5. Conclusions

We examined the responses of leaf structural traits to growth form and intertidal gradient as well as the associations between leaf traits and plant size across mangrove species in Dongzhaigang, China. Our findings revealed that leaf traits differed significantly among growth forms in response to intertidal gradients. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of plant adaptive strategies and trait evolution in response to diverse environmental conditions. Negative relationships between leaf traits (LMA, LDMC, LD, LCC, and WSD) and plant size (height and diameter) were found for each growth form and intertidal zone, as well as for the pooled data set. These findings suggest that mangrove trees undergo a size-dependent shift from resource-conservative to resource-acquisitive strategies with increasing stature. It is imperative to emphasize that additional studies are warranted to elucidate intraspecific trait variability at local scales. Such research would significantly enhance our understanding of community assembly dynamics and the mechanisms by which plant communities influence ecosystem processes (Kumordzi et al., 2014). Exploring the variability of intraspecific traits at local scales, both among communities and across environmental gradients, represents a promising and intriguing pathway for future scientific investigations.