Table 8. Comparison of leaf trait measurements presented in this study (mean±1s.d.) against estimates drawn from the literature.

Trait	Taxa	This study	Literature	% Diff.	Literature sources
Traits include leaf lifespan (years), leaf nitrogen (% of dry weight), and specific leaf area (cm2 HSA g C−1). Trait values drawn from the literature represented mean characteristics. We ordered the literature values and sources numerically for species x trait combinations with multiple literature estimates.
Estimates of specific leaf area derived from the literature were converted from projected surface area (PSA) per gram of leaf dry matter to hemisurface area (HSA) per gram of carbon using our species-specific measurements of leaf carbon content and the PSA to HSA conversion coefficients given in Table 4.
LEAF_LIFE	Abies lasiocarpa	10.1±5.0	8.0	23	Reich et al.38
	Picea engelmannii	7.2±2.5	7.5	−4	Reich et al.38
	Pinus contorta	8.0±4.1	2.0, 4.6	120, 67	Pease40; Ewers & Schmid39
	Pseudotsuga menziesii	5.4±2.0	5.4	0	Wright et al.41
	Thuja plicata	5.0	8.9	−56	Harlow et al.42
	Tsuga heterophylla	5.2±1.3	5.4, 5.5	−4, −6	Ishii et al.44; Pease40
	Evergreen needleleaf tree	6.1±3.0	3.3	60	Kattge et al.45
	Deciduous broadleaf tree	1.4±1.2	0.5	95	Kattge et al.45
LEAF N	Acer macrophyllum	2.81±0.78	2.82	0	Lei & Lechowicz50
	Abies grandis	0.88±0.16	0.90	−2	Nippert et al.53
	Larix occidentalis	1.87±0.37	1.7, 2.0	10, −7	Gower & Richards47; Gower et al.46
	Pinus contorta	1.06±0.21	1.2, 1.4	−12, −28	Gower & Richards47; Gower et al.46
	Pseudotsuga menziesii	1.08±0.19	0.99	9	Nippert et al.53
	Tsuga mertensiana	0.89±0.21	1.2	−30	Gower & Richards47
	Evergreen needleleaf tree	1.04±0.21	1.21	−15	Kattge et al.45
	Deciduous broadleaf tree	2.12±0.74	2.13	0	Kattge et al.45
SLA_HSA*	Alnus rubra	326±136	209	44	Matson et al.49
	Abies concolor	102±18	86	17	Laughlin et al.48
	Abies grandis	91±19	95, 112	−4, −21	Nippert et al.53; Gower & Richards47
	Abies lasiocarpa	98±13	88	11	Laughlin et al.48
	Juniperus occidentalis	49±2	57	−15	Matson et al.49
	Larix occidentalis	309±33	201, 222	42, 33	Gower & Richards47; Gower et al.46
	Picea engelmannii	94±30	76, 116	21, −21	Laughlin et al.48; Barr et al. (2013)
	Pinus contorta	80±10	96, 98, 103	−18, −20, −25	Barclay & Goodman22; Gower & Richards47; Gower et al.46
	Pinus ponderosa	81±11	85, 88	−5, −8	Matson et al.49; Laughlin et al.48
	Pseudotsuga menziesii	120±24	87, 104, 124, 128, 129	32, 14, −3, −6, −7	Nippert et al.53; Gower et al.46; Barclay & Goodman22; Ishii et al.43; Matson et al.49
	Thuja plicata	95±18	167	−55	Barclay & Goodman22
	Tsuga heterophylla	175±46	132, 316	28, −57	Barclay & Goodman22; Ishii et al.44
	Tsuga mertensiana	193±61	68, 104	60	Matson et al.49; Gower & Richards47
	Evergreen needleleaf tree	102±36	108	−6	Kattge et al.45
	Deciduous broadleaf tree	366±211	324	12	Kattge et al.45