Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 1175-1183.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.05.022

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

EFFECTS OF TWIG SIZE ON BIOMASS ALLOCATION WITHIN TWIGS AND ON LAMINA AREA SUPPORTING EFFICIENCY IN RHODODENDRON: ALLOMETRIC SCALING ANALYSES

LI Ya-Nan1,2, YANG Dong-Mei1,3, SUN Shu-Cun3, GAO Xian-Ming2,*()   

  1. 1Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    2State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
    3Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2007-12-03 Accepted:2008-04-22 Online:2008-12-03 Published:2008-09-30
  • Contact: GAO Xian-Ming

Abstract:

Aims Current-year shoots (twigs) are the most active compartment in plants. Biomass allocation within twigs is an important parameter categorizing plant life history strategies. Our objective was to explain variation in leaf size among habitats and why small-leaved species are more likely to be seen in severe habitats than large-leaved species.

Methods Effects of twig size on biomass allocation among lamina, stem, and petiole and on lamina supporting efficiency were estimated using standardized major axis estimation. Correlation between parameters was examined using the phylogenetically independent comparative method.

Important findings Fractional lamina mass was found to be independent of twig size, but allometric relationships were found between stem mass and petiole mass and between lamina area and stem mass. Petiole mass increased disproportionally with stem mass, while lamina area failed to keep pace with the increase in stem mass. Species with smaller twigs and smaller leaves may be advantageous in lamina area supporting efficiency over their counterparts.

Key words: twig, biomass allocation, lamina area, allometric scaling, Rhododendron