Summary of ARC Project -- "Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology"
Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions will be investigated within Australia, and in collaboration with partner investigators overseas.
The research will be centred at Macquarie University in Sydney, but will involve collaboration with the research groups of David Ackerly (Stanford, USA), Hans Cornelissen (Amsterdam , Netherlands), Sandra Diaz (Cordoba, Argentina), Dave Ellsworth (Michigan, USA) and Peter Reich (Minnesota, USA). Latitudinal variation is a significant emphasis within the research, and an East Australian Transect will be established of 5-6 sites from Melbourne to Cairns.
More background about the project