Chunyang Li, Xuejiang Zhang, Xingliang Liu, Olavi Luukkanen, Frank Berninger. (2006). Leaf morphological and physiological responses of Quercus aquifolioides along an altitudinal gradient. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 1 article id 348. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.348

Keywords: carbon isotope composition; leaf nitrogen content; specific leaf area; stomata

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Quercus aquifolioides Rehder & E.H. Wilson, an evergreen alpine and subalpine shrub species, occupies a wide range of habitats on the eastern slopes of the Himalaya in China. In this study, we measured leaf morphology, nitrogen content and carbon isotope composition (as an indicator of water use efficiency) of Q. aquifolioides along an altitudinal gradient. We found that these leaf morphological and physiological responses to altitudinal gradients were non-linear with increasing altitude. Specific leaf area, stomatal length and index increased with increasing altitude below 2800 m, but decreased with increasing altitude above 2800 m. In contrast, leaf nitrogen content per unit area and carbon isotope composition showed opposite change patterns. Specific leaf area seemed to be the most important parameter that determined the carbon isotope composition along the altitudinal gradient. Our results suggest that near 2800 m in altitude could be the optimum zone for growth and development of Q. aquifolioides, and highlight the importance of the influence of altitude in research on plant physiological ecology.

Li, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China E-mail: licy@cib.ac.cn
Zhang, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China; Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, P.R. China E-mail: xz@nn.cn
Liu, Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu 610081, P. R. China E-mail: xl@nn.cn
Luukkanen, Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland E-mail: ol@nn.fi
Berninger, Département des sciences biologiques, Cp 8888 succ centre ville, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (QC) H3C 3P8, Canada E-mail: fb@nn.ca

Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.

If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.

Contents alert

Your selected articles
Send to email

Püttsepp Ü., Lõhmus K. et al. (2007) Decomposition of fine roots and α-cellulose in a.. Silva Fennica vol. 41 no. 2 article id 294 (remove) | Edit comment

Zhang G., Zeng G.-m. et al. (2006) Seasonal dry deposition and canopy leaching of b.. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 3 article id 327 (remove) | Edit comment

Kellomäki S., Oker-Blom P. (1981) Specific needle area of Scots pine and its depen.. Silva Fennica vol. 15 no. 2 article id 5116 (remove) | Edit comment

Jalava M., (1934) Influence of the position of a tree in the stand.. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 40 no. 9 article id 7286 (remove) | Edit comment

Jarva M., Tervahauta A. (1989) A comparison of sulphur analysis of conifer need.. Silva Fennica vol. 23 no. 2 article id 5377 (remove) | Edit comment

Kangas A., Maltamo M. (2000) Percentile based basal area diameter distributio.. Silva Fennica vol. 34 no. 4 article id 619 (remove) | Edit comment

Frey J., Schindler Z. et al. (2025) The 3D reconstruction of wood and leaves from te.. Silva Fennica vol. 59 no. 1 article id 24027 (remove) | Edit comment

Follow @SilvaFennica