Abstract: Symplocos setchuanensis is a common species in Phyllostachys edulis forests. In order to study the response of leaf functional traits of S. setchuanensis to different disturbances induced by P. edulis, three disturbance degrees (pure bamboo forest, bamboo and broad-leaved forest, and pure broad-leaved forest) of P. edulis were studied. Results showed that specific leaf area (SLA) of S. setchuanensis seedlings decreased significantly with increasing bamboo disturbance degree. Leaf nitrogen content (LNC) increased with increasing disturbance degree, but no significant difference was found between leaf phosphorus content (LPC) and LNC/LPC ratio. In terms of leaf chlorophyll, both chl a and chl b reduced with increasing disturbance degree, whereas an increase in chla/chlb ratio was found. These results showed that leaf functional traits of S. setchuanensis had brought about a series of adaptive changes to disturbances induced by P. edulis. Furthermore, correlation analyses showed that chla and chlb were significantly positively correlated, chlb and total chlorophyll content were significantly negatively correlated with chla/chlb ratio. There was a positive correlation of LNC with SLA, LPC, and LNC/LPC, while LNC/LPC ratio was significantly negatively correlated with LPC, suggesting that phosphorus was still a limiting element in the plots disturbed by P. edulis. However, no correlation was found between LNC or LPC and chlorophyll content in our experiment, and further studies may be needed to explore the reasons.

Key words: Phyllostachys edulis, Symplocos setchuanensis, chlorophyll, leaf nitrogen content, leaf phosphorus content, specific leaf area