滨海沙地主要造林树种叶片功能性状及养分重吸收特征

为探讨不同树种对滨海沙地干旱贫瘠环境的适应策略,以滨海沙地主要造林树种木麻黄、湿地松、厚荚相思和尾巨桉为对象,研究了不同树种叶片功能性状及养分重吸收特征.结果表明:阔叶树种(厚荚相思和尾巨桉)的叶面积、比叶面积显著高于针叶树种(木麻黄和湿地松),而针叶树叶干物质含量、叶厚度最高.成熟叶和凋落叶的N、P含量表现为阔叶树高于针叶树,成熟叶高于凋落叶,但凋落叶N∶P较高.针叶树种的N、P养分重吸收效率大于阔叶树种,P重吸收效率明显高于N,木麻黄、湿地松、厚荚相思和尾巨桉的N、P吸收效率分别为64.2%、63.1%、47.0%、16.8%和92.5%、81.6%、80.3%、18.0%.比叶面积与叶片N、P含量呈显著正相关,与叶干物质含量,叶厚度以及N、P养分重吸收效率呈显著负相关;叶干物质含量与叶厚度及N、P养分重吸收效率呈显著正相关.就叶片功能的权衡关系而言,木麻黄和湿地松属于缓慢投资-收益型物种,具有较高的养分重吸收效率,而厚荚相思和尾巨桉属于快速投资-收益型物种,养分的重吸收效率较低.不同滨海沙地造林树种通过叶片功能性状及养分重吸收之间的相互协调实现对滨海沙地特殊生境的适应性.     

尾叶桉与窿缘组树种间杂交种的生长特征

选定组配树种对桉树杂交种的特性起决定作用,但不同种间杂交种的生长表现常常不容易预测。为掌握华南地区桉树重要树种间杂交种的生长特征,促进桉树杂交育种的精准化,该文以父本为混合花粉的人工杂交种为遗传材料,以尾叶桉×巨桉为对照,进行了尾叶桉与桉树窿缘组树种(布拉斯桉、细叶桉、钝盖赤桉、昆北赤桉)的4种组配杂交种的生长特征研究。结果表明:在材积生长量上,尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种低于尾叶桉×巨桉,但其内部树种间差异显著(P0.05),其中尾叶桉×昆北赤桉具有显著优势;尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种的树高、胸径均显著小于尾叶桉×巨桉,但其高径比显著大于尾叶桉×巨桉(P0.05);尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种具有高的和一致的保存率,且在不同组配间、家系间(组配内)均无显著差异,5年生值为84.4%～89.6%;尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种的5年生材积的平均变异系数约为64%,组配间、家系间差异大,都大于尾叶桉×巨桉。尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种的速生性、树形等与尾叶桉×巨桉间存在显著差异,尾叶桉与窿缘组树种杂交种的组配、家系间具有显著的生长差异,可为桉树遗传改良提供丰富的多样性。     

北京植物园不同功能型植物叶经济谱

通过对北京植物园不同功能型植物的叶片光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数、叶面积、叶干质量以及叶氮含量等性状参数进行测定,分析了不同功能型植物的叶经济谱.结果表明: 生活型中草本植物、生活史中一年生植物、光合型中C4植物靠近叶经济谱中快速投资-收益型物种的一端,而生活型中乔木和灌木、生活史中多年生植物、光合型中C3植物位于缓慢投资-收益型物种的一端,表明不同功能型植物通过叶片性状间的权衡采取不同的环境适应策略,验证了不同功能型植物叶经济谱的存在.不同功能型植物叶片性状具有明显差异,其中不同生活型间的叶片比叶面积(SLA)、叶氮含量(N_mass)、最大净光合速率(A_mass)、光合氮利用效率(PNUE)均表现出草本植物>藤本植物>灌木>乔木;不同生活史间一年生植物的SLA、N_mass、A_mass、PNUE均显著高于多年生植物;不同光合型间植物的A_mass、PNUE、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)均表现出C4>C3.N_mass、A_mass、SLA两两之间呈显著正相关,而PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(F_v′/F_m′)与SLA呈显著负相关;PNUE与SLA呈显著正相关.     

贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林主要树种叶功能性状

以贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林5种主要树种为研究对象,分析其叶片比叶面积(SLA)、叶干重(LDW)、碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量、同位素丰度(δ13C、δ15N)等叶属性特征,阐明常绿落叶阔叶混交林主要物种叶片性状的差异以及各种性状之间的相关关系,揭示主要树种叶片的水分和养分利用效率之间的关系以及这种关系对该群落中主要树种共存的影响机制。结果表明:贡嘎山常绿落叶阔叶混交林常绿树种与落叶树种比叶面积存在显著差异,叶片C含量与N、P含量呈显著负相关,N含量和P含量呈显著正相关;SLA与N含量、N∶P呈显著正相关关系,与δ13C、C含量、C∶N呈显著负相关关系,而与P相关性不显著;叶片δ13C与C∶N相关性不显著;SLA较高的叶片具有较高的叶片N含量,较低的叶C含量、氮素利用效率(NUE)和水分利用效率(WUE);叶片的WUE和NUE之间不存在权衡关系,未采用水氮耦合的权衡机制以适应潮湿多雨的环境;孑遗植物康定木兰(Indigofera souliei)和连香树(Cercidiphyllum japonicum)均采用异于非孑遗物种的养分利用策略,形成生态位的分化而共存于群落。     

三峡消落带优势植物狗牙根在水库落干期的叶性状变化

为研究三峡消落带植物叶片功能性状在落干期的变化，于2014年6月和8月，在湿- 干- 湿循环的落干阶段，分别在176、170、164、158 m(不同淹水强度)调查消落带优势草本植物狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers)的8个叶片功能性状，包括：最大净光合速率(A_area、A_mass)、比叶面积(SLA)、气孔导度(G_s)、叶片氮含量(N_area、N_mass)、叶片磷含量(P_area、P_mass)。结果显示：(1)生长时长(6月和8月)对A_area、A_mass、G_s、SLA和P_mass的变异性贡献率与淹水强度相近甚至高于后者，而生长时长对N_area、N_mass和P_area变异性的贡献率较低；(2)在8个性状的两两耦合关系中，有5对(A_area vs. G_s，A_mass vs. G_s，SLA vs. G_s，A_area vs. N_area，P_mass vs. N_mass)受到了生长时长的显著影响；(3)A_mass、N_mass和P_mass在各淹水强度之间无明显变化规律。无论在6月还是8月，158 m的A_area均大于未淹水的176 m；消落带的SLA显著小于未淹水对照带；N_area的大小依次为：158 m > 164 m > 176 m > 170 m；P_area均表现出消落带高于对照带。研究结果表明，在三峡水库消落带，年内生长时长差异会导致狗牙根的光合能力、比叶面积等多个性状发生显著变化，且对功能性状间的耦合关系影响显著；较少受到生长时长影响的稳定性状N_area和P_area可能更具群落与环境梯度之间关系的指示作用。     

桉树及其杂交种叶片形态的遗传变异特征

为了解桉树重要性状在杂交种亲本、子代间的遗传变异规律,以尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)为母本、粗皮桉(E. pellita)和细叶桉(E. tereticornis)为父本、8个全同胞杂交子代为材料,对亲本和子代的叶片形态性状进行了分析。结果表明,亲缘关系近的尾叶桉和粗皮桉的叶片性状大多无显著差异;但他们与亲缘关系远的细叶桉间的差异显著;尾粗桉与父母本间的性状无显著差异或仅与母本差异显著,属偏父本型;尾细桉与双亲间的多数性状都差异显著,且多偏向于母本。在树种内的家系间或个体间,叶片数量性状差异显著,而质量性状仅叶面革质厚度、叶面朝向差异显著;杂交种家系部分性状有超亲现象,且尾细桉家系超亲频率显著高于尾粗桉。叶长、叶长宽比、形状因子、叶色、叶面革质是区别叶片形态特征的决定性状。     

八个树种叶水力性状对水分条件的响应及其驱动因素

树木叶片的水力效率和安全性会对水分条件的改变做出一定的响应, 进而影响树木的生长和分布, 然而叶导水率(K_leaf)和叶水力脆弱性(P₅₀)对不同水分条件的响应模式及其影响因素尚不清楚。该研究选取了晋西北关帝山和黑茶山两种水分条件下的8种树种, 测量其水力性状、叶片导管和形态性状, 比较两地不同树种的K_leaf和P₅₀的变化, 分析叶片水力效率和安全性之间的权衡关系, 并探讨叶片水力性状在不同树种及水分条件下的响应模式及其驱动因素。结果表明: 对同一树种而言, 湿润的关帝山叶最大导水率(K_max)和P₅₀均高于干旱的黑茶山; 对同一地区而言, 从在高水分条件下生长的树种到在易干旱环境生长的树种, K_max和P₅₀均逐渐下降。K_max、P₅₀、膨压丧失点水势(TLP)之间均存在显著相关关系。两地叶片P₅₀与导管密度、导管塌陷预测值((t/b)³)、叶片厚度、比叶质量显著正相关, 与导管直径、叶面积显著负相关, 不同树种的K_leaf和P₅₀与叶导管性状的关系大于叶形态性状。同一树种的关帝山到黑茶山P₅₀变化量(δP₅₀)与比叶质量和叶干物质含量在两地的变化量显著正相关, 同一树种δP₅₀与叶形态性状变化量的关系大于与叶导管性状的。以上结果表明: 随着水分条件变差, 叶片水力效率降低, 水力安全性提高, 不同树种叶片水力效率与安全性之间存在一定的权衡关系, 不同树种叶水力性状的差别受叶导管性状影响的程度大于受叶形态性状的影响, 同一树种叶水力安全性对水分条件变化的响应主要依靠叶形态性状的驱动, 树木在提高自身叶水力安全的同时增加了叶构建的碳投资。     

滨海沙地人工林树种水分利用效率和叶片养分浓度比较及其关系分析

以福建省福州市滨海后沿沙地人工营造的湿地松、木麻黄、尾巨桉、肯氏相思和纹荚相思人工林为研究对象,运用稳定碳同位素法测定植物水分利用效率,探索叶片氮、磷养分状况与水分利用效率之间的差异及相互关系。结果表明:(1)湿地松和肯氏相思的叶片δ13 C均与尾巨桉差异显著(P0.05),但湿地松、木麻黄、肯氏相思、纹荚相思之间的叶片δ13 C均无显著差异;肯氏相思、纹荚相思的叶片δ15 N均显著高于湿地松、木麻黄和尾巨桉。(2)不同树种水分利用效率大小依次为:湿地松肯氏相思木麻黄纹荚相思尾巨桉,且湿地松叶片的WUE显著高于尾巨桉36.87%,而与其他树种的水分利用效率均无显著差异。(3)各树种叶片氮浓度大小依次为:肯氏相思纹荚相思尾巨桉木麻黄湿地松,但仅肯氏相思和纹荚相思与湿地松之间差异达到显著水平;各树种叶片磷浓度大小依次为:尾巨桉肯氏相思纹荚相思湿地松木麻黄,其中尾巨桉与湿地松、木麻黄、纹荚相思之间差异显著;木麻黄和纹荚相思人工林叶片的N/P显著高于尾巨桉人工林,其余树种之间的叶片N/P均无显著差异。(4)叶片δ13 C与叶片N浓度呈显著二次曲线相关关系,叶片δ15 N与叶片N浓度呈极显著线性正相关关系(P0.01)。研究发现,滨海沙地不同树种人工林间水分利用效率、叶片氮浓度、磷浓度、N/P均存在显著差异,水分利用效率与叶片氮浓度、磷浓度均呈显著负相关关系,氮、磷含量是影响滨海沙地沿海防护林树种水分利用效率的重要因子。     

NAA处理桉树插条后IAAO活性与生根的关系

尾叶桉MLA无性系(简称MLA)为难生根植物,尾叶桉U₆无性系(简称U₆)和刚果12号桉W₅无性系(简称W₅)为相对易生根植物。MLA插条内的吲哚乙酸氧化酶(IAAO)活性较U₆、W₅的高。用萘乙酸(NAA)处理桉树插条后,在扦插生根的不同阶段,插条内IAAO活性呈现规律性变化;可溶性蛋白质含量呈上升趋势。本文讨论了IAAO与桉树插条生根的关系。     

东北温带森林20种乔木树种叶片干旱容忍性特征

全球范围内干旱频率和强度的增加严重影响树木生长,甚至导致森林大面积死亡。压力-容积(PV)曲线能够反映树木对干旱的容忍能力,但在局域尺度上尚未确定哪个PV曲线参数具有最优指示性。通过测定东北温带森林20种主要树种(包括16种被子植物和4种裸子植物)的PV曲线性状,包括质壁分离时的相对含水量(RWC_tlp)、失膨点叶水势(TLP)、饱和含水时的叶渗透势(π₀)、细胞弹性模量(ε)、叶水容(C_leaf)及叶结构性状(比叶面积和叶密度),研究局域尺度上叶片耐旱性的最佳指示性状,并分析叶片PV性状与结构性状间的相关性。结果表明: 被子植物的RWC_tlp 显著大于裸子植物,但其C_leaf 显著小于裸子植物,这表明用RWC_tlp和C_leaf可以指示东北温带森林不同功能型树种间耐旱性的大小。在被子植物中,TLP和π₀与叶密度呈显著负相关,且均与比叶面积呈显著正相关;而ε与比叶面积呈显著负相关。然而,裸子植物PV曲线性状与叶结构性状之间呈现与被子植物完全相反的趋势。裸子植物与被子植物树种之间PV曲线性状与叶结构性状关系的差异,可能归因于二者采取不同的干旱响应和适应策略。     

Leaf attributes and tree growth in a tropical dry forest

Questions: How are leaf attributes and relative growth rate (RGR) of the dominant tree species of tropical deciduous forest (TDF) affected by seasonal changes in soil moisture content (SMC)? What is the relationship of functional attributes with each other? Can leaf attributes singly or in combination predict the growth rate of tree species of TDF? Location: Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: Eight leaf attributes, specific leaf area (SLA); leaf carbon concentration (LCC); leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC); leaf phosphorus concentration (LPC); chlorophyll concentration (Chl), mass‐based stomatal conductance (Gs_mass); mass based photosynthetic rate (A_mass); intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi); and relative growth rate (RGR), of six dominant tree species of a dry tropical forest on four sites were analysed for species, site and season effects over a 2‐year period. Step‐wise multiple regression was performed for predicting RGR from mean values of SMC and leaf attributes. Path analysis was used to determine which leaf attributes influence RGR directly and which indirectly. Results: Species differed significantly in terms of all leaf attributes and RGR. The response of species varied across sites and seasons. The attributes were positively interrelated, except for WUEi, which was negatively related to all other attributes. The positive correlation was strongest between Gs_mass and A_mass and the negative correlation was strongest between Gs_mass and WUEi. Differences in RGR due to site were not significant when soil moisture was controlled, but differences due to season remained significant. The attributes showed plasticity across moisture gradients, which differed among attributes and species. Gs_mass was the most plastic attribute. Among the six species, Terminalia tomentosa exhibited the greatest plasticity in six functional attributes. In the step‐wise multiple regression, A_mass, SLA and Chl among leaf attributes and SMC among environmental factors influenced the RGR of tree species. Path analysis indicated the importance of SLA, LNC, Chl and A_mass in determining RGR. Conclusion: A _mass, SMC, SLA and Chl in combination can be used to predict RGR but could explain only three‐quarters of the variability in RGR, indicating that other traits/factors, not studied here, are also important in modulating growth of tropical trees. RGR of tree species in the dry tropical environment is determined by soil moisture, whereas the response of mature trees of different species is modulated by alterations in key functional attributes such as SLA, LNC and Chl.     

入侵种银胶菊和三叶鬼针草与本地种气体交换特性的比较

以菊科入侵植物银胶菊(Parthenium hysterophorus)和三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa)以及与其共生的菊科本地植物小蓟(Cirsium setosum)为对象,比较了3种植物气体交换参数和叶片特性的差异。结果表明,银胶菊和三叶鬼针草的净光合速率(net photosynthetic rate,P_n)、叶绿素含量、比叶面积(specific leaf area,SLA)、叶片单位质量P含量(leaf P content per unit mass,P_(mass))、光合能量利用效率(photosynthetic energy use efficiency,PEUE)和光合氮利用效率(photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency,PNUE)均显著高于小蓟。植物叶片P_n与水分利用效率(water use efficiency,WUE)、叶片P_(mass)、SLA呈极显著正相关,植物叶片单位质量N含量(leaf P content per unit mass,N_(mass))与叶片SLA、单位质量建成成本(leaf construction cost per unit mass,CC_(mass))、叶绿素含量呈极显著正相关。与本地植物相比,较高的气体交换参数和叶片生化指标有可能是银胶菊和三叶鬼针草成功入侵的原因之一。     

Leaf habit does not predict leaf functional traits in cerrado woody species

Plant species with a high leaf life span (LLS) commonly have a low specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N), and phosphorous concentration (P), whereas species with low LLS have a high SLA, N and P. However, LLS tends to be longer in species growing in low-nutrient soils and, therefore, differences in LLS and other leaf traits may not be consistent with a plant classification according to leaf habit. Here we investigated whether leaf habit is consistent with leaf economic spectrum trade-offs in cerrado (a Neotropical savanna) woody species. We analyzed the SLA, N and P of 125 woody species with a distinct leaf habit (deciduous, semideciduous, brevideciduous or evergreen). We also gathered data on the LLS (33 species), maximum net photosynthesis per leaf area (A_area, 56 species) and per leaf mass (A_mass, 31 species), comprising the most extensive database analyzed so far for the cerrado. Differences among leaf habit groups were tested using generalized linear mixed models and ANOVA. We did not find differences in SLA and N among species with a distinct leaf habit, but deciduous species had a higher leaf P concentration than evergreens. Species did not differ in LLS and A_mass, but A_area varied among groups. Semideciduous species had higher A_area values than deciduous and brevideciduous species, but all other groups had similar A_area values. Because of the small difference in the LLS, SLA, leaf N, leaf P and maximum net photosynthesis, we argue that deciduous, brevideciduous, semideciduous and evergreen species may not constitute different functional groups in cerrado woody species.     

Effects of soil water on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of Cyclobalanopsis glauca seedlings growing under nutrient-rich and -poor soil

Cyclobalanopsis glauca is a dominant species in mid-subtropical forest, and usually plays an important role in forest ecosystems. However, it often suffers redundant precipitation or water stress, which often concurs with high temperature, nutrient depletion and strong irradiance. The study presented in the paper hypothesized that soil water exerted strong influence on leaf gas exchange and traits. The objective of this study was to clarify the effect of soil water changes on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits and their relationships of C. glauca seedlings growing on nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soil at three water levels. The study measured the specific leaf area (SLA), nitrogen content, chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic light response curve. Its results showed that there were no differences in leaf size, leaf dry weight, SLA, leaf dry matter content, Leaf nitrogen concentration and Leaf chlorophyll between the two soil nutrient treatments, while these parameters differed significantly among different water levels for either of the treatments. There were large variations in leaf photosynthetic parameters and leaf traits among the different water treatments, indicating different response patterns of C. glauca seedling and its adaptation to the different soil water conditions. There were no significant differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max) and apparent quantum yield (Ø) between the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soils, which indicated that the C. glauca seedlings could maintain similar capacities in different soils that differed in nutrient condition. As to the relation between the photosynthesis and leaf traits, the A_max and PNUE were positively correlated with the SLA, respectively, but the SLA had significant negative relationship with the leaf N (P<0.01) in nutrient-rich soil. In contrast, both A_max and PNUE were significantly negatively correlated with the SLA, respectively (P<0.01); and the SLA was not significantly positively correlated with the leaf nitrogen concentration of the nutrient-poor soil (P>0.05). The specific leaf areas (SLA), nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations as well as other photosynthetic features were influenced in a coordinative manner by the soil water. The relation among the A_max, PNUE and the N_mass, SLA could be described as a binomial equation and a liner negative regression for the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soil, respectively. In conclusion, soil water was more constraining factor than the soil nutrient to the photosynthesis of C. glauca seedlings, nutrient-rich soil could offset some negative influence resulting from soil water deficit on LSP and LCP. Factors affecting the variations of photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of C. glauca seedlings differed between the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soils.     

木兰科常绿与落叶物种叶片构建策略的差异

为探究木兰科(Magnoliaceae)常绿与落叶物种叶片构建的生理生态策略,选取黄山木兰(Yulaniacylindrica)、玉兰(Y.denudata)和鸡公山玉兰(Y. jigongshanensis) 3种落叶物种,以及荷花玉兰(Magnolia grandiflora)、含笑花(Michelia figo)、石碌含笑(M. shiluensis) 3种常绿物种,对其叶片构建成本和叶片寿命相关的性状进行比较。结果表明,木兰科3落叶种的单位叶片面积成本(CCarea)显著低于3常绿种,但落叶和常绿物种的叶片质量成本(CCmass)差异不显著。落叶物种的叶氮、磷含量(Nmass,Pmass)和比叶面积(SLA)均显著高于常绿物种,而叶片寿命(LLS)显著低于常绿物种。CCarea与LLS呈显著正相关,Nmass、Pmass和SLA均与LLS呈显著负相关。这说明木兰科玉兰属落叶物种单位面积叶片构建成本小于常绿物种;落叶物种叶片寿命短,但采取低成本构建策略,提高比叶面积获得更多光资源,增加营养积累,也揭示了玉兰属落叶物种适应北亚热带较短的生长季和较低水热条件的生理生态策略。     

Photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in Amazonian tree species

The relationships between leaf nitrogen (N), specific leaf area (SLA) (an inverse index of leaf thickness or density), and photosynthetic capacity (A_max) were studied in 23 Amazonian tree species to characterize scaling in these properties among natural populations of leaves of different ages and light microenvironments, and to examine how variation within species in N and SLA can influence the expression of the A_max-to-N relationship on mass versus area bases. The slope of the A_max-N relationship, change in A per change in N (mol CO₂ gN^-1 s^-1), was consistently greater, by as much as 300%, when both measures were expressed on mass rather than area bases. The x-intercept of this relationship (N-compensation point) was generally positive on a mass but not an area basis. In this paper we address the causes and implications of such differences. Significant linear relationships (p<0.05) between mass-based leaf N (N_mass) and SLA were observed in 12 species and all 23 regressions had positive slopes. In 13 species, mass-based A_max (A_mass) was positively related (p<0.05) with SLA. These patterns reflect the concurrent decline in N_mass and SLA with increasing leaf age. Significant (p<0.05) relationships between area-based leaf N (N_area) and SLA were observed in 18 species. In this case, all relationships had negative slopes. Taken collectively, and consistent in all species, as SLA decreased (leaves become thicker) across increasing leaf age and light gradients, N_mass also decreased, but proportionally more slowly, such that N_area increased. Due to the linear dependence of A_mass on N_mass and a negative 4-intercept, thicker leaves (low SLA) therefore tend, on average, to have lower N_mass and A_mass but higher N_area than thinner leaves. This tendency towards decreasing A_mass with increasing N_area, resulting in a lower slope of the A_max-N relationship on an area than mass basis in 16 of 17 species where both were significant. For the sole species exception (higher area than mass-based slope) variation in N_area was related to variation in N_mass and not in SLA, and thus, these data are also consistent with this explanation. The relations between N, SLA and A_max explain how the rate of change in A_max per change in N can vary three-fold depending on whether a mass or area mode of expression is used.     

Relationship between photosynthetic phosphorus‐use efficiency and foliar phosphorus fractions in tropical tree species

How plants develop adaptive strategies to efficiently use nutrients on infertile soils is an important topic in plant ecology. It has been suggested that, with decreasing phosphorus (P) availability, plants increase photosynthetic P‐use efficiency (PPUE) (i.e., the ratio of instantaneous photosynthetic carbon assimilation rate per unit foliar P). However, the mechanism to increase PPUE remains unclear. In this study, we tested whether high PPUE is explained by an optimized allocation of P in cells among P‐containing biochemical compounds (i.e., foliar P fractions). We investigated the relationships among mass‐based photosynthetic carbon assimilation rate (A_mass), PPUE, total foliar P concentration, and foliar P fractions in 10 tree species in two tropical montane rain forests with differing soil P availability (five species on sedimentary soils and five species on P‐poorer ultrabasic serpentine soils) on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. We chemically fractionated foliar P into the following four fractions: metabolic P, lipid P, nucleic acid P, and residual P. A_mass was positively correlated with the concentrations of total foliar P and of metabolic P across 10 tree species. Mean A_mass and mean concentrations of total foliar P and of each foliar P fraction were lower on the P‐poorer ultrabasic serpentine soils than on the sedimentary soils. There was a negative relationship between the proportion of metabolic P per total P and the proportion of lipid P per total P. PPUE was positively correlated with the ratio of metabolic P to lipid P. High PPUE is explained by the net effect of a relatively greater investment of P into P‐containing metabolites and a relatively lesser investment into phospholipids in addition to generally reduced concentrations of all P fractions. We conclude that plants optimize the allocation of P among foliar P fractions for maintaining their productivity and growth and for reducing demand for P as their adaptation to P‐poor soils.     

唐古特白刺叶功能性状沿气候梯度的变异特征

叶功能性状与植物的生长对策及资源利用效率密切相关,研究叶功能性状沿气候梯度的变异特征能为理解植物对气候变化的响应机制提供一种简便可行的测定指标。以我国西北荒漠地区广泛分布的唐古特白刺（Nitraria tangutorum）为研究对象,对其比叶面积（SLA）、单位质量和单位面积叶氮含量（N_mass、N_area）、单位质量和单位面积叶建成成本（CC_mass、CC_area）进行测定,分析这些叶功能性状及性状相关关系沿气候梯度的变异特征。结果表明,唐古特白刺叶功能性状（CC_area除外）在气候梯度下存在显著差异,其中,温度是决定唐古特白刺SLA变化的主要因子,SLA随着温度的增加而增加;降水和温度对唐古特白刺N_mass、N_area和CC_mass均有显著影响,N_mass和N_area随着降水和温度的增加而降低,而CC_mass呈增加趋势。沿气候梯度,唐古特白刺SLA-N_mass、CC_mass-N_mass和CC_area-N_area的线性正相关关系发生平移,导致在相同SLA、CC_mass和CC_area下,降水和温度较低的地区具有更高的N_mass和N_area。这一结果表明唐古特白刺能通过调节叶功能性状之间的关系来适应气候的变化,并形成性状间的最佳功能组合。     

Converging patterns of vertical variability in leaf morphology and nitrogen across seven Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil and Hawaii,USA

Key message

Across sites in Brazil and Hawaii, LMA and N _mass were strongly correlated with height and shade index, respectively, which may help simplify canopy function modeling of Eucalyptus plantations.

Abstract

Within tree canopies, leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf nitrogen per unit area (N _area) commonly increase with height. Previous research has suggested that these patterns occur as a strategy to optimize carbon gain by allocating available resources to upper canopy leaves that are exposed to greater light availability. We tested three hypotheses about the influences of height, shade index (a proxy for light), and stand age on LMA and leaf nitrogen for even-aged Eucalyptus saligna and Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla plantations in Brazil and Hawaii, USA, spanning most of the environmental conditions found across 19.6 million ha of Eucalyptus spp. plantations around the world. Shade index was developed by incorporating canopy depth (inner-crown shading) and a tree height ratio relative to neighbor trees (shading from other trees). Across all sites and ages, leaf height accounted for 45 % of the variation in LMA, whereas shade index accounted for only 6 %. A combination of both factors was slightly better in accounting for LMA variation than height alone. LMA–height relationships among sites were strongest under greater light availability and in older stands. Leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N _mass) consistently decreased with shade index, whereas N _area showed no consistent pattern with height or shade index. These relationships indicate that N _mass is primarily driven by light, while height is the primary driver for LMA. The general relationships between LMA and leaf N _mass across all sites may simplify canopy function modeling of E. saligna and E. grandis × urophylla plantations.     

Do higher resource capture ability and utilization efficiency facilitate the successful invasion of native plants?

The great damage caused by native invasive species on natural ecosystems is prompting increasing concern worldwide. Many studies have focused on exotic invasive species. In general, exotic invasive plants have higher resource capture ability and utilization capacity, and lower leaf construction cost (CC) compared to noninvasive plants. However, the physiological mechanisms that determine the invasiveness of native plants are poorly understood. We hypothesized that native invaders, like exotic invaders, may have higher resource capture ability and utilization efficiency compared to native noninvaders. To test this hypothesis, ecophysiological traits including light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max), specific leaf area (SLA), photosynthetic nitrogen use-efficiency (PNUE), photosynthetic energy-use efficiency (PEUE), and mass-based and area-based leaf construction cost (CC_mass and CC_area) were measured. We compared the above traits between three pairs of native invasive and noninvasive native species, and between three pairs of exotic invasive and noninvasive species in Guangzhou, southern China. Our results showed that the native invaders had higher A_max, SLA, PNUE, PEUE and lower CC_mass, CC_area, compared to native noninvaders and that these traits were also found in the exotic invaders. PNUE and PEUE in the native invaders were 150.3 and 129.0% higher, respectively, than in noninvasive native species, while these same measures in exotic invaders were 43.0 and 94.2% higher, respectively, than in exotic noninvasive species. The results indicated that native invaders have higher resource capture ability and resource utilization efficiency, suggesting that these traits may be a common biological foundation underlying successful invasion by both native and exotic invasives.