Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (11): 1510-1523.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2024.0081  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2024.0081

Special Issue: 植物功能性状

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Variation and trade-offs in leaf, branch, and root traits at different life history stages of Acer pictum subsp. mono

WANG Si-Qi1, JIN Guang-Ze1,2,*()()   

  1. 1Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
    2Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management, Ministry of Education, Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
  • Received:2024-03-22 Accepted:2024-06-01 Online:2024-11-20 Published:2024-06-05
  • Contact: *JIN Guang-Ze (taxus@126.com)
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071533);Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(TD2023C006);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572022DS13)

Abstract:

Aims Acer pictumsubsp. mono is a main accompanying tree species in broadleaf Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests, and plays an important role in the structure and function of broadleaf Korean pine forests. Studying the variation in functional traits of leaves, branches, and roots of Acer pictumsubsp. mono at different life-history stages is of great significance for understanding intra species variation in plant traits, and strategies for plant resource acquisition and allocation.

Methods This article focused on the seedling, sapling, and adult trees of A. pictumsubsp. mono in the broadleaf Korean pine forests of Liangshui National Nature Reserve located in Heilongjiang. Twelve physiological and morphological traits of leaves, branches, and roots were measured, and chemometric traits such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents of different plant organs were analyzed. We then explored the influence of different life history stages on the variation of leaf, branch, and root traits, and the trait-trait correlations.

Important findings (1) With the development of plant life history, leaf thickness, branch tissue density, root diameter, leaf N content, and C contents of leaves, branches, and roots increased significantly, whereas specific leaf area, net photosynthetic rate, and specific root length decreased significantly. Additionally, intraspecific variation of each trait varied in different life history stages. (2) Correlations among traits of leaves and branches were significants, yet in fine roots, only specific root length was correlated with chemical traits. (3) Leaf N content, net photosynthetic rate, and photosynthetic products increased with the development of plant life history. Leaves varied from a “slow investment-return” type to a “fast investment-return” type. Moreover, the metabolic capacity such as branch water content, and the ability of resource acquisition of fine roots decreased. Both branches and roots transitioned from a “resource acquisition” type to a “resource conservation” type.

Key words: trait, plant functional trait, life history, intraspecific variation, trade-offs