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Seasonal Changes in Photosynthetic Nitrogen of Tree Species Differing in Leaf Phenology in a South-eastern Brazilian Savanna

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Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity

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Abstract

Dominant tree species from a south-eastern Brazilian savanna showing different leaf phenologies (evergreen, semi-deciduous and deciduous) were characterized regarding photosynthetic potential (A), leaf nitrogen content (% N), specific leaf area (SLA), photosynthetic nitrogen (PN) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE). The ecophysiological traits evaluated seasonally (dry and wet season) characterized a gradient of strategies among three species: the evergreen species that dominates lower strata, showed low % N, SLA, Amax and Amass and high PNUE; the semi-deciduous species that dominates intermediate strata, showed medium leaf nitrogen and SLA and high Amax, Amass and PNUE; the deciduous species that dominates the canopy, showed high leaf N, SLA, Amax and Amass and low PNUE. Non deciduous species invested relatively more nitrogen in photosynthesis during the wet season, while the deciduous species maintained higher PN in the dry season. Photosynthetic N and PNUE appear to be the key to a better understanding of the relations among leaf traits, N content and photosynthetic potential in species with different leaf phenologies and subjected to climatic seasonality.

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Acknowledgments

We thank H.J. Ribeiro, the Park director who gave permission to work in Vassununga State Park and provided logistic support, Biota Fapesp Program which provided full financial support of this project and a research masters fellowship for the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Sabrina R. Latansio-Aidar

  2. CENA/Esalq, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 96, 13400-970, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Luciana D. Colleta

  3. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (CCST/INPE), Avenida dos Astronautas, 1758, 12227-010, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Jean P.H.B. Ometto

  4. Instituto de Botânica, CP 4005, 01061-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Marcos P.M. Aidar

Authors
  1. Sabrina R. Latansio-Aidar
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  2. Luciana D. Colleta
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  3. Jean P.H.B. Ometto
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  4. Marcos P.M. Aidar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sabrina R. Latansio-Aidar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Edinburgh Research Station, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom

    Mark A. Sutton

  2. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Edinburgh Research Station, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom

    Kate E. Mason

  3. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Edinburgh Research Station, Penicuik, United Kingdom

    Lucy J. Sheppard

  4. University of Lund Department of Chemical Engineering II, Lund, Sweden

    Harald Sverdrup

  5. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, Washington, USA

    Richard Haeuber

  6. Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom

    W. Kevin Hicks

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Latansio-Aidar, S., Colleta, L., Ometto, J., Aidar, M. (2014). Seasonal Changes in Photosynthetic Nitrogen of Tree Species Differing in Leaf Phenology in a South-eastern Brazilian Savanna. In: Sutton, M., Mason, K., Sheppard, L., Sverdrup, H., Haeuber, R., Hicks, W. (eds) Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_20

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