Figure 1.

Conceptual figure depicting two hypothesized relationships between exposure (a and b), sensitivity (c and d) and vulnerability (e and f) that depend on how plant physiological traits vary across gradients. On one hand, if sensitivity is determined by traits that are fine-tuned to local conditions (c)—either through local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity—then there is likely to be static vulnerability across the gradient (e). However, if sensitivity is determined by traits that are relatively conserved across a stress gradient (d), then vulnerability will be reduced in low exposure environments (right).