| Height |
Competitive vigour, resource availability. Taller plants are likely to settle in areas with nutrient-rich soils. |
(Lammerts et al. 1999Lammerts EJ, Pegtel DM, Grootjans AP & Van Der Veen A (1999) Nutrient limitation and vegetation changes in a coastal dune slack. Journal of Vegetation Science 10: 111-122.; Cornelissen et al. 2003Cornelissen JHC, Lavorel S, Garnier E, Díaz S, Buchmann N, Gurvich DE, Reich PB, Ter Steege H, Morgan HD, Van Der Heijden MG a, Pausas JG & Poorter H (2003) A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide. Aust J Bot 51:335–380.) |
| Leaf area |
Changes in the leaf area represent a functional strategy associated with the availability of water and/or soil nutrients. For example, small leaf size maintain leaf temperature and greater photosynthetic and water use efficiency under the combination of high solar radiation, low availability of water and nutrients and Salinity. |
(Sharma 1996; Ackerly et al. 2002) |
| Dry mass |
Is a predictor of nutrient availability in the soil. The increase in the availability of P and K in soils promotes a gradual biomass allocation |
(Marschner 1995Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London. 889p.; Lawrence 2001Lawrence D (2001) Nitrogen and phosphorus enhance growth and luxury consumption of four secondary forest tree species in Borneo. Journal of Tropical Ecology 17: 859-869.) |
| SLA |
Reports on leaf longevity, photosynthetic rate and growth rate, Positively related with leaf nitrogen (N) concentration. Low SLA values have been associated with low soil N and P |
(Wright et al. 2004Wright IJ, Reich PB, Westoby M, Ackerly DD, Baruch Z, Bongers F, Cavender-Bares J, Chapin T, Cornelissen JHC, Diemer M, Flexas J, Garnier E, Groom PK, Gulias J, Hikosaka K, Lamont BB, Lee T, Lee W, Lusk C, Midgley JJ, Navas M-L, Niinemets U, Oleksyn J, Osada N, Poorter H, Poot P, Prior L, Pyankov VI, Roumet C, Thomas SC, Tjoelker MG, Veneklaas EJ & Villar R (2004) The worldwide leaf economics spectrum. Nature 428: 821-7.; Maire et al. 2015) |
| Chlorophyll index |
Chlorophylls absorb light energy and transfer it to the photosynthetic apparatus. In this way, its quantification can provide valuable information about the physiological performance of the leaves. Communities with greater abiotic stress tend to have less chlorophyll content. |
(Sims & Gamon 2002; Spasojevic & Suding 2012) |
| Fv/Fm |
Indicative of efficiency in the use of radiation by photochemistry and, consequently, the assimilation of carbon. Saline stress causes a complex effect on metabolism, resulting in ionic toxicity that interfere with the physical conditions of the soil or the availability of other elements, indirectly affecting the development of plants. |
(Tester & Bacic 2005) |
| Leaf water potential |
Is a simple indicator of the leaf’s water status; the more negative the value, the more dehydrated the leaf. The water potential of the leaf tends to decrease as the evaporative demand increases. The hydraulic deficit results in decreased growth and development. |
(Bréda et al. 2006Bréda N, Huc R, Garnier A, Dreyer E, Granier A & Dreyer E (2006) Temperate forest trees and stands under severe drought: a review of ecophysiological responses, adaptation processes and long-term consequences. Annals of Forest Science 63: 625-644.) |
| P |
Leaf P concentration and leaf N:P were related to soil total P alone. The sequence of responses suggests that increased available P promoted an increase in photosynthetic area which led to increased wood production |
(Herbert & Fownes 1995; Ordoñez et al. 2009) |
| Na+ |
Salinity reduced leaf area and number of tillers, and increased Na+ and Cl− concentrations in leaves. |
(Sharma 1996) |
| K+ |
The uptake of K by the leaves can increase the turgor and contribute to a greater water potential |
(Tanguilig et al. 1987Tanguilig V., Yambao EB, O’Toole JC & De Datta SK (1987) Water stress effects on leaf elongation, leaf water potential, transpiration, and nutrient uptake of rice, maize, and soybean. Plant Soil 103: 155-168.). |
| N |
Leaf N concentration was related to both soil C:N and soil total P |
(Ordoñez et al. 2009) |
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
