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Leaf trait plasticity in six forest tree species of central Amazonia

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Tropical rainforest trees adjust leaf traits during ontogeny to cope with changes in the physical environment and maximize their carbon uptake. The aim of this study was to determine the plasticity index (PI) of leaf traits in understory and canopy leaves of six Amazonian tree species. In four of the six species the PI of leaf traits varied within species, and in four of the ten leaf traits assessed, the PI differed between species. The greatest PI values were found for stomatal density (Ds) and CO2-saturated photosynthesis, and the lowest ones were found for stomatal size, and leaf thickness. Despite the differences in PI values within species, the mean PI was similar in all the six species. As the saplings grow toward the canopy, the strategy to increase carbon uptake involves increasing Ds and leaf nitrogen and reducing stomatal size.

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Abbreviations

Ds :

stomatal density

E :

transpiration

g s :

stomatal conductance

Nleaf :

leaf nitrogen

NUE:

nitrogen-use efficiency

PI :

plasticity index

P Nmax :

light-saturated net photosynthetic rate

P Npot :

light and CO2-saturated net photosynthetic rate

SLM:

specific leaf mass

Ss :

stomatal size

Tleaf :

fresh leaf thickness

WUE:

water-use efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coordination of Environmental Dynamic, National Institute for Research in the Amazon (INPA), Avenida André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    R. A. Marenco

  2. INPA’s Botany Graduate Program, Avenida André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    M. A. B. Camargo, S. A. Antezana-Vera & M. F. Oliveira

Authors
  1. R. A. Marenco
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  2. M. A. B. Camargo
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  3. S. A. Antezana-Vera
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  4. M. F. Oliveira
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Correspondence to R. A. Marenco.

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Acknowledgements: We thank to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication and to the Research Foundation for the State of the Amazon (FAPEAM; grant number: UA 6203164-20.12) for financial support, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for scholarships. We are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers and the Associate Editor for the important comments and suggestions.

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Marenco, R.A., Camargo, M.A.B., Antezana-Vera, S.A. et al. Leaf trait plasticity in six forest tree species of central Amazonia. Photosynthetica 55, 679–688 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0703-6

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