On the challenges of using field spectroscopy to measure the impact of soil type on leaf traits

Nunes, Matheus H.; Davey, Matthew P.; Coomes, David A.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-3371-2017

Articles | Volume 14, issue 13

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-3371-2017

© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-3371-2017

© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 14, issue 13

Research article

|

14 Jul 2017

Research article |

| 14 Jul 2017

On the challenges of using field spectroscopy to measure the impact of soil type on leaf traits

Matheus H. Nunes, Matthew P. Davey, and David A. Coomes

Data sets

Field spectroscopy and leaf trait data from a field experiment in Surrey [HMTF] D. A. Coomes, M. Davey, and M. H. Nunes https://doi.org/10.5285/e24264f8-2821-4d6a-ad77-3688b2c69f24

Short summary

The paper investigates whether variability in leaf traits is greater between tree species or soil type and whether field spectroscopy is effective at predicting intraspecific variation in leaf traits as well as interspecific differences. The influences of species identity on traits were generally much stronger than within-species differences related to soil type. This study demonstrates the value of spectroscopy, but highlights problems with predicting within-species variation indirectly.