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A paradox of leaf-trait convergence: why is leaf nitrogen concentration higher in species with higher photosynthetic capacity?

  • Current Topics in Plant Research
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Abstract

It is well known that leaf photosynthesis per unit dry mass (Amass) is positively correlated with nitrogen concentration (Nmass) across naturally growing plants. In this article we show that this relationship is paradoxical because, if other traits are identical among species, plants with a higher Amass should have a lower Nmass, because of dilution by the assimilated carbon. To find a factor to overcome the dilution effect, we analyze the Nmass–Amass relationship using simple mathematical models and literature data. We propose two equations derived from plant-growth models. Model prediction is compared with the data set of leaf trait spectrum obtained on a global scale. The model predicts that plants with a higher Amass should have a higher specific nitrogen absorption rate in roots (SAR), less biomass allocation to leaves, and/or greater nitrogen allocation to leaves. From the literature survey, SAR is suggested as the most likely factor. If SAR is the sole factor maintaining the positive relationship between Nmass and Amass, the variation in SAR is predicted to be much greater than that in Amass; given that Amass varies 130-fold, SAR may vary more than 2000-fold. We predict that there is coordination between leaf and root activities among species on a global scale.

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Abbreviations

Amass :

CO2 uptake rate per unit standing leaf mass

k :

Conversion coefficient from CO2 to biomass

LL:

Leaf life span

LM:

Standing leaf mass

LMF:

Fraction of biomass allocated to leaves

LMP:

Leaf mass production

LN:

Standing leaf N

LNF:

Fraction of N allocated to leaves

LNP:

Leaf N production

MRT:

Mean residence time of N in leaves

Nmass :

Leaf N concentration per unit leaf dry mass

PM:

Standing plant mass

PMP:

Plant biomass production

PN:

Standing plant nitrogen

PNP:

Plant N production

R :

N resorption efficiency

RL:

Root life span

RM:

Standing root mass

RMF:

Fraction of biomass allocated to roots

RMP:

Root mass production

SAR:

N uptake rate per unit standing root mass

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Acknowledgment

We thank H. Nagashima, N.P.R. Anten and Y. Yasumura for valuable comments. This study was supported in part by grants from the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and by the Global Environment Research Fund (F-052) from the Japan Ministry of the Environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan

    Kouki Hikosaka

  2. Department of Natural Science, International Christian University, Osawa 3-10-2, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8576, Japan

    Yoko Osone

  3. Department of Plant Ecology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan

    Yoko Osone

Authors
  1. Kouki Hikosaka
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  2. Yoko Osone
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Correspondence to Kouki Hikosaka.

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Kouki Hikosaka is the recipient of the BSJ Award for Young Scientist, 2006.

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Hikosaka, K., Osone, Y. A paradox of leaf-trait convergence: why is leaf nitrogen concentration higher in species with higher photosynthetic capacity?. J Plant Res 122, 245–251 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-009-0222-z

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