Sex-specific strategies of nutrient resorption associated with leaf economics in Populus euphratica

There are differences between sexes in physiological and functional traits and possibly in nutrient resorption, particularly in nutrient-poor environments. However, little is known about the extent of nutrient resorption from fine stems and fine roots, and how nutrient resorption is related to leaf economics in the males and females of dioecious trees.
We investigated nutrient resorption of different organs and explored whether nutrient resorption is associated with nutrient conservation traits of leaves (e.g. leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, LMA) in Populus euphratica females and males in four natural forests along the Tarim River, China.
Both female and male leaves had the highest N resorption efficiency (NRE), then stems and roots last. We found sexual dimorphism in leaf nutrient resorption at Shaya, Luntai, and Yuli forest sites, where P. euphratica males had higher leaf NRE than females, whereas females had a higher leaf P resorption efficiency (PRE). Moreover, the different nut...