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Leaf traits in dominant species from different secondary successional stages of deciduous forest on the L oess P lateau of northern C hina
Author(s) -
Chai Yongfu,
Liu Xiao,
Yue Ming,
Guo Jiangchao,
Wang Mao,
Wan Pengcheng,
Zhang Xiaofei,
Zhang Chenguang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
applied vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.096
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1654-109X
pISSN - 1402-2001
DOI - 10.1111/avsc.12123
Subject(s) - ecological succession , biology , specific leaf area , deciduous , secondary succession , primary succession , nutrient , ecology , photosynthetic capacity , loess plateau , trait , ecosystem , botany , photosynthesis , environmental science , computer science , soil science , programming language
Questions Are leaf traits related to plant growth efficiency different in different stages of forest succession on the L oess P lateau of northern S haanxi, C hina? How do plant ecological strategies change with the progress of forest succession? Can a combination of some key leaf traits across species discriminate successional stages? Location Loess Plateau region of northern Shaanxi, China. Methods A set of 31 plots was established in the study area. Twenty‐two traits were measured in 31 dominant species representative of six succession stages: three pertaining to morphology, nine to stoichiometry and ten to physiological ecology. Six traits related to photosynthesis were measured in 15 species. Results Eleven of 22 leaf traits differed significantly along the succession gradient. Early succession species had leaves with higher specific leaf area ( SLA ), higher leaf phosphorus ( P ) content ( LPC ) and lower N/P ratio, which assured higher growth rates and resource acquisition. Species from more advanced stages had a higher leaf dry mass content ( LDMC ), leaf carbon ( C ) content ( LCC ), leaf construction cost ( CC ) and C/P ratio, indicating improved competiveness through efficient nutrient conservation. None of the traits related to photosynthesis differed significantly among successional stages. Differences between traits among life forms also revealed that changes in traits with succession were due to the turnover of life forms in dominant species along the succession gradient. Conclusions The results provide clear evidence of functional links between leaf traits and forest succession in the Loess Plateau ecosystem, confirming trait‐based trade‐off of nutrient acquisition vs conservation during succession. We recommend using a combination of seven key leaf traits across species to discriminate between the succession stages.