Use of deciduous woody species as a diet supplement for goats grazing Mediterranean shrublands during the dry season

Despite limitations of low fertility and high acidity of the soils, the cerrado flora is the richest amongst savannas. Many cerrado woody species show sclerophyllous leaves, which might be related to the availability of water and nutrients in the soil. To better understand the function and structure of cerrado vegetation within its own variations, we compared two cerrado communities: one in its core region in central Brazil (Brasília, DF) and the other on its southern periphery (Itirapina, SP). We contrasted the length of the dry season, soil fertility rates, leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and the specific leaf area (SLA) between these communities. The dry season was shorter on the periphery, where the soil was more fertile although more acidic. Plants from the periphery showed higher SLA and higher leaf concentrations of N, P, Ca and Mg. We propose that the higher SLA of plants from the periphery is related to the shorter dry season, which allows better conditions for nutrient uptake.

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Phenology and water relations of eight woody species in the Coronation Garden of Kirtipur, central Nepal

Himalayan Journal of Sciences ◽

10.3126/hjs.v4i6.982 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 49-56

Author(s):

Bharat B Shrestha ◽

Yadav Uprety ◽

Keshav Nepal ◽

Sandhya Tripathi ◽

Pramod K Jha

Keyword(s):

Woody Species ◽

Dry Season ◽

Elastic Tissue ◽

Deciduous Species ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Central Nepal ◽

Relative Water ◽

Bauhinia Variegata ◽

Celtis Australis ◽

Woodfordia Fruticosa

Phenological activities of eight woody species planted in Kirtipur (central Nepal) were examined, each for one dry season between September 2001 and June 2003. From Pressure Volume (P-V) analysis, we determined relative water content at zero turgor (RWCz), osmotic potential at zero turgor (Ψsz) and full turgor (Ψsf ), and bulk modulus of elasticity (ε) once a month through the course of dry season. Both evergreen species (Cotoneaster bacillaris Wall., Quercus lanata Sm., Ligustrum confusum Decne., Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz.) and deciduous species (Celtis australis Linn., Alnus nepalensis D.Don., Bauhinia variegata Linn. and Lagerstroemia indica Linn.) put out their new leaves during the dry summer when day length and temperature were increasing. Generally, bud break coincided with concentrated leaf fall during the dry summer and the leaf fall reduced total leaf area to its lowest value. The deciduous species were leafless for one to three months, followed by a prolonged period of leaf production and shoot elongation. Evergreen and deciduous species manifested distinct adaptive strategies to water deficit. Evergreens can reduce osmotic potential (Ψs) to its low value and maintain proper water potential (Ψ) gradient from soil to plant, which facilitates absorption of water during dry season. Elastic tissue in deciduous species is coupled with leaf shedding during the dry season; both factors may help maintain proper Ψs for new growth during dry period. One evergreen species (Woodfordia fruticosa) and three deciduous species (Celtis australis, Bauhinia variegata and Lagerstroemia indica) have inherently high dehydration tolerance due to their elastic tissue. During drought there has been osmotic adjustment in Quercus lanata, and elastic adjustment in Ligustrum confusum, Celtis australis and Lagerstroemia indica. Key words: Himalayas, Pressure Volume (P-V) curve, relative water content (RWC), osmotic adjustment, elastic adjustment Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.4(6) 2007 p.49-56

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Perceptions pastorales des ligneux fourragers par les agropasteurs et les transhumants au centre du Sénégal

International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences ◽

10.4314/ijbcs.v14i3.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 772-787

Author(s):

Abdou Dione ◽

Oumar Sarr ◽

Saliou Ngom ◽

Aly Diallo ◽

Aliou Guisse

Keyword(s):

Woody Species ◽

Dry Season ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Ziziphus Mauritiana ◽

Faidherbia Albida ◽

Adansonia Digitata ◽

Ethnobotanical Survey ◽

Fodder Trees ◽

Enquête Ethnobotanique ◽

Fodder Crops

L’étude est réalisée dans les parcours communautaires du département de Kaffrine. Cette zone constitue un axe incontournable de transhumance pendant saison sèche des ruminants. Sa végétation ligneuse contribue à l’affouragement du cheptel mais subit d’énormes pressions de diverses sortes. Ce travail a pour objectif principal d’évaluer l’importance des espèces ligneuses dans le bassin arachidier. Une enquête ethnobotanique a été réalisée sur la base d’un questionnaire portant sur les espèces fourragères utiles, leurs princiapaux usages, les modes d’exploitations et les parties utilisées. L’enquête a révélé que 82,14% des espèces ligneuses inventoriées sont considérées comme fourragères. Il s’agit notamment de Adansonia digitata, Cordyla pinnata, Faidherbia albida, Ficus capensis, Ziziphus mauritiana et Sterculia setigera. Ce constat montre l’importance de la richesse spécifique des champs où se trouvent toutes ces espèces. La saison sèche est la période pendant laquelle les ligneux sont plus exploités par les agropasteurs. D’autres enquêtés utilisent ces ligneux fourragers pour l’alimentation humaine, la pharmacopée, l’artisanat, le bois d’oeuvre, le bois de chauffe, etc., ce qui montre une forte pression sur ces ressources. La promotion de la régénération naturelle assistée, la réalisation des cultures fourragères (sensibiliser les paysans sur les bienfaits de ces cultures), des émondages modérés limités par exemple au quart de la couronne des arbres fourragers, pourraient contribuer à atténuer les pressions exercées sur les ligneux les plus appétés.Mots clés : Enquête ethnobotanique, forêt, champs, pression. English Title: Pastoral perceptions of fodder ligneous by agro-pastoralists and transhumants in central Senegal The study is carried out in the community routes of the department of Kaffrine. This zone constitutes an essential axis of transhumance during the dry season of ruminants. Its woody vegetation contributes to the feeding of the livestock but is under enormous pressure of various kinds. The main objective of this work is to assess the importance of woody species in the groundnut basin. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out on the basis of a questionnaire relating to useful fodder species, their main uses, the modes of exploitation and the parts used. The survey revealed that 82.14% of the woody species inventoried are considered as fodder. These include Adansonia digitata, Cordyla pinnata, Faidherbia albida, Ficus capensis, Ziziphus mauritiana and Sterculia setigera. This observation shows the importance of the specific richness of the fields where all these species are found. The dry season is the period during which woody trees are more exploited by agro-pastoralists. Other respondents use these woody fodder for human consumption, pharmacopoeia, handicrafts, lumber, firewood, etc., which shows great pressure on these resources. The promotion of assisted natural regeneration, the production of fodder crops (making farmers aware of the benefits of these crops), moderate prunings limited, for example, to a quarter of the crown of fodder trees, could help to reduce the pressures exerted on woody plants. the most popular.Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, forest, fields, pressure.

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Dry season watering alters the significance of climate factors influencing phenology and growth of saplings of savanna woody species in central Zambia, southern Africa

Austral Ecology ◽

10.1111/aec.12254 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (7) ◽

pp. 794-805 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Emmanuel Chidumayo

Keyword(s):

Southern Africa ◽

Woody Species ◽

Dry Season ◽

Climate Factors ◽

Factors Influencing

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Large branch and leaf hydraulic safety margins in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpz028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (8) ◽

pp. 1405-1415

Author(s):

Shi-Dan Zhu ◽

Rong-Hua Li ◽

Peng-Cheng He ◽

Zafar Siddiq ◽

Kun-Fang Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern China ◽

Woody Species ◽

Atmospheric Temperature ◽

Dry Season ◽

Sapwood Area ◽

Evergreen Broadleaved Forest ◽

Safety Margins ◽

Hot Dry Season ◽

Hydraulic Safety ◽

Dry Seasons

Abstract As a global biodiversity hotspot, the subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest (SEBF) in southern China is strongly influenced by the humid monsoon climate, with distinct hot-wet and cool-dry seasons. However, the hydraulic strategies of this forest are not well understood. Branch and leaf hydraulic safety margins (HSMbranch and HSMleaf, respectively), as well as seasonal changes in predawn and midday leaf water potential (Ψpd and Ψmd), stomatal conductance (Gs), leaf to sapwood area ratio (AL/AS) and turgor loss point (Ψtlp), were examined for woody species in a mature SEBF. For comparison, we compiled these traits of tropical dry forests (TDFs) and Mediterranean-type woodlands (MWs) from the literature because they experience a hot-dry season. We found that on average, SEBF showed larger HSMbranch and HSMleaf than TDF and MW. During the dry season, TDF and MW species displayed a significant decrease in Ψpd and Ψmd. However, SEBF species showed a slight decrease in Ψpd but an increase in Ψmd. Similar to TDF and MW species, Gs was substantially lower in the dry season for SEBF species, but this might be primarily because of the low atmospheric temperature (low vapor pressure deficit). On the other hand, AL/AS and Ψtlp were not significant different between seasons for any SEBF species. Most SEBF species had leaves that were more resistant to cavitation than branches. Additionally, species with stronger leaf-to-branch vulnerability segmentation tended to have smaller HSMleaf but larger HSMbranch. Our results suggest that SEBF is at low hydraulic risk under the current climate.

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Resource partitioning within a browsing guild in a key habitat, the Chobe Riverfront, Botswana

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467405002701 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 641-649 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Shimane W. Makhabu

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Resource Use ◽

Resource Partitioning ◽

Woody Species ◽

Food Resources ◽

Dry Season ◽

Population Increase ◽

Species Identity ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Elephant Population

Resource partitioning between elephant, giraffe, kudu and impala was assessed. This was to address concerns that elephant population increase adversely affects other species through depleting their food in key areas close to permanent water. Resources considered were woody species browsed, height browsed and plant parts browsed. Animals were observed as they browsed and the plant species, browsing heights and plant parts browsed were recorded. Observations were made over 1 y and the data were divided between wet and dry season. Schoener's index of resource use overlap was calculated for plant species, browsing heights and plant parts eaten and differences in overlap between wet and dry season were tested. Levin's measure of niche breadth in plant species utilized by the different browsers was calculated. Woody species identity was the main separator between food resources that elephant used and those giraffe, impala and kudu used. Giraffe, kudu and impala mainly browsed the same species and plant parts but browsed at different heights. There was no difference in resource use overlap between seasons with different resource availability. Since elephant browsed different woody species from those browsed by the others, it is unlikely that the increasing elephant population will deplete food resources for the other browsers.

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The water status of six woody species coexisting in the Sahel (Ferlo, Senegal)

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467400009834 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 607-627 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

A. Berger ◽

M. Grouzis ◽

C. Fournier

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽

Water Status ◽

Woody Species ◽

Dry Season ◽

Pressure Potential ◽

Balanites Aegyptiaca ◽

Xylem Pressure ◽

Xylem Pressure Potential ◽

Boscia Senegalensis ◽

Coexisting Species

ABSTRACTIn the Sahel during recent decades, anthropogenic disturbance and periods of drought have caused changes in woody species frequency. The internal water status of six coexisting species was analysed to estimate the importance of water constraints in this process. Predawn and midday xylem pressure potential and stomatal conductance were monitored monthly for two years. The relations between xylem pressure potential and transpiration made it possible to determine the hydraulic conductivity of the soil—plant system. Two types of results were obtained. First, there was considerable diversity in water status of the different species. Minimum predawn xylem pressure potentials (dry season) ranged from – 1.5 MPa to – 5 MPa depending on species, with interseasonal variation from 0.08 MPa to 2 MPa. Response to rainfall was very rapid (a few days) or very slow (several months). The three functioning types defined using these results were compared with the phytogeographical status of the species. Second, more specific phenomena were observed, (a) Some species (Balanites aegyptiaca and Boscia senegalensis) showed an imbalance between the predawn xylem pressure potential and the soil water status during the rainy season; (b) a sharp increase in xylem pressure potential was observed in deciduous species in the middle of the dry season; probably related to bud break; and (c) the water status was always favourable for Combrelum glutinosum. The few remaining individuals seem to benefit from very favourable subsoil water supply conditions.

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Water relations and hydraulic architecture in Cerrado trees: adjustments to seasonal changes in water availability and evaporative demand

Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology ◽

10.1590/s1677-04202008000300007 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 233-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Sandra J. Bucci ◽

Fabian G. Scholz ◽

Guillermo Goldstein ◽

Frederick C. Meinzer ◽

Augusto C. Franco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Water Relations ◽

Seasonal Changes ◽

Soil Water Potential ◽

Woody Species ◽

Dry Season ◽

Hydraulic Architecture ◽

Wet Season ◽

Evaporative Demand ◽

Water Deficits

We determined adjustments in physiology and morphology that allow Neotropical savanna trees from central Brazil (Cerrado) to avoid water deficits and to maintain a nearly constant internal water balance despite seasonal changes in precipitation and air saturation deficit (D). Precipitation in the study area is highly seasonal with about five nearly rainless months during which D is two fold higher compared to wet season values. As a consequence of the seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and D, soil water potential changes substantially in the upper 100 cm of soil, but remains nearly constant below 2 m depth. Hydraulic architecture and water relations traits of Cerrado trees adjusted during the dry season to prevent increasing water deficits and insure homeostasis in minimum leaf water potential ψL and in total daily water loss per plant (isohydry). The isohydric behavior of Cerrado trees was the result of a decrease in total leaf surface area per tree, a strong stomatal control of evaporative losses, an increase in leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity and leaf hydraulic conductance and an increase in the amount of water withdrawn from internal stem storage, during the dry season. Water transport efficiency increased in the same proportion in leaves and terminal stems during the dry season. All of these seasonal adjustments were important for maintaining ψL above critical thresholds, which reduces the rate of embolism formation in stems and help to avoid turgor loss in leaf tissues still during the dry season. These adjustments allow the stems of most Cerrado woody species to operate far from the point of catastrophic dysfunction for cavitation, while leaves operate close to it and experience embolism on a daily basis, especially during the dry season.

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Effects of individual fire events on the flower production of fruit-bearing tree species, with reference to Aboriginal people's management and use, at Kalumburu, North Kimberley, Australia

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt03157 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 405 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

T. Vigilante ◽

D. M. J. S. Bowman

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Tree Height ◽

Woody Species ◽

Fire Regimes ◽

Fruit Tree ◽

Dry Season ◽

Natural Experiments ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Landscape Units

This study used a number of landscape-scale natural experiments to investigate the influence of individual fire events on the reproductive output of key fruit-bearing woody species [Buchanania obovata Engl. (two leaf forms), Persoonia falcata R.Br., Planchonia careya (F.Muell.) Knuth, Syzygium eucalyptoides (F.Muell.) B.Hyland, Syzygium suborbiculare (Benth.) T.Hartley & Perry. and Terminalia cunninghamii C.Gardner] around Kalumburu, North Kimberley, Australia. Flowering level was used as an estimate of reproductive success as sampling was done prior to fruit development.Terminalia cunninghamii was found to flower earlier and more prolifically in areas burnt in the early dry season of 1999 than in areas left unburnt; however, there was no significant difference between these treatments in 2000. Flowering levels were significantly reduced in burnt treatments (from early to mid-dry season fires) for Buchanania obovata (large-leafed form), Persoonia falcata, Planchonia careya, Syzygium eucalyptoides and Syzygium suborbiculare. Positive correlations occurred between the minimum foliage height and total tree height of Buchanania obovata small-leafed form (r = 0.78, y = 0.61x + 0.003), large-leafed form (r = 0.87, y = 0.59x + 0.10) and Syzygium suborbiculare (r = 0.76, y = 0.43x + 0.54). Above a height of 2 m, most trees have the majority of their foliage located in the top half of the tree. In all cases, flowering levels increased with foliage height intervals.The results indicate that fire events and their timing can have an impact on the reproductive cycle of fruit-tree species. Indigenous people have managed these resources through the careful use of fire. The conservation of fruit-tree species and frugivorous-animal species could benefit from (i) the careful management of areas with high densities of fruit-bearing species, and (ii) spatially and temporally diverse fire regimes across broader landscape units.

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