XVI International Botanical Congess

We investigated shifts in habitat and simultaneous changes in a suite of leaf and growth-related traits through evolution in 17 oak species which co-occur in Florida. Traits studied include leaf lifespan, photosynthesis (Amax), leaf N, SLA, wood density, growth, and fire tolerance. Habitats were defined by the mean soil moisture and nutrient content of species' distributions. Using independent contrasts over an independently derived molecular phylogeny, we found a significant correlation between leaf lifespan and Amax (mass). Growth rates were strongly related to habitat, although leaf lifespan was not. Habitat, SLA, and Amax were strongly divergent among closely related species, while leaf lifespan was strongly conserved. These results provide evidence that certain plant traits evolve in parallel with habitat shifts while others are conserved.