内蒙古典型草原优势种冷蒿和克氏针茅对土壤低磷环境适应策略的比较

为探究典型草原植物长期共存的生理生态机制, 以典型草原的优势物种克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii)和冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)为材料, 采用基质培养方法, 通过比较不同供磷浓度对二者生物量、根系形态、质子分泌、酸性磷酸酶和有机酸分泌以及磷吸收利用效率的影响, 探讨克氏针茅和冷蒿对土壤磷缺乏的适应策略。研究结果表明: 冷蒿主要通过根系分泌酸性磷酸酶和酸化根际来适应低磷环境; 而克氏针茅主要是通过根系分泌有机酸(主要是苹果酸)来适应土壤磷缺乏。在低磷条件下, 克氏针茅和冷蒿的磷吸收效率没有显著差异, 但克氏针茅的磷利用效率显著高于冷蒿。随着供磷浓度增加, 二者的磷吸收速率增加, 磷利用效率降低。在生物量、地上部分性状以及根系生长方面, 克氏针茅和冷蒿对磷供给的响应都表现先增长后降低的趋势; 克氏针茅的生物量在外源供0.25 mmol·L^-1磷时达到最大, 而冷蒿的生物量在外源供0.50 mmol·L^-1磷时达到最大, 表明冷蒿对磷的生理需求高于克氏针茅。因此, 克氏针茅和冷蒿具备各自不同的适应土壤有效磷缺乏的生理策略, 这可能是它们在土壤贫瘠的温带典型草原长期共存的重要机制。     

羌塘高原降水梯度带紫花针茅叶片氮回收特征及影响因素

植物回收衰老叶片的氮是植物重要的养分保持和环境适应机制,在寒旱贫瘠的生境更是如此。为了理解降水梯度上植物对高寒贫瘠环境的养分适应特征,研究了羌塘高寒草原优势物种紫花针茅叶片氮回收策略及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明,降水梯度带上紫花针茅叶片具有较高的叶氮水平和氮回收能力。生长季盛期紫花针茅绿叶平均氮含量为(23.87±3.92)g/kg,高于中国草地平均水平(20.9 g/kg)及全球平均值(20.1 g/kg);绿叶氮含量与年降水量(MAP)呈显著负相关,干旱端(西部)绿叶中氮含量明显高于湿润端(东部)。枯叶养分回收后的氮水平(NRP)很低,平均为(6.76±1.42)g/kg,叶片平均氮回收效率(NRE)为(71.25±6.46)%,明显高于中国温带草原和全球的平均水平(46.9%—58.5%)。枯叶中氮回收水平对叶片氮回收效率起决定作用,是维持高养分回收效率的物质基础。NRE与MAP、土壤全氮(TN)和土壤无机氮呈显著负相关;NRP与TN相关性不显著,但与土壤无机氮显著负相关。尽管NRE与NRP呈显著负相关,但二者与绿叶氮含量均没有显著相关性。年均气温、海拔对NRE和NRP影响均不显著。因此,紫花针茅叶片极高的NRE和低NRP反映了它对极端干旱贫瘠环境的养分保持能力,通过内部氮循环来降低养分流失。土壤氮的有效性是影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收能力的关键因子,降水通过影响土壤氮的有效性以及绿叶中氮含量间接影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收效率。     

水位下降对若尔盖高寒草本沼泽木里薹草氮磷重吸收的影响

养分重吸收是植物适应环境的重要策略。该研究以若尔盖高寒草本沼泽中的木里薹草作为研究对象,通过模拟实验,于8月、10月对绿叶和枯叶及土壤采样并测定养分含量,研究其在水位下降和自然水位下叶片养分含量、土壤养分含量和养分重吸收效率的变化规律,以及相互间的关系。使用单因素方差分析比较不同组间叶片氮(N)含量、叶片磷(P)含量、土壤速效N含量、土壤速效P含量、叶片N:P和养分重吸收效率的差异,使用一元线性回归拟合土壤速效N、P含量和养分重吸收效率之间的关系,木里薹草叶片N含量、P含量、N:P和养分重吸收效率的关系均采用Pearson相关分析。结果表明:水位下降后,木里薹草土壤速效N含量升高,速效P含量降低,进一步导致木里薹草绿叶N含量增加,P含量降低,枯叶N、P含量均降低,木里薹草叶片N、P重吸收效率升高,说明水位下降通过改变土壤速效养分含量影响木里薹草绿叶养分含量,改变植物养分获取能力(如根数、根长)影响枯叶养分含量,进而影响养分重吸收效率。     

黄土高原不同退耕年限坡地植物比叶面积与养分含量的关系

对黄土高原不同退耕年限坡地植物比叶面积(SLA)和养分含量进行研究,探明其随生境条件而发生的变异及其与土壤理化特性之间的关系.结果表明,立地和物种水平植物SLA存在显著差异,SLA变化范围各不相同,植物叶片C、N和P含量以及C/N 、N/P和C/P在不同退耕年限坡地间不具有一致性的变化,这表明不同物种叶性因子随生境发生的变化较为复杂.草地植物叶片SLA和叶片C含量为负相关,与N、P含量呈极显著的正相关(P<0.01).土壤理化特性对叶片SLA和养分含量的关系因物种而异,综合所有植物进行分析,土壤理化特性与植物SLA的相关性不明显,但与叶片养分含量关系密切.所以,生境条件的差异可能是植物叶片结构特性和养分组成发生变化的重要原因,但调控植物叶性特征的因素较为复杂,不同的植物具有各自相应的对生境条件的适应机制.     

半干旱典型草原养分添加对优势物种叶片氮磷及非结构性碳水化合物含量的影响

在7年的养分添加(对照、低磷、低氮、低氮高磷和高氮低磷)试验基础上,测定了内蒙古半干旱典型草原优势种大针茅(Stipa grandis)和羊草(Leymus chinensis)叶片氮、磷、可溶性碳水化合物和淀粉含量。结果表明:两物种叶片氮、可溶性碳水化合物、淀粉及非结构性碳水化合物含量对养分添加有显著的响应(P0.05),养分添加与物种有显著的交互作用(P0.05);加氮显著增加了两物种植物叶片氮含量(P0.05),单加N处理显著降低了两物种叶片中的淀粉含量(P0.05),单加磷处理显著增加了羊草叶片可溶性碳水化合物含量(P0.05),高氮低磷处理显著降低两物种叶片非结构性碳水化合物总量(P0.05)。大针茅叶片各变量对磷添加无明显的响应,其叶片相对较高的C/N、C/P和可溶性碳水化合物/淀粉比,表明其具有相对较高的可直接利用的碳水化合物以及较高的氮、磷养分利用效率;羊草对外源养分的添加具有相对较强的竞争吸收能力。     

放牧对荒漠草原克氏针茅种群和土壤生态化学计量特征的影响

该研究选取内蒙古荒漠草原,设计无牧区(NG)、中度放牧(MG)、重度放牧(HG)3个处理,测定分析不同放牧强度处理5年后,优势植物克氏针茅以及土壤的C、N、P营养元素的化学计量特征及其协同关系,以揭示放牧生态系统养分循环的影响机制,为区域草地的利用以及修复提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)轻度放牧下荒漠草原的物种多样性均显著高于中度和重度放牧条件(P<0.05)。(2)土壤中C、N含量以及C∶N、N∶P、C∶P,均随着放牧强度的增加呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,土壤P含量随放牧强度的增加而升高。(3)随放牧强度增加,克氏针茅地上部分C含量降低,N、P含量以及N∶P先升高后降低,C∶P则先减少后升高;克氏针茅地下部分的C、N含量以及N∶P一直呈增加的趋势,P含量先减少后升高,而C∶N、C∶P则是与P含量规律相反。(4)与地上部分各元素含量相比,克氏针茅地下部分各元素含量及其比值与土壤中各元素含量的相关性更高,说明放牧条件下荒漠草原优势植物的根系与其所处的土壤环境具有一定的协同变化能力。     

亚热带湿地松叶片多元素化学计量与养分回收对氮添加的短期响应

在我国南方亚热带湿地松人工林设置了3个水平的野外氮添加控制试验(0、40、120 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1),于2014和2015年生长季高峰期(7月底)和末期(10月底)采集湿地松成熟绿叶和落叶,分析外源氮添加对湿地松叶片碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)、钙(Ca)、镁(Mg)、铝(Al)、铁(Fe)、锰(Mn)9种元素浓度及其养分回收的影响.结果表明: N添加显著增加了湿地松绿叶中N、Al、Mn浓度,降低了P和2014年的Ca浓度,而对C、K、Mg、Fe 浓度无显著影响.N添加显著提高了绿叶N/P,且该比值及绿叶养分浓度(N、P、Mn)对N添加的响应依赖于N的剂量(高N条件下响应更强).N添加显著降低了2015年N的回收效率,提高了2014年K的回收效率.相比于养分回收效率,回收能力对增加的可利用氮响应更强.N添加显著降低了N的回收能力,提高了P、K的回收能力,降低了枯叶中的Fe浓度,而对枯叶中Ca、Mg、Al、Mn浓度无显著影响.这表明,N添加对叶片化学计量的影响因不同元素而异,植物会通过调整自身的养分内循环(养分回收)来应对环境变化.N添加提高了绿叶N/P和K/P,说明氮添加条件下植物生长可能由N、P共同限制转变为P限制.氮添加增加了绿叶中Al、Mn浓度,表明N添加下湿地松面临潜在的金属离子毒性风险升高.     

感染内生真菌的羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的影响

以我国内蒙古草原常见优势种羊草（Leymus chinensis（Trin.) Tzvel.）及克氏针茅（Stipa krylovii Roshev.）为实验材料,在离体器官和整株植物水平上探讨内生真菌感染是否会影响宿主植物羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的作用。实验结果表明：内生真菌感染能够影响羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的作用,其影响程度与羊草的作用部位、处理方法以及处理浓度相关。与未染菌羊草相比,染菌羊草绿叶在低浓度处理下显著促进了克氏针茅的萌发,高浓度下显著抑制了克氏针茅的幼根生长;染菌羊草枯叶显著抑制了克氏针茅幼根的生长,而染菌羊草地下部显著促进了克氏针茅的萌发;感染和不感染内生真菌的整株羊草对克氏针茅的发芽率和发芽速度无显著影响。在处理浓度相同的情况下,草粉对克氏针茅种子萌发的抑制作用比浸提液处理更为显著,绿叶比枯叶抑制作用更为显著。     

呼伦贝尔草地植物茎秆和叶片中养分的时间动态与回收

明确植物不同器官中的养分回收状况对探究植物养分利用策略与养分循环有重要意义。以往关于养分回收的研究多聚焦于叶片, 而对于茎秆研究较少。此外, 以往研究对植物生长盛期的叶片取样均在同一时间完成, 忽略了不同物种养分峰值可能存在时间差异, 进而导致养分回收效率被低估。该研究以呼伦贝尔草地22种多年生草本植物为研究对象, 在生长季不同时期进行茎秆和叶片取样, 测定其氮(N)、磷(P)含量, 分析茎秆和叶片两类器官中的养分在生长季内的变化情况与养分回收效率。结果表明: 1)植物N、P含量在生长季内有明显的时间变化规律, 呈现出先增加后减少的趋势; 不同物种峰值对应时间存在显著差异, 大部分物种养分峰值出现于8月下旬。2)茎秆和叶片两类器官养分回收模式存在差异, 植物叶片的N回收效率高于茎秆, 但P回收效率两者差异不明显; 叶片中N、P回收效率显著正相关, 而两者关系在茎秆中不显著。3)枯叶中养分含量是回收效率重要的影响因子, 植物养分回收效率与枯叶期养分含量呈显著负相关关系, 与生长盛期养分含量无关。4)以往研究中不同植物种在生长盛期同一时间取样, 造成茎秆和叶片N、P回收效率被不同程度地低估。该研究重新审视了养分回收研究中的取样策略, 表明依据不同物种在生长季内养分含量峰值出现时间决定生长盛期成熟组织的取样时间, 能够增加养分回收效率计测的准确性和科学性。     

四翅滨藜叶片C、N、P生态化学计量特征对N添加的响应

以宁夏平罗西大滩四翅滨藜人工林为研究对象,通过设置N添加的野外实验,研究四翅滨藜叶片C、N、P化学计量比的季节动态及其对N添加的响应特征。结果显示:(1)四翅滨藜叶片C、N、P化学计量比在生长季初期和末期较高,在生长季旺期(8～9月)较低。(2)N添加提高了绿叶N浓度和N∶P比,降低了绿叶C∶N、N回收度(NRP)和P回收度(PRP),对其他指标的影响无明显的规律性。(3)N回收效率(NRE)和NRP均与枯叶C∶N比显著正相关;P回收效率(PRE)与绿叶P浓度显著正相关,与枯叶P浓度显著负相关;PRP分别与绿叶P浓度和枯叶C、N、P化学计量比显著正相关,与枯叶C浓度显著负相关。研究表明,N添加促进了四翅滨藜绿叶N摄取,降低了叶片从枯叶中回收N和P的能力,改善了枯叶N分解质量;未来大气N沉降增加会改变干旱半干旱区植物N吸收、分配和回收等策略,促进枯叶中N的释放速率,直接影响N循环,进而间接影响到植被-土壤系统C和P的循环过程。     

Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient

Nitrogen (N) resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of N conservation for terrestrial plant species, but changes in N-resorption traits over wide-range and multi-level N addition gradients have not been well characterized. Here, a 3-year N addition experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N addition on N resorption of six temperate grassland species belonging to three different life-forms: Stipa krylovii Roshev. (grass), Cleistogenes squarrosa (T.) Keng (grass), Artemisia frigida Willd. (semishrub), Melissitus ruthenica C.W.Wang (semishrub and N-fixer), Potentilla acaulis L. (forb) and Allium bidentatum Fisch.ex Prokh. (forb). Generally, N concentrations in green leaves increased asymptotically for all species. N concentrations in senescent leaves for most species (5/6) also increased asymptotically, except that the N concentration in senescent leaves of A. bidentatum was independent of N addition. N-resorption efficiency decreased with increasing N addition level only for S. krylovii and A. frigida, while no clear responses were found for other species. These results suggest that long-term N fertilization increased N uptake and decreased N-resorption proficiency, but the effects on N-resorption efficiency were species-specific for different temperate grassland species in northern China. These inter-specific differences in N resorption may influence the positive feedback between species dominance and N availability and thus soil N cycling in the grassland ecosystem in this region.     

Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Nitrogen Resorption in Temperate Shrublands in Northern China

Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is a key mechanism of nutrient conservation for plants. The nutrient resorption efficiency is highly dependent on leaf nutrient status, species identity and soil nutrient availability. Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in most ecosystems, it is widely reported that nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) was highly dependent on the soil nitrogen availability and vary with N deposition. The effects of nitrogen deposition on NRE and nitrogen concentration in green and senescing leaves have been well established for forests and grasslands; in contrast, little is known on how plants in shrublands respond to nitrogen deposition across the world. In this study, we conducted a two-year nitrogen addition manipulation experiment to explore the responses of nitrogen concentration in green and senescing leaves, and NRE of seven dominant species, namely, Vitex negundo, Wikstroemia chamaedaphne, Carex rigescens and Cleistogenes chinensis from the Vitex negundo community, and Spirea trilobata, Armeniaca sibirica, V. negundo, C. rigescens and Spodiopogon sibiricus from the Spirea trilobata community, to nitrogen deposition in two typical shrub communities of Mt. Dongling in northern China. Results showed that NRE varied remarkably among different life forms, which was lowest in shrubs, highest in grasses, and intermediate in forbs, implying that shrubs may be most capable of obtaining nitrogen from soil, grasses may conserve more nitrogen by absorption from senescing leaves, whereas forbs may adopt both mechanisms to compete for limited nitrogen supply from the habitats. As the N addition rate increases, N concentration in senescing leaves ([N]_s) increased consistent from all species from both communities, that in green leaves ([N]_g) increased for all species from the Vitex negundo community, while no significant responses were found for all species from the Spirea trilobata community; NRE decreased for all species except A. sibirica from the Vitex community and W. chamaedaphn from the Spirea community. Given the substantial interspecific variations in nutrient concentration, resorption and the potentially changing community composition, and the increased soil nutrient availability due to fertilization may indirectly impact nutrient cycling in this region.     

Foliar Nitrogen Dynamics and Nitrogen Resorption of a Sandy Shrub Salix gordejevii in Northern China

Resorption of nitrogen (N) from senescing leaves is an important conservation mechanism that allows plants to use the same N repeatedly. Seasonal variations in leaf nitrogen of mature green and senescing leaves and N resorption in Salix gordejevii Chang, a sandy shrub in northern China, were studied. Our objective was to compare N resorption of this Salix species that successfully occupy different habitats (shifting sandland, fixed sandland and lowland) with differences in soil N availability and moisture. Nitrogen concentrations in green and senescing leaves were higher in June and July. N resorption efficiency (percentage reduction of N between green and senescing leaves) was highest at shifting sandland, intermediate at fixed sandland, and lowest at lowland. There was a clear seasonal variation in N-resorption efficiency, with a lower value at the early growing season and a higher value during summer. N resorption efficiency was lower at the sites with higher soil N availability, suggesting that the efficiency of the resorption process is determined by the availability of the nutrient in the soil. Resorption from senescing leaves may play an important role in the nitrogen dynamics of sandy plants and reduce the nitrogen requirements for plant growth. We conclude that N resorption from senescing leaves in S. gordejevii was correlated to soil characteristics and higher N resorption on poor soils is a phenotypic adjustment by this species to maximize N-use at low availability.     

控雨对荒漠草原植物、微生物和土壤C、N、P化学计量特征的影响

以宁夏荒漠草原为研究对象,于2014—2015年设置了降雨量变化(减雨50%、减雨30%、自然降雨、增雨30%和增雨50%)的野外模拟试验,测定了植物、微生物和土壤C、N、P含量,同时调查了植物群落组成和土壤含水量等指标,研究了各组分C、N、P化学计量特征对连续两年降雨量变化的响应,分析了土壤C∶N∶P和含水量分别与植物生长、养分利用以及微生物量积累的相关性。结果表明,控雨改变了植物叶片C∶N∶P,且其影响程度随物种不同而异:减雨50%提高了牛枝子(Lespedeza potanimill)绿叶N和P以及猪毛蒿(Artemisia scoparia)绿叶P摄取能力,增雨(30%和50%)降低了猪毛蒿绿叶N摄取能力。增雨提高了猪毛蒿绿叶C∶N,增雨30%提高了苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides)绿叶C∶N。增雨降低了猪毛蒿绿叶N∶P,增雨30%降低了白草(Pennisetum centrasiaticum)绿叶N∶P。相比之下,控雨条件下枯叶C∶N∶P的变化幅度较小;随降雨量增加微生物量C、N以及C∶N逐渐增加,但增雨50%使微生物量C和C∶N降低;控雨对土壤C∶N∶P的影响较小,但增雨提高了土壤水分有效性,因此促进了植物和微生物生长;试验期内,相对稳定的土壤C∶N∶P不能很好地指示植物和微生物生长发育的养分受限状况;干旱时提高叶片养分摄取、湿润时增强叶片养分回收,可能解释了牛枝子对降雨量变化的弹性适应能力。     

Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves in two Stipa species native to central Argentina

Abstract Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves enables plants to conserve and reuse nutrients. As such, it could be expected that plant species adapted to infertile soils have a higher nutrient resorption efficiency (percentage reduction of nutrients between green and senesced leaves) and/or higher nutrient resorption proficiency (absolute reduction of nutrients in senesced leaves) than those adapted to fertile soils. Our objective was to compare nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) resorption of two congener grasses that successfully occupy uplands of relatively low fertility (Stipa gynerioides) or lowlands of relatively high fertility (Stipa brachychaeta) in natural grasslands of central Argentina. The two Stipa species did not differ in N and P resorption efficiency, but S. gynerioides had a higher N and P resorption proficiency than S. brachychaeta. As a consequence, leaf‐level N and P use efficiency were higher in the species adapted to low fertility conditions than in the species adapted to high fertility conditions. The higher nutrient resorption proficiency of S. gynerioides was also associated with relatively low leaf‐litter decomposition and nutrient release rates found in a previous study.     

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。     

Foliar nutrient resorption patterns of four functional plants along a precipitation gradient on the Tibetan Changtang Plateau

Nutrient resorption from senesced leaves as a nutrient conservation strategy is important for plants to adapt to nutrient deficiency, particularly in alpine and arid environment. However, the leaf nutrient resorption patterns of different functional plants across environmental gradient remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a transect survey of 12 communities to address foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption strategies of four functional groups along an eastward increasing precipitation gradient in northern Tibetan Changtang Plateau. Soil nutrient availability, leaf nutrient concentration, and N:P ratio in green leaves ([N:P]_g) were linearly correlated with precipitation. Nitrogen resorption efficiency decreased, whereas phosphorus resorption efficiency except for sedge increased with increasing precipitation, indicating a greater nutrient conservation in nutrient‐poor environment. The surveyed alpine plants except for legume had obviously higher N and P resorption efficiencies than the world mean levels. Legumes had higher N concentrations in green and senesced leaves, but lowest resorption efficiency than nonlegumes. Sedge species had much lower P concentration in senesced leaves but highest P resorption efficiency, suggesting highly competitive P conservation. Leaf nutrient resorption efficiencies of N and P were largely controlled by soil and plant nutrient, and indirectly regulated by precipitation. Nutrient resorption efficiencies were more determined by soil nutrient availability, while resorption proficiencies were more controlled by leaf nutrient and N:P of green leaves. Overall, our results suggest strong internal nutrient cycling through foliar nutrient resorption in the alpine nutrient‐poor ecosystems on the Plateau. The patterns of soil nutrient availability and resorption also imply a transit from more N limitation in the west to a more P limitation in the east Changtang. Our findings offer insights into understanding nutrient conservation strategy in the precipitation and its derived soil nutrient availability gradient.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in trees of a Mexican tropical dry forest

Resorption efficiency (RE) and proficiency, foliar nutrient concentrations, and relative soil nutrient availability were determined during 3 consecutive years in tree species growing under contrasting topographic positions (i.e., top vs. bottom and north vs. south aspect) in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. The sites differed in soil nutrient levels, soil water content, and potential radiation interception. Leaf mass per area (g m^–2) increased during the growing season in all species. Soil P availability and mean foliar P concentrations were generally higher at the bottom than at the top site during the 3 years of the study. Leaf N concentrations ranged from 45.4 to 31.4 mg g^–1. Leaf P varied from 2.3 to 1.8 mg g^–1. Mean N and P RE varied among species, occasionally between top and bottom sites, and were higher in the dry than in the wet years of study. Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations (i.e., a measure of resorption proficiency) varied from 13.7 to 31.2 mg g^–1 (N) and 0.4 to 3.3 mg g^–1 (P) among the different species and were generally indicative of incomplete nutrient resorption. Phosphorus concentrations in senesced leaves were higher at the bottom than at the top site and decreased from the wettest to the the driest year. Soil N and P availability were significantly different in the north- and south-facing slopes, but neither nutrient concentrations of mature and senesced leaves nor RE differed between aspects. Our results suggest that water more than soil nutrient availability controls RE in the Chamela dry forest, while resorption proficiency may be interactively controlled by both nutrient and water availability.     

Contrasting species responses to continued nitrogen and phosphorus addition in tropical montane forest tree seedlings

Global changes in nutrient deposition rates are likely to have profound effects on plant communities, particularly in the nutrient‐limited systems of the tropics. We studied the effects of increased nutrient availability on the seedlings of six tree species in montane forests of southern Ecuador in situ. After five years of continued N, P, or N+P addition, naturally grown seedlings of each of the two most common species at each elevation (1000, 2000, and 3000 m asl) were harvested for analyses of leaf morphology, nutrient content, herbivory, and tissue biomass allocation. Most species showed increased foliar N and P concentrations after addition of each respective element. Leaf tissue N:P ratios of >20 in the control plants of all species suggest that P is more growth‐limiting in these forests than N. Leaf morphological responses to nutrient addition were species and nutrient specific, with some species (Hedyosmum purparescens, Graffenrieda emarginata) exhibiting increased specific leaf area (SLA), and others (Graffenrieda harlingii) increased leaf area ratios (LAR). Pouteria torta (1000 m) had lower SLA and LAR after P addition. Increased herbivory was only evident in G. emarginata (after N and N+P addition). Only the species from 3000 m asl modified biomass allocation after nutrient addition. In general, N and N+P addition more strongly affected the species studied at the upper elevations, whereas P addition had a similar range of effects on the species at all elevations. We conclude that the responses of the studied tropical montane forest tree seedlings to chronic N and P addition are highly species‐specific and that successful adaptation to increased nutrient availability will depend on species‐specific morphological and physiological plasticity.     

Water Supply Changes N and P Conservation in a Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis

Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient-use strategy. Here, green-leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, N- and P-resorption proficiency (the terminal N and P concentration in senescent leaves, NRP and PRP, respectively), and N- and P-resorption efficiency (the proportional N and P withdrawn from senescent leaves prior to abscission, NRE and PRE, respectively) of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a typical perennial grass species in northern China, were examined along a water supply gradient to explore how plant nutrient conservation responds to water change. Increasing water supply at low levels (< 9000 mL/year) increased NRP, PRP and PRE, but decreased green-leaf N concentration. It did not significantly affect green-leaf P concentration or NRE. By contrast, all N and P conservation indicators were not significantly influenced at high water supply levels (> 9000 mL/year). These results indicated that changes in water availability at low levels could affect leaf-level nutrient characteristics, especially for the species in semiarid ecosystems. Therefore, global changes in precipitation may pose effects on plant nutrient economy, and thus on nutrient cycling in the plant-soil systems.