Changes of the relationships between soil and microbes in carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry during ecosystem succession

AimsThe carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry (C:N:P) of soil profoundly influences the growth, community structure, biomass C:N:P stoichiometry, and metabolism in microbes. However, the relationships between soil and microbes in the C:N:P stoichiometry and their temporal dynamics during ecosystem succession are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the temporal patterns of soil and microbial C:N:P stoichiometry and their relationships during ecosystem succession.MethodsAn extensive literature search was conducted and data were compiled for 19 age sequences of successional ecosystems, including 13 forest ecosystems and 6 grassland ecosystems, from 18 studies published up to May 2016. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the sequential changes in 18 variables that were associated with soil and microbial C, N and P contents and the stoichiometry. Important findings (1) There was no consistent temporal pattern in soil C:N along the successional stages, whereas the soil C:P and N:P increased with succession; the slopes of the linear relationships between soil C:N:P stoichiometry and successional age were negatively correlated with the initial content of the soil organic C within given chronosequence. (2) There was no consistent temporal pattern in microbial C:N:P stoichiometry along the successional stages. (3) The fraction of microbial biomass C in soil organic C (qMBC), the fraction of microbial biomass N in soil total N, and the fraction of microbial biomass P in soil total P all increased significantly with succession, in consistency with the theory of succession that ecosystem biomass per unit resource increases with succession. (4) The qMBC decreased with increases in the values of soil C:N, C:P, or N:P, as well as the stoichiometric imbalances in C:N, C:P, and N:P between soil and microbes (i.e., ratios of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P to microbial biomass C:N, C:P, and N:P, respectively). The C:N, C:P, and N:P stoichiometric imbalances explained 37%-57% variations in the qMBC, about 7-17 times more than that explainable by the successional age, illustrating the importance of soil-microbial C:N:P stoichiometry in shaping the successional dynamics in qMBC. In summary, our study highlights the importance of the theories of ecosystem succession and stoichiometry in soil microbial studies, and suggests that appropriately applying macro-ecological theories in microbial studies may improve our understanding on microbial ecological processes.     

生态系统演替过程中土壤与微生物碳氮磷化学计量关系的变化

土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征会显著影响微生物的生长、群落结构、生物量C:N:P化学计量及其代谢活动。然而生态系统演替过程中土壤-微生物C:N:P化学计量的时间格局及其协调关系还不明确。为此, 该研究收集了2016年5月以前发表的文献中19个生态系统演替序列(包括13个森林、6个草地生态系统)的土壤-微生物生物量C:N:P研究结果, 整合分析了其中土壤-微生物生态化学计量的时间动态, 结果表明: (1)生态系统演替过程中土壤C:N没有一致的时间格局, 而土壤C:P和N:P均随演替进程显著增加, 其中土壤C:N:P与演替时间之间线性关系的斜率与相应演替序列的初始土壤有机C含量呈负相关关系。(2)演替进程中土壤-微生物生物量C:N:P没有一致的时间格局。(3)微生物生物量C占土壤有机C百分比(qMBC)、微生物生物量N占土壤全N百分比、微生物生物量P占土壤全P百分比均随着演替进程而显著增加, 即单位资源所能支持的微生物生物量随着演替进程而增加, 这与宏观生态系统演替理论相符。(4) qMBC随着土壤C:N、C:P和N:P以及C:N、C:P和N:P化学计量不平衡性(即土壤C:N、C:P和N:P分别除以微生物生物量C:N、C:P和N:P)的增加而减小; 其中, C:N、C:P和N:P化学计量不平衡性解释了qMBC变异性的37%-57%, 是演替时间解释率的7-17倍, 表明土壤-微生物生态化学计量关系对qMBC演替动态有重要影响。该研究强调了生态化学计量学理论和生态系统演替理论在土壤微生物时间动态研究中的重要作用, 表明适当地融合生态学宏观理论于土壤微生物研究可以加深对土壤-微生物生态过程的认识。     

中国主要湿地植被氮和磷生态化学计量学特征

研究湿地植物氮(N)和磷(P)的生态化学计量学特征对揭示植物与生境的耦合关系具有重要意义。通过收集中国52个采样区湿地植物不同器官和全株样本的N和P含量, 对其进行分类和统计分析, 探讨植物器官、生长期、植物类型、湿地类型和气候带对湿地植物N和P生态化学计量学特征的影响。结果表明: 1)湿地植物各器官N、P和N:P的几何平均值均表现为叶片(N, 16.07 mg·g^-1; P, 1.85 mg·g^-1; N:P, 8.67) >地上部分(N, 13.54 mg·g^-1; P, 1.72 mg·g^-1; N:P, 7.96) >茎(N, 7.86 mg·g^-1; P, 1.71 mg·g^-1; N:P, 4.58); 2)叶片N含量随时间变化呈现“三峰”型变化, 峰值分别出现在5月、7月和9月; 茎的N含量随时间变化表现为“双峰”型, 峰值出现在5月和9月; 成熟期之前, 植物叶片的N:P与N趋同波动, N:P主要受N含量控制; 衰老期N:P受P含量控制。3)湿地类型是影响植物叶片N和P生态化学计量特征的关键因素, N和P含量最高值出现在河流, 最低值出现在沼泽湿地, N:P的变化趋势大致与之相反。4)植物叶片N、P和N:P的几何平均值都表现为热带>温带>亚热带, 但总体差异不显著(p > 0.05)。5)中国大部分湿地植物叶片N:P < 14, 表现为N限制。     

梁子湖湿地植物的氮磷积累特征

采用野外测定结合室内分析的方法,探讨了梁子湖湿地植物对氮磷的积累特征。结果表明,湿地不同植物种类对氮磷的积累特征明显不同。浮游植物积累各种营养物质量最多,其体内全氮量平均为29.07g.kg-1,全磷量平均为9.53g.kg-1。梁子湖湿地各类植物氮磷含量的大小依次为浮游植物>浮叶植物>沉水植物>水稻>挺水植物。各类植物中氮磷积累的大小依次为浮叶植物>挺水植物>沉水植物>沼泽植物>水稻。梁子湖湿地水生植物氮磷营养元素的吸收系数大于湿生植物,各类植物氮元素的吸收系数均大于磷。     

崇明东滩湿地植被演替过程中生物量与氮含量的时空变化

研究了长江口东滩潮滩植物群落各演替阶段优势种的生物量与氮含量的季节变化以及演替过程中的空间变化格局。结果表明,潮滩植被生物量在生长季内随时间呈增长趋势,氮含量则在植被生长初期最大,生长末期最小。在演替过程中,植被总体生物量变化趋势为:演替中期>演替后期>演替早期。植物单位氮含量的变化是:地下部分氮含量随演替呈降低趋势,地上部分氮含量从演替中期开始随演替呈增长趋势。每1 hm2湿地植被氮含量平均值变化趋势为:演替晚期>演替中期>演替早期。根据计算,崇明东滩鸟类自然保护区内芦苇地上部分蓄积的氮含量为227.5 t,互花米草地上部分蓄积的氮含量45.9 t,海三棱草体内蓄积的氮含量为68.2 t。     

澳门路氹湿地芦苇氮磷含量的季节变化

为探讨芦苇（Phragmites communis）的生长规律及其在湿地生态系统中的作用,对澳门路毡湿地芦苇氮磷含量变化进行了6次调查。结果表明：芦苇地上部分和地下茎的氮、磷含量都在秋冬达到最大值,在春夏达到最低值,其中叶氮、磷含量最高值分别为37．5和4．0g·kg^-1,最低值为28．0和3．5g·kg^-1;茎中部氮、磷含量最高值分别为14．1和2．0g·kg^1,最低值为11．5和1．6g·kg^1;地下茎氮、磷含量最高值分别为10．2和0．9g·kg^1,最低值为6．6和0．8g·kg^-1。各季节芦苇不同部位的氮、磷含量大小顺序均为叶〉地上茎〉地下茎。氮、磷没有在芦苇体不同器官或部位之间发生转移。     

Carbon and nitrogen cycling during old-field succession: Constraints on plant and microbial biomass

Soil C and N dynamics were studied in a sequence of old fields of increasing age to determine how these biogeochemical cycles change during secondary succession. In addition, three different late-successional forests were studied to represent possible "steady state" conditions. Surface soil samples collected from the fields and forests were analyzed for total C, H₂O-soluble C, total N, potential net N mineralization, potential net nitrification, and microbial biomass. Above-and belowground plant biomass was estimated within each of the old field sites.Temporal changes in soil organic C, total N and total plant biomass were best described by a gamma function [y =at ^b e ^ctd +f] whereas a simple exponential model [y =a(l – e^–bt ) + c] provided the best fit to changes in H₂O-soluble C, C:N ratio, microbial C, and microbial N. Potential N mineralization and nitrification linearly increased with field age; however, rates were variable among the fields. Microbial biomass was highly correlated to soil C and N pools and well correlated to the standing crop of plant biomass. In turn, plant biomass was highly correlated to pools and rates of N cycling.Patterns of C and N cycling within the old field sites were different from those in a northern hardwood forest and a xeric oak forest; however, nutrient dynamics within an oak savanna were similar to those found in a 60-yr old field. Results suggest that patterns in C and N cycling within the old-field chronosequence were predictable and highly correlated to the accrual of plant and microbial biomass.     

Phosphorus cycling and partitioning in an oligotrophic Everglades wetland ecosystem: a radioisotope tracing study

1. Our goal was to quantify short‐term phosphorus (P) partitioning and identify the ecosystem components important to P cycling in wetland ecosystems. To do this, we added P radiotracer to oligotrophic, P‐limited Everglades marshes. ³²PO₄ was added to the water column in six 1‐m² enclosed mesocosms located in long‐hydroperiod marshes of Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park. Ecosystem components were then repeatedly sampled over 18 days. 2. Water column particulates (>0.45 μm) incorporated radiotracer within the first minute after dosing and stored 95–99% of total water column ³²P activity throughout the study. Soluble (<0.45 μm) ³²P in the water column, in contrast, was always <5% of the ³²P in surface water. Periphyton, both floating and attached to emergent macrophytes, had the highest specific activity of ³²P (Bq g^?131P) among the different ecosystem components. Fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates also had high affinity for P, whereas emergent macrophytes, soil and flocculent detrital organic matter (floc) had the lowest specific activities of radiotracer. 3. Within the calcareous, floating periphyton mats, 81% of the initial ³²P uptake was associated with Ca, but most of this ³²P entered and remained within the organic pool (Ca‐associated = 14% of total) after 1 day. In the floc layer, ³²P rapidly entered the microbial pool and the labile fraction was negligible for most of the study. 4. Budgeting of the radiotracer indicated that ³²P moved from particulates in the water column to periphyton and floc and then to the floc and soil over the course of the 18 day incubations. Floc (35% of total) and soil (27%) dominated ³²P storage after 18 days, with floating periphyton (12%) and surface water (10%) holding smaller proportions of total ecosystem ³²P. 5. To summarise, oligotrophic Everglades marshes exhibited rapid uptake and retention of labile ³²P. Components dominated by microbes appear to control short‐term P cycling in this oligotrophic ecosystem.     

湿地农田土壤磷素的分布、形态与有效性及磷素循环

对江汉平原四湖地区湿地农田土壤磷素的含量分布、形态、有效性、磷素循环及施肥效应进行了研究.结果表明农田土壤全磷和有效磷含量随着地势的降低呈明显降低趋势,潜育性土壤全磷和有效磷含量均极显著低于非潜育性土壤.水田土壤Ca-P、Al-P、Fe-P和O-P分别占无机磷总量的58.1%、3.7%、10.6%和27.5%,其中Ca-P和Al-P与有效磷呈高度正相关(r分别为0.9286**和0.9038**),说明Ca P和Al-P是该地区水田土壤有效磷的主要来源之一.潜育性土壤Ca-P、Al-P和Fe-P的平均含量分别比非潜育性土壤低84.0、10.2和21.1mg/kg,其差异达显著或极显著水平,证明潜育性土壤磷素降低的主要原因是Ca-P、Al-P和Fe-P的损失.五种耕作制度下潜育性稻田土壤磷素输入输出平衡值为盈余2.3～27.9kg/hm2·a,其输入输出比(1/0)为1.06～1.88.对于土壤速效磷小于5mg/kg的潜育性稻田,早、中、晚稻的最高产量施磷量分别为4.83,4.93和1.78 P2O5kg/666.7m2.     

湿地碳循环过程与计算机模拟研究

湿地是地球4大陆地生态系统之一,全球湿地碳储量(450Pg C)约占陆地生态圈总碳量的20％。湿地系统因兼有“碳源”与“碳汇”的双重角色,其碳循环对大气全球碳收支以及与之有关的全球气候变化可能有重要影响。本文概述了湿地生态系统变化与碳排放的关系、湿地碳循环基本过程及其主要影响因子和湿地碳循环计算机模拟研究进展,提出了拟进一步研究的重要问题。     

不同渍水时间对苗期和花期大豆生长及碳氮代谢的影响

以大豆品种南农99.6为材料,通过盆栽试验研究了苗期和花期渍水对大豆生长及碳氮代谢的影响.结果表明: 渍水显著抑制了大豆的生长,植株生物量、叶面积、叶片色素含量和光合速率均显著下降,而丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高;随着渍水时间的延长,各生理指标的变化幅度增大;渍水胁迫解除后有一定的恢复,渍水10 d处理后恢复能力较渍水20 d处理强.可溶性碳、氮物质及关键酶对渍水反应不同,可溶性糖含量以及叶片谷氨酰胺合成酶和蔗糖合成酶的活性上升,而可溶性蛋白含量下降.渍水对苗期大豆植株生物量、叶面积和MDA含量的影响比花期小.苗期和花期渍水时间越短,大豆受到的伤害越小,其恢复能力也越强.渍水时间在10 d内,大豆植株能够通过自身的调节逐渐恢复.     

崇明东滩湿地自然植被演替过程中储碳及固碳功能变化

采用实地调查与实验室测定相结合的方法,研究了崇明东滩湿地植被演替过程中储碳、固碳功能的变化.结果表明：不同演替阶段的湿地植被的现存碳储量及其分配格局特征存在较大差异.先锋物种海三棱藨草的现存碳储量仅占芦苇现存碳储量的13%;地下根茎为芦苇现存碳储量的主要场所,而地上部分是海三棱藨草碳储量的主要场所.处于潮滩湿地演替中后期的芦苇群落比处在生态演替早期的海三棱藨草群落具有更强的固碳能力,芦苇群落和海三棱藨草群落的年固碳能力分别为(1.63±0.39) kg·m^-2和(0.63±0.28) kg·m^-2,说明随着海三棱藨草群落向芦苇群落演替,其固碳能力不断增强.     

内蒙古包头黄河湿地土壤碳氮磷含量及其生态化学计量学特征

为探究内蒙古包头黄河湿地土壤空间分布特征、生态化学计量学特征及其指示意义,以黄河包头段沿线从东到西的3种典型类型共6块湿地为研究对象,对其不同土层土壤碳(C)、氮(N)和磷(P)化学计量特征及环境因素进行研究分析。结果表明:1)SOC、TN和TP平均值分别为11.20、0.42、0.98 g/kg,SOC、TN含量随土层深度增加而垂直波动减小,TP含量垂直方向上差异不显著。2)土壤C/N、C/P、N/P平均值分别为25.39、9.26、0.37,与中国淋溶土、干旱土和沼泽湿地土壤相比,包头市黄河湿地土壤TN含量、C/P和N/P较低,TP含量较高。3)相关性分析结果显示,土壤TN与SOC、TP、N/P和C/P具极显著正相关(P<0.01),与C/N相关性不显著;土壤TP与SOC、TN、C/N和C/P呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与N/P相关性不显著,TP含量高但有效性较低,TN含量及其有效性可能是限制包头黄河湿地土壤碳、氮、磷等元素循环及其生态化学计量特征的关键因子。研究结果将为包头黄河湿地的植被重建、生态修复和科学管理提供理论依据。     

亚热带次级森林演替过程中模拟氮磷沉降对土壤微生物生物量及土壤养分的影响

氮（N）沉降深刻影响着森林生态系统的生物多样性、生产力和稳定性。亚热带地区森林土壤磷（P）的有效性较低,N沉降将更突显P的限制作用。N、P输入对亚热带次级森林土壤的影响是否依赖于森林演替阶段知之甚少。选取两种不同演替年龄阶段（年轻林：<40 a;老年林：>85 a）的亚热带常绿阔叶林,设置模拟N和/或P沉降（10 g m^-2 a^-1）4个处理（Ctrl、N、P、NP）,连续处理4.5年后采集表层、次表层和下底层（0-15、15-30、30-60 cm）土壤样品,综合分析了土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）氮（MBN）和多种土壤养分含量。结果表明,MBC、MBN及土壤养分含量均随土壤深度增加而降低。N添加对两种演替阶段森林土壤中MBC和MBN均无显著影响。施P相关处理（P和NP）对年轻林表层土壤MBC和MBN无显著影响,但显著增加了老年林表层土壤MBC和MBN（P<0.05）,表明老年林可能比年轻林更易受P限制。N添加显著增加了两种演替森林表层土壤可溶性有机氮（DON）、氨态氮（NH₄⁺-N）和硝态氮（NO₃^--N）的含量（P<0.05）;P相关处理（P和NP）显著增加两种演替阶段表层和次表层土壤速效磷（AP）以及表层土壤全磷（TP）的含量（P<0.05）。土壤MBC和MBN与土壤中各养分指标（可溶性有机碳DOC、DON、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、AP、全碳TC、全氮TN和TP）呈显著正相关关系,土壤TC、TN和DOC是影响土壤微生物生物量的主要因子。研究可为评估和揭示未来全球环境变化背景下不同演替林龄亚热带森林的土肥潜力及土壤质量的演变提供一定的科学理论依据。     

Substrate stoichiometry determines nitrogen fixation throughout succession in southern Chinese forests

The traditional view holds that biological nitrogen (N) fixation often peaks in early‐ or mid‐successional ecosystems and declines throughout succession based on the hypothesis that soil N richness and/or phosphorus (P) depletion become disadvantageous to N fixers. This view, however, fails to support the observation that N fixers can remain active in many old‐growth forests despite the presence of N‐rich and/or P‐limiting soils. Here, we found unexpected increases in N fixation rates in the soil, forest floor, and moss throughout three successional forests and along six age‐gradient forests in southern China. We further found that the variation in N fixation was controlled by substrate carbon(C) : N and C : (N : P) stoichiometry rather than by substrate N or P. Our findings highlight the utility of ecological stoichiometry in illuminating the mechanisms that couple forest succession and N cycling.     

Vegetation is the main factor in nutrient retention in a constructed wetland buffer

Wetland buffers may play an important role in the retention of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) that can be released in large quantities from forestry operations. In this study, we investigated the retention capacity of N and P of wetland vegetation comparing the control area with two experimental areas within one site before and after N and P pulse (45 kg N and 15 kg P) lasting one growing season (ca. 150 d). N and P pulse caused a significant increase in the plant biomass and N and P content in the upper experimental area, which received most of the added nutrients. Added N and P was mainly retained in the above and below ground parts of E. vaginatum, especially in storage organs and roots which form a long-term sink for nutrients. Total N retention in the plant biomass during the first year after N and P treatment ranged from 25.3 kg (equals to 126.7 kg N ha^–1) in the upper experimental area to 6.1 kg (20.4 kg N ha^–1) in the lower experimental area and 4.7 kg (15.7 kg N ha^–1) in the control area. P retention ranged from 2.6 kg (13.1 kg P ha^–1) in the upper experimental area to 1.0 kg (3.4 kg P ha^–1) in the lower experimental area and 0.5 kg (1.8 kg P ha^–1) in the control area. The retained proportions of N and P in the plant biomass in the two experimental areas were approximately 70% of the added N (45 kg N y^–1) and approximately 25% of the added P (15 kg P y^–1) during the first year after N and P addition in 1999. Our study shows that vigorously colonising and growing vegetation is the main factor in the retention of N, a significant factor in the retention of P in a constructed wetland buffer, and thus an important contributor to the prevention of detrimental effects of N and P leaching on watercourses.     

Short-term changes in phosphorus storage in an oligotrophic Everglades wetland ecosystem receiving experimental nutrient enrichment

Natural, unenriched Evergladeswetlands are known to be limited by phosphorus(P) and responsive to P enrichment. However,whole-ecosystem evaluations of experimental Padditions are rare in Everglades or otherwetlands. We tested the response of theEverglades wetland ecosystem to continuous,low-level additions of P (0, 5, 15, and30 g L^–1 above ambient) in replicate,100 m flow-through flumes located in unenrichedEverglades National Park. After the first sixmonths of dosing, the concentration andstanding stock of phosphorus increased in thesurface water, periphyton, and flocculentdetrital layer, but not in the soil or macrophytes. Of the ecosystem components measured, total P concentration increased the most in the floating periphyton mat (30 g L^–1: mean = 1916 g P g^–1, control: mean =149 g P g^–1), while the flocculentdetrital layer stored most of the accumulated P(30 g L^–1: mean = 1.732 g P m^–2,control: mean = 0.769 g P m^–2). Significant short-term responsesof P concentration and standing stock wereobserved primarily in the high dose (30 gL^–1 above ambient) treatment. Inaddition, the biomass and estimated P standingstock of aquatic consumers increased in the 30and 5 g L^–1 treatments. Alterationsin P concentration and standing stock occurredonly at the upstream ends of the flumes nearestto the point source of added nutrient. Thetotal amount of P stored by the ecosystemwithin the flume increased with P dosing,although the ecosystem in the flumes retainedonly a small proportion of the P added over thefirst six months. These results indicate thatoligotrophic Everglades wetlands respondrapidly to short-term, low-level P enrichment,and the initial response is most noticeable inthe periphyton and flocculent detrital layer.     

Response of early and late semiarid seral species to nitrogen and phosphorus gradients

Above- and below-ground biomass production, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) tissue concentrations, and root: shoot ratios were examined for five species that are characteristic of a semiarid successional sequence under controlled greenhouse conditions. In two simultaneous experiments, seedlings of one forb, two grass, and two shrub species important in a sagebrush successional sere, were subjected to seven levels of N and P. Results of the experiments suggest distinct differences in nutrient response patterns between early and late seral species. Early seral species produced more biomass but had lower tissue nutrient concentrations than late seral species. As N and P availabilities decreased, late seral species displayed characteristics indicative of increasing competitive advantage over those of early seral species. Root: shoot ratios of the five species primarily reflected patterns related to lifeform, but with some early and late seral characteristics. Results from this study 1) confirm that nutrient use pattern, nutrient availability, and seral position relationships characteristic of mesic ecosystems hold equally true for semiarid systems, and 2) suggest that nutrients are important organizing factors in semiarid ecosystems.     

鄱阳湖湿地灰化苔草生长季氮磷含量与储量的变化

湿地植物在营养元素生物地球化学循环过程中起着重要作用,研究植物氮磷元素的吸收、分配和积累特征对于正确理解氮磷循环关键过程及其生态作用具有重要意义。基于野外实地观测和室内实验分析,研究了鄱阳湖淡水湿地灰化苔草春草生长季内不同部位生物量、氮磷含量及氮磷储量的动态变化。结果表明:在生长季内,灰化苔草各部位生物量随时间推移而增加,地上部分生物量在各生长期均高于地下部分,地下部分生物量积累速率相对稳定,而地上部分和总体平均积累速率表现为生长前期高于生长后期;各部位氮磷含量经历了先减少再增加的变化过程,其中地上部分氮元素在灰化苔草生长的中后期显著高于地下部分,而磷元素在中前期两者差异更为显著;生物量与氮磷储量均呈显著正相关,是灰化苔草氮磷储量动态变化的主导因子,氮磷元素主要储存在灰化苔草的地上部分;研究期间灰化苔草平均氮磷比介于3.32—3.83之间,按营养限制理论进行判断,氮元素可能是灰化苔草生长的限制性营养因子。     

Global trends in senesced-leaf nitrogen and phosphorus

Aim Senesced‐leaf litter plays an important role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. While green‐leaf nutrients have been reported to be affected by climatic factors at the global scale, the global patterns of senesced‐leaf nutrients are not well understood. Location Global. Methods Here, bringing together a global dataset of senesced‐leaf N and P spanning 1253 observations and 638 plant species at 365 sites and of associated mean climatic indices, we describe the world‐wide trends in senesced‐leaf N and P and their stoichiometric ratios. Results Concentration of senesced‐leaf N was highest in tropical forests, intermediate in boreal, temperate, and mediterranean forests and grasslands, and lowest in tundra, whereas P concentration was highest in grasslands, lowest in tropical forests and intermediate in other ecosystems. Tropical forests had the highest N : P and C : P ratios in senesced leaves. When all data were pooled, N concentration significantly increased, but senesced‐leaf P concentration decreased with increasing mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). The N : P and C : P ratios also increased with MAT and MAP, but C : N ratios decreased. Plant functional type (PFT), i.e. life‐form (grass, herb, shrub or tree), phylogeny (angiosperm versus gymnosperm) and leaf habit (deciduous versus evergreen), affected senesced‐leaf N, P, N : P, C : N and C : P with a ranking of senesced‐leaf N from high to low: forbs ≈ shrubs ≈ trees > grasses, while the ranking of P was forbs ≈ shrubs ≈ trees < grasses. The climatic trends of senesced‐leaf N and P and their stoichiometric ratios were similar between PFTs. Main conclusions Globally, senesced‐leaf N and P concentrations differed among ecosystem types, from tropical forest to tundra. Differences were significantly related to global climate variables such as MAT and MAP and also related to plant functional types. These results at the global scale suggest that nutrient feedback to soil through leaf senescence depends on both the climatic conditions and the plant composition of an ecosystem.