Interspecific variation in branch and leaf traits among three Syzygium tree species from different successional tropical forests

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Dan Zhu ◽  
Ya-Jun Chen ◽  
Kun-Fang Cao ◽  
Qing Ye
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Hydraulic Conductance ◽  
Xylem Water Potential ◽  
Sapwood Area

Plant functional traits are closely associated with plant habitats. In this study, we investigated the interspecific variations in stem and leaf hydraulics, xylem and leaf anatomy, gas-exchange rates and leaf pressure–volume relationships among three Syzygium tree species in early, mid- and late successional tropical forests. The objective was to understand the response and adaptation of congeneric species, in terms of branch and leaf functional traits, to different environments. A consistent pattern of decline with succession was evident in leaf and sapwood specific hydraulic conductivity (ks), maximum leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf), and photosynthetic rates for the three Syzygium species. Variations of ks and Kleaf were correlated with changes in vessel anatomy (i.e. vessel density and diameter) and leaf flux-related structure (i.e. stomatal pore index and vein density) respectively. However, specific leaf area and leaf to sapwood area ratio did not significantly differ among the three species. In addition, the mid-successional species had the lowest values of leaf water potential at full turgor and turgor loss point and 50% loss of Kleaf, but the greatest value of xylem water potential at 50% loss of ks. Our results demonstrate that leaf and branch traits associated with photosynthesis and/or hydraulic conductance, rather than those associated with drought tolerance, are the key factors underlying the response and adaptation of the three Syzygium tree species along the tropical forest succession.

scholarly journals Modeling the long-term dynamics of tropical forests: from leaf traits to whole-tree growth patterns

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Petter ◽  
Holger Kreft ◽  
Yongzhi Ong ◽  
Gerhard Zotz ◽  
Juliano Sarmento Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Leaf Economic Spectrum ◽  
Individual Trees

AbstractTropical forests are the most diverse terrestrial ecosystems and home to numerous tree species with diverse ecological strategies competing for resources in space and time. Functional traits influence the ecophysiological performance of tree species, yet the relationship between traits and emergent long-term growth pattern is poorly understood. Here, we present a novel 3D forest stand model in which growth patterns of individual trees and forest stands are emergent properties of leaf traits. Individual trees are simulated as 3D functional-structural tree models (FSTMs), considering branches up to the second order and leaf dynamics at a resolution of one m3. Each species is characterized by a set of leaf traits that corresponds to a specific position on the leaf economic spectrum and determines light-driven carbon assimilation, respiration and mortality rates. Applying principles of the pipe model theory, these leaf scale-processes are coupled with within-tree carbon allocation, i.e., 3D tree growth emerges from low-level processes. By integrating these FSTMs into a dynamic forest stand model, we go beyond modern stand models to integrate structurally-detailed internal physiological processes with interspecific competition, and interactions with the environment in diverse tree communities. For model calibration and validation, we simultaneously compared a large number of emergent patterns at both the tree and forest levels in a pattern-oriented modeling framework. At the tree level, varying specific leaf area and correlated leaf traits determined the maximum height and age of a tree, as well as its size-dependent growth rate and shade tolerance. Trait variations along the leaf economic spectrum led to a continuous transition from fast-growing, short-lived and shade-intolerant to slow-growing, long-lived and shade-tolerant trees. These emerging patterns resembled well-known functional tree types, indicating a fundamental impact of leaf traits on long-term growth patterns. At the forest level, a large number of patterns taken from lowland Neotropical forests were reproduced, indicating that our forest model simulates structurally realistic forests over long time spans. Our ecophysiological approach improves the understanding of how leaf level processes scale up to the tree and the stand level, and facilitates the development of next-generation forest models for species-rich forests in which tree performance emerges directly from functional traits.

scholarly journals El Niño-Southern Oscillation affects the water relations of tree species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Palomo-Kumul ◽  
Mirna Valdez-Hernández ◽  
Gerald A. Islebe ◽  
Manuel J. Cach-Pérez ◽  
José Luis Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Deciduous Species ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of ENSO 2015/16 on the water relations of eight tree species in seasonally dry tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The functional traits: wood density, relative water content in wood, xylem water potential and specific leaf area were recorded during the rainy season and compared in three consecutive years: 2015 (pre-ENSO conditions), 2016 (ENSO conditions) and 2017 (post-ENSO conditions). We analyzed tree size on the capacity to respond to water deficit, considering young and mature trees, and if this response is distinctive in species with different leaf patterns in seasonally dry tropical forests distributed along a precipitation gradient (700–1200 mm year−1). These traits showed a strong decrease in all species in response to water stress in 2016, mainly in the driest site. Deciduous species had lower wood density, higher predawn water potential and higher specific leaf area than evergreen species. In all cases, mature trees were more tolerant to drought. In the driest site, there was a significant reduction in water status, regardless of their leaf phenology, indicating that seasonally dry tropical forests are highly vulnerable to ENSO. Vulnerability of deciduous species is intensified in the driest areas and in the youngest trees.

Photosynthetic characteristics in relation to leaf traits in eight co-existing pioneer tree species in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Hölscher ◽  
C. Leuschner ◽  
K. Bohman ◽  
J. Juhrbandt ◽  
S. Tjitrosemito
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Pioneer Tree Species ◽  
Pioneer Tree ◽  
Leaf N Content ◽  
Leaf N

Tropical pioneer tree species are considered as a functional group characterized by a suite of ecological characteristics such as high light demand and high photosynthetic capacities. This study compared the photosynthetic characteristics of eight co-existing pioneer tree species in 3–4-y-old and about 6-m-tall secondary forest stands in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its objectives were (1) to determine the range and interspecific variation in six photosynthetic parameters, and (2) to identify morphological and chemical leaf traits that can predict light-saturated net photosynthetic rates (on a leaf area or leaf mass basis, Amax-area or Amax-mass). Species averages of Amax-area in sun leaves ranged between 14.2 and 20.3 μmol m−2 s−1 (mean 17.5) which is high compared with literature data. Among the co-existing species, average leaf size (56–896 cm2) differed by a factor of 16, specific leaf area (SLA, 10.7–21.4 m2 kg−1) and leaf nitrogen content (19.6–33.9 g kg−1) twofold. At the species level, Amax-area was not correlated with leaf N content but decreased significantly with leaf size. Amax-mass showed a higher interspecific variation than Amax-area, and was positively correlated with SLA and leaf N content (slope: 13.4 nmol CO2 g N−1 s−1). Both, Amax-area and Amax-mass were more closely related to leaf morphological attributes than to leaf N. We conclude that the tropical pioneer tree species studied do not form a homogeneous functional group in terms of photosynthetic performance. Rather, a considerable variation in leaf morphology and nitrogen content exists, which also shows up in a substantial variation in Amax-mass and, to a lesser extent, in Amax-area.

scholarly journals Consequences of a Reduced Number of Plant Functional Types for the Simulation of Forest Productivity

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rico Fischer ◽  
Edna Rödig ◽  
Andreas Huth
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Carbon Fluxes ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Plant Functional Types ◽  
Pioneer Tree Species ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Pioneer Tree ◽  
Functional Types

Tropical forests represent an important pool in the global carbon cycle. Their biomass stocks and carbon fluxes are variable in space and time, which is a challenge for accurate measurements. Forest models are therefore used to investigate these complex forest dynamics. The challenge of considering the high species diversity of tropical forests is often addressed by grouping species into plant functional types (PFTs). We investigated how reduced numbers of PFTs affect the prediction of productivity (GPP, NPP) and other carbon fluxes derived from forest simulations. We therefore parameterized a forest gap model for a specific study site with just one PFT (comparable to global vegetation models) on the one hand, and two versions with a higher amount of PFTs, on the other hand. For an old-growth forest, aboveground biomass and basal area can be reproduced very well with all parameterizations. However, the absence of pioneer tree species in the parameterizations with just one PFT leads to a reduction in estimated gross primary production by 60% and an increase of estimated net ecosystem exchange by 50%. These findings may have consequences for productivity estimates of forests at regional and continental scales. Models with a reduced number of PFTs are limited in simulating forest succession, in particular regarding the forest growth after disturbances or transient dynamics. We conclude that a higher amount of species groups increases the accuracy of forest succession simulations. We suggest using at a minimum three PFTs with at least one species group representing pioneer tree species.

scholarly journals Shifting from acquisitive to conservative: the effects of Phoradendron affine (Santalaceae) infection in leaf morpho-physiological traits of a Neotropical tree species

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Corrêa Scalon ◽  
Sabrina Alves dos Reis ◽  
Davi Rodrigo Rossatto
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Physiological Traits ◽  
Nutrient Imbalance ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Neotropical Tree ◽  
Leaf Area And Thickness

Mistletoes are parasitic plants that penetrate the host branches through a modified root and connect to their xylem to acquire nutrients and water. Under mistletoe infection, resources that would otherwise be used by the host are stolen by the parasite. Our aim was to compare leaf morpho-physiological traits between healthy uninfected branches and mistletoe-infected branches of a Neotropical tree species (Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos – Bignoniaceae). We also investigated differences between mistletoe and host leaf traits. Morphological (petiole length and thickness, leaf area and thickness, and specific leaf area) and physiological leaf traits (pre-dawn and midday water potential) were measured in 10 individuals infected with the mistletoe Phoradendron affine (Pohl ex DC.) Engl. & K.Krause (Santalaceae). Mistletoes showed smaller and thicker leaves with lower pre-dawn and midday water potential, suggesting that mistletoes are more profligate water users than the host. Host leaves from infected branches were scleromorphic and showed stronger water-use control (less negative water potential) than host leaves from uninfected branches. Our results indicated that leaves from infected branches shifted to a more conservative resource-use strategy as a response to a water and nutrient imbalance caused by mistletoe infection.

scholarly journals Traits controlling shade tolerance in tropical montane trees

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisée Bahati Ntawuhiganayo ◽  
Félicien K Uwizeye ◽  
Etienne Zibera ◽  
Mirindi E Dusenge ◽  
Camille Ziegler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Shade Tolerant Species

Abstract Tropical canopies are complex, with multiple canopy layers and pronounced gap dynamics contributing to their high species diversity and productivity. An important reason for this complexity is the large variation in shade tolerance among different tree species. At present, we lack a clear understanding of which plant traits control this variation, e.g., regarding the relative contributions of whole-plant versus leaf traits or structural versus physiological traits. We investigated a broad range of traits in six tropical montane rainforest tree species with different degrees of shade tolerance, grown under three different radiation regimes (under the open sky or beneath sparse or dense canopies). The two distinct shade-tolerant species had higher fractional biomass in leaves and branches while shade-intolerant species invested more into stems, and these differences were greater under low radiation. Leaf respiration and photosynthetic light compensation point did not vary with species shade tolerance, regardless of radiation regime. Leaf temperatures in open plots were markedly higher in shade-tolerant species due to their low transpiration rates and large leaf sizes. Our results suggest that interspecific variation in shade tolerance of tropical montane trees is controlled by species differences in whole-plant biomass allocation strategy rather than by difference in physiological leaf traits determining leaf carbon balance at low radiation.

scholarly journals Drought-Induced Mortality Is Related to Hydraulic Vulnerability Segmentation of Tree Species in a Savanna Ecosystem

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubin Zhang ◽  
Guojing Wen ◽  
Daxin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Hydraulic Conductance ◽  
Recruitment Rate ◽  
Hydraulic Failure ◽  
Hydraulic Vulnerability ◽  
Hydraulic Safety ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Seasonal Droughts

Vulnerability segmentation (VS) has been widely suggested to protect stems and trunks from hydraulic failure during drought events. In many ecosystems, some species have been shown to be non-segmented (NS species). However, it is unclear whether drought-induced mortality is related to VS. To understand this, we surveyed the mortality and recruitment rate and measured the hydraulic traits of leaves and stems as well as the photosynthesis of six tree species over five years (2012–2017) in a savanna ecosystem in Southwest China. Our results showed that the NS species exhibited a higher mortality rate than the co-occurring VS species. Across species, the mortality rate was not correlated with xylem tension at 50% loss of stem hydraulic conductivity (P50stem), but was rather significantly correlated with leaf water potential at 50% loss of leaf hydraulic conductance (P50leaf) and the difference in water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductance between the leaves and terminal stems (P50leaf-stem). The NS species had higher Huber values and maximum net photosynthetic rates based on leaf area, which compensated for a higher mortality rate and promoted rapid regeneration under the conditions of dry–wet cycles. To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the difference in drought-induced mortality between NS species and VS species. Our results emphasize the importance of VS in maintaining hydraulic safety in VS species. Furthermore, the high mortality rate and fast regeneration in NS species may be another hydraulic strategy in regions where severe seasonal droughts are frequent.

Interspecific variation in functional traits in relation to species climatic niche optima in Andean Polylepis (Rosaceae) tree species: evidence for climatic adaptations

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna M. Toivonen ◽  
Viviana Horna ◽  
Michael Kessler ◽  
Kalle Ruokolainen ◽  
Dietrich Hertel
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Root Tip ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Genetically Determined

Plant functional traits can be genetically determined or phenotypically plastic. We assessed the degree of genetic determinism in the functional traits of Andean Polylepis tree species among 14 important traits that enable the species to withstand cold and dry conditions. We conducted a common garden experiment and related the species-specific means of the functional traits to the variables of climatic niche optima of the species (mean annual temperature and annual precipitation), deducing that if the interspecific variation in the functional trait is related to the species climatic niche optima according to the theoretically-expected pattern of climate-trait relationship, the variation of the trait must be genetically determined. In general, the traits were related either to species temperature or precipitation optima. For example, leaf size, maximum photosynthesis rate and root tip abundance were related to temperature, whereas light compensation and light saturation points were related to precipitation. Only leaf size showed a significant phylogenetic signal, indicating that most of the manifested climate–trait relationships are not caused purely by phylogeny, but are mainly a result of species specialisation along an environmental gradient. However, in many cases the relationships were rather weak. This suggests that important functional traits of Polylepis species involve both genetic and phenotypic components aiming to maximise the overall fitness of the species at high elevations.

scholarly journals Change in hydraulic properties and leaf traits of a tall rainforest tree species subjected to long-term throughfall exclusion in the perhumid tropics

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 8553-8589 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Schuldt ◽  
C. Leuschner ◽  
V. Horna ◽  
G. Moser ◽  
M. Köhler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Specific Conductivity ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Vessel Diameter ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Drought Treatment ◽  
Drought Effect ◽  
Sapwood Area ◽  
Soil Desiccation

Abstract. In a throughfall displacement experiment on Sulawesi, Indonesia, three 0.16 ha stands of a premontane perhumid rainforest were exposed to a two-year soil desiccation period that reduced the soil moisture in the upper soil layers beyond the conventional wilting point. About 25 variables, including leaf morphological and chemical traits, stem diameter growth and hydraulic properties of the xylem in the trunk and terminal twigs, were investigated in trees of the tall-growing tree species Castanopsis acuminatissima (Fagaceae) by comparing desiccated roof plots with nearby control plots. We tested the hypotheses that this tall and productive species is particularly sensitive to drought, and the exposed upper sun canopy is more affected than the shade canopy. Hydraulic conductivity in the xylem of terminal twigs normalised to vessel lumen area was reduced by 25%, leaf area-specific conductivity by 10–33% during the desiccation treatment. Surprisingly, the leaves present at the end of the drought treatment were significantly larger, but not smaller in the roof plots, though reduced in number (about 30% less leaves per unit of twig sapwood area), which points to a drought effect on the leaf bud formation while the remaining leaves may have profited from a surplus of water. Mean vessel diameter and axial conductivity in the outermost xylem of the trunk were significantly reduced and wood density increased, while annual stem diameter increment decreased by 26%. In contradiction to our hypotheses, (i) we found no signs of major damage to the C. acuminatissima trees nor to any other drought sensitivity of tall trees, and (ii) the exposed upper canopy was not more drought susceptible than the shade canopy.

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