Seasonal changes in element contents in mangrove element retranslocation during leaf senescene

The concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and chlorine (Cl) were followed monthly in pre-senescence leaves and post-abscission leaves of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce at the Jiulongjiang estuary, and Fujian, China. The element retranslocation efficiency (RE) was studied during leaf senescence. The element RE's evaluated using different methods were compared and a new method was put forward to evaluate element RE during leaf senescence in evergreen trees without concentrated leaf fall. The results showed that during leaf senescence, 77.22% N, 57.53% P, and 44.51% K were translocated out of senescing leaves. Translocation of nutrients out of senescing leaves back into shoots was an important nutnent-conservation mechanism for N and P, was less important for K, and did not occur for Ca, Mg, Na, or Cl. One of the reasons for the high primary productivity of mangroves in nutrient poor sites (especially with low N) is the high nutrient use efficiency.     

Litterfall Mass,Chemistry, and Nutrient Retranslocation in a Monodominant Forest on Maracá Island,Roraima, Brazil1

Maracá Island is on the boundary of the Amazon rain forest and the Rio Branco-Rupunini savanna. The annual rainfall is ca. 1800 mm, with a dry season from October-March and a wet season from April-September. A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on parts of the island and the adjacent mainland, the least species-rich (for trees > 10 cm DBH) of any recorded in Brazilian Amazonia. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the dominance by Peltogyne is associated with an unusual litterfall mass, nutrient concentrations, or retranslocation. Three plots (50 × 50 m) were set up in each of three forest types: (1) Peltogyne-rich forest (PRFa), dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes; (2) Peltogyne-poor forest (PPF), with a sparse occurrence of Peltogyne; and (3) forest without Peltogyne (FWPa). Litterfall was collected for 360 d at ca 15-d intervals in 11 randomly positioned traps (0.32 m²) per plot. Mature Peltogyne leaves were collected at random from three randomly selected understory Peltogyne trees in each of the three PRFa plots during the early dry and early wet season. Additionally, young Peltogyne leaves were collected during the early wet season. Chemical analyses were made on bulked (on a 2-mo basis) litterfall samples and young and mature Peltogyne leaves. The estimated annual litterfall was similar among PRFa (7.9 t/ha), PPF (9.1 t/ha) and FWPa (8.6 t/ha); however, PRFa was distinguished by its litterfall seasonality, because of the deciduous Peltogyne, and its higher concentrations of Ca (9.3 compared to 6.5 mg/g in FWPa) and Mg (3.2 compared to 1.9mg/g in FWPa). About 40–50 percent of N and P, 25–41 percenr of K, and 2–13 percent of Mg were rerranslocated from Peltogyne leaves.     

Litterfall dynamics and nitrogen use efficiency in two evergreen temperate rainforests of southern Chile

Abstract In unpolluted regions, where inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs from the atmosphere are minimal, such as remote locations in southern South America, litterfall dynamics and N use efficiency of tree species should be coupled to the internal N cycle of forest ecosystems. This hypothesis was examined in two evergreen temperate forests in southern Chile (42°30′S), a mixed broad‐leaved forest (MBF) and a conifer forest (CF). Although these forests grow under the same climate and on the same parental material, they differ greatly in floristic structure and canopy dynamics (slower in the CF). In both forests, biomass, N flux, and C/N ratios of fine litterfall were measured monthly from May 1995 to March 1999. There was a continuous litter flux over the annual cycle in both forests, with a peak during autumn in the CF. In the MBF, litterfall decreased during spring. In both forests, the C/N ratios of litterfall varied over the annual cycle with a maximum in autumn. Annual litterfall biomass flux (Mean ± SD = 3.3 ± 0.5 vs 2.0 ± 0.5 Mg ha^?1) and N return (34.8 ± 16 vs 9.1 ± 2.8 kg N ha^?1) were higher in the MBF than in the CF. At the ecosystem level, litterfall C/N was lower in the MBF (mean C/N ratio = 60.1 ± 15, n = 3 years) suggesting decreased N use efficiency compared with CF (mean C/N ratio = 103 ± 19.6, n = 3 years). At the species level, subordinated (subcanopy) tree species in the MBF had significantly lower C/N ratios (<50) of litterfall than the dominant trees in the CF and MBF (>85). The litterfall C/N ratio and percentage N retranslocated were significantly correlated and were lower in the MBF. The higher net N mineralization in soils of the MBF is related to a lower N use efficiency at the ecosystem and species level.     

Inter‐specific Variation in Foliar Nutrients and Resorption of Nine Canopy‐tree Species in a Secondary Neotropical Rain Forest

The influence of environmental gradients on the foliar nutrient economy of forests has been well documented; however, we have little understanding of what drives variability among individuals within a single forest stand, especially tropical forests. We evaluated inter‐ and intra‐specific variation in nutrient resorption, foliar nutrient concentrations and physical leaf traits of nine canopy tree species within a 1‐ha secondary tropical rain forest in northeastern Costa Rica. Both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiency (RE) and proficiency of the nine tree species varied significantly among species, but not within. Both N and P RE were significantly negatively related to leaf specific strength. Green leaf N and P concentrations were strongly negatively related to leaf mass per area, and senesced leaf nutrient concentrations were significantly positively related to green leaf nutrient concentrations. This study reveals a strong influence of physical leaf traits on foliar nutrient and resorption traits of co‐occurring species in a secondary wet tropical forest stand.     

密度对缺苞箭竹凋落物生物元素动态及其潜在转移能力的影响

研究了一个生长季节内,缺苞箭竹(Fargesia denudata)-紫果云杉(Picea purpurea)原始林下不同密度缺苞箭竹凋落物及其生物元素含量的动态,比较了凋落物与新鲜叶中生物元素含量的差异,探讨了生物元素在缺苞箭竹体内的潜在内转移能力。研究结果表明:在生长季节内,缺苞箭竹凋落物量随着缺苞箭竹密度增加而增大。凋落物中C、N、P、K含量随着缺苞箭竹密度增加而减小,但Ca、Mg含量随着缺苞箭竹密度增加而增大。凋落物和新鲜叶中的C含量无显著差异,且二者均无明显的季节变化规律;凋落物的N、P、K含量表现为在5、6、7月依次升高,7月以后逐渐下降的格局,且凋落物中的含量明显低于新鲜叶;凋落叶的Ca含量明显高于新鲜叶,但无明显的季节变化规律;凋落叶的Mg含量在缺苞箭竹指数生长期最低,而新鲜叶中Mg含量在缺苞箭竹指数生长期最高。缺苞箭竹密度对生物元素的动态变化规律无显著影响。内转移率表现为K>N>P,且P的内转移率随着缺苞箭竹密度的增加而升高,但缺苞箭竹密度对K、N的内转移能力影响较小;C在缺苞箭竹植株体内的内转移现象不明显;Ca在凋落物中的积累率随缺苞箭竹密度增加而增大;Mg元素的积累率随着缺苞箭竹密度增加越来越高,而内转移率越来越低。     

Seasonal variation in nutrient concentration in leaves and branches of Quercus pyrenaica

Abstract. Seasonal variation in nutrient concentration in leaves and branches of Quercus pyrenaica was studied in natural Q. pyrenaica forest in the Sierra de Gata (Salamanca Province, Spain). Two permanent plots were established at the two extremes of a rainfall gradient in this area: annual mean precipitation from 720 mm at Fuenteguinaldo (granite bedrock) to 1580 mm at Navasfrias (schists and graywackes). Leaf and branch samples were collected every three weeks during the growing season from May to October, at three height levels of the tree canopy. Seasonal changes and internal nutrient dynamics were investigated for N, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe and P during a two-year period. The concentrations of all nutrients varied among the seasons; these variations were related to nutrient mobility and the annual physiological cycle. Nutrient concentrations decrease in the case of K and P, while the sparse mobile nutrients Ca, Mg, Mn and Fe gradually accumulated during each growing season. In Navasfrias a considerable resorption of P from senescing leaves was detected. Different patterns were found for the other nutrients studied (Na and N).     

Aboveground nitrogen and phosphorus use by five plantation-grown trees with different leaf longevities

Aboveground nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) requirement, retranslocation and use efficiency were determined for 28-year-old red oak (Quercus rubra L.), European larch (Larix decidua Miller), white pine (Pinus strobes L.), red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L) Karst.) plantations on a similar soil in southwestern Wisconsin. Annual aboveground N and P requirements (kg/ha/yr) totaled 126 and 13 for red oak, 86 and 9 for European larch, 80 and 9 for white pine, 38 and 6 for red pine, and 81 and 13 for Norway spruce, respectively. Nitrogen and P retranslocation from current foliage ranged from 81 and 72%, respectively, for European larch, whereas red pine retranslocated the smallest amount of N (13%) and Norway spruce retranslocated the smallest amount of P (18%). In three evergreen species, uptake accounted for 72 to 74% of annual N requirement whereas for two deciduous species retranslocation accounted for 76 to 77% of the annual N requirement. Nitrogen and P use (ANPP/uptake) was more efficient in deciduous species than evergreen species. The results from this common garden experiment demonstrate that differences in N and P cycling among species may result from intrinsic characteristics (e.g. leaf longevity) rather than environmental conditions.