@article{Dong:2017:10.5194/bg-14-481-2017,
author = {Dong, N and Prentice, IC and Evans, BJ and Caddy-Retalic, S and Lowe, AJ and Wright, IJ},
doi = {10.5194/bg-14-481-2017},
journal = {Biogeosciences},
pages = {481--495},
title = {Leaf nitrogen from first principles: field evidence for adaptive variation with climate},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-481-2017},
volume = {14},
year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Nitrogen content per unit leaf area (Narea) is a key variable in plant functional ecology and biogeochemistry. Narea comprises a structural component, which scales with leaf mass per area (LMA), and a metabolic component, which scales with Rubisco capacity. The co-ordination hypothesis, as implemented in LPJ and related global vegetation models, predicts that Rubisco capacity should be directly proportional to irradiance but should decrease with increases in ci : ca and temperature because the amount of Rubisco required to achieve a given assimilation rate declines with increases in both. We tested these predictions using LMA, leaf δ13C, and leaf N measurements on complete species assemblages sampled at sites on a north–south transect from tropical to temperate Australia. Partial effects of mean canopy irradiance, mean annual temperature, and ci : ca (from δ13C) on Narea were all significant and their directions and magnitudes were in line with predictions. Over 80% of the variance in community-mean (ln) Narea was accounted for by these predictors plus LMA. Moreover, Narea could be decomposed into two components, one proportional to LMA (slightly steeper in N-fixers), and the other to Rubisco capacity as predicted by the co-ordination hypothesis. Trait gradient analysis revealed ci : ca to be perfectly plastic, while species turnover contributed about half the variation in LMA and Narea.
AU  - Dong,N
AU  - Prentice,IC
AU  - Evans,BJ
AU  - Caddy-Retalic,S
AU  - Lowe,AJ
AU  - Wright,IJ
DO  - 10.5194/bg-14-481-2017
EP  - 495
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 1726-4189
SP  - 481
TI  - Leaf nitrogen from first principles: field evidence for adaptive variation with climate
T2  - Biogeosciences
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-481-2017
UR  - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000395169800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/45317
VL  - 14
ER  - 

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