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Nitrogen resorption efficiency in mature trees and seedlings of four tree species co-occurring in a Mediterranean environment

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Abstract

Background and aims

Many studies have revealed marked changes in the patterns of nitrogen use along ontogeny in tree species. However, there are no reports of the ontogenetic changes in resorption efficiency, despite the fact that nitrogen resorption from senescing leaves is one of the most important plant mechanisms to conserve and optimize the use of this nutrient. Our objective is to analyze the differences in nitrogen resorption between seedlings and adults and to elucidate which of the leaf traits changing along ontogeny determine these possible differences.

Methods

Green and senescent leaves were sampled from five seedlings and mature specimens of four tree species. N resorption efficiencies were calculated from the differences between N contents in green and shed leaves collected from the same specimens. Minimum N concentrations in leaf litter were used as an estimation of resorption proficiency.

Results

N concentration in green leaves and N resorption efficiency were higher in adult specimens for all species. However, with the exception of Pinus pinea, there were no significant differences in proficiency.

Conclusions

Contrary to our expectations, the species studied seem to have a lower potential for N resorption during the initial stages of their life cycle. The higher N concentrations seen in adult leaves could explain the higher percentage they are able to withdraw during senescence, probably because they have higher amounts of readily translocatable soluble molecules.

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Acknowledgments

This paper has received financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación—EU-FEDER (Project N° BOS2002-02165 and CGL2010-21187).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology. Faculty of Biology, University of Salamanca, 37071, Salamanca, Spain

    Sonia Mediavilla, Javier García-Iglesias, Patricia González-Zurdo & Alfonso Escudero

Authors
  1. Sonia Mediavilla
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  2. Javier García-Iglesias
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  3. Patricia González-Zurdo
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  4. Alfonso Escudero
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Correspondence to Sonia Mediavilla.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Mediavilla, S., García-Iglesias, J., González-Zurdo, P. et al. Nitrogen resorption efficiency in mature trees and seedlings of four tree species co-occurring in a Mediterranean environment. Plant Soil 385, 205–215 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2230-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2230-6

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