Leaf-level resource use for evergreen and deciduous conifers along a resource availability gradient. Kloeppel, B., Gower, S., Vogel, J., & Reich, P. B. Functional Ecology, 2000.
Leaf-level resource use for evergreen and deciduous conifers along a resource availability gradient. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
*We compared leaf-level carbon, nitrogen and water use for a deciduous (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and sympatric evergreen (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Beissn., Franco, or Pinus contorta Engelm.) confer along a resource availability gradient spanning the natural range of L. occidentalis in western Montana, USA. * We hypothesized that leaf photosynthesis (A), respiration (r), specific leaf area (SLA) and foliar nitrogen concentration (N) would be higher for deciduous than sympatric evergreen conifers in mixed stands, and that these interspecies differences would increase from high to low resource availability. We also hypothesized that leaf-level nitrogen and water-use efficiency would be higher for the co-occurring evergreen conifer than L. occidentalis. *In general, mass-based photosynthesis (Am) was significantly higher for L. occidentalis than co-occurring evergreen conifers in the drier sites, but Am was similar for evergreen and deciduous conifers at the mesic site. *Mass-based foliar nitrogen concentration (Nm) was positively correlated to SLA for all species combined across the gradient (R2 = 0+64), but the relationship was very weak (R2 = 0+08

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