Hierarchical, three-level approach for the definition of plant functional types (PFTs) based on categorical functional traits.

aThe percentage of plant species belonging to a certain PFT is given separately for the grassland/for the savanna biome. bPFT acronyms describe the hierarchical combination of traits. For single-trait PFTs, acronyms are based on the first 1–2 letters of Raunkiær’s life form classification [15]; for two-trait PFTs, acronyms for growth form are added (G = grasses, F = forbs); for three-trait PFTs, acronyms for leaf width are added (lin = linear (narrow-leaved), <5 mm; lan = lanceolate (broad-leaved), 5–10 mm, ov = ovate (very broad-leaved), >10 mm). PFTs which acronyms are in brackets were not included in further analyses due to their low frequency and low relative abundance on plots. cFor two- and three-trait PFTs, names are only given if PFTs were retained in subsequent analyses, at least in one biome.