Foliar resorption in

• The resorption of nutrients (mainly N and P) from senescing leaves may be a key component of adaptive mechanisms that conserve scarce nutrients. Resorption may be expressed in two ways as resorption efficiency (RE) which is the ratio of the resorbed amounts of nutrient losses during leaf senescence in relation to its prior amount deposited in leaves and resorption proficiency (RP) is the level to which nutrient concentration per unit leaf mass is reduced in senescent leaves. • There is still much debate whether or not different life-forms (i.e. deciduous and evergreen species) show different foliar resorption patterns. Two sympatric species, namely Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. subsp. iberica (Steven ex Bieb.) Krassiln. (deciduous) and Arbutus andrachne L. (evergreen) along an elevational gradient were compared with each other to determine whether or not nitrogen and phosphorus resorption efficiency and proficiency varies along the elevational gradient and which leaf parameters were as related to RE and RP. • NRE was found to be rather low in Q. petraea subsp. iberica compared to other deciduous species. Similarly, PRE in A. andrachne was rather low compared to other evergreen species. Mean residence time (MRT) measures how long a unit of nitrogen (MRTN) and phosphorus (MRTP) is present in the plant. MRTN and MRTP were found to be considerably higher in A. andrachne compared to Q. petraea subsp. iberica. In both species, the foliar N/P ratio was below 14 along the elevational gradient and, according to this threshold value, N-limitation occurred in the study area. Although both species in the present study show incomplete resorption deciduous species was more proficient as compared to evergreen one due to low N and P concentrations in senescent leaves. Based on the significant correlations (p < 0.05 and 0.01) between MRT and foliar resorption, it can be concluded that MRT could interfere with the mechanisms controlling nutrient resorption

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in two sympatric deciduous species along an elevation gradient

Some leaf traits (N and P concentrations, N/P ratio, specific leaf area, mean residence time of nitrogen and phosphorus (MRTN and MRTP) and foliar resorption were investigated in two sympatric deciduous species (Amelanchier rotundifolia (Lam.) Dum.-Courset subsp. rotundifolia and Rhamnus oleoides L. subsp. graecus) which are the most characteristic species of steppe and rocky vegetation along an elevation gradient to determine which leaf traits were related to nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency (NRE and PRE) and proficiency (NRP and PRP). Statistically significant differences were found along the elevation gradient between the two sympatric deciduous species with respect to green leaf N/P ratio, NRE, MRTN, MRTP and leaf longevity. NRE was below the threshold values for deciduous species in A. roundifolia subsp. rotundifolia although PRE was higher than threshold values. Both NRE and PRE were higher than threshold values for deciduous species in R. oleoides subsp. graecus. Soil phosphorus concentrations were found to be rather low along the elevation gradient. Leaf N/P ratios varied between 25.54 and 37.11 in A. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia, and 11.59 to 21.96 in R. oleoides subsp. graecus and these values indicate P rather than N-limitation for these species. As with NRE and PRE mean residence time of nutrients (MRT) both MRTN and MRTP were considerably higher in R. oleoides subsp. graecus. It has been found that A. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia has low green leaf P concentration and high N/P ratio and has a CS (competitor/stress-tolerant) strategy, whilst R. oleoides subsp. graecus has a C/CS (competitor/competitor stress-tolerant) transitional type strategy In conclusion, higher MRTN and MRTP would provide a competitive advantage of a certain species in mixed-deciduous species stands and also enable higher PRE along an elevation gradient.La résorption de l’azote et du phosphore chez deux espèces décidues sympatriques le long d’un gradient altitudinal. Quelques traits foliaires (concentrations en N et P, N/ P ratio, surface foliaire spécifique, temps moyen de résidence de l’azote et du phosphore (MRTN et MRT P) et résorption foliaire) ont été étudiés chez deux espèces décidues sympatriques (Amelanchier rotundifolia (Lam.) Dum.-Courset subsp. rotundifolia et Rhamnus oleoides L. subsp. graecus) qui sont les espèces les plus caractéristiques de la végétation steppique et rupicole le long d’un gradient altitudinal et cela pour déterminer quels traits foliaires sont liés à l’efficience (NRE et PRE) et à la capacité (NRP et PRP) en azote et phosphore. Des différences statistiquement significatives ont été trouvées le long du gradient altitudinal entre les deux espèces pour ce qui concerne le N/P ratio des feuilles vertes, NRE, MRTN , MRTP et la longévité foliaire. NRE était sous les valeurs-seuils des espèces décidues pour A. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia bien que PRE était plus élevé que les valeurs-seuils. Tant NRE que PRE étaient plus élevés que les valeurs-seuils des espèces décidues pour R. oleoides subsp. graecus. Les concentrations en phosphore du sol sont apparues plutôt faibles au long du gradient altitudinal. Les N/P ratios foliaires variaient entre 25,54 et 37,11 chez A. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia et entre 11,59 et 21,96 chez R. oleoides subsp. graecus ; ces valeurs indiquent une limitation par P plutôt que par N chez ces espèces. Comme pour NRE et PRE, les temps moyens de résidence des nutriments (MRTN et MRTP ) étaient considérablement plus élevés chez R. oleoides subsp. graecus. A. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia a montré une faible concentration en P dans les feuilles vertes et un fort N/P ratio et a une stratégie CS (compétiteur / tolérant au stress) alors que R. oleoides subsp. graecus a un type de stratégie de transition C/CS (compétiteur / compétiteur – tolérant au stress). En conclusion des MRTN et MRTP élevés fourniraient un avantage compétitif à certaines espèces décidues dans des peuplements mixtes et permettraient de plus forts PRE le long d’un gradient altitudinal.Duygu Kilic Dudu, Güray Kutbay Hamdi, Ozbucak Tuğba, Huseyinova Rena. Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in two sympatric deciduous species along an elevation gradient. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 67, n°4, 2012. pp. 409-422