Relationships between foliar stable carbon isotope composition and environmental factors and leaf element contents of Pinus tabulaeformis in northwestern China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00596

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to analyze relationships between foliar stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) and environmental factors and leaf element contents in Pinus tabulaeformis, which is widely distributed in northwestern China.

Methods Leaf samples were taken in ten natural populations of P. tabulaeformis from Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The δ¹³C was determined using an isotope mass spectrometer. Environmental factors were recorded by Magellan GPS320 and from nearby weather stations. Leaf element contents were measured with low vacuum scanning electron microscope and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Carbon content was estimated with the potassium dichromate method, and nitrogen content was measured with the micro-Kjeldahl method. Data were evaluated with Excel 2003 and SPSS 13.0 analysis of correlation and regression.

Important findings Foliar δ¹³C ranged from -28.68‰ to -25.02‰, with an average value of -26.82‰. Foliar δ¹³C did not closely correlate with altitude and longitude, but was significantly positively correlated to latitude and negatively correlated with annual mean precipitation and temperature. Therefore, δ¹³C in different natural populations of P. tabulaeformis is significantly influenced by environmental factors, and annual mean temperature and precipitation are essential factors in δ¹³C’s capability of fractionation and growth. Leaf N, P and K content were significantly negatively correlated with δ¹³C; however, Si, Ca and Fe content were significantly positively correlated with δ¹³C. Different δ¹³C in different natural populations reflects changes in plant nutrient element content. Response mode of climatic factors and element content under different habitat conditions reflected and affected properties of δ¹³C change in natural populations of P. tabulaeformis.

Key words: correlation, environmental factors, leaf element contents, Pinus tabulaeformis, δ¹³C

LI Shan-Jia, ZHANG You-Fu, CHEN Tuo. Relationships between foliar stable carbon isotope composition and environmental factors and leaf element contents of Pinus tabulaeformis in northwestern China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2011, 35(6): 596-604.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00596

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2011/V35/I6/596

Figures/Tables 5

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种群代号 Code of population	地点 Site	海拔 Elevation (m)	纬度 Latitude (N)	经度 Longitude (E)	温度Temperature (℃)	降水量 Precipitation (mm)	稳定碳同位素组成 δ¹³C (‰)
CLS	古浪县昌岭山 Gulang Changling Mountains	2 310	37°26′	103°41′	4.90	306.70	-25.32
MJS	天水麦积山 Tianshui Maiji Mountains	1 551	34°20′	106°00′	11.62	433.89	-27.87
DC	天水党川林场 Tianshui Dangchuan Forest	2 029	34°26′	106°08′	11.62	433.89	-28.68
CG	舟曲县查岗林场 Zhouqu Chagang Forest	2 036	33°33′	104°20′	12.70	473.37	-28.47
LZK	迭部县腊子口 Diebu Lazikou	2 094	34°08′	103°52′	8.16	507.55	-27.60
DL	迭部县达拉林场 Diebu Dala Forest	2 541	33°50′	103°22′	10.58	525.90	-27.27
LD	迭部县洛大林场 Diebu Luoda Forest	1 985	33°58′	103°54′	6.16	433.96	-26.49
BS	阿左旗北寺林场 Alashanzuoqi Beisi Forest	2 138	38°58′	105°54′	7.60	208.50	-25.02
SYK	银川苏峪口 Yinchuan Suyukou	1 946	38°44′	105°54′	8.20	193.50	-25.10
LC	永登县连城 Yongdeng Liancheng	2 085	36°41′	102°44′	5.90	290.20	-26.35
平均值 Mean							-26.82

种群代号 Code of population	地点 Site	海拔 Elevation (m)	纬度 Latitude (N)	经度 Longitude (E)	温度Temperature (℃)	降水量 Precipitation (mm)	稳定碳同位素组成 δ¹³C (‰)
CLS	古浪县昌岭山 Gulang Changling Mountains	2 310	37°26′	103°41′	4.90	306.70	-25.32
MJS	天水麦积山 Tianshui Maiji Mountains	1 551	34°20′	106°00′	11.62	433.89	-27.87
DC	天水党川林场 Tianshui Dangchuan Forest	2 029	34°26′	106°08′	11.62	433.89	-28.68
CG	舟曲县查岗林场 Zhouqu Chagang Forest	2 036	33°33′	104°20′	12.70	473.37	-28.47
LZK	迭部县腊子口 Diebu Lazikou	2 094	34°08′	103°52′	8.16	507.55	-27.60
DL	迭部县达拉林场 Diebu Dala Forest	2 541	33°50′	103°22′	10.58	525.90	-27.27
LD	迭部县洛大林场 Diebu Luoda Forest	1 985	33°58′	103°54′	6.16	433.96	-26.49
BS	阿左旗北寺林场 Alashanzuoqi Beisi Forest	2 138	38°58′	105°54′	7.60	208.50	-25.02
SYK	银川苏峪口 Yinchuan Suyukou	1 946	38°44′	105°54′	8.20	193.50	-25.10
LC	永登县连城 Yongdeng Liancheng	2 085	36°41′	102°44′	5.90	290.20	-26.35
平均值 Mean							-26.82

种群代号 Code of population	N	C	O	Mg	Al	Si	P	S	Cl	K	Ca	Fe
CLS	0.65	50.69	0.62	3.21	2.13	7.60	5.56	3.95	0.93	33.44	39.51	3.05
MJS	0.74	48.71	-	2.35	-	1.75	6.44	3.28	0.40	46.71	38.43	0.64
DC	1.13	62.85	4.73	2.67	1.00	3.13	7.39	3.35	-	52.58	23.74	1.40
CG	0.86	47.09	0.83	2.99	0.49	1.90	10.10	2.44	2.05	50.21	28.32	0.67
LZK	0.73	48.25	1.22	2.57	0.42	1.91	6.84	2.61	0.94	43.39	39.56	0.54
DL	0.65	49.78	1.82	3.68	1.48	4.98	7.24	3.07	-	46.35	29.84	1.54
LD	0.77	52.61	2.13	2.38	0.40	1.76	7.74	2.91	-	45.97	36.16	0.54
BS	0.57	44.76	1.97	3.27	1.55	6.13	5.41	3.33	-	29.63	46.05	2.66
SYK	0.80	55.53	1.38	4.03	1.22	4.21	7.00	3.54	1.23	35.13	40.71	1.56
LC	0.70	49.10	0.87	3.86	0.87	4.08	6.88	4.24	1.77	38.19	37.93	1.31
平均值 Mean	0.76	50.94	1.73	3.10	1.06	3.75	7.06	3.27	1.22	42.16	36.02	1.39

种群代号 Code of population	N	C	O	Mg	Al	Si	P	S	Cl	K	Ca	Fe
CLS	0.65	50.69	0.62	3.21	2.13	7.60	5.56	3.95	0.93	33.44	39.51	3.05
MJS	0.74	48.71	-	2.35	-	1.75	6.44	3.28	0.40	46.71	38.43	0.64
DC	1.13	62.85	4.73	2.67	1.00	3.13	7.39	3.35	-	52.58	23.74	1.40
CG	0.86	47.09	0.83	2.99	0.49	1.90	10.10	2.44	2.05	50.21	28.32	0.67
LZK	0.73	48.25	1.22	2.57	0.42	1.91	6.84	2.61	0.94	43.39	39.56	0.54
DL	0.65	49.78	1.82	3.68	1.48	4.98	7.24	3.07	-	46.35	29.84	1.54
LD	0.77	52.61	2.13	2.38	0.40	1.76	7.74	2.91	-	45.97	36.16	0.54
BS	0.57	44.76	1.97	3.27	1.55	6.13	5.41	3.33	-	29.63	46.05	2.66
SYK	0.80	55.53	1.38	4.03	1.22	4.21	7.00	3.54	1.23	35.13	40.71	1.56
LC	0.70	49.10	0.87	3.86	0.87	4.08	6.88	4.24	1.77	38.19	37.93	1.31
平均值 Mean	0.76	50.94	1.73	3.10	1.06	3.75	7.06	3.27	1.22	42.16	36.02	1.39

测试项目 Test items	δ¹³C	AMT	AMP	N	C	Mg	Si	P	S	K	Ca
AMT	-0.779^**
AMP	-0.829^**	0.526
N	-0.644^*	0.523	0.282
C	-0.234	0.147	0.023	0.815^**
Mg	0.545	-0.258	-0.560	-0.309	-0.060
Si	0.697^*	-0.501	-0.575	-0.477	-0.104	0.586
P	-0.627	0.565	0.508	0.508	0.096	-0.128	-0.631
S	0.547	-0.561	-0.664^*	-0.193	0.174	0.527	0.623	-0.606
K	-0.941^**	0.719^*	0.837^**	0.699^*	0.386	-0.531	-0.734^*	0.703^*	-0.556
Ca	0.790^**	-0.640^*	-0.643^*	-0.753^*	-0.547	0.180	0.347	-0.676^*	0.309	-0.859^**
Fe	0.674^*	-0.450	-0.629	-0.381	-0.051	0.471	0.975^**	-0.647^*	0.592	-0.728^*	0.353