Acid rain: Threshold of leaf damage in eight plant species from a Southern Appalachian forest succession

1980 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 403-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Haines ◽  
Marcia Stefani ◽  
Floyd Hendrix
1996 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 796-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jo W. Godt ◽  
Bart R. Johnson ◽  
J.L. Hamrick

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.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 865
Author(s):  
Zuzana Münzbergová ◽  
Jiří Skuhrovec

Data on plant herbivore damage as well as on herbivore performance have been previously used to identify key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions. The extent to which the two approaches lead to similar conclusions remains to be explored. We determined the effect of a free-living leaf-chewing generalist caterpillar, Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on leaf damage of 24 closely related plant species from the Carduoideae subfamily and the effect of these plant species on caterpillar growth. We used a wide range of physical defense leaf traits and leaf nutrient contents as the plant traits. Herbivore performance and leaf damage were affected by similar plant traits. Traits related to higher caterpillar mortality (higher leaf dissection, number, length and toughness of spines and lower trichome density) also led to higher leaf damage. This fits with the fact that each caterpillar was feeding on a single plant and, thus, had to consume more biomass of the less suitable plants to obtain the same amount of nutrients. The key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions identified based on data on herbivore performance largely corresponded to the traits identified as important based on data on leaf damage. This suggests that both types of data may be used to identify the key plant traits determining plant–herbivore interactions. It is, however, important to carefully distinguish whether the data on leaf damage were obtained in the field or in a controlled feeding experiment, as the patterns expected in the two environments may go in opposite directions.


NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 117-146
Author(s):  
Benno A. Augustinus ◽  
Suzanne T. E. Lommen ◽  
Silvia Fogliatto ◽  
Francesco Vidotto ◽  
Tessa Smith ◽  
...  

One of the biggest challenges in classical biological control of invasive weeds is predicting the likelihood of success. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, a North American plant species that has become invasive in Europe, causes economic losses due to health problems resulting from its huge amount of highly allergenic pollen and as a weed to agricultural crops resulting from high seed densities. Here we assessed whether the pollen and seed output of the annual A. artemisiifolia (at the end of the season) is related to in-season abundance of, or damage by, the accidentally introduced biological control agent Ophraella communa. We monitored the growth and leaf damage of individually labelled A. artemisiifolia plants at four locations in Northern Italy and recorded abundance of different O. communa life stages at regular intervals. We found that the in-season level of leaf damage by O. communa consistently helped to explain seed production in combination with plant volume and site throughout the season. Feeding damage, plant volume and site also explained pollen production by A. artemisiifolia six weeks before male flower formation. At three out of four sites, plants with more than 10% leaf damage in mid-June or early July had a very low likelihood of seed formation. Leaf damage proved to be a better explanatory variable than O. communa abundance. Our results suggest that the monitoring of the in-season leaf damage can help to project the local impact of O. communa on A. artemisiifolia at the end of the season and thus inform management regarding the needs for additional measures to control this prominent invader.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 351
Author(s):  
Bina Swasta Sitepu

Historically, and based on the latest conditions, Samboja Research Forest has a fairly high vulnerability to the presence of invasive species that can interfere with ecosystem stability and forest succession. However, data collection and risk assessment of invasive species have not been conducted in the forest area. The study was carried out to support the management of Samboja Research Forest, particularly in controlling invasive species. The study was conducted with exploration techniques in open areas, secondary forests, and primary forests. The density and frequency data of invasive plants were obtained using random plots in secondary and primary forest areas. The results showed the presence of 52 invasive plant species in the Samboja Research Forest area with dominance by shrubs and herbs. Based on plants distribution and density, four crucial invasive plant species in Samboja Research Forest were identified, namely: Acacia mangium, Spathodea campanulata, Miconia crenata, and Piper aduncum. The management of invasive species was carried out in two stages, short term, through manual weeding, and in the long term, with the prevention, eradication, and periodic risk assessment.Keywords: invasive alien species, Kalimantan, eradication, Spathodea campanulata


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. SHUKLA ◽  
SHYAM SUNDAR ◽  
SHIVANGI ◽  
RAM NARESH

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Łukowski ◽  
Marian J. Giertych ◽  
Michał Żmuda ◽  
Ewa Mąderek ◽  
Dawid Adamczyk ◽  
...  

Leaves are the largest component of forest litter. Their decomposition rate depends mainly on plant species, leaf chemical composition, microorganism biodiversity, and habitat conditions. It is known that herbivory by insects can modify the chemical composition of leaves, such as through induction. The aim of this study was to determine whether the rate of leaf decomposition is related to the susceptibility of the plant species to insect feeding and how leaf damage affects this rate. For our research, we chose six species differing in leaf resistance to insect damage: Cornus sanguinea, Frangula alnus, and Sambucus nigra (herbivore resistant), and Corylus avellana, P. padus, and Prunus serotina (herbivore susceptible). The decomposition of these plant leaves was examined in two monoculture forest stands, deciduous (Quercus robur) and coniferous (Pinus sylvestris). Litter decay rate k and change of litter mass, content of defensive metabolites (total phenols (TPh) and condensed tannins), and substances beneficial for organisms decomposing litter (nitrogen (N) and nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC)) were determined. Contrary to our expectations, leaf litter of herbivore-resistant species decomposed faster than that of herbivore-susceptible species, and damaged leaves decayed faster than undamaged leaves. We found that faster decaying leaf litter had a lower content of defensive compounds and a higher content of TNC and N, regardless of the plant species or leaf damage. Leaf litter decomposition caused a large and rapid decrease in the content of defensive compounds and TNC, and an increase in N. In all species, the tannin content was lower in damaged than in undamaged leaves. This pattern was also observed for TPh, except in S. nigra. We interpret this as the main reason for faster decay of damaged leaves. Moreover, the loss of leaf mass was greater under oak than pine stands, indicating that the microorganisms in deciduous stands are more effective at decomposing litter, regardless of leaf damage.


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