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Nitrogen isotope ratios shift with plant size in tropical bromeliads

  • Ecosystem Ecology
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Abstract

We describe an ontogenetic shift in nitrogen (N) isotopic values in two rosette-forming epiphytic bromeliads. Leaf tissue N isotope values of small individuals of two bromeliad species (mean −6.2‰) differed from those of large individuals within each species (mean −0.5‰). Using references for potential N sources, we calculated the relative contribution of autochthonous (soil-derived through leaf litter) and allochthonous (atmospheric deposition) N with a two-member mixing model. Atmospheric sources contributed as much as 77–80% of the N in small individuals, whereas soil-derived N contributed 64–72% (conservative reference value) to 100% (less conservative reference value) of leaf tissue N in large plants. Shifts in N source with increasing plant size may be important aspects of rainforest complexity, an understudied aspect of ecosystem diversity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Chazdon, D. A. Clark, D. B. Clark, B. Fry, and J. Marshall for comments on previous versions of the manuscript; S. Mambelli, P. Brooks, and J. Cox for technical assistance. Sample analysis was done at the Center for Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry (University of California, Berkeley) and the Stable Isotope Laboratory (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville). Funding for this project came from NSF award DEB 9975235 and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

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  1. Alexandra Reich

    Present address: Joint Science Department, The Claremont Colleges, 925 N. Mills Ave, Claremont, CA 91711, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organization for Tropical Studies, La Selva Biological Station, Interlink 341, P.O. Box 02-5635, Miami, FL 33102-5635, USA

    Alexandra Reich

  2. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Suite 323, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA

    John J. Ewel

  3. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA 98505, USA

    Nalini M. Nadkarni

  4. Department of Integrative Biology, Center for Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry, University of California, 1140 VLSB, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

    Todd Dawson

  5. School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA

    R. Dave Evans

Authors
  1. Alexandra Reich
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  2. John J. Ewel
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  3. Nalini M. Nadkarni
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  4. Todd Dawson
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  5. R. Dave Evans
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Correspondence to Alexandra Reich.

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Reich, A., Ewel, J.J., Nadkarni, N.M. et al. Nitrogen isotope ratios shift with plant size in tropical bromeliads. Oecologia 137, 587–590 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1386-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1386-1

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