University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Plant development or ontogeny is an important but often overlooked driver of variation in aboveground and belowground traits. Given that seedlings are especially vulnerable to abiotic and biotic stress, advanced understanding of how traits change throughout plant development could elucidate patterns of plant establishment and community assembly. This talk will highlight findings and general trends emerging from recent research about how traits, as well as relationships among them, change as plants grow.