Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad?
Plant size influences the leaf nutrient relations of many species, but no cycad species has been studied in this regard. We used the arborescent <i>Cycas micronesica</i> K.D. Hill to quantify leaf nutrient concentrations of trees with stems up to 5.5-m in height to determine if height in...
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doaj-f6706c6b341245ca9261b53624eaf3fb2020-11-24T23:28:18ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372018-12-01745110.3390/biology7040051biology7040051Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad?Thomas E. Marler0Murukesan V. Krishnapillai1College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USACooperative Research and Extension, College of Micronesia-FSM, Yap Campus, Yap 96943, MicronesiaPlant size influences the leaf nutrient relations of many species, but no cycad species has been studied in this regard. We used the arborescent <i>Cycas micronesica</i> K.D. Hill to quantify leaf nutrient concentrations of trees with stems up to 5.5-m in height to determine if height influenced leaf nutrients. Green leaves were sampled in a karst, alkaline habitat in Rota and a schist, acid habitat in Yap. Additionally, senesced leaves were collected from the trees in Yap. Minerals and metals were quantified in the leaf samples and regressed onto stem height. Green leaf nitrogen, calcium, manganese, and iron decreased linearly with increased stem height. Senesced leaf carbon, iron, and copper decreased and senesced leaf nitrogen increased with stem height. Nitrogen resorption efficiency decreased with stem height. Phosphorus and potassium resorption efficiencies were not influenced by plant size, but were greater than expected based on available published information. The results indicate leaf nutrient concentrations of this cycad species are directly influenced by plant size, and illuminate the need for adding more cycad species to this research agenda. Plant size should be measured and reported in all cycad reports that include measurements of leaf behavior.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/7/4/51allometry<i>Cycas micronesica</i>growth rate hypothesisresorption efficiencyresorption proficiency |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Thomas E. Marler Murukesan V. Krishnapillai |
spellingShingle |
Thomas E. Marler Murukesan V. Krishnapillai Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? Biology allometry <i>Cycas micronesica</i> growth rate hypothesis resorption efficiency resorption proficiency |
author_facet |
Thomas E. Marler Murukesan V. Krishnapillai |
author_sort |
Thomas E. Marler |
title |
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? |
title_short |
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? |
title_full |
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? |
title_fullStr |
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad? |
title_sort |
does plant size influence leaf elements in an arborescent cycad? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Biology |
issn |
2079-7737 |
publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
description |
Plant size influences the leaf nutrient relations of many species, but no cycad species has been studied in this regard. We used the arborescent <i>Cycas micronesica</i> K.D. Hill to quantify leaf nutrient concentrations of trees with stems up to 5.5-m in height to determine if height influenced leaf nutrients. Green leaves were sampled in a karst, alkaline habitat in Rota and a schist, acid habitat in Yap. Additionally, senesced leaves were collected from the trees in Yap. Minerals and metals were quantified in the leaf samples and regressed onto stem height. Green leaf nitrogen, calcium, manganese, and iron decreased linearly with increased stem height. Senesced leaf carbon, iron, and copper decreased and senesced leaf nitrogen increased with stem height. Nitrogen resorption efficiency decreased with stem height. Phosphorus and potassium resorption efficiencies were not influenced by plant size, but were greater than expected based on available published information. The results indicate leaf nutrient concentrations of this cycad species are directly influenced by plant size, and illuminate the need for adding more cycad species to this research agenda. Plant size should be measured and reported in all cycad reports that include measurements of leaf behavior. |
topic |
allometry <i>Cycas micronesica</i> growth rate hypothesis resorption efficiency resorption proficiency |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/7/4/51 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT thomasemarler doesplantsizeinfluenceleafelementsinanarborescentcycad AT murukesanvkrishnapillai doesplantsizeinfluenceleafelementsinanarborescentcycad |
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