Bedrock geology affects foliar nutrient status but has minor influence on leaf carbon isotope discrimination across altitudinal gradients

PloS One
Renato GerdolRita Tonin

Abstract

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) in plant leaves generally decreases with increasing altitude in mountains. Lower foliar Δ13C at high elevation usually is associated with higher leaf mass per area (LMA) in thicker leaves. However, it is unclear if lower foliar Δ13C in high-altitude plants is caused by improved photosynthetic capacity as an effect of higher nutrient, especially nitrogen, content in thicker leaves. We investigated trends of foliar Δ13C in four species, each belonging to a different plant functional type (PFT), across two altitudinal gradients, each on a different bedrock type (carbonate and silicate bedrock, respectively) in a region of the southern Alps (Italy) where the foliar Δ13C was not affected by water limitation. Our objective was to assess whether the altitudinal patterns of foliar Δ13C in relation to leaf morphology and foliar nutrients were conditioned by indirect control of bedrock geology on soil nutrient availability. The foliar Δ13C of the four species was mainly affected by LMA and, secondarily, by stomatal density (SD) but the relative importance of these foliar traits varied among species. Area-based nutrient contents had overall minor importance in controlling C discrimination. Relationship...Continue Reading

References

Dec 13, 2005·Chemosphere·Renato Gerdol, Luca Bragazza
Feb 13, 2008·The New Phytologist·Stuart Casson, Julie E Gray
May 13, 2009·The New Phytologist·Hendrik PoorterRafael Villar
Dec 25, 2012·Journal of Experimental Botany·Paul L DrakePeter J Franks
Aug 2, 2013·The New Phytologist·Lucas A CernusakGraham D Farquhar
Mar 13, 2016·Journal of Experimental Botany·Stefan TimmHermann Bauwe

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Citations

May 6, 2019·Global Change Biology·Gabriele MidoloCamilla Wellstein

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BETA
PCA

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Scion Image
DeltaPix
STATISTICA

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