Respuestas del δ13C foliar y características foliares a la precipitación y temperatura en un ecosistema árido del noroeste de China

El δ13C foliar es ampliamente usado para explicar estrategias relacionadas con la disponibilidad de recursos en diferentes ambientes. Sin embargo, la respuesta conjunta del δ13C foliar a la precipitación y temperatura así como la relación entre el δ13C foliar y las características foliares no están claras. El δ13C foliar y su relación con las características foliares [tamaño de hoja (LS), longitud foliar (LL), ancho foliar (LW), relación entre la longitud y el ancho foliar (L:W), área foliar específica (SLA) y concentración de N foliar (en una base de peso seco) (Nmass)] fueron investigadas en la especie de arbusto dominante Nitraria tangutorum Bobr en la región árida (Dengkou y Minqin) del noroeste de China. El estudio se efectuó bajo condiciones de varias cantidades de precipitación simuladas (PGS) y temperaturas ambientales (TGS) en las estaciones de crecimiento de 2008, 2009 y 2010. Los resultados mostraron que LS, LW, LL, SLA y Nmass se incrementaron significativamente cuando las cantidades de PGS se incrementaron, pero hubo tendencias de reducción en dichas características cuando las TGS aumentaron. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las relaciones negativas entre las características foliares y las TGS no fueron obvias en Minqin. En ambos sitios, L:W se incrementó cuando las PGS y TGS aumentaron. Hubo un cambio en la relación negativa entre el δ13C foliar-PGS a través de Minqin y Dengkou, lo cual condujo a la falta de efectos de la precipitación en el δ13C foliar a través de ambos sitios, y mayor δ13C foliar a menor precipitación en Minqin. A través de Minqin y Dengkou, PGS solo pudo explicar un 14% de la variación en el δ13C foliar. La combinación de PGS y TGS pudo explicar un 64% de la variación en el δ13C foliar. Las características foliares (LW y L:W) mejoraron aún más la estimación del δ13C foliar. Las combinaciones de PGS, TGS, LW y L:W pudieron explicar un 84% de la variación en el δ13C foliar. Nuestro estudio demostró la importancia de las características foliares en explorar las respuestas del δ13C foliar a cambios globales en ecosistemas áridos.Leaf δ13C is widely used to explain plant strategies related to resource availability in different environments. To understand the coupled response of leaf δ13C to precipitation, temperature and the relationship between leaf δ13C and leaf traits in arid ecosystems, the leaf δ13C and leaf traits (leaf size (LS), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf length to width ratio (L:W), specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (Nmass)) of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. under simulated increasing precipitation (PGS) and ambient temperature (TGS) in plant growing season from 2008 to 2010 and the relationships between leaf δ13C and leaf traits were investigated in the arid region (Dengkou and Minqin) of northwestern China. Our results showed that LS, LW, LL, SLA and Nmass significantly increased with increasing PGS, but had downward tendencies with increasing TGS although the majority of the negative relationships between leaf traits and TGS were not obvious in Minqin. At the two study sites, L:W increased simultaneously with increasing PGS and TGS. There was a shift in the negative leaf δ13C-PGS relationship across Minqin and Dengkou, which conduce to the lacking effect of precipitation on leaf δ13C across the two sites and higher leaf δ13C in lower precipitation fields in Minqin. Across Minqin and Dengkou, PGS could only explain 14% of the variation in leaf δ13C. The combinations of PGS and TGS could explain 64% of the variation in leaf δ13C. Leaf traits (LW and L:W) could be used to further improve the estimation of leaf δ13C. The combinations of PGS, TGS, LW and L:W could explain 84 % of the variation in leaf δ13C. Our study demonstrated the importance of leaf traits in exploring the responses of leaf δ13C to global changes in arid ecosystems.Fil: Xin, Z.M.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Institute of Desertification Studies; China. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Liu, M.H.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Lu, Q.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Institute of Desertification Studies; China. State Forestry Administration. Kumtag Desert Ecosystem Research Station; ChinaFil: Busso, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. State Forestry Administration. Kumtag Desert Ecosystem Research Station; ChinaFil: Zhu, Y.J.. State Forestry Administration. Kumtag Desert Ecosystem Research Station; China. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Institute of Desertification Studies; ChinaFil: Li, Z.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Huang, Y.R.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Li, X.L.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Luo, F.M.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry; ChinaFil: Bao, F.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Institute of Desertification Studies; ChinaFil: Qian, J.Q.. Henan Agricultural University. College of Forestry; ChinaFil: Li, Y.H.. Chinese Academy of Forestry. Institute of Desertification Studies; China. State Forestry Administration. Kumtag Desert Ecosystem Research Station; Chin

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