Increasing Phosphorus Limitation with Tree Age in Tropical Forests

Increasing Phosphorus Limitation with Tree Age in Tropical Forests

This study confirms the widespread occurrence of phosphorus (P) limitation in tropical forests, supporting previous findings (Du et al., 2020; Hou et al., 2020). We demonstrate a consistent trend of increasing P limitation with advancing tree age across tropical forests. Notably, our results reveal that slow-growing and N-fixing trees experience a more pronounced increase in P limitation as they age compared to fast-growing trees.

These findings significantly advance our understanding of P cycling dynamics in tropical ecosystems. Current models of terrestrial P cycling in tropical regions often neglect the influence of tree age. Our study emphasizes the importance of incorporating tree-age effects into these models to improve the accuracy of global nutrient cycling projections. By accounting for the age-dependent variation in P limitation, we can enhance our understanding of nutrient cycling processes and develop more robust predictions of ecosystem responses to global change.