Carbon and nitrogen isotope discrimination and nitrogen nutrition of trees along a rainfall gradient in northern Australia

被引:223
作者
Schulze, ED
Williams, RJ
Farquhar, GD
Schulze, W
Langridge, J
Miller, JM
Walker, BH
机构
[1] Max Planck Inst Biogeochem, D-07743 Jena, Germany
[2] CSIRO, Div Wildlife & Ecol, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia
[3] Australian Natl Univ, Res Sch Biol Sci, Environm Biol Grp, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
[4] Univ Tubingen, Inst Bot, D-72076 Tubingen, Germany
[5] CSIRO, Div Wildlife & Ecol, Lyneham, ACT 2601, Australia
来源
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 1998年 / 25卷 / 04期
关键词
carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios; nitrogen concentration; specific leaf area; drought; burning; grazing; plant functional types; Eucalyptus;
D O I
10.1071/PP97113
中图分类号
Q94 [植物学];
学科分类号
071001 ;
摘要
Carbon isotope discrimination (Delta) and nitrogen isotope ratios, N-concentrations and specific leaf area of 50 tree species were investigated along a continental-scale transect through northern Australia over which annual rainfall varied from 1800 mm to 216 mm rainfall. Average specific leaf area (SLA, m(2) kg(-1)) of leaves ranged from 10.7 +/- 1.7 (av. +/- s.d,) in N-2 fixing deciduous trees to 0.8 +/- 0.4 in spinescent sclerophylls shrubs. SLA generally decreased with increasing aridity, N-2 fixing species had higher leaf N concentration (average N-concentration 20.1 +/- 3.7 mgN g(-1)) than non- N-2 fixing (10.8 +/- 3.3) or spinescent species (7.05 +/- 1.8). Community-averaged Delta was approximately constant at rainfalls above 475 mm (average Delta = 19.4 +/- 1.2 parts per thousand). Where rainfall was less than 475 mm, Delta decreased from 19 parts per thousand to 17 parts per thousand at 220 mm, Delta was positively correlated with SLA. Delta of deciduous N-2 fixing species and spinescent species were 1 parts per thousand and 2.4 parts per thousand lower than in evergreen sclerophyllous species. Delta in the N-2 fixing Allocasuarina was 1.2 parts per thousand lower than in non- N-2 fixing sclerophyllous species. The delta(15)N-values indicated N-2 fixation only at high rainfall. Burning of the field layer in a Eucalyptus forest had no effect on all measured tree parameters including Delta(15)N, but Delta(15)N increased under grazing conditions to >5 parts per thousand. The constant value of community averaged Delta between 1800 and 450 mm may be the result of replacement of functional types and species. The decline in Delta in the more arid section may be a function of both low species diversity, and a highly aseasonal and unpredictable rainfall regime.
引用
收藏
页码:413 / 425
页数:13
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