Photosynthetica, 2011 (vol. 49), issue 1

Photosynthetica 2011, 49(1):43-47 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-011-0018-y

Variation in structural and physiological leaf traits of eight species in karst desertification area of China

L. Y. Wei1,3,*, D. J. Zeng2, S. H. Lv2, J. L. Zhang2, J. F. Jiao2, Y. M. You2, X. K. Li2
1 Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
2 Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, Guangxi, P.R. China
3 Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Leaf traits have long been recognized as influential factors in the acquisition and processing of resources by plants. However, there is less knowledge of between-species variations in seasonal changes in leaf traits and trait interrelationships. Therefore, we examined variations in leaf area (LA), dry biomass (DM), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf gas-exchange parameters in one non-native and seven native tree species under field environmental conditions, in a karst area in China subjected to desertification. Measurements were taken three times during the growing season. The results show that the seven native trees had higher LA, DM, and water-use efficiency (WUE) than the non-native Cinnamomum camphora. In contrast, all the native tree species except Ligustrum lucidum had lower photosynthetic rates (P N) than the non-native species. In all species, the relationship between LA and DM was less variable than the relationship between SLA and LA. However, leaves of the non-native C. camphora and native species Sterculia lanceolata, Cleidiocarpon cavalerei and Cyclobalanopsis glauca were highly sensitive to seasonal conditions, leaves of Sapindus mukorossi and Ligustrum lucidum were less sensitive to seasonal changes, and leaves of Syzygium cumini and Cephalomappa sinensis were insensitive. An understanding of leaf traits will aid the selection of suitable species for land restoration.

Keywords: desertification; dry biomass; karst area; leaf area; photosynthesis; specific leaf area

Received: February 27, 2009; Accepted: October 14, 2010; Published: March 1, 2011Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Wei, L.Y., Zeng, D.J., Lv, S.H., Zhang, J.L., Jiao, J.F., You, Y.M., & Li, X.K. (2011). Variation in structural and physiological leaf traits of eight species in karst desertification area of China. Photosynthetica, 49(1), 43-47. doi: 10.1007/s11099-011-0018-y.
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ackerly, D., Knight, C., Weiss, S., Barton, K., Starmer, K.P.: Leaf size, specific leaf area and microhabitat distribution of chaparral woody plants: contrasting patterns in species level and community level analyses. - Oecologia 130: 449-457, 2002. Go to original source...
    2. Alcover, J.A., Perez-Obiol, R., Yll, E.-I., Bover, P.: The diet of Myotragus balearicus Bate 1909 (Artiodactyla: Caprinae), anextinct bovid from the Balearic Islands: evidence from coprolites. - Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 66: 57-74, 1999. Go to original source...
    3. Vile, D.E., Garnier, B. Shipley, G. Laurent, M.L., Navas, C. Roumet, S. Lavorel, S. Diaz, J.G., Hodgson, F. Lloret, G. F., Midgley, H. Poorter, M.C., Rutherford, P.J., Wilson, Wright. I.J.: Specific leaf area and dry matter content estimate thickness in laminar leaves. - Ann. Bot. 96: 1129-1136, 2005. Go to original source...
    4. Gratani, L., Varone, L.: Long-time variations in leaf mass and area of Mediterranean evergreen broad-leaf and narrow-leaf maquis species. - Photosynthetica 44: 161-168, 2006. Go to original source...
    5. Gulías, J., Flexas, J., Mus, M., Cifre, J., Lefi, E., Medrano, H: Relationship between maximum leaf photosynthesis, nitrogen content and specific leaf area in Balearic endemic and nonendemic Mediterranean species. - Ann. Bot. 92: 215-222, 2003. Go to original source...
    6. He, B.H., Hao, Y.Q., Li, X.G., Han, C.X., Chen, C.P., Zheng, G.C.: Community characteristics in Hongchiba area of Wuxi County during ecological restoration after controlled burning. - Chin. J. Appl. Ecol. 15: 1105-1108, 2004. [In Chin.]
    7. Lv, S.H., Li, X.K., Lu, S.H., Xiang, W.S., Qing, J.K., Ou, Z.L., Wang, X.Y.: The preliminary study on seedling and afforestation of native trees in karst region of Guangxi. - Guangxi Sci. 13: 236-240, 2006. [In Chin.]
    8. Lv, S.H., Lu, S.H., Xiang, W.S., Wang, X.Y., Qing, J.K.: Basic characters of soil seed bank and measures of vegetation restoration in rock desertification area in southwest of Guangxi. - J. Plant Resour. Environ. 16: 6-11, 2007. [In Chin.]
    9. Nath, S.: Ecosystem approach for rehabilitation of coal mine areas. - In: Sinha, I.N., Ghose, M.K. Singh, G. (ed.): Proc. Nat. Seminar on Environmental Engineering with Special Emphasis on Mining Environment. Pp.19-20. Calcutta 2004.
    10. Peñuelas, J., Filella, I., Llusià, J., Siscart, D., Piñol J.: Comparative field study of spring and summer leaf gas exchange and photobiology of the mediterranean trees Quercus ilex and Phillyrea latifolia. - J. Exp. Bot 49: 229-238, 1998. Go to original source...
    11. Richardson, D.M., Pysek, P., Rejmanek, M., Barbour, M.G., Panetta, F.D., West, C.J.: Naturalization and invasion of alien plants; concepts and definitions. - Divers. Distrib. 6: 93-107, 2000. Go to original source...
    12. Scholes, M.C., Nowicki, T.E.: Effects of pines on soil properties and processes. - In: Richardson, D.M. (ed.): Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus. Pp. 341-353. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 1998.
    13. Thomas, S.C., Winner, W.E.: Photosynthetic differences between saplings and adult trees: an integration of field results by meta-analysis. - Tree Physiol. 22: 817-817, 2002. Go to original source...
    14. Zhang, S.B., Hu, H., Xu, K., Li., Z.R.: Gas exchanges of three co-occurring species of Cypripedium in a scrubland in the Hengduan Mountains. - Photosynthetica 44: 241-247, 2006. Go to original source...
    15. Zheng, S.X., Shangguan, Z.P.: Spatial patterns of leaf nutrient traits of the plants in the Loess Plateau of China. - Trees-Struct. Funct. 21: 357-370, 2007.

    Return to the content