Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks differing in leaf life span

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1083-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Mediavilla ◽  
Alfonso Escudero
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Leaf Phenology ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Ontogenetic Changes ◽  
Mediterranean Oaks

Contrasting functional strategies following severe drought in two Mediterranean oaks with different leaf habit: Quercus faginea and Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Alonso-Forn ◽  
José Javier Peguero-Pina ◽  
Juan Pedro Ferrio ◽  
Maurizio Mencuccini ◽  
Óscar Mendoza-Herrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Quercus Ilex ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Quercus Faginea ◽  
Leaf Habit ◽  
Mediterranean Oaks

Abstract Nowadays, evergreen sclerophyllous and winter-deciduous malacophyllous oaks with different paleogeographical origins coexist under Mediterranean-type climates, such as the mixed forests of the evergreen Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia Lam. and the winter-deciduous Quercus faginea Lam. Both Mediterranean oaks constitute two examples of contrasting leaf habit, so it could be expected that they would have different functional strategies to cope with summer drought. In this study, we analysed photosynthetic, photochemical and hydraulic traits of different organs for Q. faginea and Q. ilex subsp. rotundifolia under well-watered conditions and subjected to very severe drought. The coordinated response between photosynthetic and hydraulic traits explained the higher photosynthetic capacity of Q. faginea under well-watered conditions, which compensated its shorter leaf life span at the expense of higher water consumption. The progressive imposition of water stress evidenced that both types of Mediterranean oaks displayed different functional strategies to cope with water limitations. Specifically, the decrease in mesophyll conductance associated with edaphic drought seems to be the main factor explaining the differences found in the dynamics of net CO2 assimilation throughout the drought period. The sharp decline in photosynthetic traits of Q. faginea was coupled with a strong decrease in shoot hydraulic conductance in response to drought. This fact probably avoided extensive xylem embolism in the stems (i.e., ‘vulnerability segmentation’), which enabled new leaf development after drought period in Q. faginea. By contrast, leaves of Q. ilex subsp. rotundifolia showed effective photoprotective mechanisms and high resistance to drought-induced cavitation, which would be related with the longer leaf life span of the evergreen Mediterranean oaks. The co-occurrence of both types of Mediterranean oaks could be related to edaphic conditions that ensure the maintenance of soil water potential above critical values for Q. faginea, which can be severely affected by soil degradation and climate change.

scholarly journals Effects of canopy cover and seasonal reduction in rainfall on leaf phenology and leaf traits of the fern Oleandra pistillaris in a tropical montane forest, Indonesia

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koichi Takahashi ◽  
Yumi Mikami
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Stem Growth ◽  
Leaf Phenology ◽  
Tropical Montane Forest ◽  
Leaf Life Span

Leaf phenology and leaf traits of the fern Oleandra pistillaris were examined in relation to canopy cover (open and understorey) and seasonal reduction in rainfall in a wet tropical montane forest, Indonesia. Although the annual rainfall is high, rainfall is relatively less in June and July. Stomatal density and diameter were greater in the open than in the understorey (229 versus 167 mm−2 for stomatal density and 33 versus 29 μm for stomatal diameter). The stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of leaves, positively correlated with water use efficiency, was higher in the open than in the understorey (mean δ13C −30 versus −33‰). Therefore, it is considered that leaves have high gas-exchange capacities per leaf area in the open where water availability would be limited, compared with the understorey. In contrast, leaf mass per area (LMA) was lower and leaf life span was longer in the understorey than in the open (25 versus 34 g m−2 for LMA and 2.1 and 1.6 y for leaf life span). These thin leaves with a long life span in the understorey would contribute to efficient light capture and photosynthetic production per leaf mass. The number of leaves per stem decreased during the period with less rainfall in both the open and understorey conditions, which should reduce the water loss from plants, but increased again after the period with less rainfall. Stem growth rate was higher in the open than in the understorey, and the seasonal reduction in rainfall hardly affected stem growth rate in either open or understorey conditions. This study concludes that O. pistillaris responds to canopy cover and seasonal reduction in rainfall by adjusting leaf traits and leaf phenology, respectively.

scholarly journals Leaf life span and the leaf economic spectrum in the context of whole plant architecture

2014 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika J. Edwards ◽  
David S. Chatelet ◽  
Lawren Sack ◽  
Michael J. Donoghue
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Plant Architecture ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Leaf Economic Spectrum

scholarly journals Shading effects on leaf life span and functional traits in the widespread species Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Souza ◽  
Nayara Magry Jesus Melo ◽  
Alessandro Dias Halfed ◽  
Jéssica Naiara Reis
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Shading Effects

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Leaves of Eight Australian Savanna Tree Species of Differing Leaf Life-Span

2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Eamus ◽  
B. Myers ◽  
G. Duff ◽  
R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Benefit Analysis

Endogenous sink-source interactions and soil nitrogen regulate leaf life-span in an evergreen shrub

2009 ◽  
Vol 183 (4) ◽  
pp. 1114-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Marty ◽  
T. Lamaze ◽  
A. Pornon
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Evergreen Shrub

scholarly journals Leaf Life‐Span in Relation to Leaf, Plant, and Stand Characteristics among Diverse Ecosystems

1992 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. Reich ◽  
M. B. Walters ◽  
D. S. Ellsworth
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Leaf Life Span ◽  
Stand Characteristics
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