Abstract
Samples of the Clusiaceae generaClusia, Oedematopus andDystovomita were collected at various sites and different altitudes in northern and south-western Venezuela. Analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and hydrogen and of leaf-nitrogen levels were performed on the dried samples. Correlations among these variables, i.e. carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), hydrogen isotope ratio (δD) and N-levels, and with altitude were assessed. In the samples, where values of Δ above 15‰ indicate predominant performance of C3 photosynthesis, there were slight tendencies of increasing Δ, δD and N-levels with increasing altitude and of increasing Δ with increasing N. Although these correlations taken separately were not statistically significant, they support each other and indicate increasing transpiration and increased leaf-nutrient supply at increasing altitude. Performance of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in species ofClusia appears to be restricted to altitudes below 1500 m a.s.l. There was a significant negative correlation of Δ with altitude in the samples, where values of Δ below 10‰ indicated predominant performance of CAM. This suggests that phases II and IV of CAM are progressively suppressed towards the upper altitudinal limit of CAM inClusia in northern Venezuela. It is concluded that among the large number of environmental factors and combinations thereof, which determine the expression of CAM inClusia and trigger C3-CAM transitions in C3/CAM intermediate species, low availability of water is the most important.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arroyo MK, Medina E, Ziegler H (1990) Distribution and δ13C values of Portulacaceae species of the high Andes in northern Chile. Bot Acta 103: 291–295
Ball E, Hann J, Kluge M, Lee HSJ, Lüttge U, Orthen B, Popp M, Schmitt A, Ting IP (1991) Ecophysiological comportment of the tropical CAM-treeClusia in the field I. Growth ofClusia rosea Jacq. on St. John, US Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles. New Phytol 117: 473–481
Borland AM, Griffiths H, Maxwell C, Broadmeadow MSJ, Griffiths NM, Barnes JD (1992) On the ecophysiology of the Clusiaceae in Trinidad: expression of CAM inClusia minor L. during the transition from wet to dry season and characterization of the endemic species. New Phytol 122: 349–357
Borland AM, Griffiths H, Broadmeadow MSJ, Fordham MC, Maxwell C (1994) Carbon-isotope composition of biochemical fractions and the regulation of carbon balance in leaves of the C3-Crassulacean acid metabolism intermediateClusia minor L. growing in Trinidad. Plant Physiol 106: 493–501
D'Arcy WG (1981) Flora of Panama, Guttiferae, Ann Missouri Bot Garden 67: 969–1005
Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Phys Plant Mol Biol 40: 503–537
Franco AC, Olivares E, Ball E, Lüttge U, Haag-Kerwer A (1994) In situ studies of Crassulacean acid metabolism in several sympatric species of tropical trees of the genusClusia. New Phytol 126: 203–211
Hartenburg W (1937) Der Wasser-und Kohlensäurehaushalt tropischer Regenwaldpflanzen in sommerlicher Gewächshauskultur. Jahrb Wiss Bot 85: 641–697
Herzog B (1994) Der Einfluß der Wasserdampfdruck-Differenz (VPD) zwischen dem Blattinneren und der Atmosphäre auf die C3/CAM Umstellung beiClusia minor. Dipl.-biol. Thesis TH-Darmstadt
Howard RA (1989) Flora of the lesser Antilles, vol 5. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Mass., USA
Hoyos FJ (1985) Flora de la Isla Margarita. Soc y Federation de Ciencias Naturales, Monographica 34, Caracas
Keeley JE, Keeley SC (1989) Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in high elevation tropical cactus. Plant Cell Environ 12: 331–336
Kelly CK, Woodward FI (1995) Ecological correlates of carbon isotope composition of leaves: a comparative analysis testing for the effects of temperature, CO2 amd O2 partial pressures and taxonomic relatedness on δ13C. J of Ecol 83: 509–515
Körner C, Farquhar GD, Roksandic Z (1988) A global survey of carbon isotope discrimination in plants from high altidude. Oecologia 74: 623–632
Körner C, Farquhar GD, Wong SC (1991) Carbon isotope discrimination by plants follows latitudinal and altitudinal trends. Oecologia 88: 30–40
Lauer W (1976) Zur hygrischen Höhenstufung tropischer Gebirge. In: Schmithüsen J (ed) Neotropische Ökosysteme Biogeographica, vol VII. Junk, The Hague, pp 169–182
Lüttge U (1995a)Clusia: Plasticity and diversity in a genus of C3/CAM intermediate tropical trees. In Winter K, Smith AP, Smith JAC (eds) Crassulacean acid metabolism. Biochemistry, ecophysiology and evolution, Ecological Studies, vol 114. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 296–311
Lüttge U (1995b)Clusia: Ein Modellfall der ökophysiologischen Plastizität in einer tropischen Gattung. In: Bayerische Tropenforschung — Einst und jetzt, Rundgespräche der Kommission für Ökologie, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, vol 10., Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, pp 173–186
Lüttge U, Ziegler H, Ting IP (1993) Ecophysiological comportment of the tropical C3/CAM-intermediate treeClusia rosea in the field as assessed by analyses of stable carbon- and hydrogen-isotope ratios. J Plant Phys 142: 497–501
Medina E, Delgado M (1976) Photosynthesis and night CO2-fixation inEcheveria columbiana Poellnitz. Photosynthetica 10: 155–163
Meinzer FC (1978) Observaciones sobre la distributión taxonómica y ecológica de la fotosíntesis C4 en la vegetatión del nordeste de Centroamérica. Rev Biol Trop 26: 359–369
Osmond CB (1978) Crassulacean acid metabolism: a curiosity in context. Annu Rev Plant Phys 29: 379–414
Rundel PW, Ehleringer JR, Nagy KA (eds) (1989) Stable isotopes in ecological research (Ecological studies, vol 68) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Schiegl WE (1970) Natural deuterium in biogenic materials. PhD Thesis, University of South Africa, Pretoria
Smith JAC, Griffiths H, Lüttge U (1986) Comparative ecophysiology of CAM and C3 bromeliads. I. The ecology of Bromeliaceae in Trinidad. Plant Cell Environ 9: 359–376
Steyermark JA, Huber O (1978) Flora del Avila. Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales y Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, Caracas
Strauch L (1965) Ultramicro-Methode zur Bestimmung des Stickstoffs in biologischem Material. Z Klin Chem 3: 165–167
Tieszen LL, Senyimba MM, Imamba SK, Troughton JH (1979) The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses and carbon isotope discrimination along an altitudinal and moisture gradient in Kenya. Oecologia 37: 337–350
Tinoco Ojanguren C, Vazquez-Yanes C (1983) Especies CAM en la selva húmeda tropical de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. Bol Soc Bot Mex 45: 150–153
Williams RO (1929) Flora of Trinidad and Tobago, vol 1, part 2Clusia, pp 55–59. Government Printer, Port of Spain
Ziegler H (1989) Hydrogen isotope fractionation in plant tissues. In: Rundel PW, Ehleringer JR, Nagy KA (eds) Stable isotopes in ecological research. (Ecological studies, vol 68). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 105–123
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diaz, M., Haag-Kerwer, A., Wingfield, R. et al. Relationships between carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios and nitrogen levels in leaves ofClusia species and two other Clusiaceae genera at various sites and different altitudes in Venezuela. Trees 10, 351–358 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185638
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185638