Abstract:

The experimental sites were set on the north slope of Changbai Mountain. This paper investigated the tissue non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) content of Betula ermanii at the different elevations up to timberline during the growing season. The results indicated that the overall altitudinal trends of NSC in the Betula ermanii were increasing along elevation gradients, and no depletion of carbon reserves was found near the tree limit, suggesting that sink limitation determines woody plant life across this timberline ecotone community. The results also suggest that the stronger frost resistance of the plants located at a timberline elevation would be associated with their stronger synthesis of the carbohydrates.

Key words: Betula ermanii, nonstructural carbohydrates, timberline, Changbai Mountain