Leaf traits and associated ecosystem characteristics across subtropical and timberline forests in the Gongga Mountains,Eastern Tibetan Plateau

Knowledge of how leaf characteristics might be used to deduce information on ecosystem functioning and how this scaling task could be done is limited. In this study, we present field data for leaf lifespan, specific leaf area (SLA) and mass and area-based leaf nitrogen concentrations (N_mass, N_area) of dominant tree species and the associated stand foliage N-pool, leaf area index (LAI), root biomass, aboveground biomass, net primary productivity (NPP) and soil available-N content in six undisturbed forest plots along subtropical to timberline gradients on the eastern slope of the Gongga Mountains. We developed a methodology to calculate the whole-canopy mean leaf traits to include all tree species (groups) in each of the six plots through a series of weighted averages scaled up from leaf-level measurements. These defined whole-canopy mean leaf traits were equivalent to the traits of a leaf in regard to their interrelationships and altitudinal trends, but were more useful for large-scale pattern analysis of ecosystem structure and function. The whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and leaf N_mass mainly showed significant relationships with stand foliage N-pool, NPP, LAI and root biomass. In general, as elevation increased, the whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and leaf N_area and stand LAI and foliage N-pool increased to their maximum, whereas the whole-canopy mean SLA and leaf N_mass and stand NPP and root biomass decreased from their maximum. The whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and stand foliage N-pool both converged towards threshold-like logistic relationships with annual mean temperature and soil available-N variables. Our results are further supported by additional literature data in the Americas and eastern China.     

Scaling‐up from leaf to canopy‐aggregate properties in sclerophyll shrub species

Abstract: Plant species vary widely in their average leaf lifespan (LL) and specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per dry mass). The negative LL–SLA relationship commonly seen among species represents an important evolutionary trade‐off, with higher SLA indicating greater potential for fast growth (higher rate of return on a given investment), but longer LL indicating a longer duration of the revenue stream from that investment. We investigated how these leaf‐economic traits related to aggregate properties of the plant crown. Across 14 Australian sclerophyll shrub species, those with long LL accumulated more leaf mass and leaf area per unit ground area. Light attenuation through their canopies was more severe. Leaf accumulation and light attenuation were more weakly related to SLA than to LL. The greater accumulation of foliage in species with longer LL and lower SLA may counterbalance their generally lower photosynthetic rates and light‐capture areas per gram of leaf.     

青海省沙珠玉治沙站17种主要植物叶性因子的比较

国外大量研究结果表明,具有高叶氮含量和低比叶面积的干旱地区植物往往具有较高的水分利用效率。选取青海省沙珠玉治沙站地区17种主要植物(野生9种,人工8种) ,分别测定其比叶面积(SL A) ,单位重量叶氮含量(Nmass)及单位面积叶氮含量(Narea) ,并与贡嘎山湿润森林样带测定数据进行比较分析。结果表明,Nmass随SL A的增加而增加,但Nmass与SL A关系格局在固定沙丘野生多年生草本-灌木植物(类群1,Narea>3.0 g m- 2 )与流动沙丘野生短命草本植物(类群2 ,Narea<3.0 g m- 2 )之间存在策略位移现象,即在相同SL A下,类群1比类群2具有更高的叶氮含量,或在相同Nmass时类群1比类群2具有更小的比叶面积。在8个人工物种中,柠条锦鸡儿、中间锦鸡儿、绵柳和西北沙柳等灌木属于类群1,而甘草、小叶锦鸡儿、柽柳和青杨属于类群2 ,前者比后者具备更好的干旱适应机制,建议在生产上优先考虑前者。流动沙丘野生短命草本植物具有较低的叶氮含量和较高的比叶面积,这一特征与流动沙丘土壤贫瘠及其生长期内降水集中和土壤水分含量相对丰富密切相关。     

Annual rainfall does not directly determine the carbon isotope ratio of leaves of Eucalyptus species

Leaf carbon isotope discrimination (delta13C) was widely considered to directly reflect the rainfall environment in which the leaf developed, but recent observations have queried this. The relationship between delta13C and rainfall was explored in Eucalyptus species growing along a rainfall gradient in Australia. The leaves of 43 species of Eucalyptus and the closely related Corymbia species produced in 2003 were sampled in September 2004 at 50 sites and grouped into 15 locations along a rainfall gradient in southwest Western Australia. At 24 sites, the same species and same trees were sampled as in a study in September 2003 when leaves produced in 2002 were sampled. The rainfall in 2004 was on average 190 mm (range 135-270 mm) higher at all locations than in 2003. In the leaves sampled in 2004, the mean carbon isotope discrimination (delta13C) across the 15 locations decreased 2.9 per thousand per 1000 mm of rainfall, the specific leaf area (SLA) increased by 2.9 m2 kg(-1) per 1000 mm of rainfall and the nitrogen (N) content decreased by 1.56 g m(-2) per 1000 mm of rainfall. In contrast, a comparison between the leaves produced in the drier 2002 year compared with the wetter 2003 year showed that there was a strong correlation (r2= 0.85) between the SLA values between years and a trend for higher values with increasing SLA, but the values of delta(13)C were on average only 0.38 per thousand lower (more negative) at all locations in the wetter year, equivalent to a decrease of 2.0 per thousand per 1000 mm of rainfall. The results suggest that while there may be constitutive differences in leaf morphology, SLA and N content per unit area, increasing rainfall or cloudiness associated with higher rainfall increases SLA and decreases N content per unit area. We conclude that rainfall does not directly influence delta13C, but induces leaf morphological and physiological changes that affect the resultant delta13C.     

Elevated CO2 reduces leaf damage by insect herbivores in a forest community

By altering foliage quality, exposure to elevated levels of atmospheric CO(2) potentially affects the amount of herbivore damage experienced by plants. Here, we quantified foliar carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, C : N ratio, phenolic levels, specific leaf area (SLA) and the amount of leaf tissue damaged by chewing insects for 12 hardwood tree species grown in plots exposed to elevated CO(2) (ambient plus 200 microl l(-1)) using free-air CO(2) enrichment (FACE) over 3 yr. The effects of elevated CO(2) varied considerably by year and across species. Elevated CO(2) decreased herbivore damage across 12 species in 1 yr but had no detectable effect in others. Decreased damage may have been related to lower average foliar N concentration and SLA and increased C : N ratio and phenolic content for some species under elevated compared with ambient CO(2). It remains unclear how these changes in leaf properties affect herbivory. Damage to the leaves of hardwood trees by herbivorous insects may be reduced in the future as the concentration of CO(2) continues to increase, perhaps altering the trophic structure of forest ecosystems.     

西藏紫花针茅叶功能性状沿降水梯度的变化

植物叶功能性状与环境因子的关系是近10年来植物生态学的研究热点。该文以广泛分布于青藏高原干旱、半干旱草地的优势植物种紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)为研究对象, 沿降水梯度(69-479 mm)系统测定了日土、改则、珠峰、当雄和纳木错5个调查地点紫花针茅比叶面积(SLA)、单位重量和单位面积叶氮含量(N_mass, N_area)、叶密度和厚度等叶功能性状以及土壤全氮含量等因子, 试图验证干旱胁迫地区同一物种内SLA-N_mass关系沿降水梯度的策略位移现象是否具有普遍性, 并对是否出现策略位移现象提出可能的解释。研究结果表明: 1) SLA和N_mass与生长季温度和降水以及土壤全氮含量均没有显著关系, SLA与N_mass的关系在干旱半干旱区(年降水/蒸发比< 0.11)与半湿润区(年降水/蒸发比> 0.11)之间并没有出现典型的位移现象; 2)叶密度是决定半湿润区SLA变化的主导因子, 而叶厚度则是干旱半干旱区SLA变化的控制因子, 两者与SLA均呈负相关, 随着温度增加或降水减少, 叶厚度增加而叶密度降低, 导致SLA随温度和降水变化不明显; 3)半湿润区的叶密度增加引起N_area增加, 而干旱半干旱区的叶厚度增加并没有造成N_area的显著变化, 导致N_area沿降水梯度没有显著变化; 4)紫花针茅地上生物量与N_area具有显著正相关关系, 表明N_area的增加有助于提高植被生产力。结果表明, 在干旱胁迫下, 植物通过增加叶厚度来维持不变的N_area可能有助于保持与较湿润地区相似的光合生产和水分利用效率。叶厚度和叶密度对比叶面积的相对影响在干旱半干旱区与半湿润区之间发生转变, 这为进一步检测高寒草地植被的水分限制阈值提供了新思路。     

Variation in leaf area index and stand leaf mass of European beech across gradients of soil acidity and precipitation

Leaf area index (LAI, the one-sided foliage area per unit ground surface area) is a key determinant of plant productivity which has a large influence on water and energy exchange between vegetation and the atmosphere. The variation in forest LAI across landscapes and environmental gradients and its causes are not sufficiently understood. We measured the LAI of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) by litter trapping in 23 closed, mature stands across gradients of rainfall and soil acidity or fertility. With a mean LAI of 7.4 m² m⁻² (minimum: 5.6, maximum: 9.5 m² m⁻²), beech stands maintained a comparably high leaf area index with relatively small variation along steep environmental gradients. Contrary to expectation, decreasing water availability (rainfall gradient from 1030 to 520 mm yr⁻¹) or increasing soil acidity (pH 3–7) had no significant effect on LAI. Stand leaf mass (M _l) increased slightly with soil fertility (C/N ratio, base saturation). We regressed parameters of site water availability (rainfall), soil fertility or acidity (pH, base saturation, C/N ratio, exchangeable Mg and Al content), and stand structure (stand age and stem density) against LAI and M _l in order to detect environmental controls of stand leaf area. Stand age was the most influential factor for both LAI and M _l (negative relationship). Stem density and the base saturation of the soil affected M _l significantly, but had a weak influence on LAI. We conclude that the leaf area index of beech is mainly under control of age-related physiological factors, whereas the influence of soil chemistry and rainfall is comparably low.     

Altitudinal Change in LAI and Stand Leaf Biomass in Tropical Montane Forests: a Transect Study in Ecuador and a Pan-Tropical Meta-Analysis

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) is a key parameter controlling plant productivity and biogeochemical fluxes between vegetation and the atmosphere. Tropical forests are thought to have comparably high LAIs; however, precise data are scarce and environmental controls of leaf area in tropical forests are not understood. We studied LAI and stand leaf biomass by optical and leaf mass-related approaches in five tropical montane forests along an elevational transect (1,050–3,060 m a.s.l.) in South Ecuador, and conducted a meta-analysis of LAI and leaf biomass data from tropical montane forests around the globe. Study aims were (1) to assess the applicability of indirect and direct approaches of LAI determination in tropical montane forests, (2) to analyze elevation effects on leaf area, leaf mass, SLA, and leaf lifespan, and (3) to assess the possible consequences of leaf area change with elevation for montane forest productivity. Indirect optical methods of LAI determination appeared to be less reliable in the complex canopies than direct leaf mass-related approaches based on litter trapping and a thorough analysis of leaf lifespan. LAI decreased by 40–60% between 1,000 and 3,000 m in the Ecuador transect and also in the pan-tropical data set. This decrease indicates that canopy carbon gain, that is, carbon source strength, decreases with elevation in tropical montane forests. Average SLA decreased from 88 to 61 cm² g⁻¹ whereas leaf lifespan increased from 16 to 25 mo between 1,050 and 3,060 m in the Ecuador transect. In contrast, stand leaf biomass was much less influenced by elevation. We conclude that elevation has a large influence not only on the leaf traits of trees but also on the LAI of tropical montane forests with soil N (nitrogen) supply presumably being the main controlling factor.     

Trait‐abundance relation in response to nutrient addition in a Tibetan alpine meadow: The importance of species trade‐off in resource conservation and acquisition

In competition‐dominated communities, traits promoting resource conservation and competitive ability are expected to have an important influence on species relative abundance (SRA). Yet, few studies have tested the trait‐abundance relations in the line of species trade‐off in resource conservation versus acquisition, indicating by multiple traits coordination. We measured SRA and key functional traits involving leaf economic spectrum (SLA, specific leaf area; LDMC, leaf dry matter content; LCC, leaf carbon concentration; LNC, leaf nitrogen concentration; LPC, leaf phosphorus concentration; Hs, mature height) for ten common species in all plots subjected to addition of nitrogen fertilizer (N), phosphorus fertilizer (P), or both of them (NP) in a Tibetan alpine meadow. We test whether SRA is positively related with traits promoting plant resource conservation, while negatively correlated with traits promoting plant growth and resource acquisition. We found that species were primarily differentiated along a trade‐off axis involving traits promoting nutrient acquisition and fast growth (e.g., LPC and SLA) versus traits promoting resource conservation and competition ability (e.g., large LDMC). We further found that SRA was positively correlated with plant height, LDMC, and LCC, but negatively associated with SLA and leaf nutrient concentration irrespective of fertilization. A stronger positive height‐SRA was found in NP‐fertilized plots than in other plots, while negative correlations between SRA and SLA and LPC were found in N or P fertilized plots. The results indicate that species trade‐off in nutrient acquisition and resource conservation was a key driver of SRA in competition‐dominated communities following fertilization, with the linkage between SRA and traits depending on plant competition for specific soil nutrient and/or light availability. The results highlight the importance of competitive exclusion in plant community assembly following fertilization and suggest that abundant species in local communities become dominated at expense of growth while infrequent species hold an advantage in fast growth and dispersals to neighbor meta‐communities.     

Towards a predictive description of forest canopies from litter properties

1. Specific leaf area (SLA), carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) and leaf nitrogen content (N) were measured in litter in 1993 and in the litter layer and canopy in 1996 in a pedunculate Oak ( Quercus robur ) wood at Wytham, Oxford.
2. The frequency distribution of SLA of leaves falling through the late summer and autumn of 1993 changed with a greater contribution of leaves of high SLA earlier in the period. For the same SLA leaves falling earlier in the season had less negative δ¹³C and higher N content than leaves falling later.
3. The frequency distribution of SLA of litter leaves was similar in both years but litter leaves had lower N and less negative δ¹³C in 1996.
4. In the canopy, there was a highly significant negative relationship between height in the canopy and SLA in green and senescent leaves. The relationship between SLA and both δ¹³C ratio and leaf N was different between green, senescent and litter leaves.
5. The frequency distribution of foliage in the canopy estimated from the frequency of SLA in the litter and the vertical pattern of SLA in the canopy was similar to the distribution measured by the 'drop-line' method.     

Contrasting responses of legume versus non-legume shrubs to soil water and nutrient shortages in the Mu Us Sandland

Aims Legumes and non-legumes usually differ in using soil water and nutrients. Both water and nutrients are scarce in the semi-arid Mu Us Sandland where legume and/or non-legume shrubs coexist/dominate. Here, we addressed the responses of legume versus non-legume shrubs to different soil water and nutrient conditions.Methods We conducted an experiment in which a legume (Hedysarum laeve) and a non-legume (Artemisia ordosica) were used, both of which are dominant species in the Mu Us Sandland. Seedlings of these two species were subjected to three water levels (45.0, 67.5 and 90.0 ml every 3 days) and three nutrient treatments (0, 0.1% and 0.2% nutrient solution every week) during the experiment.Important findings Interactions between water and nutrients on total biomass, root weight ratio and rain use efficiency (RUE) were detected in A. ordosica but not in H. laeve, suggesting that water effects on A. ordosica but not on H. laeve are dependent on soil nutrients. Nutrient addition alleviated drought stress and increased RUE in A. ordosica. The interspecific differences in response to soil water and nutrients may be linked to the ability of plants to fix nitrogen. In addition, under low-soil water or nutrient conditions, H. laeve produced more biomass than A. ordosica, and the opposite was the case under high-soil resources. The relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and RUE [or nutrient use efficiency (NUE)] varied with two species. RGR of A. ordosica was positively correlated with both RUE and NUE while RGR of H. laeve was negatively correlated with NUE. The different responses may be linked to the trade-off between high-growth rate and low-resource use efficiency.     

毛乌素沙地4种沙生植物种子萌发及出苗对沙埋及单次供水的响应

飞播固沙作为一项快速而有效的现代化治沙措施,已成为毛乌素沙地植被恢复与重建的重要手段。但此项技术仍存在一些问题,如飞播后成苗率较低等。以毛乌素沙地优势植物柠条（Caragana korshinskii）、羊柴（Hedysarum laeve）、油蒿（Artemisia ordosica）与籽蒿（Artemisia sphaerocephala）为研究对象,人工控制7个沙埋深度和9个水分梯度,研究4种植物种子萌发和幼苗出土对沙埋和单次供水的响应,阐明多大的单次降雨才能保证种子萌发与幼苗出土及出土幼苗的维持时间。结果表明,对于柠条和羊柴质量相对较大的种子而言．种子主要在供水量10．20mm,埋藏深度为0．5．2cm的条件下出苗,但在埋藏深度为5cm时这两个物种仍有少量种子能够出苗;而对于油蒿和籽蒿质量相对较小的种子而言,种子主要在供水量10．20mm,埋藏深度为0．5cm时出苗,当埋藏深度为1．5cm和2cm时不能顺利出苗。沙埋深度0．5cm条件下,4个物种具有最高的出苗率和出苗速率。在试验期内（30d）,柠条、羊柴和油蒿出土幼苗分别在单次供水量为5、7．5mm和7．5mm时全部死亡,在单次供水量高于15mm时4个种的出土幼苗死亡率大多低于50％,且随供水量的增加出土幼苗死亡率降低。结合毛乌素沙地降雨特点与本次实验结果,0．5cm的沙埋及7．5mm以上的单次降雨是上述4种植物自然条件下出苗较好的重要条件。     

Species differences in carbon isotope ratios, specific leaf area and nitrogen concentrations in leaves of Eucalyptus growing in a common garden compared with along an aridity gradient

Leaves produced in 2004 of 422 species of Eucalyptus whose natural habitat is southern Australia were sampled at the Currency Creek Arboretum in South Australia where the annual (mainly winter) rainfall is about 400 mm. Tree height, leaf area, leaf dry weight, leaf nitrogen (N) concentration and leaf carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) were measured and the specific leaf area (SLA) calculated. Among the 422 species, the SLA varied from 1.5 to 8.8 m² kg^?1 and N concentration varied from 0.6 to 2.1%, much greater than in 64 species collected along an aridity transect from southwestern Western Australia to central Australia in 2003. Also, the range of leaf δ¹³C values was similar in the common garden to that across the aridity transect. For the 45 species present in both studies, the SLA and leaf N concentration in the common garden were similar to those measured in leaves along the aridity transect, indicating that these characteristics are inherent in the species and vary little with environment. The variation in leaf δ¹³C in the common garden was just as great as along the transect, but the values measured in the one location were poorly correlated with those along the transect. This was not expected, as the variation in δ¹³C at one common site in South Australia was anticipated to be less than along the aridity gradient where annual rainfall varied from 250 to 1200 mm. Path analysis on the 45 species common to both studies indicated that rainfall did not have a direct effect on δ¹³C, but the differences in δ¹³C resulted from indirect effects of rainfall on SLA and N concentration. δ¹³C was negatively correlated with SLA but positively correlated with N. Thus, both effects may compensate for each other so that no significant relationship between δ¹³C and rainfall was observable. However, there is a large degree of variation of δ¹³C at any level of rainfall. The origin and ecological implications of this observation are discussed.     

千烟洲针叶林的比叶面积及叶面积指数

根据实测数据计算了湿地松(Pinus elliotii)、马尾松(P. massoniana) 和杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)不同年龄、不同类型叶片的生物量和比叶面积,并结合样地调查数据和相对生长方程计算了中国科学院千烟洲试验站20年生湿地松林、马尾松林、杉木林和针叶混交林的叶面积指数。根据拟合结果,选择如下方程计算3个树种的叶生物量:湿地松W=12.074 1D^{2.151 5}、马尾松W=6.972 7D^{2.197 3}和杉木W=5.261 9D^{2.302 7}。湿地松林的叶生物量(0.822 kg·m^-2)最大,其次为针叶混交林(0.679 kg·m^-2),马尾松林和杉木林相差不大(分别为林0.528和0.572 kg·m^-2)。不同树种、不同年龄、不同类型叶片的比叶面积比较发现,新叶的比叶面积大于老叶,三针一束叶的比叶面积略大于两针一束叶,马尾松的平均半比表面积(8.62 m²·kg^-1)大于湿地松(6.04 m²·kg^-1)和杉木(7.91 m²·kg^-1)。胸径与单木叶片半表面积之间的经验方程为:湿地松LA=0.073D^{2.151 5}、马尾松LA=0.060D^{2.197 3}和杉木LA=0.042D^{2.302 7}。据此计算湿地松林的叶面积指数为5.03,马尾松林和杉木林为4.31,针叶混交林为4.77,该结果比利用CI-110植被冠层数字图像仪测得的结果偏大。     

Leaf miner and plant galler species richness on Acacia: relative importance of plant traits and climate

Diversity patterns of herbivores have been related to climate, host plant traits, host plant distribution and evolutionary relationships individually. However, few studies have assessed the relative contributions of a range of variables to explain these diversity patterns across large geographical and host plant species gradients. Here we assess the relative influence that climate and host plant traits have on endophagous species (leaf miners and plant gallers) diversity across a suite of host species from a genus that is widely distributed and morphologically variable. Forty-six species of Acacia were sampled to encapsulate the diversity of species across four taxonomic sections and a range of habitats along a 950 km climatic gradient: from subtropical forest habitats to semi-arid habitats. Plant traits, climatic variables, leaf miner and plant galler diversity were all quantified on each plant species. In total, 97 leaf mining species and 84 plant galling species were recorded from all host plants. Factors that best explained leaf miner richness across the climatic gradient (using AIC model selection) included specific leaf area (SLA), foliage thickness and mean annual rainfall. The factor that best explained plant galler richness across the climatic gradient was C:N ratio. In terms of the influence of plant and climatic traits on species composition, leaf miner assemblages were best explained by SLA, foliage thickness, mean minimum temperature and mean annual rainfall, whilst plant gall assemblages were explained by C:N ratio, %P, foliage thickness, mean minimum temperature and mean annual rainfall. This work is the first to assess diversity and structure across a broad environmental gradient and a wide range of potential key climatic and plant trait determinants simultaneously. Such methods provide key insights into endophage diversity and provide a solid basis for assessing their responses to a changing climate.     

湿地松林叶面积指数测算

对湿地松（Pinus elliotii）当年生和多年生两针一束、三针一束叶片的长度、宽度、厚度和重量分别进行量测,据此探讨不同类型叶片的叶形和比叶面积差异,并结合样地调查数据对中科院千烟洲试验站湿地松人工林的叶面积指数进行计算。结果表明：湿地松三针一束叶片合拢后横切面基本呈圆形,当年生叶和多年生叶的平均直径分别为1．688mm和1.706mm;两针一束叶片合拢后从统计学上讲横切面不是圆形,而是椭圆形,叶片厚度方向直径大于宽度方向（当年生叶厚度和宽度方向直径分别为1．580ram和1．422mm,多年生叶分别为1．568mm和1.410mm）,但如果把厚度和宽度方向直径的平均值近似成圆柱体直径计算时误差在3％以内;如果只用厚度或宽度方向直径代表平均直径计算结果会有2％。10％的误差;当年生叶和多年生叶、两针一束叶和三针一束叶之间比叶面积差别很大,计算的三种比叶面积（投影比叶面积、圆柱面比叶面积和比表面积）中,当年生叶的比叶面积明显大于多年生叶,三针一束叶片的投影比叶面积和比表面积都大于两针一束叶片,但圆柱面比叶面积恰好相反。湿地松林的叶面积指数若按投影叶面积算为3．61,按圆柱面的外表面算为5．12,按总表面积的一半算为4．52,比利用冠层分析仪测量的结果略大。     

海南岛热带山地雨林幼苗幼树光合与叶氮、叶磷及比叶面积的关系

以海南岛吊罗山热带山地雨林101个物种的幼苗幼树为试验材料,测定其光合、叶片氮、磷含量及比叶面积;检验其相关关系,并按乔木,乔灌木(小乔木至大灌木)和灌木3个生活型组进行分组检验。研究结果表明,单位叶面积(Aarea)和单位叶重量的光合速率(Amass)均表现出灌木>乔木>乔灌木,方差分析表明,灌木和乔灌木之间Aarea差异显著;灌木和乔木以及灌木和乔灌木之间Amass差异显著(p<0.05)。Aarea与叶氮含量之间的相关性在不同生态型组和所有物种之间均达到极显著水平(p<0.0001);与叶磷之间的相关关系在灌木(p=0.0038),乔灌木(p=0.0002)以及所有物种(p<0.0001)之间达到极显著水平,但是在乔木中未达到显著水平(p>0.05);与SLA之间在灌木(p=0.0006)、乔木(p<0.0001)和所有物种(p<0.0001)之间达到极显著水平,但是在乔灌木中未达到显著水平(p>0.05)。Amass与叶片氮含量、SLA的相关关系在不同生活型组和所有物种中都达到极显著水平(p<0.0001);与叶磷含量之间的相关性在灌木(p=0.0004),乔灌木(p=0.0018)及所有物种(p<0.0001)中极显著,在乔木生活型组中也达显著水平(p=0.0377)。逐步回归表明,与Aarea相比,Amass估计结果更接近于实际测值。由此可见,海南岛热带山地雨林林下幼苗幼树的光合和叶氮、磷含量及SLA之间相关关系与基于成树的研究非常相似,并且A比A更能稳定体现这种相关性。     

祁连山青海云杉林冠生态水文效应及其影响因素

以位于祁连山中段大野口关滩森林站的青海云杉林为研究对象,利用2008年观测期间(6月12日至10月8日)34场降雨的大气降雨量、穿透雨量和树干茎流量观测资料,对青海云杉林的降雨再分配特征及其影响因素进行综合分析。结果表明:青海云杉林的总穿透雨量、截留量和干流量分别为212.6、64.5 mm和3.4 mm,分别占大气降雨量的75.8%、23.0%和1.2%;穿透雨在林内具有较大的空间变异性,其变异程度随降雨量的增大而减小,叶面积指数和冠层郁闭度在一定程度上也影响穿透雨的空间分布,且降雨量越小其影响效果越明显;青海云杉林的总干流量为3.4 mm,平均干流率为0.58%,雨前林冠的湿润程度对树干流的产生有很大影响,导致当降雨量为5.6 mm时就开始产生树干茎流;青海云杉林冠截留率的大小主要取决于降雨量,且随着降雨量的增大先减小并逐渐趋于稳定,林冠截留量总体上随冠层郁闭度和叶面积指数的增大而增大,但当观测点位于树冠边缘或多个树冠重叠处时出现负截留现象。所以,就特定林分而言,冠层结构特征对于其林冠生态水文效应起着重要的作用。     

Leaf trait variation captures climate differences but differs with species irrespective of functional group

Aims To clarify whether variation in leaf traits with climate differs with scale, i.e. across species and within a species, and to detect whether plant functional group affects species-specific response.Methods Leaf dry matter content (LDMC), specific leaf area (SLA), mass- and area-based leaf N (N mass, N area) and leaf P concentrations (P mass, P area) and leaf chlorophyll concentration (SPAD) were measured for 92 woody plant species in two botanical gardens in China. The two gardens share plant species in common but differ in climate. Leaf trait variation between the two gardens was examined via mean comparison at three scales: all species together, species grouped into plant functional groups and within a species. A meta-analysis was performed to summarize the species-specific responses.Important findings At the scale of all species together, LDMC, SLA, P mass and N mass were significantly lower in the dry-cold habitat than in the wet-warm one, whereas N area and SPAD showed an inverse pattern, indicating a significant environmental effect. The meta-analysis showed that the above-mentioned patterns persisted for SLA, N area and SPAD but not for the other variables at the species-specific scale, indicating that intraspecific variation affects the overall pattern of LDMC, P mass and N mass and P area. In terms of species-specific response, positive, negative or nonsignificant patterns were observed among the 92 species. Contrary to our prediction, species-specific responses within a functional group were not statistically more similar than those among functional groups. Our results indicated that leaf trait variation captured climatic difference yet species-specific responses were quite diverse irrespective of plant functional group, providing new insights for interpreting trait variability with climate.     

Simulation of leaf area development based on dry matter partitioning and specific leaf area for cut chrysanthemum

This work aims to predict time courses of leaf area index (LAI) based on dry matter partitioning into the leaves and on specific leaf area of newly formed leaf biomass (SLA(n)) for year-round cut chrysanthemum crops. In five glasshouse experiments, each consisting of several plant densities and planted throughout the year, periodic destructive measurements were conducted to develop empirical models for partitioning and for SLA(n). Dry matter partitioning into leaves, calculated as incremental leaf dry mass divided by incremental shoot dry mass between two destructive harvests, could be described accurately (R(2 )= 0.93) by a Gompertz function of relative time, R(t). R(t) is 0 at planting date, 1 at the start of short-days, and 2 at final harvest. SLA(n), calculated as the slope of a linear regression between periodic measurements of leaf dry mass (LDM) and LAI, showed a significant linear increase with the inverse of the daily incident photosynthetically active radiation (incident PAR, MJ m(-2 )d(-1)), averaged over the whole growing period, the average glasshouse temperature and plant density (R(2 )= 0.74). The models were validated by two independent experiments and with data from three commercial growers, each with four planting dates. Measured shoot dry mass increase, initial LAI and LDM, plant density, daily temperature and incident PAR were input into the model. Dynamics of LDM and LAI were predicted accurately by the model, although in the last part of the cultivation LAI was often overestimated. The slope of the linear regression of simulated against measured LDM varied between 0.95 and 1.09. For LAI this slope varied between 1.01 and 1.12. The models presented in this study are important for the development of a photosynthesis-driven crop growth model for cut chrysanthemum crops.