Tree growth increases through opposing above?ground and below?ground resource strategies

Studying functional traits and their relationships with tree growth has proved a powerful approach for understanding forest structure. These are often expected to follow the classical resource economics perspective, where acquisitive leaves combined roots enhance uptake growth. However, evidence coordinated leaf trait effects on is scarce it remains poorly understood how these together determine Here, we tested root combinations explain We collected data of 10 common species, soil carbon (C) nitrogen (N) concentrations in temperate Michigan, US. Tree was calculated as stem diameter increment between three censuses measured across 13,000 trees modelled function different properties. The two best models explaining included both specific area (SLA), C or N concentration, but were contingent each other: thick associated high rates only low SLA, SLA related fast thin roots. Soil N% negatively impacted diameter. Synthesis. In this study, did not rates. First, intermediate may be considered acquisitive, they faster Second, coordinate according plant enhanced by combining (acquisitive) conservative (low SLA) vice versa. Our study indicates need re-evaluate role unveil interacting drivers and, ultimately, structure suggests that adaptive whole-tree phenotypes coexist.