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Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species

Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree... The relationship between photosynthetic capacity ( A max ) and leaf nitrogen concentration ( N ) among all C 3 species can be described roughly with one general equation, yet within that overall pattern species groups or individual species may have markedly different A max - N relationships. To determine whether one or several predictive, fundamental A max - N relationships exist for temperate trees we measured A max , specific leaf area (SLA) and N in 22 broad-leaved deciduous and 9 needle-leaved evergreen tree species in Wisconsin, United States. For broad-leaved deciduous trees, mass-based A max was highly correlated with leaf N ( r 2 =0.75, P <0.001). For evergreen conifers, mass-based A max was also correlated with leaf N ( r 2 =0.59, P <0.001) and the slope of the regression (rate of increase of A max per unit increase in N ) was lower ( P <0.001) by two-thirds than in the broad-leaved species (1.9 vs. 6.4 μmol CO 2 g −1 N s −1 ), consistent with predictions based on tropical rain forest trees of short vs. long leaf life-span. On an area basis, there was a strong A max - N correlation among deciduous species ( r 2 =0.78, P <0.001) and no correlation ( r 2 =0.03, P >0.25) in the evergreen conifers. Compared to deciduous trees at a common leaf N (mass or area basis), evergreen trees had lower A max and SLA. For all data pooled, both leaf N and A max on a mass basis were correlated ( r 2 =0.6) with SLA; in contrast, area-based leaf N scaled tightly with SLA ( r 2 =0.81), but area-based A max did not ( r 2 =0.06) because of low A max per unit N in the evergreen conifers. Multiple regression analysis of all data pooled showed that both N (mass or area basis) and SLA were significantly ( P <0.001) related to A max on mass ( r 2 =0.80) and area ( r 2 =0.55) bases, respectively. These results provide further evidence that A max - N relationships are fundamentally different for ecologically distinct species groups with differing suites of foliage characteristics: species with long leaf life-spans and low SLA, whether broad-leaved or needle-leaved, tend to have lower A max per unit leaf N and a lower slope and higher intercept of the A max - N relation than do species with shorter leaf life-span and higher SLA. A single global A max - N equation overestimates and underestimates A max for temperate trees at the upper and lower end of their leaf N range, respectively. Users of A max - N relationships in modeling photosynthesis in different ecosystems should appreciate the strengths and limitations of regression equations based on different species groupings. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Oecologia Springer Journals

Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species

Reich, P.; Walters, M.; Kloeppel, B.; Ellsworth, D.
Oecologia , Volume 104 (1) – Sep 1, 1995
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References (27)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 by Springer-Verlag
Subject
Life Sciences; Ecology; Plant Sciences
ISSN
0029-8549
eISSN
1432-1939
DOI
10.1007/BF00365558
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The relationship between photosynthetic capacity ( A max ) and leaf nitrogen concentration ( N ) among all C 3 species can be described roughly with one general equation, yet within that overall pattern species groups or individual species may have markedly different A max - N relationships. To determine whether one or several predictive, fundamental A max - N relationships exist for temperate trees we measured A max , specific leaf area (SLA) and N in 22 broad-leaved deciduous and 9 needle-leaved evergreen tree species in Wisconsin, United States. For broad-leaved deciduous trees, mass-based A max was highly correlated with leaf N ( r 2 =0.75, P <0.001). For evergreen conifers, mass-based A max was also correlated with leaf N ( r 2 =0.59, P <0.001) and the slope of the regression (rate of increase of A max per unit increase in N ) was lower ( P <0.001) by two-thirds than in the broad-leaved species (1.9 vs. 6.4 μmol CO 2 g −1 N s −1 ), consistent with predictions based on tropical rain forest trees of short vs. long leaf life-span. On an area basis, there was a strong A max - N correlation among deciduous species ( r 2 =0.78, P <0.001) and no correlation ( r 2 =0.03, P >0.25) in the evergreen conifers. Compared to deciduous trees at a common leaf N (mass or area basis), evergreen trees had lower A max and SLA. For all data pooled, both leaf N and A max on a mass basis were correlated ( r 2 =0.6) with SLA; in contrast, area-based leaf N scaled tightly with SLA ( r 2 =0.81), but area-based A max did not ( r 2 =0.06) because of low A max per unit N in the evergreen conifers. Multiple regression analysis of all data pooled showed that both N (mass or area basis) and SLA were significantly ( P <0.001) related to A max on mass ( r 2 =0.80) and area ( r 2 =0.55) bases, respectively. These results provide further evidence that A max - N relationships are fundamentally different for ecologically distinct species groups with differing suites of foliage characteristics: species with long leaf life-spans and low SLA, whether broad-leaved or needle-leaved, tend to have lower A max per unit leaf N and a lower slope and higher intercept of the A max - N relation than do species with shorter leaf life-span and higher SLA. A single global A max - N equation overestimates and underestimates A max for temperate trees at the upper and lower end of their leaf N range, respectively. Users of A max - N relationships in modeling photosynthesis in different ecosystems should appreciate the strengths and limitations of regression equations based on different species groupings.

Journal

Oecologia – Springer Journals

Published: Sep 1, 1995

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