Functional traits of young seedlings predict trade-offs in seedling performance in three neotropical forests.
O_LIUnderstanding the mechanisms that promote the coexistence of hundreds of species over small areas in tropical forest remains a challenge. Many tropical tree species are presumed to be functionally equivalent shade tolerant species that differ in performance trade-offs between survival in shade and the ability to quickly grow in sunlight. C_LIO_LIVariation in plant functional traits related to resource acquisition is thought to predict variation in performance among species, perhaps explaining community assembly across habitats with gradients in resource availability. Many studies have found low predictive power, however, when linking trait measurements to species demographic rates. C_LIO_LISeedlings face different challenges recruiting on the forest floor and may exhibit different traits and/or performance trade-offs than older individuals face in the eventual adult niche. Seed mass is the typical proxy for seedling success, but species also differ in cotyledon strategy (reserve vs photosynthetic) or other seedling traits. These can cause species with the same average seed mass to have divergent performance in the same habitat. C_LIO_LIWe combined long-term studies of seedling dynamics with functional trait data collected at a standard developmental stage in three diverse neotropical forests to ask whether variation in coordinated suites of traits predicts variation among species in demographic performance. C_LIO_LIAcross hundreds of species in Ecuador, Panama, and Puerto Rico, we found seedlings displayed correlated suites of leaf, stem, and root traits, which strongly correlated with seed mass and cotyledon strategy. Variation among species in seedling functional traits, seed mass, and cotyledon strategy were strong predictors of trade-offs in seedling growth and survival. C_LIO_LIOur findings highlight the importance of cotyledon strategy in addition to seed mass as a key component of seed and seedling biology. These results also underscore the importance of matching the ontogenetic stage of the trait measurement to the stage of demographic dynamics. C_LIO_LISynthesis: With strikingly consistent patterns across three tropical forests, we find strong evidence for the promise of functional traits to provide mechanistic links between seedling form and demographic performance. C_LI