Convergent strategies for leaf traits in tree species from divergent habitats

Plant trait expressions and their trade-offs reflect the responses and long-term ecological adaptation to environmental gradients. However, how such expressions and trade-offs help plants to acclimate a new environment remain poorly understood, which is a fundamental preset for plants’ survival under a global change scenario. By comparing the trait-trait relationships of 4403 tree species from different climatic regions, and the variation in trait trade-offs of 746 tree species that have been transplanted to a tropical botanical garden for several decades, our results reveal convergent but consistent alteration in trait-trait relationships of trees transplanted from different climatic regions to a common environment. The convergent trends enhance the capability of tree species in buffering the impacts of climate change through allocating more resources to growth and tolerance. We propose altered trait-trait relationships may be the key mechanisms underlie the long-term ecological stability and resilience of tree species.