scholarly journals Competitive response of savanna tree seedlings to C4 grasses is negatively related to photosynthesis rate

Biotropica ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 774-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy A. Campbell ◽  
Ricardo M. Holdo
2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
Benjamin L. Ketter ◽  
Ricardo M. Holdo

Abstract:Rooting differentiation between established trees and grasses has been well documented in savannas, but it remains unclear to what extent tree-grass rooting differences affect competition between newly established seedlings and grasses. To examine this question, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Missouri, USA. Twenty 3-mo-old seedlings each of two African savanna tree species (Acacia nigrescens and Colophospermum mopane) were grown for 8 mo with two crossed factors: grass competition and irrigation depth. Strong negative effects of grass competition on final seedling biomass and leaf photosynthetic and stomatal conductance occurred in both tree species, but no effects of irrigation depth were detected. There was a clear tree species by grass competition interaction, suggesting interspecific variation in competitive response. The results emphasize the importance of below-ground competition with grasses for physiological and morphological responses of tree seedlings, while minimizing the importance of tree-grass rooting depth differences as a factor in modulating the competitive response of trees to grasses at the seedling stage.


Author(s):  
Alexander S. Lelekov ◽  
Rudolf P. Trenkenshu

The paper presents an example of the linear splines use to describe the photosynthesis light curves for microalgae culture. The main mathematical models of the relationship between photosynthesis rate and light are listed. Based on the previously formulated basic principles of modeling microalgae photobiosynthesis, a mathematical model is proposed that describes the dependence of the assimilation number of chlorophyll a on the value of the light flux by linear splines. The advantage of the proposed approach is a clear definition of the point of change of the limiting factor. It is shown that light-limited photosynthesis rate is determined not only by external irradiation, but also by the concentration of chlorophyll a. The light-saturated rate depends on the amount of a key enzyme complex, which limits the rate of energy exchange reactions in the cell. Verification of the proposed model on the example of the diatom microalgae Skeletonema costatum was carried out. It is shown that the higher the degree of cell adaptation to high irradiation, the better the photosynthesis curve is described by linear splines. If S. costatum cells are adapted to low irradiation, deviations of experimental data from the idealized broken line are observed, which are caused by changes in the pigment composition. When the experimental data are normalized, the cell adaptation factor is reduced, all points are described by a single broken line, which indicates the universality of the proposed approach.


2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-122
Author(s):  
Naoki Negishi ◽  
Katsuhiko Nakahama ◽  
Nobuyuki Urata ◽  
Toshiaki Tanabe

Author(s):  
Corey Tazzara

Chapter 6 offers a quantitative examination of the commercial development of Livorno, showing how it plugged local and regional exchange networks into the currents of global commerce. Livorno was at the epicenter of the reorganization of maritime trade in the Tyrrhenian and throughout the Mediterranean. Despite dense connections between north-central Italy and the free port, however, international commerce did not substantially affect productive relations in the hinterland. North-central Italy remained an autonomous region; rather than a colonial outpost subservient to northern capitalism, Livorno was a large marketplace connecting otherwise distinct economies. The Tuscan city’s success in organizing trade eventually provoked a competitive response by neighboring ports.


2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (17) ◽  
pp. 7627-7637 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Costache ◽  
F. Gabriel Acién Fernández ◽  
M. M. Morales ◽  
J. M. Fernández-Sevilla ◽  
I. Stamatin ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Fujita

AbstractThis study examined the mechanisms of facilitation and importance of seed dispersal during establishment of forest tree species in an Afrotropical woodland. Seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum was monitored for 2.5 years at four different microsites in savannah woodland in Malawi (southeastern Africa) under Ficus natalensis (a potential nurse plant), Brachystegia floribunda (a woodland tree), Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland tree), and at a treeless site. The number of naturally established forest tree seedlings in the woodland was also counted. Additionally, S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seed deposition was monitored at the four microsites. Insect damage (9% of the total cause of mortality) and trampling by ungulates (1%) had limited impact on seedling survival in this area. Fire (43%) was found to be the most important cause of seedling mortality and fire induced mortality was especially high under U. kirkiana (74%) and at treeless site (51%). The rate was comparatively low under F. natalensis (4%) and B. floribunda (23%), where fire is thought to be inhibited due to the lack of light-demanding C4 grasses. Consequently, seedling survival under F. natalensis and B. floribunda was higher compared with the other two microsites. The seedling survival rate was similar under F. natalensis (57%) and B. floribunda (59%). However, only a few S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seedlings naturally established under B. floribunda (25/285) whereas many seedlings established under F. natalensis (146/285). These findings indicate that the facilitative mechanism of fire suppression is not the only factor affecting establishment. The seed deposition investigation revealed that most of the seeds (85%) were deposited under F. natalensis. As such, these findings suggest that in addition to fire suppression, dispersal limitations also play a role in forest-savannah dynamics in this region, especially at the community level.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 608
Author(s):  
Fairuz Fatini Mohd Yusof ◽  
Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob ◽  
Normaniza Osman ◽  
Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim ◽  
Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar ◽  
...  

The growing demand for high value aromatic herb Polygonum minus-based products have increased in recent years, for its antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory potentials. Although few reports have indicated the chemical profiles and antioxidative effects of Polygonum minus, no study has been conducted to assess the benefits of micro-environmental manipulation (different shading levels) on the growth, leaf gas exchange and secondary metabolites in Polygonum minus. Therefore, two shading levels (50%:T2 and 70%:T3) and one absolute control (0%:T1) were studied under eight weeks and 16 weeks of exposures on Polygonum minus after two weeks. It was found that P. minus under T2 obtained the highest photosynthesis rate (14.892 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1), followed by T3 = T1. The increase in photosynthesis rate was contributed by the enhancement of the leaf pigments content (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b). This was shown by the positive significant correlations observed between photosynthesis rate with chlorophyll a (r2 = 0.536; p ≤ 0.05) and chlorophyll b (r2 = 0.540; p ≤ 0.05). As the shading levels and time interval increased, the production of total anthocyanin content (TAC) and antioxidant properties of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) also increased. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also significantly enhanced under T2 and T3. The current study suggested that P.minus induce the production of more leaf pigments and secondary metabolites as their special adaptation mechanism under low light condition. Although the biomass was affected under low light, the purpose of conducting the study to boost the bioactive properties in Polygonum minus has been fulfilled by 50% shading under 16 weeks’ exposure.


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