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

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Final revised paper (published on 14 Jul 2017)
Preprint (discussion started on 04 Nov 2016)

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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- Supplement

RC1: 'Leaf traits and spectroscopy', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Dec 2016
- AC1: 'Author response to Referee #1's comments', Matheus Nunes, 03 Feb 2017
RC2: 'Review “Leaf trait variation and field spectroscopy of generalist tree species on contrasting soil types“', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Dec 2016
- AC2: 'Response to Anonymous Referee #2’s comments', Matheus Nunes, 03 Feb 2017

Peer-review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

ED: Reconsider after major revisions (14 Feb 2017) by Michael Bahn

AR by Matheus Nunes on behalf of the Authors (27 Mar 2017) Author's response Manuscript

ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (29 Mar 2017) by Michael Bahn

RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (25 Apr 2017)

ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (Editor review) (04 May 2017) by Michael Bahn

AR by Matheus Nunes on behalf of the Authors (16 May 2017) Author's response Manuscript

ED: Publish as is (18 May 2017) by Michael Bahn

AR by Matheus Nunes on behalf of the Authors (23 May 2017)

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.