Functional traits as predictors of vital rates across the life cycle of tropical trees

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 168 - 180
• Main Authors: Visser, Marco D., Bruijning, Marjolein, Wright, S. Joseph, Muller-Landau, Helene C., Jongejans, Eelke, Comita, Liza S., de Kroon, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Wiley 01.02.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adult stature; adults; British Ecological Society Special Feature: Demography Beyond the Population; Demographics; Demography; Density; Ecological monitoring; Evolution; forests; Functional anatomy; Hazards; Interspecific; interspecific variation; juveniles; leaf mass per area; Leaves; Life cycle analysis; Life cycle engineering; Life cycles; Life history; Mathematical models; model averaging; Panama; Reproduction; Robustness; seed size; seedlings; Survival; tree growth; tree mortality; Trees; Wood; wood density; Panama

Summary The ‘functional traits’ of species have been heralded as promising predictors for species’ demographic rates and life history. Multiple studies have linked plant species’ demographic rates to commonly measured traits. However, predictive power is usually low – raising questions about the pra...