Homogeneity of δ15N in needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) was altered by air pollution

Kuang, Yuan Wen; Wen, Da Zhi; Li, Jiong; Sun, Fang Fang; Hou, Qing En; Zhou, Guo Yi; Zhang, De Qiang; Huang, Lon-bin

Homogeneity of δ15N in needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) was altered by air pollution

2010

The present study investigated the changes of δ15N values in the tip, middle and base section (divided by the proportion to needle length) of current- and previous-year needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) from two declining forest stands suffering from air pollution, in comparison with one healthy stand. At the healthy stand, δ15N in the three sections of both current- and previous-year needles were found evenly distributed, while at the polluted stands, δ15N values in the needles were revealed significantly different from the tip to the base sections. The results implied that the distribution of δ15N among different parts or sections in foliages was not always homogeneous and could be affected by air pollution. We suggested that the difference of δ15N values among pine needle sections should be reconsidered and should not be primarily ignored when the needle δ15N values were used to assess plant responses to air pollution.

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