Table 1.

Functional traits measured in this study

Trait	Abbreviation		Units	Ecological relevance		Stage measured
Seed mass	Seed		g	Energy reserves; radical size; life-history		Seedling
Total biomass	Mass		g	Energy reserves; competitive ability		Seedling
Root mass fraction	RMF		g g−1	Light versus water/nutrient acquisition		Seedling
Leaf mass fraction	LMF		g g−1	Light versus water/nutrient acquisition		Seedling
Height	Height		cm	Light versus water/nutrient acquisition		Seedling
Relative growth rate	RGR		t−1	Competitive ability; responsiveness to water pulse		Seedling
Leaf dry mass	Md		g	Leaf function; carbon investment on carbon return		Seedling/mature
Leaf surface area	SA		cm2	Photosynthetic capacity; leaf temperature		Seedling/mature
Leaf mass per area	LMA		g cm−2	Water retention; gas exchange		Seedling/mature
Leaf dry matter content	LDMC		%	Photosynthetic capacity; palatability		Seedling/mature
Specific root length	SRL		cm g−1	Embolism resistance; responsiveness to water pulse		Seedling
Short term drought survival	Survival		days	Likelihood of individual establishment		Seedling
Leaf nitrogen content	%N		%	Photosynthetic capacity; palatability		Mature
Water use efficiency	WUE		δ13C	Balance between carbon and water economies		Mature
Mature growth form	Size		Ordinal	Storage capacity; life-history strategy		Mature