canopy height, disturbance, light limitation, magnesium, seed mass, specific leaf area, soil nutrients, vines

Climbers do not invest in self‐supporting architecture, allowing them to grow quickly and search for light and nutrients in canopy gaps. The climbing strategy requires both disturbance and external support; however, in herbaceous systems, disturbances often homogeneously remove external support. As a result, there should be a negative relationship between light availability and the presence of external support. Here, we asked if the distribution of herbaceous climbers is positively or negatively associated with disturbance, light availability and plant‐available nutrients. Further, we tested if climbers differ in traits compared to co‐occurring herbs.

Climbers do not invest in self‐supporting architecture, allowing them to grow quickly and search for light and nutrients in canopy gaps. The climbing strategy requires both disturbance and external support; however, in herbaceous systems, disturbances often homogeneously remove external support. As a result, there should be a negative relationship between light availability and the presence of external support. Here, we asked if the distribution of herbaceous climbers is positively or negatively associated with disturbance, light availability and plant‐available nutrients. Further, we tested if climbers differ in traits compared to co‐occurring herbs.