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Foliar nutrient concentrations and resorption efficiency in plants of contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies along a 2‐million‐year dune chronosequence
Author(s) -
Hayes Patrick,
Turner Benjamin L.,
Lambers Hans,
Laliberté Etienne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2745.12196
Subject(s) - chronosequence , nutrient , soil water , pedogenesis , phosphorus , agronomy , resorption , biology , botany , zoology , ecology , chemistry , endocrinology , organic chemistry
Summary Long‐term pedogenesis leads to important changes in the availability of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen ( N ) and phosphorus ( P ). Changes in the availability of micronutrients can also occur, but are less well understood. We explored whether changes in leaf nutrient concentrations and resorption were consistent with a shift from N to P limitation of plant productivity with soil age along a > 2‐million‐year dune chronosequence in south‐western Australia. We also compared these traits among plants of contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies, focusing on N , P and micronutrients. The range in leaf [ P ] for individual species along the chronosequence was exceptionally large for both green (103–3000 μg P g −1 ) and senesced (19–5600 μg P g −1 ) leaves, almost equalling that found globally. From the youngest to the oldest soil, cover‐weighted mean leaf [ P ] declined from 1840 to 228 μg P g −1 , while P ‐resorption efficiency increased from 0% to 79%. All species converged towards a highly conservative P ‐use strategy on the oldest soils. Declines in cover‐weighted mean leaf [ N ] with soil age were less strong than for leaf [ P ], ranging from 13.4 mg N g −1 on the youngest soil to 9.5 mg N g −1 on the oldest soil. However, mean leaf N ‐resorption efficiency was greatest (45%) on the youngest, N ‐poor soils. Leaf N : P ratio increased from 8 on the youngest soil to 42 on the oldest soil. Leaf zinc ( Z n) concentrations were low across all chronosequence stages, but mean Z n‐resorption efficiency was greatest (55–74%) on the youngest calcareous dunes, reflecting low Z n availability at high p H . N 2 ‐fixing species had high leaf [ N ] compared with other species. Non‐mycorrhizal species had very low leaf [ P ] and accumulated M n across all soils. We surmise that this reflects M n solubilization by organic acids released for P acquisition. Synthesis . Our results show community‐wide variation in leaf nutrient concentrations and resorption that is consistent with a shift from N to P limitation during long‐term ecosystem development. High Z n resorption on young calcareous dunes supports the possibility of micronutrient co‐limitation. High leaf [ M n] on older dunes suggests the importance of carboxylate release for P acquisition. Our results show a strong effect of soil nutrient availability on nutrient‐use efficiency and reveal considerable differences among plants of contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies.