Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) has been widely used to estimate the intrinsic water-use
efficiency (iWUE) of plants in ecosystems around the world, providing an ultimate record of …

The nitrogen (N) economics of plants are generally described in terms of functional traits and
how these affect N availability in a given environment. However, recent studies have shown …

Plants live in association with a diversity of soil microorganisms, which are extremely
important in affecting plant growth and soil biogeochemical cycling. By adopting plant trait …

Plant functional traits are a representation of plant resource utilization strategies. Plants with
higher specific leaf area (SLA) and lower leaf dry matter content (LDMC) exhibit faster …

The frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme droughts, with devastating impacts on tree
growth and survival, have increased with climate change over the past decades. Assessing …

Tree performance depends on the coordinated functioning of interdependent leaves, stems
and (mycorrhizal) roots. Integrating plant organs and their traits, therefore, provides a more …

The rhizosphere priming effect (RPE), ie, the acceleration of soil organic matter
decomposition (SOM) by plant roots, plays a key role in the soil carbon (C) cycle and its …

The interspecific trade‐off between growth versus mortality rates of tree species is thought to
be driven by functional biology and to contribute to species ecological niche differentiation …

Fine roots balance multiple essential plant functions that ultimately fuel plant productivity.
The coordination of root functional traits is multidimensional, meaning that some traits are …

Introduction Tropical forests harbor a large diversity of closely related tree species that can
thrive across habitats. This biodiversity has been found to correspond to large functional …