Causes of Ecological Gradients in Leaf Margin Entirety: Evaluating the Roles of Biomechanics, Hydraulics, Vein Geometry, and Bud Packing
Givnish TJ and Kriebel R. 2017. Causes of Ecological Gradients in Leaf Margin Entirety: Evaluating the Roles of Biomechanics, Hydraulics, Vein Geometry, and Bud Packing. American Journal of Botany
CONCLUSION: We outline a synthetic model showing how biomechanics, hydraulics, vein geometry, rates of leaf expansion, and length of development within resting buds, all tied to leaf thickness, drive patterns in the distribution of entire vs. non-entire leaf margins. Our model accounts for dominance of entire margins in the tropics, Mediterranean scrub, and tundra, non-entire margins in cold temperate deciduous forests and tropical vines and early-successional trees, and entire leaf margins in monocots. Spinose-toothed leaves should be favored in short-statured evergreen trees and shrubs, primarily in Mediterranean scrub and related semiarid habitats.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Givnish, Thomas; Kriebel, Ricardo
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- adaptation, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, convergence, development, entire leaf margins, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00155, logistic regression, non-entire leaf margins, SER, Southeast Region