Foliar stoichiometry under different mycorrhizal types in relation to temperature and precipitation in grassland

Abstract

Aims Mycorrhizas play key roles in important ecosystem processes and functions. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and their ratios are very important foliar traits and their cycling constrains most ecosystem processes. Thus, this study addresses the influence of mycorrhizal strategies on these foliar nutrients and their response to climate change. Methods A new database was established including mycorrhizal types and leaf Cmass, Nmass, Pmass, C: N and N: P of each plant species based on He et al. [(2008) Leaf nitrogen: Phosphorus stoichiometry across Chinese grassland biomes. Oecologia 155:301–10]. The predominant type of mycorrhizal association of each plant species was classified according to the published literature and our own obser vations. We analyzed leaf C mass, Nmass, Pmass, C: N and N: P among 112 plant species in 316 samples of ascertained mycorrhizal type in the major grassland biomes of China.