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Contrasting leaf trait scaling relationships in tropical and temperate wet forest species

Xiang, Shuang; Reich, Peter B; Sun, Shucun; Atkin, Owen

Description

We investigated whether plants adapted to thermally contrasting environments (e.g. tropical-temperate habitats) exhibit inherent differences in leaf trait scaling relationships. Thirteen tropical and 12 temperate species (all characteristic of wet forests) were grown in a glasshouse (25/20 °C day/night). A range of leaf traits were quantified, including mass-based leaf nitrogen [N], mass per unit area (LMA), light-saturated photosynthesis (A) and respiration (Rdark). Average area- and...[Show more]

dc.contributor.authorXiang, Shuang
dc.contributor.authorReich, Peter B
dc.contributor.authorSun, Shucun
dc.contributor.authorAtkin, Owen
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-13T22:27:22Z
dc.identifier.issn0269-8463
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/73914
dc.description.abstractWe investigated whether plants adapted to thermally contrasting environments (e.g. tropical-temperate habitats) exhibit inherent differences in leaf trait scaling relationships. Thirteen tropical and 12 temperate species (all characteristic of wet forests) were grown in a glasshouse (25/20 °C day/night). A range of leaf traits were quantified, including mass-based leaf nitrogen [N], mass per unit area (LMA), light-saturated photosynthesis (A) and respiration (Rdark). Average area- and mass-based rates of net CO2 exchange were higher in the temperate species, compared to their tropical counterparts. Average leaf [N] and LMA values were also higher in temperate species than in their tropical counterparts. The higher LMA in the metabolically more active temperate species was the most striking contrast to the patterns and predictions of the GLOPNET leaf trait data base, and was associated with different elevations (i.e. y-axis intercepts) but not slopes of bivariate trait scaling relationships. As expected, mass-based rates of A and Rdark scaled positively with increasing [N] and negatively with increasing LMA in both tropical and temperate species. No differences were found between temperate and tropical species groups in terms of log-log scaling relationships linking A and Rdark to N. However, at any given LMA, mass-based values of [N], A and Rdark were all higher in the temperate species than in their tropical counterparts. Underpinning higher A in temperate species was a higher capacity for carboxylation (Vcmax) and RuBP regeneration (Jmax), with Jmax:Vcmax being greater in temperate species. In conclusion, our results suggest that as a consequence of greater overall N investment as well as greater proportional N investment in metabolic capacity, cool-adapted temperate wet forest species exhibit higher photosynthetic and respiration rates than their warm-adapted tropical counterparts when compared in a common environment.
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd
dc.sourceFunctional Ecology
dc.subjectKeywords: adaptation; environmental conditions; interspecific variation; leaf area; life history trait; metabolism; nitrogen; photosynthesis; phytochemistry; respiration; temperate forest; tropical forest Leaf mass per unit area; Leaf traits; Nitrogen; Photosynthesis; Respiration; Scaling relationships; Temperate wet forests; Tropical wet forests
dc.titleContrasting leaf trait scaling relationships in tropical and temperate wet forest species
dc.typeJournal article
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.citationvolume27
dc.date.issued2013
local.identifier.absfor060705 - Plant Physiology
local.identifier.absfor060203 - Ecological Physiology
local.identifier.absfor060208 - Terrestrial Ecology
local.identifier.ariespublicationf5625xPUB3887
local.type.statusPublished Version
local.contributor.affiliationXiang, Shuang, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationReich, Peter B, University of Minnesota
local.contributor.affiliationSun, Shucun, Chinese Academy of Sciences
local.contributor.affiliationAtkin, Owen, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.bibliographicCitation.issue2
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage522
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage534
local.identifier.doi10.1111/1365-2435.12047
local.identifier.absseo960305 - Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change
local.identifier.absseo960505 - Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments
local.identifier.absseo960806 - Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
dc.date.updated2016-02-24T09:18:37Z
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-84875597141
local.identifier.thomsonID000317306000024
CollectionsANU Research Publications

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