Substantial nutrient resorption from leaves, stems and roots in a subarctic flora: what is the link with other resource economics traits?

*Nutrient resorption and leaching resistance, through their roles in reducing nutrient losses, are important determinants of plant nutrient economy. However, the contributions of fine-stem and fine-root resorption, as well as leaf leaching resistance, have largely been overlooked. *We quantified the relative contributions of these processes to nutrient depletion of these organs during their senescence using 40 subarctic vascular species from aquatic, riparian and terrestrial environments. We hypothesized that interspecific variation in organ nutrient resorption and leaf leaching would be linked to the species' nutrient acquisitive-conservative strategies, as quantified for a set of common-organ nutrient/carbon economics traits. *The subarctic flora generally had both high resistance to leaching and high internal nutrient recycling. Average nutrient resorption efficiencies were substantial for leaves (nitrogen (N), 66 +/- 3% SE; phosphorus (P), 63 +/- 4%), fine stems (N, 48 +/- 4%; P, 56 +/- 4%) and fine roots (N, 27 +/- 7%; P, 57 +/- 6%). The link between nutrient resorption and other nutrient/carbon economics traits was very weak across species, for all three organs. *These results emphasize the potential importance of resorption processes for the plant nutrient budget. They also highlight the idiosyncrasies of the relationship between resorption processes and plant economics, which is potentially influenced by several plant physiological and structural adaptations to environmental factors other than nutrient stress.

[1]  J. Cornelissen,et al.  Evidence of the ‘plant economics spectrum’ in a subarctic flora , 2010 .

[2]  Han Y. H. Chen,et al.  Global‐scale patterns of nutrient resorption associated with latitude, temperature and precipitation , 2009 .

[3]  R. Mitchell,et al.  Endogenous and exogenous controls of root life span, mortality and nitrogen flux in a longleaf pine forest: root branch order predominates , 2008 .

[4]  J. Cornelissen,et al.  Foliar pH as a new plant trait: can it explain variation in foliar chemistry and carbon cycling processes among subarctic plant species and types? , 2006, Oecologia.

[5]  Christopher A. Lepczyk,et al.  RESORPTION EFFICIENCY DECREASES WITH INCREASING GREEN LEAF NUTRIENTS IN A GLOBAL DATA SET , 2005 .

[6]  P. Castro-Díez,et al.  Relationships between phenology and the remobilization of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in branches of eight Mediterranean evergreens. , 2005, The New phytologist.

[7]  J. Cornelissen,et al.  Are growth forms consistent predictors of leaf litter quality and decomposability across peatlands along a latitudinal gradient? , 2005 .

[8]  L. M. V. Heerwaarden,et al.  From Leaf to Litter: Nutrient resorption in a changing environment , 2004 .

[9]  J. P. Grime,et al.  The plant traits that drive ecosystems: Evidence from three continents , 2004 .

[10]  Sean C. Thomas,et al.  The worldwide leaf economics spectrum , 2004, Nature.

[11]  R. Norby,et al.  Nitrogen resorption in senescing tree leaves in a warmer, CO2-enriched atmosephere , 2000, Plant and Soil.

[12]  A. Escudero,et al.  Effects of leaf longevity and retranslocation efficiency on the retention time of nutrients in the leaf biomass of different woody species , 1992, Oecologia.

[13]  R. Aerts.  Nutrient use efficiency in evergreen and deciduous species from heathlands , 1990, Oecologia.

[14]  D. Tilman,et al.  Little bluestem litter dynamics in Minnesota old fields , 1987, Oecologia.

[15]  R. Simpson,et al.  Nitrogen redistribution during grain growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) , 1980, Planta.

[16]  Terry V. Callaghan,et al.  DECOMPOSITION OF SUB‐ARCTIC PLANTS WITH DIFFERING NITROGEN ECONOMIES: A FUNCTIONAL ROLE FOR HEMIPARASITES , 2003 .

[17]  P. Reich,et al.  A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide , 2003 .

[18]  R. Aerts,et al.  Current measures of nutrient resorption efficiency lead to a substantial underestimation of real resorption efficiency: facts and solutions. , 2003 .

[19]  S. Sjögersten,et al.  Climatic and resource quality controls on soil respiration across a forest–tundra ecotone in Swedish Lapland , 2002 .

[20]  F. Chapin,et al.  Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology , 2002, Springer New York.

[21]  Ian J. Wright,et al.  Relationships between leaf lifespan and structural defences in a low-nutrient, sclerophyll flora , 2001 .

[22]  B. McCown,et al.  Physiological significance of anthocyanins during autumnal leaf senescence. , 2001, Tree physiology.

[23]  E. Nambiar,et al.  Foliar nutrient retranslocation in Eucalyptus globulus. , 2000, Tree physiology.

[24]  R. B. Jackson,et al.  Global patterns of root turnover for terrestrial ecosystems , 2000 .

[25]  Robert B. Jackson,et al.  Nutrient concentrations in fine roots. , 2000 .

[26]  N. Marbà,et al.  Leaf nutrient resorption, leaf lifespan and the retention of nutrients in seagrass systems , 1999 .

[27]  F. S. Chapin,et al.  The Mineral Nutrition of Wild Plants Revisited: A Re-evaluation of Processes and Patterns , 1999 .

[28]  R. Aerts.  Interspecific competition in natural plant communities: mechanisms, trade-offs and plant-soil feedbacks , 1999 .

[29]  Hans Lambers,et al.  Plant Physiological Ecology , 1998, Springer New York.

[30]  John R. Evans,et al.  Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area , 1998, Oecologia.

[31]  P. Reich,et al.  From tropics to tundra: global convergence in plant functioning. , 1997, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[32]  Peter Ryser,et al.  The importance of tissue density for growth and life span of leaves and roots: a comparison of five ecologically contrasting grasses , 1996 .

[33]  W. Koerselman,et al.  The vegetation N:P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation , 1996 .

[34]  Roderick Hunt,et al.  Seedling growth, allocation and leaf attributes in a wide range of woody plant species and types , 1996 .

[35]  K. Killingbeck.  Nutrients in Senesced Leaves: Keys to the Search for Potential Resorption and Resorption Proficiency , 1996 .

[36]  R. Aerts.  Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of perennials: are there general patterns? , 1996 .

[37]  P. Reich,et al.  Leaf carbon and nutrient assimilation and conservation in species of differing successional status in an oligotrophic Amazonian forest , 1995 .

[38]  R. Boerner,et al.  Drought and site fertility effects on foliar nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and nutrient resorption by the forest understory shrub Viburnum acerifolium L. , 1994 .

[39]  P. Reich,et al.  Leaf Life‐Span in Relation to Leaf, Plant, and Stand Characteristics among Diverse Ecosystems , 1992 .

[40]  C. Bakker,et al.  Root turnover as determinant of the cycling of C, N, and P in a dry heathland ecosystem , 1992 .

[41]  E. K. Sadanandan Nambiar,et al.  Nutrient retranslocation in temperate conifers. , 1991, Tree physiology.

[42]  F. Chapin,et al.  Nutritional Controls Over Nitrogen and Phosphorus Resorption From Alaskan Birch Leaves , 1991 .

[43]  Robert W. Howarth,et al.  Nitrogen limitation on land and in the sea: How can it occur? , 1991 .

[44]  R. Aerts,et al.  Aboveground productivity and nutrient turnover of Molinia caerulea along an experimental gradient of nutrient availability , 1989 .

[45]  R. Aerts,et al.  Nitrogen-use efficiency : a biologically meaningful definition? , 1987 .

[46]  E. Nambiar.  Do nutrients retranslocate from fine roots , 1987 .

[47]  Keith T. Killingbeck,et al.  The terminological jungle revisited: making a case for use of the term resorption , 1986 .

[48]  D. Cole,et al.  Below‐ and Aboveground N and P Use by Abies amabilis Stands , 1985 .

[49]  F. Stuart Chapin,et al.  Seasonal Changes in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fractions and Autumn Retranslocation in Evergreen and Deciduous Taiga Trees , 1983 .

[50]  J. Aber,et al.  The Role of Fine Roots in the Organic Matter and Nitrogen Budgets of Two Forested Ecosystems , 1982 .

[51]  G. Stanhill.  Book reviewTerrestrial nitrogen cycles: F.E. Clark and T. Rosswall (Editors), Ecological Bulletins 33, NFR (Swedish National Research Council), Stockholm, 1981, 714 pp., US $56.00, ISBN 91-546-0290-4 , 1982 .

[52]  F. S. Chapin,et al.  The Mineral Nutrition of Wild Plants , 1980 .

[53]  F. S. Chapin,et al.  Response to fertilization by various plant growth forms in an Alaskan tundra: nutrient accumulation and growth , 1980 .

[54]  J. P. Grime,et al.  Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes. , 1980 .

[55]  A. Morton.  MINERAL NUTRIENT PATHWAYS IN A MOLINIETUM IN AUTUMN AND WINTER , 1977 .

[56]  Jr H B Tukey,et al.  The Leaching of Substances from Plants , 1970 .

[57]  H. B. Jr. Tukey,et al.  Leaching of Metabolites from Above-Ground Plant Parts and Its Implications , 1966 .

[58]  H. Tukey,et al.  Characterization of Leachate from Plant Foliage. , 1964, Plant physiology.

[59]  J. P. Riley,et al.  A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters , 1962 .