Global patterns of plant leaf N and P in relation to temperature and latitude

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0403588101
• Publication Date: 2004-06-23T00:54:24Z
• Authors: Peter B. Reich; Jacek Oleksyn
• Keywords: Biogeochemistry; Tropical climate; Limiting

A global data set including 5,087 observations of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for 1,280 plant species at 452 sites associated mean climate indices demonstrates broad biogeographic patterns. In general, N P decline the N/P ratio increases toward equator as average temperature growing season length increase. These patterns are similar five dominant groups, coniferous trees four angiosperm groups (grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees). results support hypotheses that ( i ) increase from tropics to cooler drier midlatitudes because temperature-related physiological stoichiometry biogeographical gradients in soil substrate age then plateau or decrease high latitudes cold effects on biogeochemistry ii with equator, is a major limiting nutrient older tropical soils younger temperate high-latitude soils.