Leaf mass per unit area (LMA), carbon and nitrogen contents, leaf construction cost, and photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) of Adiantum reniforme var. sinensis, an endangered fern endemic to the Three Gorges region in southwest China, were compared in five populations differing in habitat such as soil moisture and irradiance. The low soil moisture and high irradiance habitat population exhibited significantly higher LMA, area-based leaf construction (CCA), and carbon content (CA), but lower leaf nitrogen content per unit dry mass (NM) than the other habitat populations. The high soil moisture and low irradiance habitat populations had the lowest CCA, but their cost/benefic ratios of CCA/P max were similar to the medium soil moisture and irradiance habitat population due to their lower leaf Pmax. Hence A. reniforme var. sinensis prefers partially shaded, moist but well-drained, slope habitats. Due to human activities, however, its main habitats now are cliffs or steeply sloped bare rocks with poor and thin soil. The relatively high energy requirements and low photosynthetic capacity in these habitats could limit the capability of the species in extending population or interspecific competition and hence increase its endangerment. and J. X. Liao ... [et al.].
Thick sun leaves have a larger construction cost per unit leaf area than thin shade leaves. To re-evaluate the adaptive roles of sun and shade leaves, we compared the photosynthetic benefits relative to the construction cost of the leaves. We drew photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)-response curves using the leaf-mass-based photosynthetic rate to reflect the cost. The dark respiration rates of the sun and shade leaves of mulberry (Morus bombycis Koidzumi) seedlings did not differ significantly. At irradiances below 250 µmol m-2 s-1, the shade leaves tended to have a significantly larger net photosynthetic rate (PN) than the sun leaves. At irradiances above 250 µmol m-2 s-1, the PN did not differ significantly. The curves indicate that plants with thin shade leaves have a larger daily CO2 assimilation rate per construction cost than those with thick sun leaves, even in an open habitat. These results are consistently explained by a simple model of PAR extinction in a leaf. We must target factors other than the effective assimilation when we consider the adaptive roles of thick sun leaves. and M. Tateno, H. Taneda.