%0 Research article
%T Leaf morphological and physiological responses of Quercus aquifolioides along an altitudinal gradient
%A Li, Chunyang
%A Zhang, Xuejiang
%A Liu, Xingliang
%A Luukkanen, Olavi
%A Berninger, Frank
%D 2006
%J Silva Fennica
%V 40
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.348
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/348
%X Quercus aquifolioides Rehder & E.H. Wilson, an evergreen alpine and  subalpine shrub species, occupies a wide range of habitats on the  eastern slopes of the Himalaya in China. In this study, we measured leaf  morphology, nitrogen content and carbon isotope composition (as an  indicator of water use efficiency) of Q. aquifolioides along an  altitudinal gradient. We found that these leaf morphological and  physiological responses to altitudinal gradients were non-linear with  increasing altitude. Specific leaf area, stomatal length and index  increased with increasing altitude below 2800 m, but decreased with  increasing altitude above 2800 m. In contrast, leaf nitrogen content per  unit area and carbon isotope composition showed opposite change  patterns. Specific leaf area seemed to be the most important parameter  that determined the carbon isotope composition along the altitudinal  gradient. Our results suggest that near 2800 m in altitude could be the  optimum zone for growth and development of Q. aquifolioides, and  highlight the importance of the influence of altitude in research on  plant physiological ecology.