Global Allocation Rules for Patterns of Biomass Partitioning in Seed Plants
Brian J. Enquist,12*
Karl J. Niklas3
A general allometric model has been derived to predict
intraspecific and interspecific scaling relationships among seed plant leaf, stem, and root biomass. Analysis of a large compendium of standing organ biomass sampled across a broad sampling of taxa inhabiting diverse ecological habitats supports the relations predicted
by the model and defines the boundary conditions for above- and
below-ground biomass partitioning. These canonical biomass relations
are insensitive to phyletic affiliation (conifers versus angiosperms)
and variation in averaged local environmental conditions. The model
thus identifies and defines the limits that have guided the
diversification of seed plant biomass allocation strategies.
1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 87519, USA.
2 Center for Applied Biodiversity Science,
Conservation International, 1919 M Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington,
DC 20036, USA.
3 Department of Plant Biology,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
benquist{at}u.arizona.edu
