In our recent paper, published in Global Change Biology, we investigated the dependency of photosynthetic traits on climate and soil properties using a new Australia-wide trait dataset spanning 528 species from 67 sites. We show that, although climate typically explained more trait variation than soil did, together they explained up to 52% of variation in the Narea–gsw and Vcmax 25–gsw slope relationships, with soil properties explaining up to 30% of the variation in individual traits. In particular, the influence of soil P likely reflects the Australia's geologically ancient low-relief landscapes with highly leached soils. We posit that least-cost theory provides a valuable framework for understanding trade-offs between resource costs and use in plants, including limiting soil nutrients.

In our recent paper, published in Physiologia Plantarum, we suggest that phosphorus (P) toxicity, not deficiency, is what explains the calcifuge nature of most Proteaceae. We showed that differences in physiological responses of soil-indifferent and calcifuge species to high P and calcium (Ca) supply were associated with these species’ ability to regulate nutrient uptake, particularly that of P and zinc (Zn), as well as with differences in nutrient-allocation patterns at the cellular level. This study provides a unique evaluation of the interactions of P, Ca, and Zn in the physiology of Proteaceae and their role in the distribution of these species.

Our recent review paper, entitled "The Genetic Basis of Plant Functional Traits and the Evolution of Plant-Environment Interactions", has just been published in a special issue of the International Journal of Plant Sciences dedicated to the evolution of functional traits in plants.

In our recent study, published in Journal of Experimental Botany, we showed that increasing calcium (Ca) supply enhanced the preferential allocation of phosphorus (P) to palisade mesophyll cells under high P availability, without a significant change in whole leaf [P]. Calcifuges showed a greater palisade mesophyll [P] compared with soil-indifferent species, corresponding with their greater P sensitivity. This study advances our mechanistic understanding of Ca-enhanced P toxicity, demonstrating its role in the calcifuge distribution of Proteaceae.

In our study, published in Journal of Ecology, we showed that with declining soil phosphorus (P) availability across the Jurien Bay chronosequence in south-western Australia, the photosynthetic P-use efficiency (PPUE) of every studied species - from several families - increased. Plants growing on the oldest, nutrient‐impoverished soils exhibited similar CO2-exchange rates as plants growing on nutrient‐richer, younger soils, and extraordinarily high PPUE. This indicates convergence in leaf traits related to photosynthetic nutrient use on severely P‐impoverished sites.

In our study, published in New Phytologist, we provided the first demonstration of calcium‐enhanced phosphorus toxicity across multiple Proteaceae species. We surmise that this phenomenon may partially explain the calcifuge habit of most Proteaceae and is therefore critical for the management of this iconic Australian family. This study represents a major advance towards an understanding of the physiological mechanisms of phosphorus toxicity and its role in the distribution of Proteaceae.

In our recent study, published in New Phytologist, we have assessed the implications that phosphorus (P) availability and phylogenetic constraints might have for P compartmentation in eudicots. We showed that P allocation to different cell types may differ depending on the soil P availability in the habitat where species evolved, and that there is no phylogenetic pattern in P allocation within eudicots. We surmise that preferential allocation of P to mesophyll cells is a trait that evolved multiple times in response to P limitation, which is at variance with the prevailing model that eudicots exhibit a single P-allocation pattern.