A fundamental assumption in trait-based ecology is that relationships between traits and environmental conditions are globally consistent. We use field-quantified microclimate and soil data to explore if trait–environment relationships are generalizable across plant communities and spatial scales. We collected data from 6,720 plots and 217 species across four distinct tundra regions from both hemispheres. We combined these data with over 76,000 database trait records to relate local plant community trait composition to broad gradients of key environmental drivers: soil moisture, soil temperature, soil pH and potential solar radiation. Results revealed strong, consistent trait–environment relationships across Arctic and Antarctic regions. This indicates that the detected relationships are transferable between tundra plant communities also when fine-scale environmental heterogeneity is accounted for, and that variation in local conditions heavily influences both structural and leaf economic traits. Our results strengthen the biological and mechanistic basis for climate change impact predictions of vulnerable high-latitude ecosystems.

基于特征的生态学的一个基本假设是特征与环境条件之间的关系是全局一致的。我们使用现场量化的微气候和土壤数据来探索性状-环境关系是否可以在植物群落和空间尺度上推广。我们收集了来自两个半球四个不同苔原地区的 6,720 个地块和 217 个物种的数据。我们将这些数据与超过 76,000 个数据库特征记录相结合，将当地植物群落特征组成与关键环境驱动因素的广泛梯度联系起来：土壤水分、土壤温度、土壤 pH 值和潜在的太阳辐射。结果揭示了北极和南极地区强烈、一致的特征-环境关系。这表明，当考虑到精细尺度的环境异质性时，检测到的关系也可以在苔原植物群落之间转移，并且当地条件的变化会严重影响结构和叶片经济性状。我们的结果加强了脆弱的高纬度生态系统气候变化影响预测的生物学和机制基础。