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Temporal changes in the spatial pattern of leaf traits in a Quercus robur population

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Abstract

Background

Plant resources in natural ecosystems are frequently spatially structured at a scale relevant to individuals. This spatial structure can be variable in time, and can even vary within a single growing season. Several leaf traits may show spatial structure at the same scale as light or soil resources. However, whether this spatial structure stays constant from one growing season to the next is still unknown.

Methods

We hypothesize that the spatial structure of the limiting nutrient should be more stable over the years than the non-limiting nutrient. We also hypothesized that single leaf traits [leaf N, leaf P, and leaf mass per area ratio (LMA)] should be less spatially variable than those regulated by complex processes, such as leaf polyphenols or nutrient resorption efficiencies. We studied these different leaf traits in green and senesced young oak leaves sampled during 2000 and 2006, using a spatially explicit design.

Results

Leaf P, the most limiting nutrient, also showed the most stable spatial structure. Nitrogen and P resorption efficiencies had more variability than green leaf N and P respectively. Leaf polyphenols had the highest spatial and temporal variability of all studied leaf traits.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that the variability of a leaf trait may increase as more variables control it. The relatively constant patch size makes the space predictable, and this may have important consequences for ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition and nutrient cycling.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financed by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia of the Spanish Government (REN2003-08620-C02-01; CGL 2006-13665-C02-01). We thank Daniel Caballero e Afra for their valuable help with the field and laboratory measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013, Seville, Spain

    Felisa Covelo, Jose Manuel Ávila & Antonio Gallardo

  2. Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain

    Felisa Covelo

Authors
  1. Felisa Covelo
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  2. Jose Manuel Ávila
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  3. Antonio Gallardo
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Correspondence to Felisa Covelo.

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Handling Editor: Erwin Dreyer

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Covelo, F., Ávila, J.M. & Gallardo, A. Temporal changes in the spatial pattern of leaf traits in a Quercus robur population. Annals of Forest Science 68, 453–460 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0054-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0054-6

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