title: Impact of soil and climatic conditions on within-species variation in leaf traits of evergreen plants in boreal forest ecosystems
reg no: ETF6677
project type: Estonian Science Foundation research grant
subject: 1.13. Botany
1.14. Ecology
status: accepted
institution: Tallinna Ülikooli Ökoloogia Instituut
head of project: Margus Pensa
duration: 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2007
description: The main objective of the present grant application is to study the within-species variation in leaf traits of boreal evergreen plants growing in contrasting soil and latitude conditions. It is known that the leaf longevity of evergreen conifers increases with the increasing environmental stress level, which is accompanied by the decline in photosynthetic capacity. It is thought that increase in leaf longevity compensates for declining photosynthesis, as greater leaf longevity enables higher total carbon gain in conditions where resources are limited. In general, changes in leaf longevity are paralleled by changes in other leaf traits, so that one trait can be used to predict the value of other traits. However, most of these generalisations are based on inter-specific comparisons but things may be different when within-species variation in leaf traits is considered. For example, studies of different Scots pine populations have shown that patterns in needle traits observed along nutrient availability gradient may have principally different nature than patterns observed across latitudes. These results show that our current understandings about leaf trait variability are not sufficient for predicting natural patterns. Knowledge on within-species variation in leaf traits of boreal evergreen plants helps to understand the functioning of boreal forest ecosystems and the impact of environmental change on these vulnerable ecosystems.

project group
no name institution position  
1.Valdo Liblik 
2.Aarne Luud 
3.Margus PensaTallinna Ülikooli Ökoloogia Instituut