Knowledge of how leaf characteristics might be used to deduce information on ecosystem functioning and how this caling task could be done is limited. In this study, we present field data for leaf lifespan, specific leaf area SLA) and mass and area-based leaf nitrogen concentrations (Nmass, Narea) of dominant tree species and the ssociated stand foliage N-pool, leaf area index (LAI), root biomass, aboveground biomass, net primary roductivity (NPP) and soil available-N content in six undisturbed forest plots along subtropical to timberline gradients on he eastern slope of the Gongga Mountains. We developed a methodology to calculate the whole-canopy mean leaf raits to include all tree species (groups) in each of the six plots through a series of weighted averages scaled up from leaf-level measurements.

Much uncertainty in estimating root biomass density (RBD, root mass per unit area) of all roots regionally exists because of methodological difficulties and little knowledge about the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the magnitude and distribution pattern of RBD. In this study, we collected field data of RBD from 22 sites along the Tibetan Alpine Vegetation Transects executed with the same sampling method that covered a relatively undisturbed vegetation gradient from subtropical forests to alpine vegetation. Our field data indicated that RBD significantly decreased with increasing altitudes (r(2) = 0.60, P < 0.001) but had low or non-robust correlations with above.-round biomass density (r(2) = 0.10-0.34), suggesting that RBD can be predicted without reference to shoot biomass. The transect data further revealed that temperature and/or precipitation were likely the major limiting factors for geographical distribution patterns of RBD. The relationships could be expressed as logi