Variações sazonais nas concentrações de pigmentos e nutrientes em folhas de espécies de cerrado com diferentes estratégias fenológicas

Translated title of the contribution: Seasonal variations in leaf pigments and nutrients in "cerrado" species with different phenological patterns

Ana Paula F. Carvalho, Mercedes M.C. Bustamante, Alessandra R. Kozovits, Gregory P. Asner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several studies have been trying to establish relationships between environmental conditions and leaf traits. In the present study, concentrations of pigments (chlorophylls a, b, carotenoids and anthocyanins), N and P and specific leaf area (SLA) were measured in leaves of six "cerrado" species (three deciduous and three evergreen species) in two cerrado stricto sensu sites with differences in canopy cover and in different periods: at the beginning of the dry season (June), end of dry season (September) and beginning of the rainy season (November). Nutrient concentrations differed significantly as a function of phenology and seasonality while pigments were more sensitive to changes in vegetation structure. The highest chlorophyll a and b concentrations were measured at the beginning of the dry season (June) in comparison to the end of the dry season (September) in both sites. In June, chlorophyll a and b concentrations were higher in the denser cerrado while the chlorophyll a/b ratio was lower. Total chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio was also significantly higher in the denser cerrado at the beginning of the dry season due to the higher chlorophyll concentration. Deciduous species showed higher SLA mean values than evergreen species, in dry and wet season but higher N and P concentrations were found in the evergreen species. In both phenological groups, N and P concentrations and the N:P ratios were higher in the wet season (November) than in the dry season (June).

Translated title of the contributionSeasonal variations in leaf pigments and nutrients in "cerrado" species with different phenological patterns
Original languagePortuguese
Pages (from-to)19-27
Number of pages9
JournalRevista Brasileira de Botanica
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chlorophylls
  • Phenology
  • Savanna
  • Specific leaf area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

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