Inclusion of vein traits improves predictive power for the leaf economic spectrum: A response to Sack et al. (2013)

Benjamin Blonder, Cyrille Violle, Lisa Patrick Bentley, Brian J. Enquist

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our model for the worldwide leaf economics spectrum (LES) based on venation networks (Blonder et al., 2011, 2013) was strongly criticized by Sack et al. (2013) in this journal. Here, we show that the majority of criticisms by Sack et al. are based on mathematical and conceptual misunderstandings. Using empirical data from both our original study as well as others in the literature, we show support for our original hypothesis, that venation networks provide predictive power and conceptual unification for the LES. In an effort to reconcile differing viewpoints related to the role of leaf venation traits for the LES, we highlight several lines of further investigation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5109-5114
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Experimental Botany
Volume65
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2014

Keywords

  • Leaf economics spectrum
  • Vein density
  • Venation network

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Plant Science

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