title: Leaf N and P stoichiometry in relation to leaf shape and plant size for Quercus acutissima provenances across China.
abstract: Plant stoichiometry in relation to the structure and function of biological systems has been investigated at multiple scales. However, few studies have focused on the roles of stoichiometry for a given species. In this study, we determined leaf N and P stoichiometry, leaf shape and plant size in three Quercus acutissima common gardens with different climatic and site conditions. In the three common gardens, leaf N and P stoichiometry was significantly correlated with leaf shape and plant size, suggesting that leaf N and P stoichiometry affects the morphological performance of the leaves and stem. The scaling slopes of the relationships between leaf N and P stoichiometry and leaf shape ranged from |0.12| to |1.00|, while the slopes of the relationships between leaf N and P stoichiometry and plant size ranged from |0.95| to |2.66|. These results suggest that non-functional tissues (stem) are more susceptible to leaf nutrition than functional tissues (leaves), and leaf stoichiometry is more important in the construction of non-functional tissues (stem). Between the northernmost and southernmost common gardens, leaf N and leaf width (W), N:P and stem height (H), and N:P and stem diameter (D) showed significant covariations, which indicates that leaf N and W, N:P and plant size exhibit similar plastic responses to environmental change.
authors.affiliation: East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang 311400, PR China.|Forestry College, Shanxi Agriculture University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Forestry College, Shanxi Agriculture University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiuqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang 311400, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0317, USA.
authors.forename: G Geoff
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang 311400, PR China.
authors.forename: Mukui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, Zhejiang 311400, PR China.
authors.forename: Tonggui
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002980:Climate; D005843:Geography; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029963:Quercus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen