Contrasting leaf-trait strategies in dominant liana and tree species of Indian tropical dry evergreen forest

Recent studies have revealed convergence in the variation of leaf traits across various plant life-forms on a global scale. This study aims to analyze and compare the leaf-trait strategies of dominant liana and tree species in Indian tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF). The study also checks whether these life-forms differ in their resource acquisition strategies explained by the variance in their leaf functional traits. The present study was carried out in a permanent plot established in a TDEF site on the Coromandel Coast of India. We selected ten dominant species of lianas and trees to analyze and compare their leaf-trait strategies. For each species, we collected 30 healthy sun leaves from at least eight individuals. The collected leaf samples were analyzed for various leaf functional traits using standard protocol. Lianas had higher specific leaf area and mass-based leaf nitrogen than the trees. Trees had higher leaf lamina area, leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, leaf tissue density and C:N than the lianas. Lianas and trees in the studied site differed significantly in six out of seven leaf-functional traits analyzed. The observed leaf trait strategies of lianas in TDEF could offer competitive advantage for them over trees.