Plant functional traits (FTs) determine growth, reproduction and survival strategies of plants adapted to their growth environment. Exploring global geographic patterns of FTs, their covariation and their relationships to climate are necessary steps towards better-founded predictions of how global environmental change will affect ecosystem composition. We compile an extensive global dataset for 16 FTs and characterise trait-trait and trait-climate relationships separately within non-woody, woody deciduous and woody evergreen plant groups, using multivariate analysis and generalised additive models (GAMs). Among the six major FTs considered, two dominant trait dimensions-representing plant size and the leaf economics spectrum (LES) respectively-are identified within all three groups. Size traits (plant height, diaspore mass) however are generally higher in warmer climates, while LES traits (leaf mass and nitrogen per area) are higher in drier climates. Larger leaves are associated principally with warmer winters in woody evergreens, but with wetter climates in non-woody plants. GAM-simulated global patterns for all 16 FTs explain up to three-quarters of global trait variation. Global maps obtained by upscaling GAMs are broadly in agreement with iNaturalist citizen-science FT data. This analysis contributes to the foundations for global trait-based ecosystem modelling by demonstrating universal relationships between FTs and climate.

Jiaze Li

Iain Colin Prentice

Communications biology

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY 是 NATURE RESEARCH 的开放获取期刊，出版生物科学所有领域的高质量研究、评论和评论。该杂志发表的研究论文代表了重大进展，为专业研究领域带来了新的生物学见解。

Communications Biology is an open-access journal published by NATURE RESEARCH, covering all areas of biological sciences. It publishes high-quality research articles, reviews, and commentaries. The research papers published in this journal represent significant advancements and provide new insights into the field of biology.

《Communications Biology》是NATURE RESEARCH旗下的开放获取期刊，涵盖生物科学各个领域，发表高质量的研究论文、评论和综述。该期刊所刊登的研究成果代表了生物学领域的重要进展，为专业研究提供了新的见解。

Category	Quartile
生物学	1
生物学, 生物学	1

Global patterns of plant functional traits and their relationships to climate.

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