Data from: Leaf C:P ratio as a universal indicator of photosynthesis in subtropical woody species: Stoichiometric thresholds and metabolic trade-offs
Data files
May 12, 2026 version files 196.94 KB
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Data_T1.csv
132.20 KB
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Data_T2.csv
59.48 KB
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README.md
5.27 KB
Abstract
The stoichiometric ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) serve as important indicators for assessing nutrient balance in forest ecosystems, but their relationships with photosynthetic dynamics require deeper characterization. This study systematically examined the associations between leaf C-N-P stoichiometry and photosynthetic traits across 92 dominant woody species in subtropical regions. We found that the C:P ratio exhibited unique evolutionary flexibility compared to other elemental ratios, showing its environmental plasticity. Among all stoichiometric parameters, leaf C:P displayed the strongest correlation with maximum net photosynthetic rate (Amax), closely linked with its coordinated variations in stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and specific leaf area.
In-depth metabolic analysis of 31 representative species revealed that leaf C:P ratio effectively captured two critical processes: (1) the accumulation patterns of photosynthetic products, and (2) the metabolic P allocation regulated by acid phosphatase activity. This dual sensitivity enabled C:P to serve as a synthetic indicator reflecting both carbon assimilation efficiency and phosphorus metabolic status. In contrast, N:P ratio showed limited predictive value for Amax due to its inability to integrate the co-variation of photosynthetic product dynamics and nutrient regulation.
Our findings establish leaf C:P ratio as a robust bioindicator for evaluating photosynthetic performance in subtropical forests. This metric not only enhances our capacity to monitor carbon sink potential but also provides critical insights for optimizing phosphorus management strategies in artificial afforestation programs.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.qz612jmwf
Description of the data and file structure
Data from: Leaf C:P ratio as a universal indicator of photosynthesis in subtropical woody species: Stoichiometric thresholds and metabolic trade-offs
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.qz612jmwf
Description of the data and file structure
This study systematically examined the associations between leaf C-N-P stoichiometry and photosynthetic traits across 92 dominant woody species in subtropical regions.
Files and variables
File: Data_T1.csv
Description: The basic physiological indicators of 92 tree species
Note: "null" indicates "no data". There are two reasons. 1. The sample collection quantity for some samples exceeded the requirement for biological replication, resulting in the absence of data in the physiological determination. 2. Some test results did not meet the detection limit of the instrument.
Variables
- Sample label:
- Lifestyle:
- Family:
- Species Name (Latin):
- abbreviation:
- Amax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum net photosynthetic rate
- Gs(mmol m-2 s-1): Stomatal conductance
- Tr(mmol m-2 s-1): Transpiration rate
- Rd(mol m-2 s-1): Respiratory rate
- Vcmax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum carboxylation rate
- Jmax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum electron transport rate
- TUP(mol m-2 s-1): Triose phosphate utilization rate
- C content(g g-1): Carbon content
- N content(g g-1): Nitrogen content (g g-1)
- N content(mg g-1): Phosphorus content (mg g-1)
- P content(g g-1): Phosphorus content (g g-1)
- P content(mg g-1): Phosphorus content (mg g-1)
- C:N: Ratio of carbon content/nitrogen content
- C:P: Ratio of carbon content/phosphorus content
- N:P: Ratio of nitrogen content/phosphorus content
- C:(N:P): Ratio of carbon content/(nitrogen content/phosphorus content)
- C:N:P: Ratio of carbon content/nitrogen content/phosphorus content
- (NP)/C: Value of (nitrogen content*phosphorus content)/carbon content
- ChlA(mg/cm2): Chlorophyll a content
- ChlB(mg/cm2): Chlorophyll b content
- ChlA+B(mg/cm2): Total chlorophyll content
- Car(mg/cm2): Carotenoids content
- Chla/b: Chlorophyll a/b ratio
- SLA(m2 kg-1): Specific leaf area
- LMA(g m-2): Leaf mass per area
- Water content(g g-1):
- PT: The total partition coefficient of N in the photosynthetic system.
- PC: The N partition coefficient in carboxylation system.
- PB: The N partition coefficient in the bioenergetic components.
- PL: The N partition coefficient in light harvesting pigment protein complex.
File: Data_T2.csv
Description: Advanced physiological indicators of 31 tree species
Variables
- Sample label:
- Lifestyle:
- Species Name (Latin):
- Soluble Protein(mg g-1):
- SDS Soluble Protein(mg g-1):
- Non Soluble Protein(mg g-1):
- Total Protein(mg g-1):
- Rubisco(mol g-1 min-1):
- AcinV(mg g-1 h-1): Acidic sucrose invertase activity
- NR(nmol h-1 g-1): Nitrate reductase activity
- NiR(nmol h-1 g-1): Nitrite reductase activity
- GLDH(mol h-1 g-1): Glutamine dehydrogenase activity
- GOGAT(mol h-1 g-1): Glutamate synthase activity
- ACP(mol min-1 g-1): Acid phosphatase activity
- Construction cost per mass(g glucose g-1):
- Construction cost per area(g glucose m-2):
- Amax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum net photosynthetic rate
- Vcmax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum carboxylation rate
- Jmax(mol m-2 s-1): Maximum electron transport rate
- C content(g g-1): Carbon content
- N content(g g-1): Nitrogen content (g g-1)
- N content(mg g-1): Phosphorus content (mg g-1)
- P content(g g-1): Phosphorus content (g g-1)
- P content(mg g-1): Phosphorus content (mg g-1)
- PNUE(mol mol-1 s-1): Photosynthetic nitrogen utilization efficiency
- PPUE(mol mol-1 s-1): Photosynthetic phosphorus utilization efficiency
- ChlA(mg/cm2): Chlorophyll a content
- ChlB(mg/cm2): Chlorophyll b content
- ChlA+B(mg/cm2): Total chlorophyll content
- Car(mg/cm2): Carotenoids content
- Chla/b: Chlorophyll a/b ratio
- SLA(m2 kg-1): Specific leaf area
- LMA(g m-2): Leaf mass per area
- Water content(g g-1):
- PT: The total partition coefficient of N in the photosynthetic system.
- PC: The N partition coefficient in carboxylation system.
- PB: The N partition coefficient in the bioenergetic components.
- PL: The N partition coefficient in light harvesting pigment protein complex.
- Free amino acid(mg g-1):
- Starch(mg g-1):
- Glucose(mg g-1):
- Sucrose(mg g-1):
- Fructose(mg g-1):
- Structure P proportion:
- Metabolic P proportion:
- Nucleic P proportion:
- Resident P proportion:
- Structure P content(mg g-1):
- Metabolic P content(mg g-1):
- Nucleic P content(mg g-1):
- Resident P content(mg g-1):
- C:N: Ratio of carbon content/nitrogen content
- C:P: Ratio of carbon content/phosphorus content
- N:P: Ratio of nitrogen content/phosphorus content
- C:N:P: Ratio of carbon content/nitrogen content/phosphorus content
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- N/A
Data was derived from the following sources:
- N/A