Relationships between leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and leaf nitrogen cause different altitudinal changes in leaf δ<sup>13</sup>C between deciduous and evergreen species

Takahashi, Koichi; Miyajima, Yutaka

doi:10.1139/b08-093

Cited by 31 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Large leaves are often mechanically damaged by wind disturbances (Niklas ). The LMA of two deciduous broad‐leaved tree species decreases with increasing elevation on Mt Norikura (the same slope as this study), but the LMA increases near the timberline, as with the S. virgaurea complex (Takahashi & Miyajima ). Therefore, the increase in mechanical stiffness (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

Takahashi

Matsuki

2016

Plant Species Biology

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Morphological variations in vegetative and reproductive organs in the Solidago virgaurea complex were examined for eight elevations between 1600 and 2400 m a.s.l. in Japan. The rosette diameter and stem height were lower at higher elevations. The stem diameter at any stem height was greater at higher elevations, suggesting that the S. virgaurea complex increases mechanical stiffness against strong wind at high elevations. The number of flower heads at any stem height was less at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Leaf nitrogen concentration did not change along the elevational gradient. Leaf mass per area (LMA) tended to decrease with increasing elevation, except for 2400 m a.s.l. The decrease of LMA would contribute to maintaining a positive carbon balance at high elevations. The number of involucral rays of flower heads was mostly four at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.) and three at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.). The number of involucral scales and diameter of flower heads were greater at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Therefore, the S . virgaurea complex is suggested to adapt to high elevations that have cool temperature, a short growing season and strong wind conditions by changing its vegetative and reproductive traits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

Takahashi

Matsuki

2016

Plant Species Biology

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“…However, it has become clear that internal conductance can have a large effect on C c and alter tissue d 13 C (Seibt et al 2008). Thinner or less dense leaves increase the internal conductance of CO 2 to chloroplasts ), and this relationship is thought to be a primary reason (Hultine and Marshall 2000) why there is a negative correlation between leaf d 13 C and specific leaf area (SLA, cm 2 /g; Ko¨rner et al 1991, Araus et al 1997, Hanba et al 1999, Hultine and Marshall 2000, Takahashi and Miyajima 2008, but see Monclus et al 2005). Nutrient availability can affect specific leaf area , Poorter et al 2009), so we accounted for differences in SLA when interpreting changes in the natural abundance of 13 C caused by the NO 3 À additions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence that chronic nitrogen additions increase photosynthesis in mature sugar maple forests

Talhelm

Pregitzer

Burton

2011

Ecological Applications

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Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can increase forest growth. Because N deposition commonly increases foliar N concentrations, it is thought that this increase in forest growth is a consequence of enhanced leaf-level photosynthesis. However, tests of this mechanism have been infrequent, and increases in photosynthesis have not been consistently observed in mature forests subject to chronic N deposition. In four mature northern hardwood forests in the north-central United States, chronic N additions (30 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) as NaNO3 for 14 years) have increased aboveground growth but have not affected canopy leaf biomass or leaf area index. In order to understand the mechanism behind the increases in growth, we hypothesized that the NO3(-) additions increased foliar N concentrations and leaf-level photosynthesis in the dominant species in these forests (sugar maple, Acer saccharum). The NO3(-) additions significantly increased foliar N. However, there was no significant difference between the ambient and +NO3(-) treatments in two seasons (2006-2007) of instantaneous measurements of photosynthesis from either canopy towers or excised branches. In measurements on excised branches, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (micromol CO2 s(-1) g(-1) N) was significantly decreased (-13%) by NO3(-) additions. Furthermore, we found no consistent NO3(-) effect across all sites in either current foliage or leaf litter collected annually throughout the study (1993-2007) and analyzed for delta 13C and delta 18O, isotopes that can be used together to integrate changes in photosynthesis over time. We observed a small but significant NO3(-) effect on the average area and mass of individual leaves from the excised branches, but these differences varied by site and were countered by changes in leaf number. These photosynthesis and leaf area data together suggest that NO3(-) additions have not stimulated photosynthesis. There is no evidence that nutrient deficiencies have developed at these sites, so unlike other studies of photosynthesis in N-saturated forests, we cannot attribute the lack of a stimulation of photosynthesis to nutrient limitations. Rather than increases in C assimilation, the observed increases in aboveground growth at our study sites are more likely due to shifts in C allocation.

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“…In situ stomatal conductance of B. ermanii on Mt. Norikura is greater and pre-dawn water potential of leaves is also less negative at higher elevations [2]. Greater stomatal conductance of B. ermanii at higher elevations indicates more opening of stomata because the stomatal density of B. ermanii does not differ along an elevational gradient [2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Norikura is greater and pre-dawn water potential of leaves is also less negative at higher elevations [2]. Greater stomatal conductance of B. ermanii at higher elevations indicates more opening of stomata because the stomatal density of B. ermanii does not differ along an elevational gradient [2]. Greater stomatal conductance of B. ermanii at high elevations is thought to be due to less drought stress because precipitation is greater at higher elevations in the region of the study site [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leaf longevity of deciduous plant species decreases at higher elevations because the length of growing seasons for plants is shorter [1] [2]. It is often reported that leaf longevity positively and negatively correlates with leaf mass per area (LMA) and assimilative capacity (i.e., photosynthetic rate at light saturation), respectively [3] [4] [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How <i>Betula ermanii</i> Maintains a Positive Carbon Balance at the Individual Leaf Level at High Elevations

Takahashi¹,

Otsubo²

2017

AJPS

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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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Relationships between leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and leaf nitrogen cause different altitudinal changes in leaf δ¹³C between deciduous and evergreen species

Abstract: Abstract:We examined the variations of stable carbon isotope ratio (δ 13

Cited by 31 publications

References 50 publications

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

No evidence that chronic nitrogen additions increase photosynthesis in mature sugar maple forests

How <i>Betula ermanii</i> Maintains a Positive Carbon Balance at the Individual Leaf Level at High Elevations

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Relationships between leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and leaf nitrogen cause different altitudinal changes in leaf δ13C between deciduous and evergreen species

Abstract: Abstract:We examined the variations of stable carbon isotope ratio (δ 13

Cited by 31 publications

References 50 publications

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan

No evidence that chronic nitrogen additions increase photosynthesis in mature sugar maple forests

How &lt;i&gt;Betula ermanii&lt;/i&gt; Maintains a Positive Carbon Balance at the Individual Leaf Level at High Elevations

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Relationships between leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and leaf nitrogen cause different altitudinal changes in leaf δ¹³C between deciduous and evergreen species

How <i>Betula ermanii</i> Maintains a Positive Carbon Balance at the Individual Leaf Level at High Elevations