Leaf traits in dominant species from different secondary successional stages of deciduous forest on the Loess Plateau of northern China

Abstract

Questions Are leaf traits related to plant growth efficiency different in different stages of forest succession on the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, China? How do plant ecological strategies change with the progress of forest succession? Can a combination of some key leaf traits across species discriminate successional stages? Location Loess Plateau region of northern Shaanxi, China. Methods A set of 31 plots was established in the study area. Twenty‐two traits were measured in 31 dominant species representative of six succession stages: three pertaining to morphology, nine to stoichiometry and ten to physiological ecology. Six traits related to photosynthesis were measured in 15 species. Results Eleven of 22 leaf traits differed significantly along the succession gradient. Early succession species had leaves with higher specific leaf area (SLA), higher leaf phosphorus (P) content (LPC) and lower N/P ratio, which assured higher growth rates and resource acquisition. Species from more advanced stages had a higher leaf dry mass content (LDMC), leaf carbon (C) content (LCC), leaf construction cost (CC) and C/P ratio, indicating improved competiveness through efficient nutrient conservation. None of the traits related to photosynthesis differed significantly among successional stages. Differences between traits among life forms also revealed that changes in traits with succession were due to the turnover of life forms in dominant species along the succession gradient. Conclusions The results provide clear evidence of functional links between leaf traits and forest succession in the Loess Plateau ecosystem, confirming trait‐based trade‐off of nutrient acquisition vs conservation during succession. We recommend using a combination of seven key leaf traits across species to discriminate between the succession stages.

Successional leaf traits of monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, Southwest China

“…However, in the present study Nmass:Pmass increased with succession, which is in agreement with a previous study (Chai et al 2015). Two theories could explain this phenomenon.…”

“…This pattern is consistent with the shift of species along the leaf economics spectrum, as documented in other primary (Caccianiga et al 2006) and secondary successional series (Chai et al 2015, Navas et al 2010, Reich 1995. SLA is one of the most widely accepted key leaf traits (Hoffmann et al 2005, Kraft et al 2008 and is strongly linked to relative growth rate and resource use in plants (Vendramini et al 2002).…”

The role of intraspecific trait variability and soil properties in community assembly during forest secondary succession

“…1). All community fragments in the presentday landscape were classified according to their successional age, with the help of local chronicles and previous surveys (Zhu 1993, Chai et al 2015, and were assigned to one of six successional stages (Fig. Large areas of these communities are now at different stages of forest succession (Zhu 1993;Fig.…”

“…The distance between any two plots at the same stage was more than 1 km to include different community types and avoid spatial autocorrelation in variables and pseudo-replications (Conti and D ıaz 2013). S1-S6 represent 1-4, 4-8, 8-15, 15-50, 50-100, and 100-150 yr after abandonment, respectively. ensured that all the plots had the same agricultural history and are now on a similar trajectory toward climax forest under natural conditions (Chai et al 2015). S1-S6 represent 1-4, 4-8, 8-15, 15-50, 50-100, and 100-150 yr after abandonment, respectively. ensured that all the plots had the same agricultural history and are now on a similar trajectory toward climax forest under natural conditions (Chai et al 2015).…”

Patterns of taxonomic, phylogenetic diversity during a long-term succession of forest on the Loess Plateau, China: insights into assembly process

“…The climate is a semi-arid temperate continental monsoon climate53. Changes in climate and anthropogenic interference led to the degradation of natural vegetations and wide areas of vegetations begin to be restored after conservation54. In this region, conservation and restoration of vegetation are acquiring notable importance due to land degradation.…”