Latitudinal patterns and their climate drivers of the C, N, S isotope signatures of across plant life-death status: a global analysis.

Isotopic signatures offer new methods, approaches, and perspectives for exploring the ecological adaptability and functions of plants. We examined pattern differences in the isotopic signatures ( C, N, S) of across varying plant life-death status along geographic clines. We extracted 539 sets of isotopic data from 57 publications covering 267 sites across a latitude range of over 23.8° along coastal wetlands. Responses of isotopic signatures to climate drivers (MAT and MAP) and the internal relationships between isotopic signatures were also detected. Results showed that the C, N, and S of were -13.52 ± 0.83‰, 6.16 ± 0.14‰, and 4.01 ± 6.96‰, with a range of -17.44‰ to -11.00‰, -2.40‰ to 15.30‰, and -9.60‰ to 15.80‰, respectively. The latitudinal patterns of C, N, and S in were shaped as a convex curve, a concave curve, and an increasing straight line, respectively. A decreasing straight line for C within the ranges of MAT was identified under plant life status. Plant life-death status shaped two nearly parallel decreasing straight lines for S in response to MAT, resulting in a concave curve of S for live in response to MAP. The N of significantly decreased with increasing C of , except for plant death status. The C, N, and S of . are consistent with plant height, stem diameter, leaf traits, etc, showing general latitudinal patterns closely related to MAT. Plant life-death status altered the N (live: 6.55 ± 2.23‰; dead: -2.76 ± 2.72‰), latitudinal patterns of . and their responses to MAT, demonstrating strong ecological plasticity and adaptability across the geographic clines. The findings help in understanding the responses of latitudinal patterns of the C, N, and S isotope signatures of in response plant life-death status, and provide evidence of robust ecological plasticity and adaptability across geographic clines.