“Diminishing returns” and leaf area-biomass scaling of ferns in subtropical ecosystems

A study of subtropical ferns at Mount Wuyi, China, reveals that their leaf area-biomass scaling relationships adhere to the 'diminishing returns hypothesis' (DRH), which posits that leaf area scales with mass at a rate less than 1.0. Researchers analyzed 28 fern species across three elevations, finding consistent sub-linear scaling exponents for individual and total leaf metrics, supporting the DRH's applicability to ancient plant lineages. While leaf mass per area varied significantly with elevation, leaf area itself did not, indicating stable light interception strategies despite environmental gradients. The findings advance understanding of resource allocation in ferns, a diverse and ecologically significant group.

Chen, S., Li, J., Sun, J., Zhong, Q., Hu, D., & Cheng, D. (2023). “Diminishing returns” and leaf area-biomass scaling of ferns in subtropical ecosystems. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1187704