Evolution Of Nutrient Resorption Across The Herbaceous Genus Helianthus

Keywords

Leaf economics spectrum; Nutrient resorption; Selection; Sunflowers; Tannins; Traits

Abstract

Foliar nutrient resorption is a key modulator of plant nutrient use. However, evolutionary patterns for nutrient resorption remain unclear, especially in herbs. We measured nitrogen and phosphorus resorption on preselected leaves across the Helianthus (sunflower) genus in a common garden in Athens, GA. We analyzed our data with published leaf traits and native habitat environmental data. Using phylogenetically controlled analyses, we tested if (1) nutrient resorption correlates with leaf economic, vasculature, and defense traits through evolutionary time, and (2) native habitat environment predicts nutrient resorption evolution. For Helianthus, nutrient resorption capacity is greater in resource-conservative species, as previously defined for Helianthus with a principle components analysis of leaf economic spectrum traits (photosynthetic rate, respiration rate, leaf lifespan, leaf mass per area, and green-leaf N and P concentrations). Nutrient resorption capacity also evolutionarily correlates with individual leaf economic traits, though not always as expected based on broad species surveys. Greater nutrient resorption is also positively associated with leaf chemical defenses, but not leaf vasculature or senescence rate. Finally, nitrogen resorption evolution increases with native habitat precipitation, but native habitat soil fertility does not predict nitrogen or phosphorus resorption. Our results suggest nutrient resorption evolution is more closely tied to resource economic strategy than native habitat.

Publication Date

8-1-2018

Publication Title

Plant Ecology

Volume

219

Issue

8

Number of Pages

887-899

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-018-0841-3

Socpus ID

85047663279 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85047663279

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