title: Homogeneity of delta(15)N in needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) was altered by air pollution.
abstract: The present study investigated the changes of delta(15)N values in the tip, middle and base section (divided by the proportion to needle length) of current- and previous-year needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) from two declining forest stands suffering from air pollution, in comparison with one healthy stand. At the healthy stand, delta(15)N in the three sections of both current- and previous-year needles were found evenly distributed, while at the polluted stands, delta(15)N values in the needles were revealed significantly different from the tip to the base sections. The results implied that the distribution of delta(15)N among different parts or sections in foliages was not always homogeneous and could be affected by air pollution. We suggested that the difference of delta(15)N values among pine needle sections should be reconsidered and should not be primarily ignored when the needle delta(15)N values were used to assess plant responses to air pollution.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. kuangyw@scbg.ac.cn
authors.forename: Yuan Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Da Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fang Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: En Qing
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Guo Yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: De Qiang
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Long-bin
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000397:Air Pollution; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes