Convergent Strategies for Leaf Traits in Tree Species From Divergent Habitats

Abstract

Plant trait expressions and their trade-offs reflect the responses and long-term ecological adaptation to environmental gradients. However, how such expressions and trade-offs help plants to acclimate to a new environment remains poorly understood, which is a fundamental preset for plants' survival under a global change scenario. By comparing the trait–trait relationships of 4403 tree species from different climatic regions and the variation in trait trade-offs of 746 tree species that have been transplanted to a tropical botanical garden for several decades, our results reveal convergent but consistent alteration in trait–trait relationships of trees transplanted from different climatic regions to a common environment. The convergent trends enhance the capability of tree species in buffering the impacts of climate change through allocating more resources to growth and tolerance. We propose that altered trait–trait relationships may be the key mechanisms that underlie the long-term ecological stability and resilience of tree species.