Plasticity in seedling morphology, biomass allocation and physiology among ten temperate tree species in response to shade is related to shade tolerance and not leaf habit

Plant Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Chmura ◽  
J. Modrzyński ◽  
P. Chmielarz ◽  
M. G. Tjoelker
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 879-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Modrzyński ◽  
Daniel J. Chmura ◽  
Mark G. Tjoelker

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryota Aoyagi ◽  
Kanehiro Kitayama

Abstract:In this study, we tested the hypothesis that functional traits associated with nutrient impoverishment contribute to enhancing shade-tolerance (survival at low light) for the juveniles of canopy tree species in Bornean rain forests. To test the hypothesis, survival and functional traits (biomass allocation, leaf dynamics and foliar nutrient concentration) were investigated as a function of light conditions for saplings of 13 species in three forests with different levels of nutrient availability. As predicted by the hypothesis, the species in the severely nutrient-poor site (a tropical heath forest on nutrient-poor soils) showed greater shade-tolerance (>91% survival for 8 mo at 5% global site factor) than in the other two sites (mixed dipterocarp forests) (54–87% survival). Across the species, greater shade-tolerance was associated with a higher biomass allocation to roots, a slower leaf production and a higher foliar C concentration, which are considered as C-conservation traits under nutrient impoverishment. These results suggest that the juveniles of the canopy species occurring on nutrient-poor soils can enhance shade-tolerance by the same mechanisms as the adaptation to nutrient impoverishments. Tree species in nutrient-poor environments may be selected for surviving also in shaded conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Yang ◽  
Frank J. Sterck ◽  
Ute Sass-Klaassen ◽  
J. Hans C. Cornelissen ◽  
Richard S.P. van Logtestijn ◽  
...  

Abstract A central paradigm in comparative ecology is that species sort out along a global economic strategy spectrum, ranging from slow to fast growth. Many studies evaluated plant strategy spectra for leaf traits, b u t few studies evaluated stem strategy spectra using a comprehensive set of anatomical, chemical and morphological traits, addressing key stem functions of different stem compartments (inner wood, outer wood and bark). This study evaluates how stem traits vary in the wood and bark of temperate tree species, and whether a slow-fast growth strategy spectrum exists and what traits make up this plant strategy spectrum. For 14 temperate gymnosperm and angiosperm species, 20 traits belonging to six key stem functions were measured for three stem compartments. Both across and within gymnosperms and angiosperms, a slow-fast stem strategy spectrum is found. Gymnosperms have slow traits and showed converging stem strategies because of their uniform tracheids. Angiosperms have fast traits and showed diverging stem strategies because of a wider array of tissues (vessels, parenchyma and fibers) and vessel size and arrangements (ring-porous versus diffuse porous). Gymnosperms showed a main trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety, and angiosperms showed a main trade-off between ‘slow’ diffuse porous species and ‘fast’ ring porous species. The slow traits of gymnosperms allow for a high hydraulic safety, an evergreen leaf habit and steady but slow growth makes them successful in unproductive habitats whereas the fast traits of angiosperms allow for high conductivity, a deciduous leaf habit and fast growth which makes them successful in productive habitats.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marili Sell ◽  
Ivika Ostonen ◽  
Gristin Rohula-Okunev ◽  
Azadeh Rezapour ◽  
Priit Kupper

<p>Global climate change scenarios predict increasing air temperature, enhanced precipitation and air humidity for Northern latitudes. We investigated the effects of elevated air relative humidity (RH) and different inorganic nitrogen sources (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>) on above- and belowground traits in different tree species, with particular emphasis on rhizodeposition rates. Silver birch, hybrid aspen and Scots pine saplings were grown in PERCIVAL growth chambers with stabile temperature, light intensity and two different air humidity conditions: moderate (mRH, 65% at day and 80% at night) and elevated (eRH, 80% at day and night). The collection of fine root exudates was conducted by a culture-based cuvette method and total organic carbon content was determined by Vario TOC analyser. Fine root respiration was measured with an infra-red gas analyser CIRAS 2.  </p><p>We analysed species-specific biomass allocation, water and rhizodeposition fluxes, foliar and fine root traits in response to changing environmental conditions. The eRH significantly decreased the transpiration flux in all species. In birch the transpiration flux was also affected by the nitrogen source. The average carbon exudation rate for aspen, birch and pine varied from 2 to 3  μg C g<sup>-1</sup> day <sup>-1</sup>. The exudation rates for deciduous tree species tended to increase at eRH, while conversely decreased for coniferous trees (p=0.045), coinciding with the changes in biomass allocation. C flux released by fine root respiration varied more than the fine root exudation, whereas the highest root respiration was found in silver birch and lowest in aspen. At eRH the above and belowground biomass ratio in aspen increased, at the expense of decreased root biomass and root respiration.  </p><p>Moreover, eRH significantly affected fine root morphology, whereas the response of specific root area was reverse for deciduous and coniferous tree species. However, fine roots with lower root tissue density had higher C exudation rate. Our findings underline the importance of considering species-specific differences by elucidating tree’s acclimation to environmental factors and their interactions.   </p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Yaohua Tian ◽  
Huifang Yuan ◽  
Jiang Xie ◽  
Yulong Zheng

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