广西猫儿山不同海拔常绿和落叶树种的营养再吸收模式

土壤养分供给性大小是否影响植物氮和磷再吸收效率仍存在争议。调查了广西猫儿山不同海拔常绿和落叶树种成熟和衰老叶片的氮和磷含量,探讨营养再吸收是否受到叶片习性和海拔的影响。所有树种氮和磷再吸收效率的平均值分别为56.5%和52.1%。常绿树种比落叶树种有显著较高的氮再吸收效率(P0.001)和磷再吸收效率(P0.01),这与前者有较低的衰老叶片氮和磷含量密切相关。随着海拔的上升,氮再吸收效率显著下降(P0.01),磷再吸收效率显著提高(P0.05)。氮再吸收效率与土壤氮:磷比(r=-0.41,P0.05)和成熟叶片氮:磷比(r=-0.37,P0.05)负相关,磷再吸收效率与土壤氮:磷比(r=0.44,P0.05)和成熟叶片氮:磷比(r=0.47,P0.01)正相关,表明了树种对低海拔氮限制的适应逐渐转变为对高海拔磷限制的适应。此外,氮再吸收效率与年均温正相关(r=0.43,P0.05)而磷再吸收效率与年均温负相关(r=-0.45,P0.01),这表明气温也是调节树木营养再吸收格局的重要影响因素。不同海拔树种氮和磷再吸收模式的差异可能是引起广西猫儿山常绿树种沿海拔形成双峰分布的原因之一。     

武夷山不同海拔阔叶树叶片养分含量及再吸收效率

为揭示亚热带山地阔叶树叶片养分利用策略随海拔梯度的变化规律，本研究选取武夷山不同海拔(1400、1600和1800 m)44种阔叶树，研究成熟与衰老叶片养分含量、化学计量比及养分再吸收效率，并分析其异速生长关系。结果表明：成熟叶片氮(N)、磷(P)含量显著高于衰老叶，且均随海拔升高而升高。磷再吸收效率(PRE)与氮再吸收效率(NRE)的平均值分别为48.3%和34.9%,PRE显著高于NRE,养分再吸收效率随海拔变化无显著差异。NRE与成熟叶N含量在低海拔处(1400 m)呈正等速生长，与衰老叶N含量在高海拔处(1800 m)呈负异速生长。PRE与衰老叶片N、P含量在低海拔(1400 m处)呈负等速生长，在高海拔处(1600、1800 m)呈负异速生长。各海拔PRE-NRE异速生长指数为0.95。随着海拔的升高，成熟和衰老叶片养分含量升高，但海拔不影响养分再吸收效率，且植物偏好从衰老叶中再吸收P,高海拔养分再吸收效率会影响衰老叶片的养分状况。     

江西阳际峰30种阔叶树叶片氮磷含量及再吸收效率

养分再吸收是植物养分利用的重要策略,体现了植物对养分留存、利用和适应环境的能力。为研究亚热带不同生活型(常绿与落叶)阔叶树养分含量与养分再吸收的关系,以江西阳际峰国家级自然保护区内30种阔叶树为研究对象,测定成熟和衰老叶片氮(N)和磷(P)含量,分析常绿和落叶树种叶片N和P含量及其再吸收效率差异,揭示阔叶树种叶片养分再吸收效率对植物生活型的响应。结果表明: 落叶树种成熟叶片N和P含量显著高于常绿树种,衰老叶片P含量显著高于常绿树种,而两者衰老叶N含量差异不显著;30种阔叶林木叶片的氮再吸收效率(NRE)与磷再吸收效率(PRE)平均值分别为49.6%和50.9%,两种生活型树种间叶片的NRE与PRE无显著差异;落叶和常绿树种叶片的NRE均与衰老叶N含量呈显著负相关,PRE则与衰老叶P含量呈显著负相关,且这种关系在不同生活型之间差异不显著;总物种的PRE-NRE异速生长指数为1.18。江西阳际峰30种不同生活型阔叶树的养分再吸收效率会影响衰老叶片的养分状况,且相较于N,植物偏好从衰老叶中再吸收P。     

温带湿地植物生物量分配格局调控群落水平养分回收效率对氮磷添加的响应

温带湿地植物生物量分配格局调控群落水平养分回收效率对氮磷添加的响应 养分回收是植物养分利用策略的一个重要组成部分,但养分有效性的变化如何调控群落尺度上植物养分回收过程仍不清楚。在本研究中,我们提出两个科学问题：(1)叶片和茎养分回收过程对养分有效性增加的响应格局是不是一致？(2)群落尺度上养分富集引起的植物养分回收变化是受物种内养分回收可塑性的影响还是受物种组成变化的调控？本研究以中国东北草本植物占优势的温带湿地为研究对象,利用施肥实验调查了氮和磷添加3年后物种水平上植物地上部分生物量以及叶和茎养分回收的变化趋势,并评价了群落尺度上植物养分回收对3年养分添加的响应。对于植物叶和茎而言,氮和磷添加对养分回收效率(nutrient resorption efficiency)均没有影响,但降低了相应的养分回收度(nutrient resorption proficiency)。同样地,在群落水平上,植物氮和磷养分回收度也随着相应的养分添加而降低。而且,由于植物群落组成变化及其引起的叶茎比降低,氮添加显著降低群落尺度上植物氮和磷的养分回收效率。这些研究结果表明,温带湿地植物叶和茎养分回收过程对养分有效性增加的响应是一致的,而且养分富集引起的物种组成以及叶和茎生物量分配格局变化是驱动群落尺度上植物养分回收动态的重要因素。     

闽江河口湿地植物氮磷吸收效率的季节变化

以闽江河口湿地土著种芦苇与入侵种互花米草为研究对象,测定了二者地上生物量和氮、磷吸收效率.结果表明：芦苇和互花米草地上生物量的季节变化呈典型的单峰值曲线,芦苇夏季地上生物量最大,达到2195.33 g·m^-2,互花米草则秋季最大,达到3670.02 g·m^-2;不同季节芦苇和互花米草氮、磷吸收效率均呈单峰值曲线,芦苇氮、磷吸收效率分别在夏季和秋季达到最高(21.06 和1.12 g·m^-2),互花米草均在秋季达到峰值(26.76和3.23 g·m^-2);芦苇和互花米草的氮吸收效率极显著大于磷(P<0.01),且互花米草的氮、磷吸收效率显著大于芦苇(P<0.05);植物N/P、C/N和C/P对植物氮、磷吸收效率有一定指示意义.     

增温对若尔盖高寒草本沼泽木里薹草氮磷重吸收的影响

养分重吸收是植物重要的营养保存机制和养分循环的重要组成部分,温度变化会影响植物养分吸收。为了探讨若尔盖高原沼泽湿地植物木里薹(Carex muliensis)草养分重吸收特征对气候变暖的响应,本研究通过野外模拟增温实验,测定木里薹草成熟叶片和衰老叶片的氮(N)、磷(P)含量并分析其重吸收效率差异。结果表明：木里薹草叶片N、P含量均值分别为11.44和1.19 mg·g^-1,N重吸收效率(NRE)、P重吸收效率(PRE)均值分别为61.8%和69.0%,增温显著降低了成熟叶片氮含量,显著提高了衰老叶片磷含量(P<0.01),对成熟叶片磷含量和衰老叶片氮含量没有显著影响;增温显著降低了成熟叶片和衰老叶片N∶P(P<0.01)及NRE(P<0.05)和PRE(P<0.01);木里薹草叶片氮磷重吸收效率与成熟叶片氮磷含量呈显著正相关,与衰老叶片氮磷含量呈显著负相关;木里薹草生长受P限制,而增温可能导致限制情况发生变化,木里薹草叶片养分重吸收还可能受到化学计量调控。研究结果将有助于了解和预测若尔盖高原养分循环对未来气候变化的响应,并为气候变暖下高寒草...     

Nitrogen and phosphorus translocation of forest floor mosses as affected by a pulse of these nutrients

藓类是亚高山森林、北方针叶林和极地苔原等原始生态系统的重要组成部分。养分沉降是这些生态系统的主要养分来源。然而,对 藓类如何利用大气沉降这一时间上异质性较高的养分来源的认识缺乏,限制了我们对藓类在生态系统养分循环中作用的认识,也制约了模 拟和预测生态系统服务功能动态变化的有效性。本研究中,我们重点关注如下问题：(1)藓类新生部分的氮、磷含量随氮或磷沉降量的变化; (2)氮或磷养分沉降如何影响藓类的氮磷转运;(3)氮磷转运与藓类新生部分养分含量的关联性？为此,我们在位于青藏高原东部的亚高山 冷杉林中开展了设置有不同氮、磷施加量水平的突发养分沉降实验。以林下优势度最高的塔藓和锦丝藓为对象,我们在施加实验处理8天和1年后,分别测定了不同年龄藓类茎段中的氮、磷含量。研究结果发现,养分处理8天后,锦丝藓和塔藓的所有茎段的氮或磷含量均随处理中氮或磷施加量的增加而增加,表明它们能够高效率地吸收施加的氮或磷。养分处理1年后,形成于养分处理后的新生茎段中的氮、磷含量以及氮磷比与处理后8天的藓类茎段中氮、磷含量以及氮磷比呈正相关关系,表明藓类将吸收的养分转运至新生部分,转运过程受源—库关系的调控。磷转运效率解释了新生茎段21%–23%的氮磷比变化,而氮转运与新生茎段氮磷比没有显著关系,结果暗示磷转运对藓类生长的重要性。上述结果表明,养分转运是藓类植物利用间断的沉降养分的关键机制,也使藓类成为生态系统中重要的养分库。     

闽江河口芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展对湿地系统磷赋存特征的影响

本研究选择闽江河口鳝鱼滩芦苇和短叶茳芏空间扩展前的芦苇湿地、短叶茳芏湿地,以及二者空间扩展形成的交错带湿地为对象,探讨了两种植物空间扩展过程中植物-土壤系统的全磷(TP)赋存特征及其主要影响因素。结果表明: 在空间扩展影响下,湿地植物和土壤的TP含量均发生了明显变化。其中,交错带湿地土壤的TP含量比芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地土壤分别增加了20.0%和7.1%。这与芦苇和短叶茳芏空间扩展过程中土壤的颗粒组成以及植物的生物量、根冠比变化有关。除叶外,交错带芦苇不同器官的TP含量整体均低于短叶茳芏的相应器官。这与二者在交错带生境中对P养分吸收利用与转运方式的差异有关。另外,空间扩展导致的竞争作用使二者的P分配比也发生较大变化,与纯群落相比,交错带芦苇提高了根、叶的P分配比,而交错带短叶茳芏提高了根的P分配比。芦苇和短叶茳芏为了应对空间扩展过程中的竞争可能采取了不同的P养分利用策略,前者通过加强根部P养分吸收和提高叶片光合作用的方式来占据竞争优势,而后者通过提高根系生物量以增强对P养分吸收利用的方式来抗衡来自芦苇的竞争。     

重庆石灰岩地区主要木本植物叶片性状及养分再吸收特征

以重庆石灰岩地区15种常绿木本植物和14种落叶木本植物为研究对象,对两种生活型植物叶片衰老前后叶干物质含量(LDMC)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶片厚度(LT)进行了比较,并采用不同的计算方法(单位质量叶片养分含量、单位面积叶片养分含量)分析了两类植物叶片衰老前后养分含量及再吸收特征,最后对养分再吸收效率与其他叶性状因子之间的关系进行了相关分析。结果表明:常绿植物成熟叶LDMC、LT及衰老叶LT显著低于落叶植物,落叶植物成熟叶和衰老叶SLA均显著高于常绿植物(P0.05);基于单位质量叶片计算的养分含量,常绿植物成熟和衰老叶N、P量均低于落叶植物,而基于单位面积叶片计算的N、P含量则表现出相反的趋势;基于不同方法计算的N、P再吸收效率差异不明显,其中常绿植物基于单位质量叶片养分含量计算的N、P平均再吸收效率为39.42%、43.79%,落叶植物的为24.08%、33.59%;常绿和落叶植物N、P再吸收效率与LDMC、SLA、LT和成熟叶N、P含量之间没有显著相关性,但与衰老叶养分含量存在显著负相关(P0.05)。研究发现,无论是常绿植物还是落叶植物,衰老叶N、P含量均较低,表明石灰岩地区植物具有较高的养分再吸收程度。     

氮添加对天然油松林油松不同器官N-P分配策略的影响

作为植物重要器官,叶、茎、根对环境变化的响应策略一直是生态学研究的重要课题。然而,植物不同器官的氮-磷(Nitrogen-Phosphorus)分配策略对氮沉降的响应规律仍不清楚。为了揭示不同器官的养分对氮添加的响应规律,本研究以山西太岳山天然油松林为研究对象,设置4个人工氮添加水平,分别为对照(CK, 0 kg hm^-2 a^-1)、低氮(LN, 50 kg hm^-2 a^-1)、中氮(MN, 100 kg hm^-2 a^-1)和高氮(HN, 150 kg hm^-2 a^-1),模拟氮沉降对油松不同器官N-P分配策略的影响。实验结果表明:1)随着氮添加浓度的增加,茎N含量显著降低(P<0.05),根N含量显著增加(P<0.05);茎P含量在低氮条件下与其他氮添加水平相比显著降低(P<0.05);叶N∶P在低氮条件下与其他氮添加水平相比显著增加(P<0.05),茎N∶P在高氮条件下与其他氮添加水平...     

Effects of artificial grassland establishment on soil nutrients and carbon properties in a black-soil-type degraded grassland

Despite a growing knowledge of nutrient limitation for mangrove species and how mangroves adapt to low nutrients, there is scant information about the relative importance of N:P ratio and leaf phenolics variability in determining nutrient conservation. In this study, we evaluated possible nutrient conservation strategies of a mangrove Rhizophora stylosa under nutrient limitation. 1. The leaf nutrient concentrations of R. stylosa changed with season, with the highest N concentration in winter and the highest P concentration in spring for both mature and senescent leaves. Leaf N and P concentrations decreased significantly during leaf senescence. Based on N:P ratios R. stylosa forest was N-limited. Accordingly, the nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) was significantly higher than phosphorus resorption efficiency (PRE) for the R. stylosa leaves during leaf senescence. The NRE and PRE both reached the highest in the autumn. Average N and P concentrations in the senescent leaves were 0.15% and 0.06% for R. stylosa, respectively, indicating a complete resorption of N and an incomplete resorption of P. There was a significant negative correlation between nitrogen resorption proficiency (NRP) and NRE, meanwhile phosphorus resorption proficiency (PRP) and PRE correlation was also highly significantly. 2. R. stylosa leaves contained relatively high tannin level. Total phenolics, extractable condensed tannins and total condensed tannins contents increased during leaf senescence, and changed between seasons. The lowest concentrations of total phenolics, extractable condensed tannins and total condensed tannins occurred in summer, total phenolics concentrations were inversely related to nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. 3. Our results confirmed that resorption efficiency during leaf senescence depends on the type of nutrient limitation, and NRE was much higher than PRE under N-limited conditions. R. stylosa forest developed several nutrient conservation strategies in the intertidal coastline surroundings, including high nitrogen resorption efficiency, low nutrient losses and high tannins level.     

Resorption proficiency and efficiency of leaf nutrients in woody plants in eastern China

Aims (i) To explore variations in nutrient resorption of woody plants and their relationship with nutrient limitation and (ii) to identify the factors that control these variations in forests of eastern China.Methods We measured nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in both green and senesced leaves of 172 woody species at 10 forest sites across eastern China. We compared the nutrient resorption proficiency (NuRP) and efficiency (NuRE) of N and P in plant leaves for different functional groups; we further investigated the latitudinal and altitudinal variations in NuRP and NuRE and the impacts of climate, soil and plant types on leaf nutrient resorptions.Important findings On average, the leaf N resorption proficiency (NRP) and P resorption proficiency (PRP) of woody plants in eastern China were 11.1mg g ? 1 and 0.65 mg g ? 1, respectively; and the corresponding N resorption efficiency (NRE) and P resorption efficiency (PRE) were 49.1% and 51.0%, respectively. Angiosperms have higher NRP (are less proficient) values and lower NRE and PRE values than gymnosperms, but there are no significant differences in NRP, PRP and PRE values between species with different leaf habits (evergreen vs. deciduous angiosperms). Trees have higher NRE and PRE than shrubs. Significant geographical patterns of plant nutrient resorption exist in forests of eastern China. In general, NRP and PRE decrease and PRP and NRE increase with increasing latitude/altitude for all woody species and for the different plant groups. Plant functional groups show more controls than environmental factors (climate and soil) on the N resorption traits (NRP and NRE), while site-related variables present more controls than plant types on PRP and PRE. NRP increases and PRP and NRE decrease significantly with increasing temperature and precipitation for the overall plants and for most groups, except that significant PRE–climate relationship holds for only evergreen angiosperms. Leaf nutrient resorption did not show consistent responses in relation to soil total N and P stoichiometry, probably because the resorption process is regulated by the relative costs of drawing nutrients from soil versus from senescing leaves. These results support our hypothesis that plants growing in P-limited habitats (low latitudes/altitudes or areas with high precipitation/temperature) should have lower PRP and higher PRE, compared with their counterparts in relatively N-limited places (high latitudes/altitudes or areas with low precipitation/temperature). Our findings can improve the understanding of variations in N and P resorption and their responses to global change, and thus facilitate to incorporate these nutrient resorption processes into future biogeochemical models.     

N limitation increases along a temperate forest succession: evidences from leaf stoichiometry and nutrient resorption

温带森林演替加剧了氮限制：来自叶片化学计量和养分重吸收的证据 森林生产力和碳汇功能在很大程度上取决于土壤氮和磷的有效性。然而,迄今为止,养分限制随森林演替的时间变化仍存在争议。叶片化学计量和养分重吸收是预测植物生长养分限制的重要指标。基于此,本研究测定了温带森林4个演替阶段所有木本植物叶片和凋落叶中氮和磷的含量,并分析了演替过程中非生物因子和生物因子如何影响叶片化学计量和养分重吸收。研究结果表明,在个体尺度上,叶片氮磷含量在演替末期显著增加,而叶片氮磷比无显著变化;氮的重吸收效率随演替显著增加,然而磷的重吸收效率先增加后减少;氮重吸收效率与磷重吸收效率的比值仅在演替末期显著增加。此外,植物氮素循环对土壤养分的响应比磷素循环更弱。在群落尺度上,叶片氮磷含量随森林演替呈现先降低后升高的趋势,主要受香农-维纳多样性指数和物种丰富度的影响;叶片氮磷比随演替而显著变化,主要由胸径的群落加权平均值决定;氮的重吸收效率增加,主要受物种丰富度和胸径的影响,而磷的重吸收效率相对稳定。因此,氮重吸收效率与磷重吸收效率的比值显著增加,表明随着温带森林演替,氮限制加剧。这些结果可能反映了较高生物多样性群落中物种间对有限资源的激烈竞争,强调了生物因子在驱动森林生态系统养分循环中的重要性,为中国温带和北方森林可持续经营的施肥管理提供了参考。     

黄土高原子午岭林区典型树种叶片N、P再吸收特征

为揭示黄土高原子午岭林区不同演替阶段和植被类型主要树种养分再吸收特征,研究选取4种次生植被树种(白桦、山杨、辽东栎和油松)和2种人工植被树种(刺槐和侧柏),测定其成熟叶、凋落叶和林下土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,研究了叶片N、P再吸收率及其与养分指标的关系。结果表明:(1)不同树种叶片养分和林下土壤养分含量存在显著差异,土壤C、N含量和C∶N∶P计量比均表现为演替后期林地(辽东栎和油松)演替前期林地(山杨和白桦)人工林(侧柏和刺槐);(2)不同树种叶片N、P再吸收率分别为17.18%—43.34%和27.13%—58.12%,均表现为演替后期林地人工林演替前期林地,且P的再吸收率总体高于N的再吸收率;(3)不同树种叶片N、P再吸收率与叶片养分指标的关系强于土壤,与养分计量比的相关性大于养分含量的相关性。说明子午岭典型植被会通过叶片N、P再吸收来适应养分限制环境,尤其是演替后期植被再吸收能力更强,研究可为黄土高原植被恢复提供理论依据。     

Global-scale patterns of nutrient resorption associated with latitude, temperature and precipitation

Aim   Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of nutrient conservation in plants, but the patterns of nutrient resorption at the global scale are unknown. Because soil nutrients vary along climatic gradients, we hypothesize that nutrient resorption changes with latitude, temperature and precipitation.
Location   Global.
Methods   We conducted a meta-analysis on a global data set collected from published literature on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption of woody plants.
Results    For all data pooled, both N resorption efficiency (NRE) and P resorption efficiency (PRE) were significantly related to latitude, mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP): NRE increased with latitude but decreased with MAT and MAP. In contrast, PRE decreased with latitude but increased with MAT and MAP. When functional groups (shrub versus tree, coniferous versus broadleaf and evergreen versus deciduous) were examined individually, the patterns of NRE and PRE in relation to latitude, MAT and MAP were generally similar.
Main conclusions   The relationships between N and P resorption and latitude, MAT and MAP indicate the existence of geographical patterns of plant nutrient conservation strategies in relation to temperature and precipitation at the global scale, particularly for PRE, which can be an indicator for P limitation in the tropics and selective pressure shaping the evolution of plant traits. Our results suggest that, although the magnitude of plant nutrient resorption might be regulated by local factors such as substrate, spatial patterns are also controlled by temperature or precipitation.     

亚热带幼林树木功能性状与叶片氮磷重吸收率的关系

本研究以亚热带29种3年生人工纯林为对象,研究了29个树种功能性状与氮磷重吸收效率的关系。结果表明: 29种幼林平均氮、磷重吸收效率分别为50.5%和57.3%。22种丛枝菌根树种的氮重吸收效率平均为52.7%,显著高于7种外生菌根树种(45.1%)。29个树种的细根组织密度与氮重吸收效率呈显著正相关,7种外生菌根树种细根直径与磷重吸收效率呈显著正相关,22种丛枝菌根树种的功能性状对氮重吸收效率和磷重吸收效率无显著影响。在29个树种中,菌根类型、比叶面积、细根组织密度、叶厚度及叶厚度与菌根类型的相互作用共同解释氮重吸收效率变异的27%,比根长、细根碳含量、细根碳氮比、菌根类型、叶片碳含量及叶片碳含量与菌根类型的相互作用共同解释磷重吸收效率变异的35%。因此,亚热带树种根系功能性状能较好地预测了氮、磷养分重吸收效率,综合多个功能性状可以更好地揭示不同生物因子对养分重吸收的相对重要性。     

Combined effects of nitrogen addition and litter manipulation on nutrient resorption of Leymus chinensis in a semi‐arid grassland of northern China

Plant growth in semi‐arid ecosystems is usually severely limited by soil nutrient availability. Alleviation of these resource stresses by fertiliser application and aboveground litter input may affect plant internal nutrient cycling in such regions. We conducted a 4‐year field experiment to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) addition (10 g N·m^?2·year^?1) and plant litter manipulation on nutrient resorption of Leymus chinensis, the dominant native grass in a semi‐arid grassland in northern China. Although N addition had no clear effects on N and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiencies in leaves and culms, N fertilisation generally decreased leaf N resorption proficiency by 54%, culm N resorption proficiency by 65%. Moreover, N fertilisation increased leaf P resorption proficiency by 13%, culm P resorption proficiency by 20%. Under ambient or enriched N conditions, litter addition reduced N and P resorption proficiencies in both leaves and culms. The response of P resorption proficiency to litter manipulation was more sensitive than N resorption proficiency: P resorption proficiency in leaves and culms decreased strongly with increasing litter amount under both ambient and enriched N conditions. In contrast, N resorption proficiency was not significantly affected by litter addition, except for leaf N resorption proficiency under ambient N conditions. Furthermore, although litter addition caused a general decrease of leaf and culm nutrient resorption efficiencies under both ambient and enriched N conditions, litter addition effects on nutrient resorption efficiency were much weaker than the effects of litter addition on nutrient resorption proficiency. Taken together, our results show that leaf and non‐leaf organs of L. chinensis respond consistently to altered soil N availability. Our study confirms the strong effects of N addition on plant nutrient resorption processes and the potential role of aboveground litter, the most important natural fertiliser in terrestrial ecosystems, in influencing plant internal nutrient cycling.     

Nutrient resorption in wetland macrophytes: comparison across several regions of different nutrient status

This study explored patterns of nutrient resorption in wetland macrophytes to test the prediction that plants from regions with a strong nutrient limitation will show higher resorption of the limiting nutrient. Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption was assessed in macrophytes from marshes of different nutrient status in tropical and temperate regions, and expressed as resorption efficiency (NRE, PRE) and proficiency (NRP, PRP). Macrophytes were grouped into three categories: Typha, graminoids and broadleaved plants. Nitrogen was less limiting than P, consequently N availability varied less than P availability, NRP and NRE were lower, and N resorption was mostly incomplete. NRP was determined more by growth form than by local conditions. The large range of soil P concentrations allowed an exploration of relationships between P availability and resorption along a wide gradient. P-limited macrophytes (N : P > 16) had significantly higher PRP and PRE. Resorption proficiency was found to be a more sensitive indicator of changes in nutrient availability than resorption efficiency. The results confirmed that resorption in wetland macrophytes depends on nutrient availability, and is higher at nutrient-limited sites. A particularly strong relationship was found between resorption indicators and P limitation expressed either as live tissue N : P or soil P.