@article{3007f350258f49ff95bdd2e868614383,
title = "Structural and defensive roles of angiosperm leaf venation network reticulation across an Andes–Amazon elevation gradient",
abstract = "The network of minor veins of angiosperm leaves may include loops (reticulation). Variation in network architecture has been hypothesized to have hydraulic and also structural and defensive functions. We measured venation network trait space in eight dimensions for 136 biomass-dominant angiosperm tree species along a 3,300 m elevation gradient in southeastern Peru. We then examined the relative importance of multiple ecological and evolutionary predictors of reticulation. Variation in minor venation network reticulation was constrained to three axes. These axes described reconnecting vs. branching veins, elongated vs. compact areoles compact vs. elongated and low vs. high-density veins. Variation in the first two axes was predicted by traits related to mechanical strength and secondary compounds, and in the third axis by site temperature. Synthesis. Defensive and structural factors primarily explain variation in multiple axes of reticulation, with a smaller role for climate-linked factors. These results suggest that venation network reticulation may be determined more by species interactions than by hydraulic functions.",
keywords = "damage resilience, damage resistance, leaf performance, loop, redundancy, reticulation, trait space, tropical forest, venation network",
author = "Benjamin Blonder and Norma Salinas and Bentley, {Lisa Patrick} and Alexander Shenkin and {Chambi Porroa}, {Percy Orlando} and {Valdez Tejeira}, Yolvi and {Boza Espinoza}, {Tatiana Erika} and Goldsmith, {Gregory R.} and Lucas Enrico and Roberta Martin and Asner, {Gregory P.} and Sandra D{\'i}az and Enquist, {Brian J.} and Yadvinder Malhi",
note = "Funding Information: This work is a product of the Global Ecosystems Monitoring (GEM) network (gem.tropicalforests.ox.ac.uk) the Andes Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research Group ABERG (andesresearch.org), the Amazon Forest Inventory Network RAINFOR (www.rainfor.org) and the Carnegie Spectranomics Project (spectranomics.carnegi-escience.edu) research consortia. We thank the Servicio Nacional de CZreasNaturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP) and personnel of Manu and Tambopata National Parks for logistical assistance and permission to work in the protected areas. We also thank the Explorers{\textquoteright} Inn and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru as well as ACCA for the use of the Tambopata and Wayqecha Research Stations respectively. We are indebted to Professor Eric Cosio (Pontifical Catholic University of Peru) for assistance with research permissions and sample analysis and storage. Taxonomic work at Carnegie Institution was facilitated by Raul Tupayachi, Felipe Sinca and Nestor Jaramillo. Frida Piper and several reviewers improved previous drafts of this manuscript. The field campaign was funded by a grant to Y.M. from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/J023418/1), with additional support from European Research Council advanced investigator grants GEM-TRAITS (321131), T-FORCES (291585) and a John ?. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grant to G.P.A. B.B. was supported by a United States National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship and doctoral dissertation improvement grant ?EB-1209287 as well as a UK Natural Environment Research Council independent research fellowship NE/M019160/1. G.P.A. and the Spectranomics team were supported by the endowment of the Carnegie Institution for Science and a grant from the National Science Foundation (?EB-1146206). Y.M. was also supported by the Jackson Foundation. S.?. and L.E. were supported by the Leverhulme Trust (UK) the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and FONCyT and CONICET (Argentina). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 The Authors. Journal of Ecology {\textcopyright} 2018 British Ecological Society",
year = "2018",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1111/1365-2745.12945",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "106",
pages = "1683--1699",
journal = "Journal of Ecology",
issn = "0022-0477",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "4",
}