[Changes in eco-morphological parameters of alpine plants' leaves as an effect of fertilization]

Plants growing on rich soil usually have thin leaves with large specific leaf area. On the other hand, at intraspecific level; soil fertilization results in leaves size increasing which, in turn, can lead to reduction in specific leaf area. To what extent soil fertilization implies only leaves increasing in size and does not affect other eco-morphological characteristics is a question that is still open. To assess coherence between plants intraspecific reactions to changes in soil richness and general tendencies in changes of leaves parameters in communities with different productivity, an experiment has been conducted in alpine plant communities of the north-western Caucasus. Changes in leaf traits are studied in four types of alpine plant communities after long term application of mineral nutrients (NP and lime treatment). It is shown that in all species, except legume Hedysarum caucasicum, fertilization results in size leaf characteristics (leaf area, wet and dry mass) increase. Specific leaf area appears to decrease in plants inhabiting alpine heathlands and increase in plants inhabiting alpine snow beds and in dominant species of Geranium-Hedysarum meadows, Geranium gymnocaulon. After correction of specific leaf area that accounts for changes in leaf size, it becomes discernable that in most species the increase in leaf area per se results in specific leaf area reduction while changes in leaf structure under influence of fertilization leads to this trait increasing. Those species demonstrating the increase in specific leaf area as an effect of fertilization, also gain more in terms of biomass.