Identifying how leaf habit subdivisions link to the fast–slow and avoidance–tolerance trait tradeoffs can provide new insight into divergence in ecophysiological strategies among plant functional groups. Here, we tested a hypothesis that the differentiation across deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen woody species contributes to physiological trait tradeoffs in a dry-hot valley savanna. We investigated 11 photosynthetic, morphological and hydraulic traits of 24 species including 8 deciduous, 10 semi-deciduous and 6 evergreen species. Deciduous species were grouped in the fast and avoidance side associated with high values of maximum photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and leaf size, while evergreen species were grouped in the slow and tolerance side associated with high photosynthetic water use efficiency, leaf mass per area, sapwood density, Huber value, leaf water potential at turgor loss point and water potential causing 50% loss of stem hydraulic conductance. Semi-deciduous species generally had intermediate trait values and represented different physiological characteristics when compared to deciduous and evergreen species. The physiological trait tradeoffs showed a close linkage to the differentiation of these three leaf habits. Our findings clearly reveal trait tradeoffs related to fast–slow and avoidance–tolerance strategies among diverse savanna plants, suggesting a syndrome in multiple ecophysiology strategies across different leaf habits.

中文翻译：

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叶子习性差异解释了稀树草原木本植物的性状权衡

确定叶子习性细分如何与快-慢和回避-耐受性状权衡联系起来，可以为植物功能群之间生态生理策略的差异提供新的见解。在这里，我们测试了一个假设，即落叶、半落叶和常绿木本物种的分化有助于干热山谷稀树草原的生理性状权衡。我们研究了 24 个物种的 11 项光合、形态和水力性状，其中包括 8 种落叶植物、10 种半落叶植物和 6 种常绿植物。落叶物种被分组在与最大光合速率、气孔导度和叶片大小的高值相关的快速和回避侧，而常绿物种被分组在与高光合水分利用效率、单位面积叶质量、边材相关的慢速和耐受侧密度、Huber 值、膨压损失点的叶水势和导致茎导水率损失 50% 的水势。与落叶树种和常绿树种相比，半落叶树种通常具有中间性状值，并表现出不同的生理特征。生理性状的权衡显示出与这三种叶子习性的分化密切相关。我们的研究结果清楚地揭示了不同稀树草原植物中与快-慢和回避-耐受策略相关的性状权衡，表明不同叶子习性的多种生态生理学策略存在综合症。