Seed nutrient is more stable than leaf in response to changing multiple resources in an alpine meadow ...

• Main Authors: Li, Jiapu, Tian, Dashuan, Yu, Kailiang, Guo, Hongbo, Zhang, Ruiyang, Wang, Jinsong, Zhou, Qingping, Niu, Shuli
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2024
• Subjects: Ecology; FOS: Biological sciences; Plant Biology; Polygonum viviparum
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6823239.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Seed_nutrient_is_more_stable_than_leaf_in_response_to_changing_multiple_resources_in_an_alpine_meadow/6823239/1

Abstract Background It has been long thought that nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) concentrations and their ratios (N:P) in metabolically active or functional organs (i.e., leaves) are less responsive to environmental changes. Little attention, however, has been paid to the reproductive organs—seeds, while seeds may maintain their nutrients more stable for the evolutionary fitness of next generation. Methods Here, we conducted a field experiment of N, P addition and drought in an alpine meadow, aiming to compare the difference of leaf and seed nutrients and stoichiometric ratios in response to these resource treatments and their interactions. Four dominant species were selected among grass and forb functional groups, including Elymus nutans, Deschampsia caespitosa, Artemisia roxburghiana and Polygonum viviparum. Results Under natural conditions, leaf N and P concentrations were consistently lower than seed among species. However, leaf nutrients were much more sensitive than seed nutrients to N and P addition. ...