Data for: "Carbon and nutrient solubility in live and dead <i>Betula pubescens</i> leaves across a boreal retrogressive chronosequence"

1. Leaching – the release of elements from organic matter through dissolution in water – plays an important role in biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem processes. However, our limited understanding of the patterns and underlying drivers of element solubility in leaves hinders accurate predictions of leaching over space and time in terrestrial ecosystems.2. In this study, we quantify the solubility of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from leaves of Betula pubescens – a widespread boreal tree species – across a post-fire retrogressive chronosequence. We then relate solubility to variation in leaf-level traits and ecosystem properties (e.g.: soil chemistry, tree density and productivity) across the chronosequence to quantify micro- and macro-scale determinants of leaching.3. We find that P is much more soluble than C and N and is released in solution mainly in readily accessible mineral form. Solubility patterns are strongly related to foliar chemical and structural traits, particularly for green leaves. Metrics related to ecosystem properties exert a stronger influence over solubility from senesced leaf litter. 4. Overall, our results indicate that leaching could constitute an important flux of nutrients to the soil, particularly for P. The rate and spatio-temporal pattern of this leaching flux may be predicted from foliar traits and ecosystem properties. Further application of the method should allow for rapid integration of leaching-related foliar traits into broader plant trait frameworks and models of ecosystem biogeochemical cycling.<br>1. 淋溶（Leaching）——指有机质通过水溶解作用释放元素的过程——在生物地球化学循环（biogeochemical cycling）与生态系统过程中发挥着重要作用。然而，当前学界对叶片元素溶解模式及其内在驱动机制的认知不足，阻碍了对陆地生态系统中淋溶过程时空动态的精准预测。2. 本研究针对广泛分布的寒带乔木毛桦（Betula pubescens），在火后退化演替序列中定量其叶片碳（C）、氮（N）与磷（P）的溶解能力。随后，研究将叶片溶解能力与演替序列中叶片水平性状及生态系统属性（如土壤化学性质、树木密度与生产力）的变化关联起来，以量化淋溶过程的微观与宏观决定因子。3. 研究发现，磷（P）的溶解能力远高于碳（C）与氮（N），且主要以易于被获取的矿质形态溶于溶液中。溶解模式与叶片化学及结构性状显著相关，其中鲜叶的关联度尤为突出；而与生态系统属性相关的指标则对衰老凋落叶的溶解能力影响更强。4. 总体而言，本研究结果表明淋溶可成为向土壤输入养分的重要通量，尤以磷（P）为甚。该淋溶通量的速率与时空模式可通过叶片性状及生态系统属性进行预测。进一步推广该研究方法，可将淋溶相关叶片性状快速整合至更广泛的植物性状框架与生态系统生物地球化学循环模型中。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集提供了白桦树叶在北方森林火灾后退化时间序列中碳、氮、磷溶解性的实验数据，用于研究叶片性状和生态系统属性如何影响养分淋溶过程。研究发现磷的溶解性高于碳和氮，且溶解模式与叶片化学和结构性状密切相关，有助于预测土壤养分通量。数据支持将淋溶相关性状整合到植物性状框架和生物地球化学循环模型中。