[1]DONG Shuili,LIU Enbin.Comparison of Leaf Functional Traits of Dominant Woody Plants on Shady Slope and Sunny Slope in the Loessial Hilly Region[J].Research of Soil and Water Conservation,2015,22(04):326-331.
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Research of Soil and Water Conservation[ISSN 1005-3409/CN 61-1272/P] Volume:
22
Number of periods:
2015 04
Page number:
326-331
Column:
Public date:
2015-08-28
- Title:
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Comparison of Leaf Functional Traits of Dominant Woody Plants on Shady Slope and Sunny Slope in the Loessial Hilly Region
- Author(s):
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DONG Shuili, LIU Enbin
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Yan’an Vocational and Technical College, Yan’an, Shaanxi 712100, China
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- Keywords:
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loess hilly region; slope aspect; dominant woody species; leaf functional traits
- CLC:
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Q945.78
- DOI:
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- Abstract:
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The differences of leaf functional traits (leaf mass per area, leaf water potential at turgor loss point, leaf carbon isotope composition δ13C and leaf N, P and K contents) of dominant woody plants on shady slope and sunny slope (Populus davidiana, Pinus tabulaeformis, Quercus liaotungensis and Robinia pseudoacacia growing on the shady slope, Vitex negundo, Prunus davidiana, Sorphora viciifolia and Rosa xanthina growing on the sunny slope) were compared in order to probe into the mechanism that plants adapt to different slope aspects. The results showed that:1) the dominant species on the sunny slope had higher leaf δ13C and K content in the dry season, indicating that higher water use efficiency and K accumulation are the major mechanisms of plant adaptation to the habitat on the sunny slope; 2) the variation of leaf functional traits of dominant woody species growing on the sunny slope was slighter compared to those growing on the shady slope, demonstrating the convergence of leaf functional traits of dominant woody species growing on the sunny slope; 3) Robinia pseudoacacia had the least leaf mass per area, the highest N, P and K contents and relatively higher leaf δ13C among eight species, reflecting its high photosynthetic capacity and water use efficiency, and the competitive strategy to survive. On the contrary, Pinus tabulaeformis had the highest leaf mass per area, the lowest δ13C, N, P and K contents, suggesting that it uses the defensive strategy to survive. The survival strategies of other six species are among the competitive and defensive spectrum.