Variation patterns of plant root and leaf functional traits, and ecosystem functioning: research progress and prospect

Plant root and leaf functional traits link individual adaptation to ecosystem functioning, yet their coordination mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. We established 18 plots along an elevational gradient (1200–2700 m) in the Qinling Mountains, measuring 12 key traits of 12 tree species and assessing three ecosystem functions. Results showed: (1) Traits exhibited significant interspecific variation with environmental gradients explaining 42–58% of variance; (2) Root-leaf coordination was moderate globally (r = 0.58 for specific leaf area and specific root length) but strengthened significantly under high-elevation stress (r increased from 0.38 to 0.72), supporting the environmental stress hypothesis; (3) Principal component analysis identified three ecological strategies—competitive, stress-tolerant, and intermediate types—cumulatively explaining 78.6% of total trait variance, with environmental factors predicting strategy classification at 82.3% accuracy; (4) Structural equation modeling revealed environmental effects were predominantly transmitted through root traits (β = 0.62) to leaf traits (β = 0.43), with 61.3% of effects mediated by traits rather than direct pathways; (5) Specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen jointly explained 61.2% of productivity variation, while litter nitrogen content controlled decomposition rates (r = 0.78), and the lignin:nitrogen ratio explained 65.6% of decomposition variance. This research confirms functional traits as effective predictors of ecosystem functioning, providing theoretical foundations for trait-based ecosystem management under global change scenarios.

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