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To understand the adaptation mechanism of Machilus pauhoi seedlings to environmental changes, leaf functional traits of M. pauhoi seedlings from nine provenances, as well as relationships between leaf traits and environmental factors were analyzed. The results showed that leaf functional traits of M. pauhoi seedlings from different provenances showed significant intraspecific variations, with the coefficient of variation ranging from 8.8% to 28.2%. Specific leaf area, leaf relative water content, leaf tissue density and leaf thickness differed significantly among seedlings from different provenances, implying high leaf morphological plasticity. Moreover, leaf tissue density was positively correlated to leaf dry matter content and leaf relative water content, but negatively correlated to specific leaf area and leaf thickness. Specific leaf area showed significantly negative correlations with leaf dry matter content and leaf area. The covariation among those traits examined here indicated that M. pauhoi seedlings could adjust and balance the combination of leaf traits in response to environmental changes. Longitude, latitude, >10 °C annual accumulated temperature and mean annual temperature contributed largely to the variation of leaf functional traits of M. pauhoi seedlings. Leaf thickness decreased with the increase of longitude, while leaf dry matter content and leaf relative water content increased with the increase of longitude. Leaf tissue density was positively correlated with longitude and mean annual temperature, suggesting that longitude rather than mean annual temperature had greater effects on it. Leaf area was positively correlated with >10 °C annual accumulated temperature and longitude, indicating that annual accumulated temperature rather than longitude had greater effects on the variation of leaf area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of stand age on variation patterns of leaf C, N, P stoichiometric characteristics of Machilus pauhoi, two stands, i.e., 9 and 13 years old, were selected. The relationships between leaf nutrient contents (C, N and P) and diameters at breast height (DBH) of individual plants were analyzed. The data revealed that the individual variations of seedlings in M. pauhoi stands were strengthened with the stand development. The stand age had significant effects on leaf C, N, P contents and C:N ratio but not on C:P and N:P ratios. Specifically, the mean values of leaf C, N, P contents and N:P ratio in the 9-year-old stand were lower than those in the 13-year-old stand, whereas, inverse pattern of C:N and C:P ratios were found in the two stands. Furthermore, leaf N and P stoichiometry varied significantly within the stand. Specifically, leaf N and P contents, as well as their stoichiometric ratios, linearly correlated with DBH in the 9-year-old stand. On the contrary, leaf N and P stoichiometry showed quadratic correlation in 13-year-old stand (except leaf C:N which linearly correlated with DBH). Lastly, nutrient transfer rates of leaf N and P in the 9-year-old stand were higher than that in 13-year-old stand, and the discrepancies of leaf nutrient transfer strategy between growing and non-growing seasons were caused by the different growth phases and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]