Inconsistent intraspecific pattern in leaf life span along nitrogen-supply gradient

摘要

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Leaf life span (LLS) has long been hypothesized to plastically increase with decreasing nitrogen (N) supply from soil to maximize N retention, carbon assimilation, and fitness; however, accumulating evidence shows no consistent trend. The apparent inconsistencies are explained by a recent model that assumes LLS has a hump-shaped quadratic response to the N-supply gradient. The available evidence mostly originates from comparisons of LLS at only two levels of N availability, and the hypothesis remains unanswered.