Leaf nitrogen allocation and partitioning in three groundwater-dependent herbaceous species in a hyper-arid desert region of north-western China
Jun-Tao Zhu A B C D E , Xiang-Yi Li A B C F , Xi-Ming Zhang A B C , Qiang Yu D E and Li-Sha Lin A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
B State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Urumqi 830011, China.
C Cele National Station of Observation & Research for Desert-grass Land Ecosystem in Xinjiang, Cele 848300, China.
D Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
E Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101,China.
F Corresponding author. Email: lixy@ms.xjb.ac.cn
Australian Journal of Botany 60(1) 61-67 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT11181
Submitted: 7 July 2011 Accepted: 22 December 2011 Published: 28 February 2012
Abstract
Groundwater-dependent vegetation (GDV) is useful as an indicator of watertable depth and water availability in north-western China. Nitrogen (N) is an essential limiting resource for growth of GDV. To elucidate how leaf N allocation and partitioning influence photosynthesis and photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE), three typical GDV species were selected, and their photosynthesis, leaf N allocation and partitioning were investigated in the Taklamakan Desert. The results showed that Karelinia caspica (Pall.) Less. and Peganum harmala L. had lower leaf N content, and allocated a lower fraction of leaf N to photosynthesis. However, they were more efficient in photosynthetic N partitioning among photosynthetic components. They partitioned a higher fraction of the photosynthetic N to carboxylation and showed higher PNUE, whereas Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. partitioned a higher fraction of the photosynthetic N to light-harvesting components. For K. caspica and P. harmala, the higher fraction of leaf N was allocated to carboxylation and bioenergetics, which led to a higher maximum net photosynthetic rate, and therefore to a higher PNUE, water-use efficiency (WUE), respiration efficiency (RE) and so on. In the desert, N and water are limiting resources; K. caspica and P. harmala can benefit from the increased PNUE and WUE. These physiological advantages and their higher leaf-area ratio (LAR) may contribute to their higher resource-capture ability.
References
Aerts R (1996) Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of perennials: are there general patterns? Journal of Ecology 84, 597–608.| Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of perennials: are there general patterns?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruelheide H, Jandt U, Gries D, Thomas FM, Foetzki A, Buerkert A, Wang G, Zhang XM, Runge M (2003) Vegetation changes in a river oasis on the southern rim of the Taklamakan Desert in China between 1956 and 2000. Phytocoenologia 33, 801–818.
| Vegetation changes in a river oasis on the southern rim of the Taklamakan Desert in China between 1956 and 2000.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burns AE, Gleadow RM, Woodrow IE (2002) Light alters the allocation of nitrogen to cyanogenic glycosides in Eucalyptus cladocalyx. Oecologia 133, 288–294.
| Light alters the allocation of nitrogen to cyanogenic glycosides in Eucalyptus cladocalyx.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eamus D, Froend R, Loomes R, Hose G, Murray B (2006) A functional methodology for determining the groundwater regime needed to maintain the health of groundwater-dependent vegetation. Australian Journal of Botany 54, 97–114.
| A functional methodology for determining the groundwater regime needed to maintain the health of groundwater-dependent vegetation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Erley GSA, Wijaya KA, Ulas A (2007) Leaf senescence and N uptake parameters as selection traits for nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape cultivars. Physiologia Plantarum 130, 519–531.
| Leaf senescence and N uptake parameters as selection traits for nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape cultivars.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Evans JR (1989) Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants. Oecologia 78, 9–19.
| Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ewe SML, Sternberg LSL (2003) Seasonal exchange characteristics of Schinus terebinthifolius in a native and disturbed upland community in Everglade National Park, Florida. Forest Ecology and Management 179, 27–36.
Farquhar GD, Sharkey TD (1982) Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Biology 11, 191–210.
Feng YL (2008) Nitrogen allocation and partitioning in invasive and native Eupatorium species. Physiologia Plantarum 132, 350–358.
| Nitrogen allocation and partitioning in invasive and native Eupatorium species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXjtlKmu7o%3D&md5=e85464695d400887e148a6d76809f717CAS |
Feng YL, Wang JF, Sang WG (2007) Biomass allocation, morphology and photosynthesis of invasive and noninvasive exotic species grown at four irradiance levels. Acta Oecologica 31, 40–47.
| Biomass allocation, morphology and photosynthesis of invasive and noninvasive exotic species grown at four irradiance levels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goodger JQD, Gleadow RM, Woodrow IE (2006) Growth cost and ontogenetic expression patterns of defence in cyanogenic Eucalyptus spp. Trees. Structure and Function 20, 757–765.
| Growth cost and ontogenetic expression patterns of defence in cyanogenic Eucalyptus spp.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutierrez JR, Whitford WG (1987) Chihuahuan desert annuals: importance of water and nitrogen. Ecology 68, 2032–2045.
| Chihuahuan desert annuals: importance of water and nitrogen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hikosaka K, Terashima I (1995) A model of the acclimation of photosynthesis in the leaves of C3 plants to sun and shade with respect to nitrogen use. Plant, Cell & Environment 18, 605–618.
| A model of the acclimation of photosynthesis in the leaves of C3 plants to sun and shade with respect to nitrogen use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXmvFKks78%3D&md5=e3f904a9add06b5cab2f853b89cc02faCAS |
Hikosaka K, Hanba YT, Hirose T, Terashima I (1998) Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in leaves of woody and herbaceous species. Functional Ecology 12, 896–905.
| Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in leaves of woody and herbaceous species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kazda M, Salzer J, Reiter I (2000) Photosynthetic capacity in relation to nitrogen in the canopy of a Quercus robur, Fraxinus angustifolia and Tilia cordata flood plain forest. Tree Physiology 20, 2029–2037.
Killingbeck KT, Whitford WG (1996) High foliar nitrogen in desert shrubs: an important ecosystem trait or defective desert doctrine. Ecology 77, 1728–1737.
| High foliar nitrogen in desert shrubs: an important ecosystem trait or defective desert doctrine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambers H, Poorter H (1992) Inherent variation in growth rate between higher plants: a search for physiological causes and ecological consequences. Advances in Ecological Research 23, 187–261.
| Inherent variation in growth rate between higher plants: a search for physiological causes and ecological consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXksVGiu7w%3D&md5=b0b57c79a98627d792c1b019899b9d50CAS |
Lichtenthaler HK, Wellburn AR (1983) Determination of total carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents. Biochemical Society Transactions 603, 591–592.
Li YL, Mao W, Zhao XY, Zhang TH (2010) Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in typical desert and desertified regions, north China. Environmental Sciences 31, 1716–1725.
Loomis RS (1997) Commentary on the utility of nitrogen in leaves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 94, 13 378–13 379.
| Commentary on the utility of nitrogen in leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXotVamtLs%3D&md5=828be5301343746bcc72e1b8b70b64bdCAS |
Loustau D, Beahim M, Gaudillère JP, Dreyer E (1999) Photosynthetic responses to phosphorous nutrition in two-year-old maritime pine seedlings. Tree Physiology 19, 707–715.
McDowell SCL (2002) Photosynthetic characteristics of invasive and noninvasive species of Rubus (Rosaceae). American Journal of Botany 89, 1431–1438.
Niinemets Ü, Tenhunen JD (1997) A model separating leaf structural and physiological effects on carbon gain along light gradients for the shade-tolerant species Acer saccharum. Plant, Cell & Environment 20, 845–866.
| A model separating leaf structural and physiological effects on carbon gain along light gradients for the shade-tolerant species Acer saccharum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niinemets Ü, Valladares F, Ceulemans R (2003) Leaf-level phenotypic variability and plasticity of invasive Rhododendron ponticum and non-invasive Ilex aquifolium co-occurring at two contrasting European sites. Plant, Cell & Environment 26, 941–956.
| Leaf-level phenotypic variability and plasticity of invasive Rhododendron ponticum and non-invasive Ilex aquifolium co-occurring at two contrasting European sites.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Noy-Meir I (1973) Desert ecosystems, environment and producers. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 4, 25–51.
| Desert ecosystems, environment and producers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Onoda Y, Hikosaka K, Hirose T (2004) Allocation of nitrogen to cell walls decreases photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency. Functional Ecology 18, 419–425.
| Allocation of nitrogen to cell walls decreases photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pattison RR, Goldstein G, Ares A (1998) Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of invasive and native Hawaiian rain-forest species. Oecologia 117, 449–459.
| Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of invasive and native Hawaiian rain-forest species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poorter H, Evans JR (1998) Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area. Oecologia 116, 26–37.
| Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schieving F, Poorter H (1999) Carbon gain in a multispecies canopy: the role of specific leaf area and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in the tragedy of the commons. New Phytologist 143, 201–211.
| Carbon gain in a multispecies canopy: the role of specific leaf area and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in the tragedy of the commons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shipley B (2006) Net assimilation rate, specific leaf area and leaf mass ratio: which is most closely correlated with relative growth rate? A meta-analysis. Functional Ecology 20, 565–574.
| Net assimilation rate, specific leaf area and leaf mass ratio: which is most closely correlated with relative growth rate? A meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skujins J (1981) Nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. In ‘Terrestrial nitrogen cycles . Ecological Bulletin’. (Eds FE Clark, T Roswall T) pp. 477–491. (Stockholm)
Sobrado MA (1991) Cost-benefit relationships in deciduous and evergreen leaves of tropical dry forest species. Functional Ecology 5, 608–616.
| Cost-benefit relationships in deciduous and evergreen leaves of tropical dry forest species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Takashima T, Hikosaka K, Hirose T (2004) Photosynthesis or persistence: nitrogen allocation in leaves of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species. Plant, Cell & Environment 27, 1047–1054.
| Photosynthesis or persistence: nitrogen allocation in leaves of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXnt1Kks7o%3D&md5=35dd97c40b6c6ed31b9380cd423472cdCAS |
Thomas FM, Arndt SK, Bruelheide H (2000) Ecological basis for a sustainable management of the indigenous vegetation in a central-Asian desert: presentation and first results. Journal of Applied Botany 74, 212–219.
Warren CR, Dreyer E, Tausz M, Adams MA (2006) Ecotype adaptation and acclimation of leaf traits to rainfall in 29 species of 16-year-old Eucalyptus at two common gardens. Functional Ecology 20, 929–940.
| Ecotype adaptation and acclimation of leaf traits to rainfall in 29 species of 16-year-old Eucalyptus at two common gardens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xia XC, Li CS, Zhou XJ, Zhang HN, Huang PZ, Pan BR (1993) ‘Desertification and control of blown sand disasters in Xinjiang.’ (Science Press: Beijing)
Zhu Y, Ren L, Skaggs T, Lu H, Yu Z, Wu Y, Fang X (2009) Simulation of Populus euphratica root uptake of groundwater in an arid woodland of the Ejina Basin, China. Hydrological Processes 23, 2460–2469.
| Simulation of Populus euphratica root uptake of groundwater in an arid woodland of the Ejina Basin, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
