc.contributor.author | Dewar, Roderick | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-12-08T22:33:22Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0829-318X | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1885/34648 | |
dc.description.abstract | Measured values of four key leaf traits (leaf area per unit mass, nitrogen concentration, photosynthetic capacity, leaf lifespan) co-vary consistently within and among diverse biomes, suggesting convergent evolution across species. The same leaf traits co-vary consistently with the environmental conditions (light intensity, carbon-dioxide concentration, nitrogen supply) prevailing during leaf development. No existing theory satisfactorily explains all of these trends. Here, using a simple model of the carbon-nitrogen economy of trees, we show that global leaf-trait relationships and leaf responses to environmental conditions can be explained by the optimization hypothesis (MAXX) that plants maximize the total amount of carbon exported from their canopies over the lifespan of leaves. Incorporating MAXX into larger-scale vegetation models may improve their consistency with global leaf-trait relationships, and enhance their ability to predict how global terrestrial productivity and carbon sequestration respond to environmental change. | |
dc.publisher | Heron Publishing | |
dc.source | Tree Physiology | |
dc.subject | Keywords: carbon; carbon dioxide; nitrogen; biological production; biome; canopy exchange; carbon sequestration; forest ecosystem; global change; hypothesis testing; leaf; leaf area index; optimization; photosynthesis; article; biological model; carbon sequestratio canopy carbon export; forest model; global change; leaf lifespan; leaf-area index; leaf-trait relationships; maximization; nitrogen-use efficiency; optimal plant function; optimality; photosynthesis model; plant carbon-nitrogen economy; specific leaf area | |
dc.title | Leaf-trait variation explained by the hypothesis that plants maximize their canopy carbon export over the lifespan of leaves | |
dc.type | Journal article | |
local.description.notes | Imported from ARIES | |
local.identifier.citationvolume | First published online: June 6, 2011 | |
dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
local.identifier.absfor | 060705 - Plant Physiology | |
local.identifier.ariespublication | u4956746xPUB115 | |
local.type.status | Published Version | |
local.contributor.affiliation | McMurtrie, Ross, University of New South Wales | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Dewar, Roderick, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.description.embargo | 2037-12-31 | |
local.identifier.doi | 10.1093/treephys/tpr037 | |
local.identifier.absseo | 970106 - Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | |
dc.date.updated | 2016-02-24T11:26:49Z | |
local.identifier.scopusID | 2-s2.0-80053280311 | |
local.identifier.thomsonID | 000295183600012 | |
Collections | ANU Research Publications |
Download
File | Description | Size | Format | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
01_McMurtrie_Leaf-trait_variation_explained_2011.pdf | 1.11 MB | Adobe PDF | Request a copy |
Items in Open Research are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
Updated: 17 November 2022/ Responsible Officer: University Librarian/ Page Contact: Library Systems & Web Coordinator