Relationships between population traits, nonstructural carbohydrates, and elevation in alpine stands of Vaccinium myrtillus.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Despite great attention given to the relationship between plant growth and carbon balance in alpine tree species, little is known about shrubs at the treeline. We hypothesized that the pattern of main nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) across elevations depends on the interplay between phenotypic trait plasticity, plant-plant interaction, and elevation.

Methods

We studied the pattern of NSCs (i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch) in alpine stands of Vaccinium myrtillus (above treeline) across an elevational gradient. In the same plots, we measured key growth traits (i.e., anatomical stem features) and shrub cover, evaluating putative relationships with NSCs.

Results

Glucose content was positively related with altitude, but negatively related with shrub

SUBMITTER: Casolo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7217170 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature