Foliar δ¹³C Showed No Altitudinal Trend in an Arid Region and Atmospheric Pressure Exerted a Negative Effect on Plant δ¹³C.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have suggested foliar δ¹³C generally increases with altitude. However, some observations reported no changes or even decreased trends in foliar δ¹³C. We noted that all the studies in which δ¹³C increased with elevation were conducted in the human regions, whereas those investigations in which δ¹³C did not vary or decreased were conducted in areas with water stress. Thus, we proposed that the pattern of increasing δ¹³C with elevation is not a general one, and that δ¹³C may remain unchanged or decrease in plants grown in arid environments. To test the hypothesis, we sampled plants along altitude gradients on the shady and sunny slopes of Mount Tianshan characterized by arid and semiarid climates. The measureme

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5495824 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature