Leaf nitrogen resorption proficiency of seven shrubs across timberline ecotones in the Sergymla Mountains, Southeast Xizang, China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00127

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objectives were to disclose why evergreen shrubs, but not deciduous shrubs, dominate above timberline in humid southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and to test if different functional types converge in response to the warming climate from aspect of nitrogen limitation.

Methods Based on investigations of nitrogen concentration in senesced leaves of seven shrubs across timberline ecotones in the Sergymla Mountains, Southeast Xizang, we analyzed differences in leaf mass- and area-based nitrogen resorption proficiency among different functional types (evergreen vs. deciduous), altitudes and aspects at 4200-4400 m a.s.l.

Important findings Leaf mass-based nitrogen resorption proficiency was higher in the evergreen shrub Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum than in deciduous shrubs. However, the leaf area-based N resorption proficiency was relatively higher in deciduous shrubs due to their lower leaf mass per unit area. Although no significant difference in the resorption proficiency was found between altitudes or aspects for the deciduous shrubs of Salix oritrepha and Berberis hemsleyana, leaf mass-based N resorption proficiency was higher at higher altitude for the evergreen shrub Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum. Decreasing N concentration in senesced leaves, i.e., increasing resorption proficiency, which can improve N use efficiency, is an important strategy for the evergreen shrub to cope with the stressful alpine environment across timberline ecotones. Compared with the deciduous shrubs, N resorption proficiency in the evergreen shrub Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum is assumed to be more sensitive to future climate warming.

Key words: altitude, deciduous, evergreen, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen content

ZHANG Lin, YAN En-Rong, WEI Hai-Xia, LIU Xin-Sheng, SHEN Wei. Leaf nitrogen resorption proficiency of seven shrubs across timberline ecotones in the Sergymla Mountains, Southeast Xizang, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2014, 38(12): 1325-1332.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00127

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2014/V38/I12/1325

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Distributional characteristics of seven shrubs across timberline ecotones in the Sergymla Mountains

物种 Species	常绿或落叶 Evergreen or deciduous	坡向 Aspect	生境 Habitat	海拔 Altitude (m)
山生柳 Salix oritrepha	落叶 Deciduous	北坡、南坡及山谷均有分布 North-facing slope, south-facing slope and in valleys	林缘 Forest edge	4 150-4 450
西南花楸 Sorbus rehderiana	落叶 Deciduous	北坡及山谷 North-facing slope and in valleys	林缘、林窗 Forest edge, forest gap	4 200-4 400
拉萨小檗 Berberis hemsleyana	落叶 Deciduous	南坡及山谷 South-facing slope and in valleys	林缘 Forest edge	4 150-4 450
腺果大叶蔷薇 Rosa macrophylla var. glandulifera	落叶 Deciduous	南坡及山谷 South-facing slope and in valleys	林缘 Forest edge	4 150-4 400
冰川茶藨子 Ribes glaciale	落叶 Deciduous	主要分布在北坡 Mainly on north-facing slope	林缘、林窗 Forest edge, forest gap	4 200-4 350
高山绣线菊 Spiraea alpina	落叶 Deciduous	北坡 North-facing slope	林缘 Forest edge	4 300-4 400
裂毛雪山杜鹃 Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum	常绿 Evergreen	南北坡 North-facing slope, south-facing slope	广泛分布 Widely distributed	4 200-4 700

Fig. 1 Altitudinal variations of NH4-N and NO3-N concentrations in the 0-20 cm soil layer (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different altitudes (p < 0.05).

Fig. 2 Comparisons of leaf mass-based nitrogen concentrations (Nmass) (A), leaf area-based nitrogen concentrations (Narea) (B), and leaf mass per area (LMA) (C) in senesced leaves among seven shrubs across timberline ecotones (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different species (p < 0.05).

Fig. 3 Comparisons of leaf mass-based nitrogen concentrations (Nmass) (A) and leaf area-based nitrogen concentrations (Narea) (B) in Salix oritrepha between different aspects and altitudes (mean ± SE). The same lowercase letters indicate no significant differences among different aspects and altitudes (p > 0.05).

Fig. 4 Comparisons of leaf mass-based nitrogen concentrations (Nmass) (A) and leaf area-based nitrogen concentrations (Narea) (B) in Berberis hemsleyana between different altitudes in south-facing slope (mean ± SE). The same lowercase letters indicate no significant differences between two altitudes (p > 0.05).

Fig. 5 Comparisons of leaf mass-based nitrogen concentrations (Nmass) (A) and leaf area-based nitrogen concentrations (Narea) (B) in Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum between different altitudes in north-facing slope (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between two altitudes (p < 0.05).

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