Tree seedling growth, survival, and morphology in response to landscape-level variation in soil resource availability in northern Michigan

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A Schreeg ◽  
Richard K Kobe ◽  
Michael B Walters
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Soil Resources ◽  
Soil Resource ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Root Area ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Northern Michigan

To investigate causes of tree species distributions across soil resources in northern Michigan, we conducted a seedling transplant experiment with five species showing different site affinities: Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple), Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherry), and Fraxinus americana L. (white ash), which are associated with high-fertility mesic moraine; Quercus rubra L. (red oak), associated with intermediate sites; and Quercus velutina Lam. (black oak), associated with low-fertility droughty outwash sites. Seedlings were planted in plots stratified across variation in light and soil nutrient and water availability. After one growing season, under 14%–27% canopy openness, species tended to trade off between high survival on outwash versus high relative growth rate of root + stem mass (RGRrs) on moraine. The high survivorship of black and red oak on outwash was associated with greater root and whole-plant mass in comparison with sugar maple, white ash, and black cherry. High RGRrs on high-fertility moraine for these latter species was associated with high fine root area per unit whole-plant mass and plasticity to increase specific root area in response to increased soil resources. We did not detect a similar survival–growth trade-off for seedlings grown at lower light (3%–10%) on intermediate versus high-fertility sites. Overall, these results suggest that species distributions across soil resource gradients can in part be explained by a trade-off between tolerance of low soil resources versus competitive ability (i.e., growth) under high soil resources.

Species Composition and Development of Second-Growth Hardwood Stands in Quebec

1968 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl H. Winget
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Minor Components ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Cutting Intensity

Second-growth, tolerant hardwood stands developed rapidly and, almost entirely from shade-tolerant advance growth, regardless of cutting intensity. Non-commercial woody species were seldom important competitors. Sugar maple, associated with beech on upland and balsam fir on lowland sites, was the dominant species. Yellow birch, basswood and hemlock, important contributors to wood volumes harvested, were minor components of second-growth stands. Valuable minor species such as red oak, white ash, and black cherry had practically disappeared. The application of known techniques for regenerating disturbance-dependent species is urgently required.

22-Year Growth of Four Planted Hardwoods

1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Laurane Stout
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Old Field ◽  
Forest Landowners ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Initial Spacing ◽  
Preferred Species

Abstract Planting of northern hardwood species interests forest landowners and managers who wish to continue growing pure or nearly pure stands of high-value species, enhance old-field conversion to preferred species, or reforest areas where natural regeneration has failed. Little data on planted hardwoods can be found, however. This paper reports on 22 years of growth of a northern hardwood plantation established in 1961 containing red maple, black cherry, sugar maple, and white ash. The data show that plantings of these species can succeed on good sites with weed control over the first few years, protection from animal predators, and close initial spacing. North. J. Appl. For. 3:69-72, June 1986.

Is Competition for Soil Resources by Carex pensylvanica Restricting Tree Seedling Growth in a Temperate Northern Hardwood Forest?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raeya Jackiw
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Belowground Competition ◽  
Soil Resources ◽  
Soil Resource ◽  
Carex Pensylvanica ◽  
Soil Resource Availability

In response to ecological disturbances, sedge species like Carex pensylvanica form dense monocultures on the forest floor. These “sedge mats” have been shown to severely inhibit plant growth, and limit understory species diversity. In recent years, concern has grown that they may also be restricting the regeneration of economically valuable tree species like sugar maple through belowground competition. To determine if and how Carex pensylvanica may be impacting tree seedling growth through belowground competition I located and exclosed 44 tree seedlings in areas of representatively dense sedge at two forest sites at the Queen’s University Biological Station. I removed sedge from half the plots, and measured soil resource availability and seedling growth response at all plots throughout the growing season. I predicted that sedge would negatively impact the growth of tree seedlings by decreasing the availability of soil resources. I found that the presence of sedge did not affect seedling growth over one growing season, but that it did impact soil resource availability by increasing the availability of surface soil moisture and decreasing the availability of soil nitrate, changes which may have implications for seedling growth beyond the single growing season studied. My results were also site specific, indicating that location is important when managing sedge impact on tree regeneration. Understanding the impact of sedge on tree seedling regeneration is important for predicting changes in the trajectory of forest communities and for informing the management of economically valuable species like sugar maple.

Clearcutting Central New York Northern Hardwood Stands

1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell S. Walters ◽  
Ralph D. Nyland
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
American Beech ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Central New York ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Uniform Cover

Abstract Clearcutting proved effective for regenerating central New York stands that were dominated by sugar maple along with American beech, black cherry, white ash, red maple, and basswood. Findings from five stands for periods of 7-13 years following clearcutting show densities equivalent to 2,400 to 9,400 saplings of commercial species per acre on 64-100% of the milacres sampled. In each stand, a minimum of 81% of the 6.6 ft radius sample plots were stocked with at least one sapling of a commercial species, suggesting that site occupancy will be fairly complete and uniform as these stands mature. All sites contained abundant regeneration of commercial species immediately after logging, ranging from 15,000 to 57,000 seedlings per acre, but as many as 90% of these were less than 1 ft tall. The species composition generally reflected the original forest with abundant sugar maple and American beech. However, large amounts of black cherry and white ash also appeared on some sites. Many bramble seedlings germinated during the first growing season after logging and developed into a dense uniform cover by the third year. However, the brambles declined as crown closure occurred in the new stands, and disappeared before the tenth year. Clearcutting should successfully regenerate stands of New York northern hardwoods having conditions similar to those of this study. North. J. Appl. For. 6:75-78, June 1989.

Response of crop trees of sugar maple, white ash, and black cherry to release and fertilization

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Competition Index ◽  
Triple Superphosphate ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
White Ash ◽  
P Fertilizer ◽  
Foliar Concentrations

In Grey County, southern Ontario, a crop-tree release and fertilization experiment was carried out in 35- to 85-year-old hardwood stands of variable composition. The objective of the treatments was to improve the growth rate of selected high-quality trees. A method is described for the selection and allocation of crop trees to treatments according to a competition index (CI). Release involved thinning to reduce a tree's CI by nominal levels 0, 50, and 75%. Fertilizer was applied within a circular plot equal to 1.5 times the crown radii at rates of N = 295 and 590 kg/ha (ureaform); P = 227 and 454 kg/ha (triple superphosphate). Fertilization resulted in increased foliar concentrations of N and P in sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), white ash (Fraxinusamericana L.), and black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh), but only black cherry responded to N fertilizer with an increase in diameter growth; none responded to P fertilizer. The diameter growth of sugar maple showed a response that was linearly related to the degree of release. Black cherry and white ash showed only small responses to release. It was concluded that P was not limiting to any species on these soils, and N may be limiting only to black cherry. Crop-tree release was an effective treatment for stimulating the growth of sugar maple, but it appeared to be relatively ineffective for white ash or black cherry at this age.

Pin cherry effects on Allegheny hardwood stand development

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd E Ristau ◽  
Stephen B Horsley
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
High Density ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
White Ash

Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.) develops an early height advantage over associated species. Data from three long-term studies, extending up to 70 years after complete overstory removal, were used to evaluate the effects of pin cherry density on associates. Survival of seedling-origin stems of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) at age 15 decreased as the density of pin cherry >1.5 m tall at age 3 increased. The regression of pin cherry with black cherry was particularly strong (R2 = 0.632). Height of the tallest black cherry and white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) at age 15 also decreased. If the density of pin cherry at age 3 was > 1 stem > 1.5 m tall per 0.0004 ha (high density), the number of black cherry fell below full stocking at age 15. When pin cherry occurred in high density, it lived longer than when it occurred at low density (< 1 stem > 1.5 m tall per 0.0004 ha). High pin cherry density early in stand development delayed the time when shade-intolerant and shade-intermediate species reached a stable proportion of the total basal area. In the long term, pin cherry reduced stand diameter and volume growth, particularly of black cherry.

Sampling Deciduous Broadleaved Trees for the Determination of Leaf Weight and Foliar Elemental Concentrations

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Elemental Concentrations ◽  
Leaf Weight ◽  
Mean Concentration

Foliar samples, collected from forest-grown trees of sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), white ash (Fraxinusamericana L.), and black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.), were analyzed for mean weight per leaf and for concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn. The data were subjected to analysis of variance among branches within trees, among trees within stands, and among stands. Among stands of a species, differences in mean concentration of 20% of the range reported in the literature could be detected (P = 0.05) for most elements by sampling foliage from two small branches taken from the midcrown of each of 15 trees per stand.

Growth responses of seven major co-occurring tree species of the northeastern United States to elevated CO2

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1479-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Bazzaz ◽  
J. S. Coleman ◽  
S. R. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growth Enhancement ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
White Pine ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Harvard Forest ◽  
Paper Birch

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.

Pores versus spores: competition between photosynthesis and reproduction is constrained by leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K G Srikanta Dani ◽  
Jose Mathew ◽  
T M Nila-Mohan ◽  
Raju Antony ◽  
S Suresh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Leaf Lifespan ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Leaf Mass

Abstract Diversity in plant life histories is primarily that found in the rate and duration of photosynthetic (vegetative) and reproductive growth. However, direct evidence for an anticipated trade-off between photosynthesis and reproduction is lacking in any plant lineage. Ferns allocate leaf space and resources to both photosynthesis and reproduction, potentially leading to competition for leaf resources between stomatal pores and reproductive spores. We hypothesized that a trade-off between stomatal density (StD; a proxy for photosynthetic capacity) and sporangial density (SpD; a measure of fertility) has evolved in monomorphic ferns due to the common space, time and resource constraints imposed by a highly conserved and globally low leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns, where any increase in LMA indicated greater construction cost and longer leaf lifespan. We measured LMA, StD and SpD in 40 fern species in India that represented both monomorphic and dimorphic conditions from both terrestrial and epiphytic habits. Both StD and SpD showed a 50-fold range in monomorphic species whereas LMA was more conserved (six-fold range). LMA of terrestrial ferns was significantly lower than that of epiphytic ferns. Linear regression between LMA and StD was significantly positive in dimorphic terrestrial ferns (showing the lowest LMA among all ferns) and significantly negative in monomorphic epiphytic ferns (showing the highest LMA among all ferns). Dimorphic terrestrial ferns were highly fecund on their fertile leaves and showed a significantly higher StD to LMA ratio on their sterile leaves compared to monomorphic terrestrial ferns. Dimorphic ferns seem to maximize both StD and SpD by physical separation of photosynthesis and reproduction, and their characteristically low LMA (shorter leaf lifespan = smaller time window) potentially selects for high StD and high fertility. The regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns was significantly linear and positive, although comparisons among closely related species (within families) showed negative correlations when both StD and SpD were high, captured also by a significant quadratic regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns. Monomorphic terrestrial species bearing more spores per stomata showed relatively low LMA whereas those producing fewer spores per stomata possessed leaves with relatively high LMA. Monomorphic epiphytes produced as many spores as terrestrial species but showed significantly low StD for their high LMA. We discuss the evolutionary reasons behind these trends and conclude that monomorphic terrestrial ferns with high LMA (long leaf lifespan) tend to prioritize photosynthesis over reproduction, while monomorphic epiphytes (always high LMA) are significantly more fertile for lower photosynthesis. The role of LMA in framing the rules of competition between stomata and sporangia in monomorphic ferns provides a template for how photosynthesis may directly or indirectly influence reproductive strategies (and vice versa) in all land plants.

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