Fig. 2: Emergent axes of trait variation.

Principal component analysis of the trait combinations (species) used to initialise simulated diversity experiments (Fig. 1). PCA for (A) TNF and (B) CAX; points represent the position of each of the 96 species in trait-space. Density plots for the conservative vs productive axis (PC1) for the TNF and CAX sites (C). Density plots for the hydraulic trait axis (PC2) for the TNF and CAX sites (D). Coloration of points and density curves in (A–D) based on the four leaf phenological combinations of plant strategies. All traits are adaptive, see Supplementary Notes “Reproduction, inheritance, mutation, and crossover'', Table S9. Conservative vs productive axis (PC1, A–C): arrows point toward a higher allocation of carbon to grow roots (A-Root), leaves (A-Leaf) and stems (A-Stem) vs deferred growth via higher allocation to storage (A-Store). Hydraulic-trait axis (PC2, A, B, D): arrows point toward less negative water potential at 50% loss of conductance (P50), an evergreen leaf phenology (Eg) (as opposed to deciduous), light-triggered leaf flush (Phenology) (as opposed to water-triggered), increased maximum rooting depth (Root-D). Note: significant conclusions cannot be drawn from the two Deciduous_Light species. The data underlying this figure are provided in figshare (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.26232395).