Age structure and response to fine-scale disturbances of Abiessachalinensis, Piceajezoensis, Piceaglehnii, and Betulaermanii growing under the influence of a dwarf bamboo understory in northern Japan

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutom Hiura ◽  
Junji Sano ◽  
Yasuo Konno
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Dwarf Bamboo ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Canopy Trees ◽  
Northern Japan

We studied regeneration patterns of the four canopy dominants, Abiessachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters, Piceajezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Cam, Piceaglehnii (Fr. Schm.) Masters, and Betulaermanii Cham., of an old-growth (>400 years) boreal coniferous forest in northern Japan. Age and size structure, height growth, and diameter growth of tree populations in a 40 × 40 m plot were analyzed. Seedling establishment was restricted to nurse logs and mounds (98%), where the influence of dwarf bamboo (Sasasenanensis (Franch. et Sav.) Rehd.) was limited. Abiessachalinensis had a high density (10 263/ha) but a high mortality (8.4%/year for saplings, 1.7%/year for canopy trees) and a short canopy residence time. It also showed a more rapid tree-ring width increase after disturbances. Piceaglehnii had a low density (1450/ha) but a low mortality (6.9%/year for saplings, 0.1%/year for canopy trees) and a longer residence time in the canopy. Piceajezoensis had an intermediate density (8206/ha) and its mortality rate for canopy trees (0.9%/year) was lower than that of A. sachalinensis, although its sapling mortality rate (8.1%/year) was similar to that of A. sachalinensis. Betulaermanii had a higher mortality (14.1%/year for saplings, 2.4%/year for canopy trees) than the conifers. On the other hand, B. ermanii had the highest height growth and P. glehnii had the lowest. The mortality and average height growth of saplings showed a trade-off relationship. The trade-off relation in life history strategy may contribute to the coexistence of these species. The proportion of the gap area created in the forest was 1.2–2.4%/year, and a forest turnover time calculated from aboveground volumes was 87–99 years. These values were similar to a weighted mean of the estimated life times of the constituent species, 71 years for A. sachalinensis, 123 years for P. jezoensis, and 49 years for B. ermanii.

Nitrogen use efficiency: does a trade-off exist between the N productivity and the mean residence time within species?

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Y. Yuan ◽  
Han Y. H. Chen ◽  
Ling H. Li
Keyword(s):  
Residence Time ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Mean Residence Time ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Controlled Experiments ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Mean

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can be divided into two components, i.e. N productivity (A) and the mean residence time (MRT). Controlled experiments indicate that there is not a trade-off between A and MRT within species, but this theory has not been well tested in field conditions. Here, we studied the A, MRT and NUE of Stipa krylovii Roshev. in a grassland over 4 years of N fertilisation experimentation. The three parameters (A, MRT and NUE) were significantly related to soil N supply and there was a negative relationship between A and MRT within this species (r = –0.775, P < 0.05), i.e. plants with higher A had lower MRT. Our results showed a trade-off between A and MRT within this Stipa species and this observed trade-off was attributed to different responses of A and MRT to soil fertility.

Cost of reproduction in Douglas-fir

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1429-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousry A. El-Kassaby ◽  
Hugh J. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Annual Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Energy Allocation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Annual Ring Width ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Seed Cone

The balance between allocating energy resources to reproduction or growth has considerable theoretical interest. Conflicting ecological requirements and evolutionary pressures often necessitate a trade-off in energy allocation. We obtained measurements on seed-cone production and annual ring width of 365 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees from 29 open-pollinated families for 8 years. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations were computed for seed-cone production and ring width for each year. Five of the eight environmental correlations were negative (range −0.077 to −0.305), reflecting the reality of the trade-off in physiological terms. Six of the eight genetic correlations were negative (range −0.199 to −0.776), indicating that a trade-off exists at the genetic level between energy allocation to reproduction and to somatic growth. These findings agree with the current theory of life-history evolution. Key words: Pseudotsuga menziesii, cone production, annual ring width, genetic correlation.

Factors influencing early vegetation establishment following soil scarification in a mixed forest in northern Japan

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiya Yoshida ◽  
Yoko Iga ◽  
Megumi Ozawa ◽  
Mahoko Noguchi ◽  
Hideaki Shibata
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Dwarf Bamboo ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tall Tree ◽  
Northern Japan

Scarification is widely conducted in northern Japan to remove understory dwarf bamboo species in degraded forests for replacement with tree species. To explore ways to enhance species diversity and restoration of mixed forest at the treated site, we clarified the mechanisms that lead to compositional heterogeneity of plant species. We evaluated the relative importance of environmental factors (scarification properties, soil properties, light conditions, litter cover, and presence of canopy trees) for the demography of tall tree species (emergence, mortality, and growth) and whole vegetation structure (species diversity and composition) over the two growing seasons immediately following scarification. Of tall tree species, Betula spp. were dominant (60% in total density), followed by Abies sachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters, Acer mono Maxim., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Light intensity was an important factor, having mostly negative effects on the demography of these species. Soil factors (e.g., nitrogen content, moisture) affected the demography mainly of shade-intolerant or hygrophilous species. In general, extreme environmental conditions led to the dominance of grasses, forbs, and lianas rather than tall trees. Maintenance of canopy cover, which limits light and supplies seeds as well as litter, proved to be most important in promoting plant species diversification on the scarification site.

Factors related to seedling growth in a boreal Scots pine stand: a spatial analysis of a vegetation–soil system

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2101-2109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Kuuluvainen ◽  
Timo J. Hokkanen ◽  
Erkki Järvinen ◽  
Timo Pukkala
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Seedling Height ◽  
Canopy Trees

The spatial structure of vegetation and soil properties of a patchy Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) forest of 1 ha was described and examined in relation to the height growth of pine seedlings in the understory. Measured ecosystem properties included the distribution and sizes of canopy trees, within-stand radiation regime, composition of understory vegetation, and topsoil and mineral soil properties. The joint distance dependent effects of large trees were described as the influence potential, derived from the ecological field theory approach. The variation in understory vegetation and soil characteristics was described as score values, derived from multivariate analyses, summarizing the variation of multiple measured variables; factor analysis was used for topsoil and mineral soil properties and canonical correspondence analysis was used for understory species composition. The spatial variation of variables was examined and mapped using geostatistical techniques. The influence potential of canopy trees, as determined by their size and spatial distribution, correlated most strongly with seedling growth, so that the height growth of seedlings was retarded in the vicinity of trees. Correlations suggest that canopy trees also affected seedlings indirectly through their dominating effect on the properties of understory vegetation and humus layer. The mineral soil nutrient content showed a weak positive correlation with seedling height growth. All the factors related to seedling growth showed substantial small-scale variation across the 1-ha study site. The analysis suggests that the variation in seedling height growth in the understory of the studied Scots pine stand is largely caused by the spatial heterogeneity of both above- and below-ground factors and by the joint effect of their complex interaction.

scholarly journals The Effects of Different Sizes of Tree Shelters on Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii) Growth

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas D. McCreary ◽  
Jerry Tecklin
Keyword(s):  
Field Performance ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Quercus Douglasii ◽  
Tree Shelters ◽  
Blue Oak ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Stock Types ◽  
Time Required

Abstract Tree shelters have been used effectively in many locations to establish a wide range of tree species including oaks. However, their efficacy in Mediterranean climates like the hardwood rangelands of California has not been thoroughly tested. This study evaluated the field performance of blue oak (Quercus douglasii)—a species that is reported to be regenerating poorly in many locations in the state—protected by several sizes of tree shelters and compared response of directly sown acorns to that of 4-month-old transplants. After five growing seasons, seedlings in all sizes of tree shelters are larger than their unprotected counterparts. Tree shelters have been especially effective in promoting rapid height growth. However, regardless of tree shelter size, when seedlings grew above the tops of the shelters, average height growth diminished and diameter growth increased. Differences among stock types were relatively small, although transplants tended to perform better than directly sown acorns. These results suggest that tree shelters can greatly reduce the time required by seedlings to grow to a size where they are less vulnerable to browsing. As such, they appear to be a promising tool in efforts to regenerate blue oak in California. West. J. Appl. For. 16(4):153-158.

HEIGHT GROWTH LOSSES DUE TO ANIMAL FEEDING IN DOUGLAS FIR PLANTATIONS, VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C.

1964 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Animal Feeding ◽  
Rotation Age

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, were examined to determine the effect of animal feeding upon height growth.Length of internodes and evidence of past leader damage were recorded and cumulative average height-age growth curves compared for undamaged trees and for trees suffering various intensities of damage.The average reduction in tree height attributable to animal feeding in heavily browsed plantations varied from one-half to two feet over a period of 8 to 10 years. It is unlikely that either tree volume or quality at rotation age would be seriously affected.Exposed trees were browsed more heavily than those protected by vegetation or logging slash.

The influence of the bamboo Yushania microphylla on regeneration of Abies densa in central Bhutan

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1518-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Gratzer ◽  
P B Rai ◽  
G Glatzel
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Gap Fraction ◽  
The Impact

To assess the impact of a dense understory of the bamboo Yushania microphylla Munro on tree regeneration in monospecific Abies densa Griff. stands of the central Bhutan Himalayas, the age-class distribution of fir regeneration, the microsite preferences, and height growth as well as the relationship between height of the bamboo, gap fraction, and tree seedling density were studied. Seedling densities were much lower on sites with bamboo. Recruitment was more or less continuous, and there was no indication of overall synchronized single-cohort regeneration in bamboo plots. On sites with bamboo understory, the light regime at the forest floor is strongly influenced by the height of the bamboo. A large portion of the variance of tree seedling density could be explained by the height of the bamboo. The mortality of fir seedlings is considerably reduced at elevated microsites. Fir establishment on the forest floor is restricted to sites where bamboo density is low and light levels are higher. On sites with dense, unbrowsed bamboo, light levels are too low for long-term survival of fir seedlings, resulting in a lack of suppressed regeneration with minimal height growth. Because of the absence of this fraction, the average height increment of fir seedlings is higher on sites with bamboo.

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