Large-Scale Controls on the Leaf Economic Spectrum of the Overstory Tree Species Metrosideros polymorpha

The role of intraspecific trait variation in functional ecology has gained traction recent years as many papers have observed its importance driving community diversity and ecology. Yet much the work this field relies on field-based surveys. Here, we used continuous canopy information derived from remote sensing data a highly polymorphic tree species, Metrosideros polymorpha, to quantify environmental controls variation. M. an endemic, keystone species Hawai’i, varies morphologically, chemically, genetically across broad elevation soil substrate age gradients, making it ideal model organism explore large-scale drivers polymorpha reflectance (visible shortwave infrared; 380–2510 nm) light detection ranging (LiDAR) collected by Global Airborne Observatory were modeled estimates leaf mass per area, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, phenols, cellulose, top height using previously developed chemometric equations. We explored how these traits varied gradients extracting elevation, slope, aspect, precipitation, at locations. then obtained feature values factors predicting each training random forest models predict individually. Of factors, was most important predictor for all traits. Elevation not only affected directly but also indirectly influencing relationships between well nitrogen other traits, indicated change slope variables different ranges. In conclusion, adheres known economic spectrum (LES) patterns interspecific LES mapped imaging spectroscopy.