DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kwh70rzdp
title: Leaf biomechanical traits predict litter decomposability

description: Leaf biomechanical strength is important not only in plant defense
 strategies but also in "after-life” effects—determining leaf-litter
 decomposability. It is a composite metric that can be evaluated by
 fracturing a leaf using multiple methods. However, such after-life effects
 have not been systematically evaluated. We assessed 40 leaf
 functional traits, including 12 biomechanical traits measured through
 three standard tests (i.e., punch, tensile, and shearing tests) and
 categorized as fracture length-, fracture area-, or mass-based traits, to
 predict leaf-litter decomposition dynamics among 186 species from diverse
 functional groups. Categorized as fracture length-based traits,
 they outcompeted fracture area- and mass-based traits in predicting
 decomposition rates, with “force to punch” emerging as the best predictor,
 followed by “work to shear”. After incorporating all studied traits into a
 multidimensional trait space, the first principal component axis accounted
 for 44.3% of the total variation in decomposition rates, whereas excluding
 biomechanical traits reduced the variation explained to
 31.6%. The leaf’s inherent resistance properties independently
 influenced litter decomposability beyond tissue density and lamina
 thickness, rendering leaf mass per area an incomplete proxy for
 biomechanical traits. Additionally, using the tensile force for leaves
 with parallel veins would underestimate leaf-litter decomposition rates.
 In contrast, focusing on punch force and shearing work as principal
 biomechanical traits offers a promising research avenue for an improved
 understanding of how leaf decomposability is determined. Synthesis. Our
 results provide the first evaluation of leaf biomechanical traits from
 three standard physical resistance tests as predictors of leaf-litter
 decomposability. These biomechanical traits complement chemical,
 structural, and morphological traits and should be more effectively
 integrated into existing models to enhance our comprehension of the
 leaf-litter decomposition process.
description: We selected 186 species across 69 families as our target plants
 for collecting plant materials and the related ecology data needed in this
 study. These species span broad taxonomic groups or clades, including 96
 woody deciduous, 68 woody evergreen, 13 graminoid, and 9 forb plants. We
 measured 40 leaf functional traits specifically related to leaf-litter
 decomposition research, including 12 biomechanical, 20 chemical, and 8
 structural/morphological traits, across these species. The litterfall from
 these 186 species was also collected and used in the decomposition
 experiments. The mass remaining percent at intervals of 6, 12, 18, and 24
 months since the beginning of the experiments were described via the four
 most-commonly employed empirical models: (1) the single- exponential
 model, (2) the double- exponential model, (3) the asymptotic model, and
 (4) the Weibull model. Thereafter, the decomposition rates obtained from
 Weibull model (the best fitting model) were linked with leaf functional
 traits.
description: # Leaf biomechanical traits predict litter decomposability
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kwh70rzdp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kwh70rzdp) ## Description of the data and file structure We assessed 40 leaf functional traits, including 12 biomechanical traits measured through three standard tests and categorized as fracture length-, fracture area-, or mass-based traits, to predict leaf-litter decomposition dynamics among 186 species from diverse functional groups. Dataset 1 and Dataset 2 host the primary data, providing all the necessary information to support the research findings. Dataset 3—Dataset 6 present the parameters fitted using the different litter decomposition models.  ### Files and variables #### File: Dataset 1：A\_total\_of\_40\_leaf\_functional\_traits\_determined\_for\_186\_plant\_species.xlsx **Description:**  A total of 40 leaf functional traits were determined for 186 plant species. #### File: Dataset 2：Litter\_mass\_remaining\_percent.xlsx **Description:** Litter mass remaining percent at intervals of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months since the beginning of the experiments. #### File: Dataset 3：Parameters\_obtained\_using\_the\_single-exponential\_model.xlsx **Description:** Parameters obtained using the single-exponential model for fitting these litter mass remaining dynamic. #### File: Dataset 4：Parameters\_obtained\_using\_the\_double-exponential\_model.xlsx **Description:**  Parameters obtained using the double-exponential model for fitting these litter mass remaining dynamic. #### File: Dataset 5：Parameters\_obtained\_using\_the\_asymptotic\_model.xlsx **Description:** Parameters obtained using the asymptotic model for fitting these litter mass remaining dynamic. #### File: Dataset 6：Parameters\_obtained\_using\_the\_Weibull\_model.xlsx **Description:** Parameters obtained using the weibull model for fitting these litter mass remaining dynamic. ## Code/software To view the data, please use Microsoft 365 Excel. ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * Not applicable Data was derived from the following sources: * Not applicable