Globally, functional traits are weak predictors of juvenile tree growth, and we do not know why (original) (raw)

This study examines the predictive power of functional traits such as specific leaf area (SLA), wood density, and seed mass on juvenile tree growth across a global scale. Analyzing data from 27,352 juvenile trees of 278 species from various forested sites, the findings reveal that while some relationships exist, functional traits only account for 3.1% of the variation in growth rates, suggesting that other environmental factors or species-specific traits play a critical role. Consequently, the utility of these common traits as predictors of tree growth is questioned, advocating for a more nuanced approach that considers environmental conditions.