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Effects of simulated herbivory on photosynthesis and N resorption efficiency in Quercus pyrenaica Willd. saplings

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Abstract

We examined the effects of simulated folivory by caterpillars on photosynthetic parameters and nitrogen (N) resorption efficiency in Quercus pyrenaica saplings. We analyzed the differences between intact leaves in control plants, punched leaves in damaged plants, and intact leaves in damaged plants. We then established two levels of simulated folivory: low (≈13% of the leaf area of one main branch removed per plant) and high (≈26% of the leaf area of one main branch removed per plant) treatments. No differences were found in net assimilation rate and conductance between either leaf type or treatment during the most favourable period for photosynthesis. However, the N content was lower in punched than in intact leaves, and as a result PNUE was higher in damaged leaves from treated trees. In leaf-litter samples, N mass was significantly higher in punched than in intact leaves in treated plants, and LMA was significantly higher in damaged than in intact leaves of both the treated and control plants. Consequently, N resorption efficiency was around 15% lower in damaged leaves as compared with intact leaves from treated and control plants. Mechanical injury to leaves not only triggered no compensatory photosynthetic response to compensate a lower carbon uptake due to leaf area loss, but also affected the resorption process that characterizes leaf senescence.

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Acknowledgments

This work has received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Education (Projects No. FOR89-0845 and AMB95-0800) and from the Junta de Castilla y León (projects No. SA47/95 and SA72/00B). M. Fleury was supported by an interuniversity cooperation research fellowship from the Junta de Castilla y León (Orden EYC/39/2003). We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Nicholas Skinner kindly corrected the English.

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Correspondence to Silla Fernando.

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Communicated by F. M. Canovas.

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Fernando, S., Marina, F., Sonia, M. et al. Effects of simulated herbivory on photosynthesis and N resorption efficiency in Quercus pyrenaica Willd. saplings. Trees 22, 785–793 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-008-0239-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-008-0239-2

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