Ecosystem dynamics are shaped by plant adaptation to environmental stress, yet the conditions under which this occurs remain poorly understood. We developed a theoretical framework to predict how strategies used by tropical trees to cope with low-phosphorus (P) availability (that is, traits related to P uptake, and use) influence growth under P limitation. We then tested this framework against data on tree species in Borneo and a meta-analysis of results from pantropical nutrient addition experiments. Our theoretical framework predicts that plant traits associated with low-P environments, including enhanced P allocation to leaves, efficient P resorption, and root phosphatase activity, alleviate the negative effects of P scarcity more strongly for “inefficiently” growing plants, represented by large trees and old-growth forests, compared with saplings or secondary forests. In agreement with this prediction, changes in traits related to low-P environments increased the potential relative growth rate of large trees more than small trees in Borneo. Finally, theoretical expectation was supported by a meta-analysis which revealed stronger P limitation in saplings and secondary forests than in old-growth forests. Together, these findings provide a novel framework to interpret the relationship between resource constraints and plant performance and reinforce the importance of accounting for plant adaption to predict ecosystem responses to P limitation in tropical forests.

生态系统动态是由植物对环境压力的适应决定的，但人们对这种情况发生的条件仍然知之甚少。我们开发了一个理论框架来预测热带树木应对低磷（P）可用性（即与磷吸收和利用相关的性状）的策略如何影响磷限制下的生长。然后，我们根据婆罗洲树种的数据测试了这个框架，并对泛热带养分添加实验的结果进行了荟萃分析。我们的理论框架预测，与低磷环境相关的植物性状，包括增强叶片的磷分配、有效的磷吸收和根部磷酸酶活性，可以更有效地缓解以大树为代表的“低效”生长植物的磷稀缺的负面影响和原始森林，与幼树或次生林相比。与这一预测一致，婆罗洲与低磷环境相关的性状变化比小树更能提高大树的潜在相对生长率。最后，理论预期得到了荟萃分析的支持，荟萃分析显示，幼树和次生林中的磷限制比古老的森林更强。总之，这些发现提供了一个新的框架来解释资源限制和植物性能之间的关系，并强调了考虑植物适应以预测生态系统对热带森林磷限制的响应的重要性。