The global spectrum of plant form and function

Abstract

Earth is home to a remarkable diversity of plant forms and life histories, yet comparatively few essential trait combinationshave proved evolutionarily viable in today?s terrestrial biosphere. By analysing worldwide variation in six major traitscritical to growth, survival and reproduction within the largest sample of vascular plant species ever compiled, we foundthat occupancy of six-dimensional trait space is strongly concentrated, indicating coordination and trade-offs. Threequartersof trait variation is captured in a two-dimensional global spectrum of plant form and function. One majordimension within this plane reflects the size of whole plants and their parts; the other represents the leaf economicsspectrum, which balances leaf construction costs against growth potential. The global plant trait spectrum provides abackdrop for elucidating constraints on evolution, for functionally qualifying species and ecosystems, and for improvingmodels that predict future vegetation based on continuous variation in plant form and function.