Exploring intraspecific variation of functional traits of different sizes and ecogeographical regions is important to understand the adaptation strategies of tree populations to their environments. In this study, we explored the variation and bivariate relationships of 16 functional traits of 30 trees of Bombax malabaricum across 5 geographical regions in Hainan Island and between large- and small-sized tree populations. Principal component analysis showed that leaf thickness (LTh), guard cell length, and lower epidermis (LE) thickness were the key functional traits implicated in varying ecological strategies of B. malabaricum. A significant variation was found in the key functional traits including LE thickness, LTh, and guard cell (GCL) in populations across different ecogeographical regions. However, the LE and LTh vary significantly between the large- and small-sized trees. The LTh and LE thickness also showed an allometric relationship across different geographical regions and tree sizes. Hence, it was concluded that trees vary their ecological strategy according to their ontological developments across environments. Moreover, adaptation strategies of large-sized trees differing from small-sized ones highlight the fact that priority should be taken to conserve the trees with high age.

中文翻译：

---

叶功能性状与棉花树中的树木大小和位置有关 Bombax malabaricum

探索不同大小和生态地理区域功能性状的种内变异对于了解树木种群对其环境的适应策略非常重要。本研究探讨了海南岛5个地理区域30株木棉16个功能性状的变异和双变量关系，以及大、小树种群间的关系。主成分分析表明，叶片厚度 (LTh)、保卫细胞长度和下表皮 (LE) 厚度是与 B. malabaricum 不同生态策略有关的关键功能特征。在不同生态地理区域的人群中，包括 LE 厚度、LTh 和保卫细胞 (GCL) 在内的关键功能性状存在显着差异。然而，大树和小树之间的 LE 和 LTh 差异很大。LTh 和 LE 厚度也显示出不同地理区域和树木大小的异速生长关系。因此，得出的结论是，树木根据其在不同环境中的本体发展来改变其生态策略。此外，大型树木与小型树木的适应策略不同，突出了应优先保护高龄树木的事实。