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Nitrogen Isotope Ratios Shift with Plant Size in Tropical Bromeliads

We describe an ontogenetic shift in nitrogen (N) isotopic values in two rosette-forming epiphytic bromeliads. Leaf tissue N isotope values of small individuals of two bromeliad species (mean -6.2‰) differed from those of large individuals within each species (mean -0.5‰). Using references for potent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 2003-12, Vol.137 (4), p.587-590
Main Authors: Alexandra Reich, Ewel, John J., Nadkarni, Nalini M., Dawson, Todd, Evans, R. Dave
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We describe an ontogenetic shift in nitrogen (N) isotopic values in two rosette-forming epiphytic bromeliads. Leaf tissue N isotope values of small individuals of two bromeliad species (mean -6.2‰) differed from those of large individuals within each species (mean -0.5‰). Using references for potential N sources, we calculated the relative contribution of autochthonous (soil-derived through leaf litter) and allochthonous (atmospheric deposition) N with a two-member mixing model. Atmospheric sources contributed as much as 77-80% of the N in small individuals, whereas soil-derived N contributed 64-72% (conservative reference value) to 100% (less conservative reference value) of leaf tissue N in large plants. Shifts in N source with increasing plant size may be important aspects of rainforest complexity, an understudied aspect of ecosystem diversity.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/s00442-003-1386-1