Data from: On the link between functional traits and growth rate: meta-analysis shows effects change with plant size, as predicted

A plant's growth rate is seen as a central element of its ecological
strategy, and as determined by its traits.Yet the literature is
inconsistent about the empirical correlation between functional traits and
growth, casting doubt on the capacity of some prominent traits to
influence growth rate. We propose that traits should influence growth in a
way that depends on the size of individual plants. We outline mechanisms
and hypotheses based on new theoretical work, and test these predictions
in tree species using a meta-analysis of 103 studies (> 500
correlations) for five traits (specific leaf area, wood density, maximum
height, seed mass and maximum assimilation rate).We also recorded data for
14 other traits commonly used in the trait literature.To capture the
effects of plant size, we tested for a shift in the direction of
correlation between growth rates and each trait across three ontogenetic
stages: seedling,sapling and adult. Results were consistent with
predictions, although there were some limitations arising from unequal
numbers of observation across ontogenetic stages.Specific leaf area was
correlated with relative growth rate in seedlings but not in adult
plants.Correlations of growth with wood density were not affected by
ontogenetic stage. Seed mass, assimilation rate and maximum height were
correlated with relative growth rate only in one ontogenetic stage
category: seedlings,seedlings and adults,respectively. Although we were
able to confirm several of our theoretical predictions,major knowledge
gaps still exist in the trait literature.For example,for one third of the
traits considered,the majority (> 75%) of reported correlations
with growth came from the same ontogenetic stage. Synthesis: We show for
some traits, how trait-growth correlations change in a predictable way
with plant size.Our understanding of plant strategies should shift away
from describing species as having a fixed growth strategy throughout their
life (on a continuous axis from slow to fast growth), in favour of a
size-dependent growth trajectories.