Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations vary signifcantly among coexisting plant species refecting different leaf nutrient use strategies.However,interspecifc variation in senesced-leaf nutrients and its driving factors...Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations vary signifcantly among coexisting plant species refecting different leaf nutrient use strategies.However,interspecifc variation in senesced-leaf nutrients and its driving factors are not well understood.Here,we aimed to determine interspecifc variation and its driving factors in senesced-leaf nutrients.We explored interspecifc variation in carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)concentrations in newly fallen leaves of 46 coexisting temperate deciduous woody species across the Maoershan Forest Ecosystem Research Station,Northeast China.The relative importance of 10 biotic factors(i.e.mycorrhiza type,N-fxing type,growth form,shade tolerance,laminar texture,coloring degree,coloring type,peak leaf-coloration date,peak leaf-fall date and end leaf-fall date)was quantifed with the random forest model.N and P concentrations varied 4-and 9-fold among species,respectively.The high mean N(15.38 mg·g^(−1))and P(1.24 mg·g^(−1))concentrations suggested a weak N and P limitation in the studied forest.Functional groups had only signifcant effects on specifc nutrients and their ratios.P concentration and N:P were negatively correlated with peak and end leaf-fall dates for the ectomycorrhiza species group.Brighter-colored leaves(red>brown>yellow>yellow-green>green)tended to have lower N and P concentrations and higher C:N and C:P than darker-colored leaves.The random forest model showed that autumn coloration and leaf-fall phenology contributed 80%to the total explanation of nutrient variability among species.The results increase our understanding of the variability in senesced-leaf nutrients as a strategy of woody plant nutrition in temperate forests.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171765)the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(IRT_15R09)。
文摘Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations vary signifcantly among coexisting plant species refecting different leaf nutrient use strategies.However,interspecifc variation in senesced-leaf nutrients and its driving factors are not well understood.Here,we aimed to determine interspecifc variation and its driving factors in senesced-leaf nutrients.We explored interspecifc variation in carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)concentrations in newly fallen leaves of 46 coexisting temperate deciduous woody species across the Maoershan Forest Ecosystem Research Station,Northeast China.The relative importance of 10 biotic factors(i.e.mycorrhiza type,N-fxing type,growth form,shade tolerance,laminar texture,coloring degree,coloring type,peak leaf-coloration date,peak leaf-fall date and end leaf-fall date)was quantifed with the random forest model.N and P concentrations varied 4-and 9-fold among species,respectively.The high mean N(15.38 mg·g^(−1))and P(1.24 mg·g^(−1))concentrations suggested a weak N and P limitation in the studied forest.Functional groups had only signifcant effects on specifc nutrients and their ratios.P concentration and N:P were negatively correlated with peak and end leaf-fall dates for the ectomycorrhiza species group.Brighter-colored leaves(red>brown>yellow>yellow-green>green)tended to have lower N and P concentrations and higher C:N and C:P than darker-colored leaves.The random forest model showed that autumn coloration and leaf-fall phenology contributed 80%to the total explanation of nutrient variability among species.The results increase our understanding of the variability in senesced-leaf nutrients as a strategy of woody plant nutrition in temperate forests.
