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Abstract
We examined foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry of 3 wetland plants (Phalaris arundinacea, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and Carex brevicuspis) distributed along an elevation gradient in the Dongting Lake, China, and how this stoichiometry is related to soil physico-chemical characteristics, elevation, and flooding days. Plant and soil samples were collected from 3 lakeshore sites. Total N and P concentrations of plants and six physico-chemical characteristics of the soil were measured, in addition to the elevation and flooding days. P. arundinacea and M. sacchariflorus had higher total N and P concentrations than C. brevicuspis. The foliar N:P ratio decreased with increasing elevation, and only increased with increasing foliar total N concentration. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the foliar stoichiometry was primarily regulated by soil water content, followed by soil nutrient concentration. The foliar N and P stoichiometry of the 3 wetland plants was insignificantly correlated with soil total P concentration. However, foliar stoichiometric characteristics and soil total N concentration significantly differed among the 3 species. These results demonstrate that spatial variation of foliar stoichiometry in wetland plants exists along an elevation gradient, with this information being useful for the conservation and management of wetland plants in this lake.
Highlights
Ecological stoichiometry helps to enhance our understanding of the relationship between elemental composition and the growth of organisms from the molecular to global level[1,2,3]
We focused on the foliar stoichiometric characteristics of 3 plant species (P. arundinacea, C. brevicuspis, and M. sacchariflorus) along an elevation gradient in Dongting Lake
We aimed to: (1) examine the foliar stoichiometric characteristics of these 3 plant species distributed at different elevations, and (2) examine the relationships between plant foliar stoichiometric characteristics and soil physico-chemical characteristics, elevation, and flooding days
Summary
Ecological stoichiometry helps to enhance our understanding of the relationship between elemental composition and the growth of organisms from the molecular to global level[1,2,3]. The ecological stoichiometry of plants is an important indicator of the distribution patterns of plants[9, 14]. Nutrient cycling[10, 12]; few studies have analysed the relationship between plant distribution and ecological stoichiometry. We focused on the foliar stoichiometric characteristics (including total N and P concentrations and N:P ratio) of 3 plant species (P. arundinacea, C. brevicuspis, and M. sacchariflorus) along an elevation gradient in Dongting Lake. The soil physico-chemical characteristics in these 3 plant communities (including pH, conductivity, soil water content, and total nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon concentrations) were analysed, as well as elevation and the number of days of flooding (termed flooding days). We aimed to: (1) examine the foliar stoichiometric characteristics of these 3 plant species distributed at different elevations, and (2) examine the relationships between plant foliar stoichiometric characteristics and soil physico-chemical characteristics, elevation, and flooding days
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