JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2017, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (04): 80-88.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201605021

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Effect of age, slope aspects and diameter classes on leaf functional traits of Pinus tabulaeformis in Songshan, Beijing

OU Xiaolan, LIU Yanhong*   

  1. College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conversation of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
  • Online:2017-08-18 Published:2017-08-18

Abstract: 【Objective】Determine characteristics of leaf functional traits that reflected the adaptability of plants.【Method】We measured five leaf functional traits of Pinus tabulaeformis, including specific leaf area(SLA), leaf dry matter content(LDMC), leaf nitrogen concentration(LNC), leaf phosphorus concentration(LPC)and N/P, respectively, across age, slope aspect and diameter class in natural and artificial forests in the Songshan Nature Reserve. 【Result】① The SLA from north-facing slopes was significantly greater than that from south-facing slopes(P< 0.05). The LDMC from north-facing slopes was significantly lower than that from south-facing slopes(P < 0.05). ② SLA was significantly negatively correlated with LDMC(P < 0.01), LPC was significantly negatively correlated with the N/P ratio(P< 0.01), and LNC was significantly positively correlated with LPC(current-year leaf, P < 0.05; perennial leaf, P < 0.01). ③ The SLA of the small class diameter was significantly higher than that of medium diameter and large diameter classes. Conversely, the LDMC of the large diameter class was higher than other that of other diameter classes. ④ In each diameter class, the LNP and N/P ratio of current-year needles were lower than those of perennial needles, but the LPC of current-year needles was higher than that of perennial needles.【Conclusion】Characteristics of functional leaf traits indicated that slope aspect was an important factor significantly affecting the resources and energy distribution strategy of leaves. Needles from north-facing slopes tended to use more resources on specific leaf area. However, needles from south-facing slopes tended to accumulate more dry matter. P. tabulaeformis, especially the new growing needles, were found to be limited by nitrogen in Songshan. The leaf functional traits of P. tabulaeformis were an embodiment of a trade-off strategy to minimize the impacts of negative environmental factors.

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