Differences in biomass allocation patterns between saplings of two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks as reflecting different strategies in the use of light and water

We investigated the effects of nitrogen availability and present versus future atmospheric environments (i.e., climate) on the seedling performance of 16 open-pollinated maternal families of Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P. over two simulated growing seasons. Diurnal and seasonal patterns of temperature, relative humidity, photoperiod, and light intensity were simulated. The simulated future climate included both elevated CO2 and seasonally appropriate increases in mean monthly temperatures. Compared with the present, the future climate increased seedling survival, total and root dry mass, rate of winter bud development, net photosynthetic rate, and water and nitrogen use efficiencies; decreased needle nitrogen content; and altered biomass allocation patterns. Greater nitrogen availability greatly improved seedling performance and changed biomass allocation patterns. Climate and nitrogen level interacted synergistically to promote seedling growth (branch number and root dry mass), survival, and bud development. The future climate increased seedling survival, rate of bud development, and nitrogen use efficiency much more in the low than in the high nitrogen regime. Seedling performance in the second season was dependent on initial seed mass, but less than in the 1st year. Some of the differences among the families and in their interactions with the climate and (or) nitrogen fertilization suggest that families selected for rapid growth under present conditions may not do well in the future, at least in terms of early establishment. Forest managers and tree breeders should take this possibility into consideration in their tree improvement and reforestation programs.

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Crown structure and biomass allocation patterns modulate aboveground productivity in young loblolly pine and slash pine

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2007.02.027 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 243 (2-3) ◽

pp. 219-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Daniel J. Chmura ◽

Mohd S. Rahman ◽

Mark G. Tjoelker

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Biomass Allocation ◽

Slash Pine ◽

Aboveground Productivity ◽

Crown Structure ◽

Allocation Patterns

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Response of biomass allocation patterns to thinning in Pinus halepensis differs under dry and semiarid Mediterranean climates

Annals of Forest Science ◽

10.1007/s13595-015-0480-y ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (5) ◽

pp. 595-607 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Raquel Alfaro-Sánchez ◽

Francisco R. López-Serrano ◽

Eva Rubio ◽

Raúl Sánchez-Salguero ◽

Daniel Moya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Allocation ◽

Pinus Halepensis ◽

Allocation Patterns

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Effects of increased N and P availability on biomass allocation and root carbohydrate reserves differ between N-fixing and non-N-fixing savanna tree seedlings

10.1101/224188 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Varan Varma ◽

Arockia M Catherin ◽

Mahesh Sankaran

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Biomass Allocation ◽

Nutrient Availability ◽

Belowground Biomass ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Plant Functional Groups ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

P Availability ◽

Nutrient Deposition ◽

Allocation Patterns

AbstractIn mixed tree-grass ecosystems, tree recruitment is limited by demographic bottlenecks to seedling establishment arising from inter- and intra-life form competition, and disturbances such as fire. Enhanced nutrient availability resulting from anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition can alter the nature of these bottlenecks by changing seedling growth and biomass allocation patterns, and lead to longer-term shifts in tree community composition if different plant functional groups respond differently to increased nutrient availability. However, the extent to which tree functional types characteristic of savannas differ in their responses to increased N and P availability remains unclear. We quantified differences in above- and belowground biomass, and root carbohydrate contents – parameters known to influence the ability of plants to compete, as well as survive and recover from fires – in seedlings of multiple N-fixing and non-N-fixing tree species characteristic of Indian savanna and dry-forest ecosystems to experimental N and P additions. N-fixers in our study were co-limited by N and P availability, while non-N-fixers were N limited. Although both functional groups increased biomass production following fertilisation, non-N-fixers were more responsive and showed greater relative increases in biomass with fertilisation than N-fixers. N-fixers had greater baseline investment in belowground resources and root carbohydrate stocks, and while fertilisation reduced root:shoot ratios in both functional groups, root carbohydrate content only reduced with fertilisation in non-N-fixers. Our results indicate that, even within a given system, plants belonging to different functional groups can be limited by, and respond differentially to, different nutrients, suggesting that long-term consequences of nutrient deposition are likely to vary across savannas contingent on the relative amounts of N and P being deposited in sites.

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Biomass allocation strategies shaping woody species adaptations to shade and drought

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-676 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Giacomo Puglielli ◽

Lauri Laanisto ◽

Hendrik Poorter ◽

Ülo Niinemets

Keyword(s):

Biomass Allocation ◽

Woody Species ◽

Global Scale ◽

Plant Functional Types ◽

Plant Functional Type ◽

Functional Type ◽

Optimal Partitioning ◽

Functional Types ◽

Optimal Partitioning Theory ◽

Allocation Patterns

Optimal partitioning theory predicts that plants allocate a greater proportion of biomass to the organs acquiring the most limiting resource when different environments challenge a given species (acclimation). Results are disputed when testing how biomass allocation patterns among species with contrasting tolerance of abiotic stress factors (adaptation) conform to optimal partitioning theory.We tested the optimal partitioning theory by analyzing the relationships of proportional biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots with species tolerance of shade and drought at a global scale including ~7000 observations for 604 woody species. The dataset spanned three plant functional types. In order to correct for ontogeny, differences among plant functional types at different levels of shade and drought tolerance were evaluated at three ontogenetic stages: seedlings, small trees and big trees. Adaptation and acclimation responses were also compared.We did not find overarching biomass allocation patterns at different tolerance values across species even if tolerant and intolerant species rarely overlapped in the trait space. Biomass allocation mainly varied among plant functional types due to phenological (deciduous vs. evergreen broad-leaved species) and broad phylogenetical (angiosperms vs. gymnosperms) differences. Furthermore, the direction of biomass allocation responses between tolerant and intolerant species was often opposite compared to that predicted by the optimal partitioning theory.Plant functional type is the major determinant of biomass allocation patterns in woody species at the global scale. Finally, interactions between ontogeny, plant functional type, species-specific stress tolerance adaptations (i.e. changes in organs surface area per unit dry mass), phenotypic plasticity or convergence in plant architecture can alter biomass allocation differences. All these factors permit woody species with different shade and drought tolerances to display multiple biomass partitioning strategies.

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