ИСТИНА

Proportional adherence to Grime’s CSR strategies now can be quantitatively estimated by simple leaf traits (Pierce et al., in press). Strategies are expressed in many different functional plant traits. Here we focus on the accumulation of a number of chemical elements in the leaves. We aimed to estimate the relation between CSR components and elemental chemical composition in alpine plants of two geochemically different regions – the North-West Caucasus (56 species) and High Tatra Mountains (25 species). Proportional adherence to CSR components were estimated on basis of three leaf traits – dry mass, fresh (water saturated) mass and leaf area, according to the Pierce et al. (in press) method. The method is based on the assumption that a large leaf area is a feature of competitors, high dry matter content is typical for stress-tolerators, and high specific leaf area is necessary for ruderals to maintain a high RGR. Concentrations of 16 elements (mainly heavy metals, but also K, Ca, Cl, S) were determined in the leaves of alpine plants. Non parametric correlation coefficients were calculated between the element concentrations and CSR adherences. The strongest differences were obtained between S and R strategies. Proportional adherence to the stress-tolerating strategy had either significant negative (with K, Rb, Cl, Zn, Sr, Sb, S and Ca) or non-significant correlations with element concentrations. Proportional adherence to the ruderal strategy showed either positive (with K, Rb, Cl, Zn, S, Ca, Ti, Mo, Fe) or nonsignificant values. Competitiveness was more various in its relationship with chemical elements. It was positively correlated with K, Rb, Cl, Zn, Sr, S and Ca, but negatively with Mo, Fe, Cr, Ba. Three elements (Mn, Cu, Pb) did not show any significant correlation with CSR components. Plants from different regions (Caucasus and Tatra) showed similar results. Short-lived Brassicaceae plants, which are known as heavy metal accumulators, were typical R plants, but the general pattern of strategy type and chemical composition did not change greatly with or without inclusion of Brassicaceae plants in the analysis. So, chemical composition is a good predictor of plant strategy, at least for alpine plants.