Complexity of leaf trait covariation for mangrove species

The leaf economics spectrum (LES) has been proposed as a framework for understanding leaf resource-investment and plant growth strategies, but it is scarcely examined in mangrove communities. This study investigates LES patterns in mangrove communities to examine whether the trait coordination spectrum, if it exists, is associated with plant growth strategies. By conducting a comprehensive sampling across a wide range of mangrove species in China, we confirmed the presence of LES across mangrove species, and found that true mangroves generally exhibit a more conservative strategy characterized by higher leaf mass per area (LMA) and lower leaf nutrient concentrations compared to mangrove associates. We also observed considerable intraspecific variation in traits, particularly in LMA. In some cases, fast-growing species exhibited higher LMA and lower leaf nutrient concentrations than slow-growing species. Fast-growing species also showed higher leaf thickness than slow-growing species, but no difference in leaf density between them, suggesting that LMA composition is important in understanding trait coordination and its link with plant growth strategies in mangrove communities. Our findings highlight a complex link between trait coordination and plant growth strategies in mangrove species.