Biomass and nitrogen content of petiole and rachis predict leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves of plants
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2023
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Abstract
Leaf functional traits play a significant role in the functioning and services of all terrestrial ecosystems. Com-pound pinnate leaves are divided into smaller leaflets in plants. A better prediction of leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves can help to understand fundamental functional mechanisms for plant leaf evolution and ecosystem from the perspective of compound pinnate leaves. Here, we explored leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves of plants based on biomass and nitrogen content of both petiole and rachis. A detailed field evaluation of leaflet, petiole and rachis from 63 plant species in 364 study plots was conducted across 92 sites along an altitudinal gradient of 1700 m to 4000 m. A generalized hierarchical and variation partitioning in linear mixed modelling was utilized to explore the relationships between leaflet trait variation (i.e., leaflet area, leaflet dry mass, specific leaflet area, and leaflet nitrogen content per unit dry mass) and biomass or nitrogen content of linear elements (i.e., both petiole and rachis). The results showed that the biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements can predict leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves depending on climate and phylogeny. Biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements had the strongest prediction performance on leaflet area and mass in regions with low temperature and high precipitation. Our results showed weak phylo-genetic conservatism for the prediction performance of leaf trait variation based on biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements. A potential model was developed to assess leaflet trait variation in compound pinnate leaves based on biomass and nitrogen content of linear elements. These findings will improve our understanding of functional trait variation, climate change impacts on biogeochemical cycles, and plant leaf evolution.
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Compound pinnate leaves, Leaf trait, Petiole, Phylogeny, Plant leaf evolution, Rachis