Guiding plant conservation using physiological tools: how mechanistic research can bridge disciplinary divides

Lay Summary This editorial introduces a special issue of Conservation Physiology reporting on ‘Traits and Measurements in Plant Conservation’. This article covers previous preferences by different fields of conservation biology in reporting plant or animal research and the manner in which physiological analyses can bridge these divides. Focusing on plant physiology, it summarizes the research of a dozen papers published in the special issue and some burning questions identified by the broader authorship group who contributed to the special issue.