Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/16220
Title: Variation in nitrogen use strategies and photosynthetic pathways among vascular epiphytes in the Brazilian Central Amazon
Other Titles: Variação nas estratégias de uso do nitrogênio e nas vias fotossintéticas entre epífitas vasculares na região Central da Amazônia, Brasil
Authors: Mardegan, Sílvia Fernanda
Nardoto, G. B.
Higuchi, Niro
Reinert, Fernanda
Martinelli, Luiz Antônio
Keywords: Aldina Heterophylla
Araceae
Bromeliaceae
Orchidaceae
Issue Date: 2011
metadata.dc.publisher.journal: Revista Brasileira de Botanica
metadata.dc.relation.ispartof: Volume 34, Número 1, Pags. 21-30
Abstract: (Variation in nitrogen use strategies and photosynthetic pathways among vascular epiphytes in the Brazilian Central Amazon). The variation in nitrogen use strategies and photosynthetic pathways among vascular epiphyte families was addressed in a white-sand vegetation in the Brazilian Central Amazon. Foliar nitrogen and carbon concentrations and their isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C, respectively) were measured in epiphytes (Araceae, Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae) and their host trees. The host tree Aldina heterophylla had higher foliar N concentration and lower C:N ratio (2.1 ± 0.06% and 23.6 ± 0.8) than its dwellers. Tree foliar δ15N differed only from that of the orchids. Comparing the epiphyte families, the aroids had the highest foliar N concentration and lowest C:N ratios (1.4 ± 0.1% and 34.9 ± 4.2, respectively). The orchids had more negative foliar δ15N values (-3.5 ± 0.2‰) than the aroids (-1.9 ± 0.7‰) and the bromeliads (-1.1 ± 0.6‰). Within each family, aroid and orchid taxa differed in relation to foliar N concentrations and C:N ratios, whereas no internal variation was detected within bromeliads. The differences in foliar δ15N observed herein seem to be related to the differential reliance on the available N sources for epiphytes, as well as to the microhabitat quality within the canopy. In relation to epiphyte foliar δ13C, the majority of epiphytes use the waterconserving CA M-pathway (δ13C values around -17‰), commonly associated with plants that live under limited and intermittent water supply. Only the aroids and one orchid taxon indicated the use of C3-pathway (δ13C values around -30‰).
metadata.dc.identifier.doi: 10.1590/S0100-84042011000100003
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