Differences in plant function in phosphorus- and nitrogen-limited mangrove ecosystems

Mangrove ecosystems can be either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) limited and are therefore vulnerable to nutrient pollution. Nutrient enrichment with either N or P may have differing effects on ecosystems because of underlying differences in plant physiological responses to these nutrients in either...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:The New phytologist. - 1979. - 172(2006), 3 vom: 15., Seite 514-22
1. Verfasser: Lovelock, Catherine E (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Feller, Ilka C, Ball, Marilyn C, Engelbrecht, Bettina M J, Ewe, Mei Ling
Format: Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2006
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:The New phytologist
Schlagworte:Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Water 059QF0KO0R Phosphorus 27YLU75U4W Nitrogen N762921K75
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Mangrove ecosystems can be either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) limited and are therefore vulnerable to nutrient pollution. Nutrient enrichment with either N or P may have differing effects on ecosystems because of underlying differences in plant physiological responses to these nutrients in either N- or P-limited settings. Using a common mangrove species, Avicennia germinans, in sites where growth was either N or P limited, we investigated differing physiological responses to N and P limitation and fertilization. We tested the hypothesis that water uptake and transport, and hydraulic architecture, were the main processes limiting productivity at the P-limited site, but that this was not the case at the N-limited site. We found that plants at the P-deficient site had lower leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic carbon-assimilation rates, and less conductive xylem, than those at the N-limited site. These differences were greatly reduced with P fertilization at the P-limited site. By contrast, fertilization with N at the N-limited site had little effect on either photosynthetic or hydraulic traits. We conclude that growth in N- and P-limited sites differentially affect the hydraulic pathways of mangroves. Plants experiencing P limitation appear to be water deficient and undergo more pronounced changes in structure and function with relief of nutrient deficiency than those in N-limited ecosystems
Beschreibung:Date Completed 12.01.2007
Date Revised 30.09.2020
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137