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Leaf traits and resprouting ability in the Mediterranean basin

  1. S. PAULA,
  2. J. G. PAUSAS*

Article first published online: 15 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01185.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 20, Issue 6, pages 941–947, December 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

PAULA, S. and PAUSAS, J. G. (2006), Leaf traits and resprouting ability in the Mediterranean basin. Functional Ecology, 20: 941–947. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01185.x

Author Information

  1. CEAM Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo, Charles R. Darwin 14, Parc Tecnològic, Paterna, València 46980, Spain

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: juli@ceam.es

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 15 SEP 2006
  3. Received 19 May 2006; revised 14 July 2006; accepted 17 July 2006Editor: Ken Thompson

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Keywords:

  • drought;
  • fire;
  • leaf mass per area (LMA);
  • leaf nitrogen;
  • water-use efficiency (WUE)

Summary

  • 1
    Resprouting is a primary persistence mechanism in fire- and drought-prone ecosystems. Plants with this mechanism (resprouters) tend to exhibit deeper root-system and higher stem and leaf water potential. We test the extent to which non-resprouters counteract their lower root allocation by means of leaf traits that confer higher drought resistance.
  • 2
    Leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), area-based leaf nitrogen content (LNCa) and integrated water-use efficiency (δ13C) were measured for 33 woody species in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Phylogeny and biogeographical history (Tertiary vs Quaternary) were considered in all comparisons.
  • 3
    Non-resprouters showed higher LMA, LNCa and δ13C when considering either all species, or Quaternary species only. Tertiary and Quaternary resprouters differed exclusively in δ13C, which was higher for Tertiary species.
  • 4
    These results suggest that, at leaf level, non-resprouters have higher potential for structural resistance to drought and higher water-use efficiency than resprouters. We propose that the existence of a physiological trade-off at leaf level between drought resistance and carbon gain should explain the leaf-trait values exhibited by resprouters.
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