Generally, plant species with shorter leaf longevity maintain a positive carbon balance by decreasing leaf mass per area (LMA) and increasing photosynthesis. However, plants at high elevations need to increase LMA against environmental stresses. Therefore, plants need to increase both LMA and photosynthesis at high elevations. To examine how deciduous plants maintain a positive carbon balance at high elevations, photosynthesis and related leaf traits for deciduous broad-leaved tree Betula ermanii were measured at three elevations. LMA was greater at middle and high elevations than at low elevation. Leaf δ 13 C was greater at higher elevations, and positively correlated with LMA, indicating greater long-term deficiency of CO 2 in leaves at higher elevations. However, the C i /C a ratio at photosynthetic measurement was not low at high elevations. Nitrogen content per leaf mass and stomatal conductance were greater at higher elevations. Photosynthetic rates and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) did not differ among the three elevations. Photosynthetic rate showed a strong positive correlation with stomatal conductance on a leaf area basis (R 2 = 0.83, P < 0.001). Therefore, this study suggests B. ermanii compensates the deficiency of CO 2 in leaves at high elevation by increasing stomatal conductance, and maintains photosynthesis and PNUE at high elevation as much as at low elevation.

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