Comparative physiology of canopy tree leaves in evergreen and deciduous forests in lowland Thailand

The typical seasonally dry forests in Southeast Asia are the mixed deciduous forest (MDF), dry dipterocarp (deciduous) forest (DDF), and dry evergreen forest (DEF). We obtained 21 physiological traits in the top/sunlit leaves of 107, 65 and 51 tree species in MDF, DEF and DDF, respectively. Approximately 70%, 95% and 95% of canopy tree species which consist of MDF, DEF and DDF are sampled, respectively. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates (A(sat)) exhibit a positive correlation with foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on leaf mass and area bases across tree species. Decreased leaf mass-based P reduces the positive slope of the mass-based N and A(sat) relationship across species and habitats. The differences in nutrient and water use and leaf habits are well matched to the variation in soil properties among the forest types, highlighting the reliability of this comprehensive database for revealing the mechanism of niche segregation based on edaphic factors.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the characteristics of the seasonally dry forests in Southeast Asia and found a positive correlation between light-saturated photosynthetic rates and foliar nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The differences in nutrient and water use and leaf habits were also matched to the variation in soil properties among the forest types.