Carbon isotope composition and mode of photosynthesis in<I> Clusia</I> species from Mexico

Abstract

The neotropical genus Clusia comprises arborescent species exhibiting Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) as was first reported for a Mexican species, Clusia lundellii. Here, the occurrence of CAM photosynthesis was studied in 20 species of Clusia, 18 from Mexico, and 2 from Guatemala, using leaf carbon isotopic composition. In most species, samples from individuals collected in different locations were analyzed. CAM was present in at least 11 species, eight of which contained specimens with δ13C values less negative than −20.0 ‰, indicating strong CAM (C. chanekiana, C. flava, C. lundellii, C. mexicana, C. quadrangula, C. rosea, C. suborbicularis, and C. tetra-trianthera). δ13C was highly variable in some species, but CAM expression was not correlated to life form (epiphytic, hemiepiphytic, terrestrial) or habitat. CAM specimens were not collected at altitudes above 1 700 m a.s.l.