Leaf life span differs from retention time of biomass and nutrients in the crowns of evergreen species

Evergreen species of temperate regions are dominant in low-nutrient soils. This feature is attributed to more efficient mechanisms of nutrient economy. Nevertheless, the cashew (Anacardium occidentale- Anacardiaceae), a deciduous species, is native to regions in Brazil with sandy soil, whilst the annatto (Bixa orellana- Bixaceae), classified as an evergreen species native to tropical America, grows spontaneously in regions with more humid soils. Evergreens contain robust leaves that can resist adverse conditions for longer. The physical aspects of the leaves and mechanisms of nutrient economy between the two species were compared, in order to verify whether the deciduous species had more efficient mechanisms that might explain its occurrence in regions of low soil fertility. The mechanisms of nitrogen economy were also compared for the two species at available concentrations of this nutrient. The following were analysed: (i) leaf life span, (ii) physical leaf characteristics (leaf mass per area, and rupture strain), (iii) nitrogenous compounds (nitrogen, chlorophyll, and protein), (iv) nitrogen conservation mechanisms (nitrogen resorption efficiency, resorption proficiency, and use efficiency), and (v) nitrogen conservation mechanisms under different availability of this mineral. The higher values of leaf mass per area and leaf rupture strain found in A. occidentale were related to its longer leaf life span. A. occidentale showed lower concentrations of nitrogen and protein in the leaves than B. orellana. Under lower nitrogen availability, A. occidentale had higher nitrogen resorption proficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and leaf life span than B. orellana. These characteristics may contribute to the adaptation of this species to sandy soils with low nitrogen content.

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Global quantification of contrasting leaf life span strategies for deciduous and evergreen species in response to environmental conditions

Global Ecology and Biogeography ◽

10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00667.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 224-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

A. E. E. van Ommen Kloeke ◽

J. C. Douma ◽

J. C. Ordoñez ◽

P. B. Reich ◽

P. M. van Bodegom

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Evergreen Species

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Influence of shoot inclination on irradiance and morphophysiological leaf traits along shoots in cerrado trees with distinct leaf deciduousness

Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology ◽

10.1590/s1677-04202009000400004 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 281-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

João Paulo Souza ◽

Carlos Henrique B. A. Prado ◽

Maria A. Damascos ◽

Ana Lúcia S. Albino

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Net Photosynthesis ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

The Other ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Other Hand ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Shoot Base

This study investigated the relationship among shoot inclination, irradiance and morphophysiological traits of basal (BL) and distal (DL) leaves in six cerrado trees with distinct leaf deciduousness. Deciduous species showed plagiotropic shoots (44º) and larger leaf area than semideciduous and evergreen species, which showed orthotropic shoots (56º and 63º, respectively). Despite larger leaf area, irradiance at shoot base in deciduous was around 85% in relation to full irradiance, while in semideciduous and evergreen only 23% of irradiance reached on BL. Likewise, maximum net photosynthesis (Pnmax) was similar between BL and DL in deciduous. Contrastingly, semideciduous and evergreen showed significant decreasing of Pnmax in BL. Plagiotropic shoots of deciduous allow similar irradiance along shoots, resulting in similar Pnmax along shoot. On the other hand, orthotropic shoots of semideciduous and evergreen resulted in shading and decreasing of Pnmax on BL. However, considering BL and DL together, there was not significant difference of leaf-life-span or Pnmax among deciduous, semideciduous and evergreen. Therefore, shoot inclination and shading among leaves on same shoot should be significant influencing leaf morphophysiological traits along shoots in cerrado trees. On the other hand, similar leaf-life-span among phenological groups resulted in absence of Pnmax differences when BL and DL were considered together.

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Relationships between leaf life span, leaf mass per area, and leaf nitrogen cause different altitudinal changes in leaf δ13C between deciduous and evergreen species

Botany ◽

10.1139/b08-093 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (11) ◽

pp. 1233-1241 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

K. Takahashi ◽

Y. Miyajima

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Carbon Balance ◽

Stable Carbon Isotope ◽

Leaf Nitrogen ◽

Leaf Mass Per Area ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Deciduous Species ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Leaf Mass ◽

Assimilation Capacity

We examined the variability in stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) in leaves of two deciduous broad-leaved species and two evergreen conifer species along an altitudinal gradient in central Japan. The δ13C of the two deciduous species decreased with altitude, except near the upper distribution limit. The two evergreen species, however, showed no clear altitudinal trends for δ13C. The δ13C of the two deciduous species was positively correlated with leaf mass per area (LMA), indicating that the altitudinal variation in δ13C was controlled by LMA. Leaf nitrogen per mass (as a proxy of assimilation capacity, Nmass) was negatively correlated with LMA for the two deciduous species, while it was not correlated with LMA for the two evergreen species. Leaf life span of the two deciduous species decreased with altitude, whereas that of the two evergreen species increased. Thus, the two deciduous species had shorter-lived thinner leaves with higher Nmass at higher altitudes, and the two evergreen species had longer-lived leaves. These changes contribute to the positive carbon balance at higher altitudes. Therefore, the different changes in δ13C with altitude between the deciduous and evergreen species are ascribed to the different altitudinal changes in the leaf traits for carbon balance.

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Leaf life span and the leaf economic spectrum in the context of whole plant architecture

Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/1365-2745.12209 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 328-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Erika J. Edwards ◽

David S. Chatelet ◽

Lawren Sack ◽

Michael J. Donoghue

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Plant Architecture ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Leaf Economic Spectrum

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Leaf Traits of Trees in Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests of Peninsular India

Ecologies ◽

10.3390/ecologies2030015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 268-284

Author(s):

Muthulingam Udayakumar ◽

Thangavel Sekar

Keyword(s):

Negative Relationship ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Matter Content ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Leaf Life Span ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Plant Functional Trait

A plant functional trait study was conducted to know the existing relationship between important leaf traits namely, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf life span (LL) in tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEFs) of Peninsular India. Widely accepted methodologies were employed to record functional traits. The relationships between SLA and LDMC, LDMC and LL, and SLA and LL were measured. Pearson’s coefficient of correlation showed a significant negative relationship between SLA and LDMC, and SLA and LL, whereas a significant positive relationship was prevailed between LDMC and LL. The mean trait values (SLA, LDMC, and LL) of evergreens varied significantly from deciduous species. SLA had a closer relationship with LDMC than LL. Similarly, LL had a closer relationship with SLA than LDMC. Species with evergreen leaf habits dominated forest sites under study. Evergreen species dominate the study area with a high evergreen-deciduous ratio of 5.34:1. The S strategy score of trees indicated a relatively higher biomass allocation to persistent tissues. TDEFs occur in low elevation, semiarid environment, but with the combination of oligotrophic habitat, high temperature and longer dry season these forests were flourishing as a unique evergreen ecosystem in the drier environment. The relationships found between leaf traits were in concurrence with earlier findings. Trees of TDEFs survive on the poor-nutrient habitat with a low SLA, high LDMC, and LL. This study adds baseline data on key leaf traits to plant functional trait database of India.

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