LEAF CARBON, NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS STOICHIOMETRY OF Phragmites australis IN NORTHEASTERN CHINA

摘要

The aim of this study was to document the patterns of leaf C, N, P and their ratios to identify how these patterns varied with environmental variables. We measured leaf C, N and P concentrations of Phragmites australis at 5 marsh sites across northeastern China, and explored the effects of altitude, climate, and soil on leaf C, N and P. Results showed that leaf C, N, P and N/P were negatively related to altitude, and positively, except leaf P, to mean annual temperature and precipitation, while leaf C/N and C/P ratios showed opposite trends. Furthermore, leaf P was positively related to soil P and negatively to soil pH. The pattern of leaf P was more stable than leaf C and N responding to changing environment and had stronger stoichiometric homeostasis. Leaf chemical traits on species level were mainly determined by temperature, precipitation and soil nutrients distribution.