Effects of simulated acid rain on the growth of five Brazilian tree species and anatomy of the most sensitive species (Joannesia princeps)

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luzimar Campos da Silva ◽  
Aristéa Alves Azevedo ◽  
Eldo Antônio Monteiro da Silva ◽  
Marco Antonio Oliva

Seedlings and young saplings of some woody species were exposed to simulated low-pH acid rain, in order to develop a response screening for tropical tree species by determination of the symptoms of foliar injury and growth responses, as well as to identify anatomical alterations in the leaf blade of the most sensitive species. Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms, Genipa americana L., Joannesia princeps Vell., Mimosa artemisiana Heringer & Paula and Spondias dulcis Forst.f. were exposed daily to 20 min of acid rain, pH 3.0, for 10 consecutive days. The degree of leaf damage and the anatomical alterations observed were efficient parameters to determine the sensitivity to acid rain. At the end of the experiment J. princeps was the most sensitive species as determined by foliar injury and seedling growth. The degree of leaf damage was similar among the seedlings, except in S. dulcis, which showed reduced percentage of foliar injury. Necrotic and chlorotic spots on the leaf blade occurred. In the most sensitive species, J. princeps, necrotic blade tissues showed accumulation of phenolic compounds, hypertrophy and collapsed cells. Most of the structural alterations were observed in the adaxial epidermis, the palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma and the abaxial epidermis. Long-term experiments with seedlings of S. dulcis and saplings of G. integrifolia are suggested, to characterise the response of these species that presented fewer symptoms but whose growth was affected under acid rain.

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1479-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Bazzaz ◽  
J. S. Coleman ◽  
S. R. Morse

We examined how elevated CO2 affected the growth of seven co-occurring tree species: American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.), white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), red maple (Acerrubrum L.), sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr). We also tested whether the degree of shade tolerance of species and the age of seedlings affected plant responses to enhanced CO2 levels. Seedlings that were at least 1 year old, for all species except beech, were removed while dormant from Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts. Seeds of red maple and paper birch were obtained from parent trees at Harvard Forest, and seeds of American beech were obtained from a population of beeches in Nova Scotia. Seedlings and transplants were grown in one of four plant growth chambers for 60 d (beech, paper birch, red maple, black cherry) or 100 d (white pine, hemlock, sugar maple) under CO2 levels of 400 or 700 μL•L−1. Plants were then harvested for biomass and growth determinations. The results showed that the biomass of beech, paper birch, black cherry, sugar maple, and hemlock significantly increased in elevated CO2, but the biomass of red maple and white pine only marginally increased in these conditions. Furthermore, there were large differences in the magnitude of growth enhancement by increased levels of CO2 between species, so it seems reasonable to predict that one consequence of rising levels of CO2 may be to increase the competitive ability of some species relative to others. Additionally, the three species exhibiting the largest increase in growth with increased CO2 concentrations were the shade-tolerant species (i.e., beech, sugar maple, and hemlock). Thus, elevated CO2 levels may enhance the growth of relatively shade-tolerant forest trees to a greater extent than growth of shade-intolerant trees, at least under the light and nutrient conditions of this experiment. We found no evidence to suggest that the age of tree seedlings greatly affected their response to elevated CO2 concentrations.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 877
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Durben ◽  
Faith M. Walker ◽  
Liza Holeski ◽  
Arthur R. Keith ◽  
Zsuzsi Kovacs ◽  
...  

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl) and cottonwoods (Populus spp.) are foundation species, the interactions of which define a much larger community and affect a threatened riparian habitat type. Few studies have tested the effect of these interactions on plant chemistry and a diverse arthropod community. We experimentally examined the impact of beaver foraging on riparian communities by first investigating beaver food preferences for one cottonwood species, Fremont cottonwood (P. fremontii S. Watson), compared to other locally available woody species. We next examined the impact of beaver foraging on twig chemistry and arthropod communities in paired samples of felled and unfelled cottonwood species in northern Arizona (P. fremontii) and southwestern Colorado (narrowleaf cottonwood, P. angustifolia James, and Eastern cottonwood, P. deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall). Four major patterns emerged: (1) In a cafeteria experiment, beavers chose P. fremontii six times more often than other woody native and exotic species. (2) With two cottonwood species, we found that the nitrogen and salicortin concentrations were up to 45% greater and lignin concentration 14% lower in the juvenile resprout growth of felled trees than the juvenile growth on unfelled trees (six of seven analyses were significant for P. fremontii and four of six were significant for P. angustifolia). (3) With two cottonwood species, arthropod community composition on juvenile branches differed significantly between felled and unfelled trees, with up to 38% greater species richness, 114% greater relative abundance and 1282% greater species diversity on felled trees (six of seven analyses with P. fremontii and four of six analyses with P. angustifolia were significant). The above findings indicate that the highest arthropod diversity is achieved in the heterogenous stands of mixed felled and unfelled trees than in stands of cottonwoods, where beavers are not present. These results also indicate that beaver herbivory changes the chemical composition in 10 out of 13 chemical traits in the juvenile growth of two of the three cottonwood species to potentially allow better defense against future beaver herbivory. (4) With P. deltoides, only one of five analyses in chemistry was significant, and none of the four arthropod community analyses were significant, suggesting that this species and its arthropod community responds differently to beaver. Potential reasons for these differences are unknown. Overall, our findings suggest that in addition to their impact on riparian vegetation, other mammals, birds, and aquatic organisms, beavers also may define the arthropod communities of two of three foundation tree species in these riparian ecosystems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
Ján Supuka ◽  
Attila Tóth ◽  
Mária Bihuňová ◽  
Martina Verešová ◽  
Karol Šinka

AbstractThe woody plant species composition has been evaluated in three cadastral territories of southwestern Slovakia, together in 77 habitats of non-forest woody vegetation (NFWV). A total of 43 tree species have been identified; 8 of them were alien and 5 species were cultural fruit trees. In total 20 shrub species were identified, out of which 3 were alien. Three woody species are classified as invasive according to the law in Slovakia: Acer negundo L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, and Lycium barbarum L. They occurred only in 2, maximum in 4 of the evaluated habitats. The most occurring alien tree species Robinia pseudoacacia L. was generally identified in 58 habitats and in 48 habitats, with an incidence over 40% and dominance index of 70.6. The second most occurring alien tree Populus × canadensis had a dominance index of 8.3. The dominant native trees in NFWV were Acer campestre L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Quercus robur L., Salix fragilis L. with the dominance index of 1–5 only.


Ecology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine R. Rollinson ◽  
Margot W. Kaye ◽  
Charles D. Canham

Bothalia ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 13 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Ellis

The anatomical structure, of the leaf blade as seen in transverse section, and of the abaxial epidermis, of Merxmuellera stricta (Schrad.) Conert is described and illustrated. In this variable species four distinct anatomical “forms” are recognized viz. the typical  M. stricta form, the Cathedral Peak form, the Drakensberg form and the alpine form. The alpine and Cathedral Peak forms have recently been described as M. guillarmodiae Conert (1975). The degree of anatomical differentiation of these “forms” resembles the situation described in M. disticha (Nees) Conert (Ellis, 1980). Populations of both M. stricta and M. disticha from the Drakensberg mountains display extensive anatomical diversification which appears to be correlated with environmental factors. In addition, morphological differences are exhibited as well and the anatomical “forms” of M. stricta probably warrant taxonomic recognition.


Bothalia ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 13 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 185-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Ellis

The anatomical structure, of the leaf blade as seen in transverse section, and of the abaxial epidermis, of Merxmuellera disticha (Nees) Conert is described and illustrated. Three distinct anatomical “forms” are recognized viz. typical M. disticha, the Drakensberg form and the alpine bog form. These three anatomical groups also appear to have differing environmental requirements and probably warrant taxonomic status.


1994 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. McLaughlin ◽  
P. A. Layton ◽  
M. B. Adams ◽  
N. T. Edwards ◽  
P. J. Hanson ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 1843-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Loubry

The French Guianan forest is an evergreen rain forest that contains approximately 100 deciduous tree species. The taxonomical distribution of the deciduous character is widely spread, and its presence or absence among some taxa, as well as its ancient origin, are arguments in favour of an endogenous origin. Leaf-fall periodicity was studied on a sample of 500 trees during a 2-year period. Periodicity is annual and seasonal. It is not correlated to rainfall and not linked to the occurrence of a dry season. It seems closely correlated to photoperiodical variations, even though those variations are weak (35 min at latitude 5°30′N). However, each tree has its own periodicity for leaves shedding. Therefore, there is a paradox between seasonality and individual periodicity of leaf fall. The existence of this paradox leads us to consider the hypothesis of an integration of endogenous and exogenous components in the determination of leaf-fall periodicity. Key words: deciduousness, French Guiana, phenology, photoperiodism, tree, tropical rain forest.


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