Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2015, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (2): 206-216.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0020

Special Issue: 稳定同位素生态学 青藏高原植物生态学:群落生态学

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles    

A review of research on responses of leaf traits to climate change

WANG Chang-Shun1,3, WANG Shi-Ping1,2,*()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    2Center of Excellence of the Tibetan Plateau Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    3University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2014-09-16 Accepted:2015-01-10 Online:2015-02-01 Published:2015-03-10
  • Contact: Shi-Ping WANG
  • About author:

    # Co-first authors

Abstract:

Leaf traits reflect the highly adaptable and self-regulatory capacity of plants to complex environmental conditions. That how they respond to climate change is one of key topics in studies of plant adaptability. This review synthesizes the current understanding on the responses of leaf size, specific leaf mass, leaf nitrogen content and carbon isotopes to climate change. The responses of leaf traits to climate change vary with different leaf structures and ecological properties. Thus, a single leaf trait cannot be used to fully reflect the responses of plants to climate change. There are still a lot of uncertainties concerning the effects of climate change on leaf traits under different scales. Studies are relatively lacking in the alpine region. This review helps us to better understand the relationships between leaf traits and climate as well as the responses and adaptation of plants to climate change. It is critical to predict the variations and evolutionary strategies of plants in response to future climate change.

Key words: leaf size, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen content, carbon isotope