%0 Journal Article
%A Wen-Yuan Kao
%A Chun-Sheng Lu and Yih-Chi Chang
%T Foliar Nutrient Dynamics of Five Dominant Plant Species in Yuanyang Lake Nature Preserve, Taiwan
%D 2004
%J Taiwania
%V 49
%N 1
%P 49-56
%U https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/15
%X The vegetation composition of Yuanyang Lake (YYL), a subalpine natural preserve in Taiwan, could be divided into two major communities, the coniferous-hardwood and the swamp communities. Nutrient contents of N, P, K and Mg in mature and senescent leaves of Chamaecyparis obtuse var. formosana and Rhododendron formosanum, dominating the coniferous-hardwood community, Sparganium fallax, Schoenoplectus mucronatus subsp. Robustus, and Miscanthus transmorrisonensis, the swamp community, were measured in April, July and October of 2002 and January of 2003. The objectives of this study were to compare the seasonal changes in nutrient contents of leaves among the five species and to determine the extent of nutrient loss in these species prior to leaf fall. In general, mature leaves of marsh plants had higher N, P and K contents than those of the two terrestrial plants. Among the nutrients measured, only Mg contents showed consistently seasonal trend. Mature and senescent leaves of the five species had consistently higher Mg contents in April than those collected in other seasons. In comparison between mature and senescent leaves, senescent leaves always had significantly lower N, P, and K contents than mature leaves, indicating loss of these nutrients from aging leaves. Potassium was the greatest among the nutrients lost. In
comparison between terrestrial and marsh plants, senescent leaves of marsh plants lost significantly more P than those of the two terrestrial plants.
%M doi:10.6165/tai.2004.49(1).49