intratrait

This data set was used to test whether species specialized to high elevations or with narrow elevational ranges show more conservative (i.e. less variable) trait responses across their elevational distribution, or in response to neighbours, than species from lower elevations or with wider elevational ranges. We did so by studying intraspecific trait variation of 66 species along 40 elevational gradients in four countries (Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, China) in both hemispheres. As an indication of potential neighbour interactions that could drive trait variation, we also analysed plant species’ height ratio, its height relative to its nearest neighbour. The following traits and parameters were measured and are available in this data set: As an indication of plant stature, we measured vegetative and generative height, where vegetative height was distance from soil to highest vegetative leaf and generative height was distance to the highest point on the reproductive shoot. As a measure of reproductive investment, we noted the presence of flowers on the randomly chosen individuals (see below). As a measure of individual and genet basal area, we measured individual plant and pa