Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Leaf Mechanical Properties in Sclerophyll Woodland and Shrubland on Contrasting Soils

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sclerophylly is a common feature of vegetation on infertile soils, and its adaptive significance has been linked to nutrient-use efficiency by protection of leaves to maximise carbon gain. However, there has been little investigation of how the leaf mechanical properties that contribute to the phenomenon of sclerophylly vary along nutrient gradients. In this paper, we investigate how leaf mechanical properties vary among plants on three contrasting soil types (grey sand, laterite soil, and soil overlying dolerite) in a Mediterranean climate in southwestern Australia. Most species were sclerophyllous, but there was 5-fold variation in leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and 17- to 473-fold variation in mechanical properties among species. Species growing on laterite and/or sand (low-nutrient soils) had higher punch strength, work (a measure of toughness) to punch, specific (per unit leaf thickness) work to punch, work to shear, specific work to shear, and flexural stiffness (EI W) than those on dolerite soils (higher in nutrients). There were few differences in mean values of leaf mechanical properties between the two low-nutrient soils, possibly because the lower concentration of nutrients in the sand is balanced by the greater soil volume than the laterite soil (higher concentration of nutrients, but shallower). There were also few differences in leaf properties between plants of the same species growing on contrasting soil types. There was some variation among sclerophyllous species in their mechanical characteristics, but overall, EI W provided the strongest contribution to sclerophylly, explaining up to 81% of the variation in LMA. There was no evidence of differences among soil types in the relationships of mechanical properties with LMA, and therefore, no evidence of variation in the mechanical constitution of sclerophylly among soil types.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • R Aerts F S Chapin III (2000) ArticleTitleThe mineral nutrition of wild plants revisited: a re-evaluation of processes and patterns Adv. Ecol. Res. 30 1–67 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXivVejurw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameAPG (2003) ArticleTitleAn update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 141 399–436

    Google Scholar 

  • N C W Beadle (1966) ArticleTitleSoil phosphate and its role in molding segments of the Australian flora and vegetation, with special reference to xeromorphy and sclerophylly Ecology 47 992–1007

    Google Scholar 

  • N C W Beadle (1968) ArticleTitleSome aspects of the ecology and physiology of Australian xeromorphic plants Aust. J. Sci. 30 348–355

    Google Scholar 

  • R H Bray L T Kurtz (1945) ArticleTitleDetermination of total, organic and available phosphorus in soils Soil Sci. 59 39–45 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaH2MXht1GjtA%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J M Brown A J M Hopkins (1983) ArticleTitleThe kwongan (sclerophyllous shrublands) of Tutanning Nature Reserve, Western Australia Aust. J. Ecol. 8 63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • L E Casher (1996) ArticleTitleLeaf toughness in Quercus agrifolia and its effects on tissue selection by first instars of Phryganidia californica (Lepidoptera: Dioptidae) and Bucculatrix albertiella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 89 109–121

    Google Scholar 

  • B F Chabot D J Hicks (1982) ArticleTitleThe ecology of leaf life spans Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 13 229–259 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.es.13.110182.001305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M F Choong (1996) ArticleTitleWhat makes a leaf tough and how this affects the pattern of Castanopsis fissa leaf consumption by caterpillars Funct. Ecol. 10 668–674

    Google Scholar 

  • M F Choong P W Lucas J S Y Ong B Pereira H T W Tan I M Turner (1992) ArticleTitleLeaf fracture toughness and sclerophylly: their correlations and ecological implications New Phytol. 121 597–610

    Google Scholar 

  • N S Christodoulakis K A Mitrakos (1987) Structural analysis of sclerophylly in eleven evergreen phanerophytes in Greece J D Tenhunen F M Catarino O L Lange W C Oechel (Eds) Plant Response to Stress: Functional Analysis in Mediterranean Ecosystems Springer-Verlag Berlin 547–551

    Google Scholar 

  • P D Coley (1983) ArticleTitleHerbivory and defensive characteristics of tree species in a lowland tropical forest Ecol. Monogr. 53 209–233

    Google Scholar 

  • M D Crisp L G Cook (2003) Phylogeny and embryo sac evolution in the endemic Australasian Papilionoid tribes Mirbelieae and Bossiaeeae B B Klitgaard A Bruneau (Eds) Advances in Legume Systematics, part 10, Higher Level Systematics Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 253–268

    Google Scholar 

  • C Edwards J Read G Sanson (2000) ArticleTitleCharacterising sclerophylly: some mechanical properties of leaves from heath and forest Oecologia 123 158–167 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420051001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H M Grimshaw (1987) The determination of total phosphorus in soils by acid digestion AP Rowland (Eds) Chemical Analysis in Environmental Research Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Abbots Ripton, UK 92–95

    Google Scholar 

  • H M Grimshaw S E Allen J A Parkinson (1989) Nutrient elements S E Allen (Eds) Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials 2nd edn Blackwell Scientific Publications Oxford 81–159

    Google Scholar 

  • P K Groom B B Lamont (1999) ArticleTitleWhich common indices of sclerophylly best reflect differences in leaf structure? Ecoscience 6 471–474

    Google Scholar 

  • P J Grubb (1986) Sclerophylls, pachyphylls and pycnophylls: the nature and significance of hard leaf surfaces B Juniper R Southwood (Eds) Insects and the Plant Surface Edward Arnold London 137–150

    Google Scholar 

  • S B Hoot A W Douglas (1998) ArticleTitlePhylogeny of the Proteaceae based on atpB and atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer region sequences Aust. Syst. Bot. 11 301–320 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB98027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A P Jackson (1992) Bone, nacre, and other ceramics JFV Vincent (Eds) Biomechanics – Materials: A Practical Approach Oxford University Press Oxford 33–56

    Google Scholar 

  • D A King (1999) ArticleTitleJuvenile foliage and the scaling of tree proportions, with emphasis on Eucalyptus Ecology 80 1944–1954

    Google Scholar 

  • P Y Ladiges G I McFadden N Middleton D A Orlovich N Treloar F Udovic (1999) ArticleTitlePhylogeny of Melaleuca, Callistemon, and related genera of the Beaufortia suballiance (Myrtaceae) based on 5S and ITS−1 spacer regions of nrDNA Cladistics 15 151–172 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1096-0031.1999.tb00257.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B Lamont (1985) ArticleTitleGradient and zonal analysis of understorey supression by Eucalyptus wandoo Vegetatio 63 49–66

    Google Scholar 

  • B B Lamont P K Groom R M Cowling (2002) ArticleTitleHigh leaf mass per area of related species assemblages may reflect low rainfall and carbon isotope discrimination rather than low phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations Funct. Ecol. 16 403–412 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2435.2002.00631.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B B Lamont A Markey (1995) ArticleTitleBiogeography of fire-killed and resprouting Banksia species in south-western Australia Aust. J. Bot. 43 283–303 Occurrence Handle10.1071/BT9950283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A R Loveless (1961) ArticleTitleA nutritional interpretation of sclerophylly based on differences in the chemical composition of sclerophyllous and mesophytic leaves Ann. Bot. 25 168–184 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF38XptlGi

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A R Loveless (1962) ArticleTitleFurther evidence to support a nutritional interpretation of sclerophylly Ann. Bot. 26 551–561

    Google Scholar 

  • R Mac Nally G Horrocks (2002) ArticleTitleRelative influences of patch, landscape and historical factors on birds in an Australian fragmented landscape J. Biogeogr. 29 395–410 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00682.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W M McArthur (1991) Reference Soils of South-western Australia Dept of Agriculture Western Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • H A Mooney E L Dunn (1970) ArticleTitleConvergent evolution of Mediterranean-climate evergreen sclerophyll shrubs Evolution 24 292–303

    Google Scholar 

  • H A Mooney S L Gulmon (1982) ArticleTitleConstraints on leaf structure and function in reference to herbivory BioScience 32 198–206 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL38XhsF2hsLw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K J Niklas (1999) ArticleTitleA mechanical perspective on foliage leaf form and function New Phytol. 143 19–31 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00441.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U Niinemets (1999) ArticleTitleComponents of leaf dry mass per area – thickness and density– alter photosynthetic capacity in reverse directions in woody plants New Phytol. 144 35–47 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00466.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J J Oertli S H Lips M Agami (1990) ArticleTitleThe strength of sclerophyllous cells to resist collapse due to negative turgor pressure Acta Œcol. 11 281–289

    Google Scholar 

  • J S Pate W H Verboom P D Galloway (2001) ArticleTitleCo-occurrence of Proteaceae, laterite and related oligotrophic soils: coincidental associations or causative inter-relationships? Aust. J. Bot. 49 529–560 Occurrence Handle10.1071/BT00086 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXptVemurY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Purvis A Rambaut (1995) ArticleTitleComparative analysis by independent contrasts (CAIC): an Apple Macintosh application for analysing comparative data Comput. Appl. Biosci. 11 247–251 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD1M%2FgslE%3D Occurrence Handle7583692

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Read C Edwards G D Sanson N Aranwela (2000) ArticleTitleRelationships between sclerophylly, leaf biomechanical properties and leaf anatomy in some Australian heath and forest species Plant Biosyst. 134 261–277

    Google Scholar 

  • J Read G D Sanson (2003) ArticleTitleCharacterising sclerophylly: the mechanical properties of a diverse range of leaf types New Phytol. 160 81–99 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00855.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P B Reich C Uhl M B Walters D S Ellsworth (1991) ArticleTitleLeaf lifespan as a determinant of leaf structure and function among 23 amazonian tree species Oecologia 86 16–24 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M L Roderick S L Berry I R Noble G D Farquhar (1999a) ArticleTitleA theoretical approach to linking the composition and morphology with the function of leaves Funct. Ecol. 13 683–695

    Google Scholar 

  • M L Roderick S L Berry A R Saunders I R Noble (1999b) ArticleTitleOn the relationship between the composition, morphology and function of leaves Funct. Ecol. 13 696–710

    Google Scholar 

  • J P Rosenthal Kotanen (1994) ArticleTitleTerrestrial plant tolerance to herbivory TREE 9 145–148

    Google Scholar 

  • P W Rundel (1988) Leaf structure and nutrition in Mediterranean-climate sclerophylls RL Specht (Eds) Mediterranean-type Ecosystems Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht 157–167

    Google Scholar 

  • S Salleo A Nardini (2000) ArticleTitleSclerophylly: evolutionary advantage or mere epiphenomenon? Plant Biosyst. 134 247–259

    Google Scholar 

  • G Sanson J Read N Aranwela F Clissold P Peeters (2001) ArticleTitleThe measurement of leaf biomechanical properties in studies of herbivory: opportunities, problems and procedures Aust. Ecol. 26 535–546 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1442-9993.2001.01154.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A F W Schimper (1898) Pflanzengeographie auf physiologischen Grundlage Fischer Jena

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimper A F W 1903 Plant-Geography Upon a Physiological Basis. Transl. W.R. Fisher. Clarendon Press, Oxford

  • M A Sobrado E Medina (1980) ArticleTitleGeneral morphology, anatomical structure, and nutrient content of sclerophyllous leaves of the ȁ8Banaȁ9 vegetation of Amazonas Oecologia 45 341–345 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00540202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R L Specht P W Rundel (1990) ArticleTitleSclerophylly and foliar nutrient status of Mediterranean-climate plant communities in southern Australia Aust. J. Bot. 38 459–74 Occurrence Handle10.1071/BT9900459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I M Turner (1994a) ArticleTitleSclerophylly: primarily protective? Funct. Ecol. 8 669–675

    Google Scholar 

  • I M Turner (1994b) ArticleTitleA quantitative analysis of leaf form in woody plants from the worldȁ9s major broadleaved forest types J. Biogeogr. 21 413–419

    Google Scholar 

  • I M Turner M F Choong H T W Tan P W Lucas (1993) ArticleTitleHow tough are sclerophylls? Ann. Bot. 71 343–345 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.1993.1043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P J Soest ParticleVan J B Robertson B A Lewis (1991) ArticleTitleMethods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition J. Dairy Sci. 74 3583–3597 Occurrence Handle1660498

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J F V Vincent (1992) Plants JFV Vincent (Eds) Biomechanics – Materials: A Practical Approach Oxford University Press Oxford 165–191

    Google Scholar 

  • S A Wainwright W D Biggs J D Currey J M Gosline (1976) Mechanical Design in Organisms Princeton University Press Princeton, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Western Australian Herbarium 1998– FloraBase — The Western Australian Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management

  • P G Wilson M M Oȁ9Brien P A Gadek C J Quinn (2001) ArticleTitleMyrtaceae revisited: a reassessment of infrafamilial groups Am. J. Bot. 88 2013–2025

    Google Scholar 

  • I J Wright P B Reich M Westoby (2001) ArticleTitleStrategy shifts in leaf physiology, structure and nutrient content between species of high- and low-rainfall and high- and low-nutrient habitats Funct. Ecol. 15 423–434

    Google Scholar 

  • I J Wright P B Reich M Westoby D D Ackerly Z Baruch F Bongers J Cavender-Bares T Chapin J H C Cornelissen M Diemer J Flexas E Garnier P K Groom J Gulias K Hikosaka B B Lamont T Lee W Lee C Lusk J J Midgley M Navas U Niinemets J Oleksyn N Osada H Poorter P Poot L Prior V I Pyankov C Roumet S C Thomas M G Tjoelker E J Veneklaas R Villar (2004) ArticleTitleThe worldwide leaf economics spectrum Nature 428 821–827 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjt1Crt74%3D Occurrence Handle15103368

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I J Wright M Westoby (2002) ArticleTitleLeaves at low versus high rainfall: coordination of structure, lifespan and physiology New Phytol. 155 103–116 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00479.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia

    Jennifer Read & Gordon D. Sanson

  2. Department of Environmental Biology, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987 , Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia

    Byron B. Lamont

Authors
  1. Jennifer Read
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gordon D. Sanson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Byron B. Lamont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Read.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Read, J., Sanson, G.D. & Lamont, B.B. Leaf Mechanical Properties in Sclerophyll Woodland and Shrubland on Contrasting Soils. Plant Soil 276, 95–113 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3343-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3343-8

Key words

Search

Navigation