Abstract
We compared photosynthetic rates and indices of nutrient-use efficiency for evergreen and deciduous shrubs growing in the Okefenokee swamp. Despite statistically significant differences between evergreen and deciduous species, photosynthetic variables and leaf-level nutrient-use efficiencies did not sort cleanly into two groups representing differences in leaf longevity-instead, traits varied continuously with specific leaf mass (SLM). Lyonia lucida, an evergreen (SLM: 161.1 g/m2), and Itea virginica, a deciduous shrub (SLM: 75.1 g/m2), represent the extremes of the gradient. Net photosynthesis on a leaf area basis (Aarea) was higher for evergreen than deciduous shrubs but was lower for evergreens when calculated on a leaf mass basis (Amass). There was, however, considerable overlap among species with different leaf longevities. Discriminant analysis indicated that SLM was the most important variable differentiating species. Thus, SLM rather than leaf longevity per se is a better predictor of leaf functio...
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