Elevational gradients provide excellent opportunities to explore long-term morphological and physiological responses of plants to environmental change. We determined the difference in the elevational pattern of foliar carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) between lianas and trees, and assessed whether this difference arises from changes in photosynthesis or stomatal conductance. We also explored the pattern of nutrient limitations with the elevation of these two growth forms.

中文翻译：

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藤本植物和树木在南美和非洲热带森林的海拔梯度上表现出不同的内在用水效率

海拔梯度为探索植物对环境变化的长期形态和生理反应提供了极好的机会。我们确定了藤本植物和树木之间叶面碳同位素组成 (δ ¹³ C)海拔模式的差异，并评估了这种差异是否源于光合作用或气孔导度的变化。我们还探讨了随着这两种生长形式的升高，营养限制的模式。