Trait-mediated nutrient resorption reveals element-specific conservation strategies in mangroves

The dataset contains measurements from 10 co-occurring mangrove species sampled in Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China, across dry and wet seasons. The species were classified by salt-regulation strategy as either salt-secretors or non-secretors. For each species and sampling plot, the dataset includes measurements of soil nutrients, green-leaf nutrient concentrations, nutrient resorption efficiencies, and leaf anatomical traits. This study tested the hypothesis that mangrove nutrient resorption efficiency is not only element-specific, but also shaped by salt-regulation strategy, seasonal variation, internal leaf nutrient status, and leaf anatomical traits. Specifically, we expected that species with different salt-regulation strategies, namely salt-secretors and non-secretors, would differ in their nutrient-conservation patterns, and that these differences would vary between dry and wet seasons. We also hypothesized that leaf anatomical traits and green-leaf nutrient concentrations would explain more variation in nutrient resorption than soil nutrient availability, because resorption is an internal nutrient-recycling process occurring during leaf senescence. The dataset includes nutrient data for 12 elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, sodium, and aluminium. Nutrient resorption efficiency, abbreviated as NuRE, was calculated by comparing nutrient concentrations in mature green leaves and senesced leaves, with correction for leaf mass loss during senescence. Positive NuRE values indicate that a nutrient was withdrawn from leaves before leaf fall, whereas negative NuRE values indicate net accumulation of that element in senescing leaves.The anatomical traits measured include palisade-to-spongy mesophyll ratio, epidermal thickness, guard cell length, stomatal density, vein diameter, and vein density. These traits describe leaf internal structure, epidermal investment, stomatal characteristics, and vascular architecture, all of which may influence nutrient storage, transport, and redistribution during senescence. This dataset can be used to examine how nutrient resorption efficiency varies among elements, seasons, species, and salt-regulation strategies in mangrove forests. It is suitable for testing relationships between nutrient resorption, green-leaf nutrient concentrations, soil nutrient availability, and leaf anatomical traits. Users should interpret NuRE values on an element-by-element basis, because positive values indicate nutrient withdrawal before leaf fall, whereas negative values indicate net accumulation in senescing leaves. Because the data were collected across co-occurring species and seasons, they can also be used to explore how mangrove nutrient-use strategies respond to environmental seasonality and species-level salt-regulation mechanisms.本数据集采集自中国海南东寨港国家级自然保护区内10种共域红树物种，覆盖旱季与雨季两个采样季节。研究团队依据盐分调控策略将这些物种划分为泌盐型（salt-secretors）与非泌盐型（non-secretors）两类。针对每个物种与采样样地，本数据集包含土壤养分、鲜叶养分浓度、养分回收效率以及叶片解剖性状的测定数据。本研究验证的科学假说为：红树植物的养分回收效率不仅具有元素特异性，同时受盐分调控策略、季节变化、叶片内部养分状态以及叶片解剖性状的共同调控。具体而言，研究假设不同盐分调控策略的物种（即泌盐型与非泌盐型）在养分保守策略上存在差异，且这种差异会随旱季与雨季的季节变化而有所不同。此外，本研究还提出假说：相较于土壤养分有效性，叶片解剖性状与鲜叶养分浓度能够更好地解释养分回收过程的变异——这是因为养分回收是叶片衰老过程中发生的内部养分循环过程。 本数据集包含12种元素的养分数据：氮、磷、钾、钙、镁、铁、锰、铜、锌、硼、钠及铝。养分回收效率（Nutrient Resorption Efficiency，简称NuRE）通过对比成熟鲜叶与衰老叶片的养分浓度，并校正叶片衰老过程中的质量损失计算得到。NuRE为正值时，表示该养分在叶片脱落前已从叶片中回收；而NuRE为负值时，则代表该元素在叶片衰老过程中发生了净积累。本次测定的叶片解剖性状包括栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比、表皮厚度、保卫细胞长度、气孔密度、叶脉直径及叶脉密度。这些性状分别表征叶片内部结构、表皮投入、气孔特征与维管架构，均可能影响叶片衰老过程中的养分储存、转运与再分配。 本数据集可用于探究红树林中养分回收效率在元素、季节、物种及盐分调控策略间的变异规律，适用于验证养分回收与鲜叶养分浓度、土壤养分有效性及叶片解剖性状之间的关联。使用者需针对单元素逐一解读NuRE数值，因其正值代表养分在叶片脱落前被回收，负值则代表元素在衰老叶片中发生净积累。由于本数据集采集自共域物种与不同季节，还可用于探究红树植物养分利用策略如何响应环境季节变化，以及物种水平的盐分调控机制。