Drought effects on the plasticity in vessel traits of two endemic Magnolia species in the tropical montane cloud forests of eastern Mexico

Abstract Aims We aimed to evaluate how climatic fluctuations influence the plasticity of anatomical vessel traits and the width of annual tree-rings of two relict-endemic Mexican Magnolia species. Notwithstanding, few studies have assessed the drought effect on vessel traits in tropical montane cloud trees of eastern Mexico. Methods Through digital images of growth rings, we assessed the tree radial growth rate, age of the trees and plasticity in vessel traits regarding climatic fluctuations of the Mexican Magnolia species studied. We compared vessel density, hydraulic diameter and percentage of conductive area in drought years (DY) and non-drought years (NDY) in two Mexican Magnolia species. Important Findings For the first time, the plasticity that occurs in porous wood vessel traits to long-term climatic fluctuations was analysed for two endangered Magnolia species (Magnolia vovidesii and M. schiedeana) from two tropical montane cloud forests in Mexico. We found that temperature and precipitation were strongly associated with differences in tree-ring width when DY and NDY were compared. Our analyses revealed that a high plasticity in vessel anatomy of diffuse-porous wood was related to temperature and/or water availability for both Magnolia species studied. We concluded that anatomical adaptations to DY resulted in a substantial reduction in vessel traits when compared with NDY, and that the plastic adaptations played an essential role in water transport and safety for the survival of the studied species during stressful long periods.

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Drought Effects on Vessel Plasticity of Two Endemic Magnolia Species in the Tropical Montane Cloud Forests of Eastern Mexico

10.20944/preprints201811.0282.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ernesto Chanes Rodríguez-Ramírez ◽

J. Antonio Vázquez-García ◽

Othón Alcántara-Ayala ◽

Isolda Luna-Vega

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Ring Width ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Climatic Variation ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Endangered Tree ◽

Endangered Tree Species ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests ◽

Drought Effects

The distribution of Mexican Magnolia species´ occur under restricted climatic conditions. As many other tree species from the tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF), Magnolia species appear to be sensitive to drought. Through the use of dendrochronological techniques, this study aims to determine the climate influence on the vessel traits of M. vovidesii and M. schiedeana which are endangered tree species that are endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern Mexico. Because most of the tree species in TMCFs are sensitive to climate fluctuations, it is necessary to investigate the differences in the climatic adaptability of the vessel architecture of these trees. This could allow us to further understand the potential peril of climate change on TMCFs. We compared vessel frequency, length and diameter in drought and non–drought years in two Mexican Magnolia species. We used tree–rings width and vessel traits to assess the drought effects on Magnolias’ diffuse–porous wood back to the year 1929. We obtained independent chronologies for M. vovidesii with a span of 75 years (1941–2016), while for M. schiedeana we obtained a span of 319 years (1697–2016). We found that temperature and precipitation are strongly associated with differences in tree–ring width (TRW) between drought and non–drought years. Our results showed anatomical differences in vessel trait response between these two Magnolia species to climatic variation. We suggest that our approach of combining dendroclimatic and anatomical techniques is a powerful tool to analyse anatomic wood plasticity to climatic variation in Magnolia species.

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Four new Micarea species from the montane cloud forests of Taita Hills, Kenya

The Lichenologist ◽

10.1017/s0024282920000511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 81-94

Author(s):

Annina Kantelinen ◽

Marko-Tapio Hyvärinen ◽

Paul M. Kirika ◽

Leena Myllys

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Maximum Likelihood ◽

Maximum Parsimony ◽

Polarized Light ◽

Eastern Arc Mountains ◽

Brown Pigment ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Taita Hills ◽

First Time ◽

Existing Data

AbstractThe genus Micarea was studied for the first time in the Taita Hills, Kenya. Based on new collections and existing data, we reconstructed a phylogeny using ITS, mtSSU and Mcm7 regions, and generated a total of 27 new sequences. Data were analyzed using maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods. Based mainly on new collections, we discovered four undescribed well-supported lineages, characterized by molecular and phenotypic features. These lineages are described here as Micarea pumila, M. stellaris, M. taitensis and M. versicolor. Micarea pumila is characterized by a minutely granular thallus, small cream-white or pale brownish apothecia, small ascospores and the production of prasinic acid. Micarea stellaris has a warted-areolate thallus, cream-white apothecia usually darker at the centre, a hymenium of light grey or brownish pigment that dissolves in K, and intense crystalline granules that appear as a belt-like continuum across the lower hymenium when studied in polarized light. Micarea taitensis is characterized by a warted-areolate thallus and cream-white or yellowish apothecia that sometimes produce the Sedifolia-grey pigment. Micarea versicolor is characterized by a warted-areolate, sometimes partly granular thallus and apothecia varying from cream-white to light grey to blackish in colour. This considerable variation in the coloration of its apothecia is caused by an occasional mixture of the Sedifolia-grey pigment in the epihymenium and another purplish brown pigment in the hymenium. Micarea stellaris, M. taitensis and M. versicolor produce methoxymicareic acid. The main distinguishing characters are presented in a species synopsis. Three of the new species are nested in the M. prasina group, and the fourth one (M. taitensis) resolves as a basal taxon to the M. prasina group. The new species inhabit montane cloud forests, which have fragmented dramatically throughout the Eastern Arc Mountains in recent decades.

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Biogeography of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Part II: Mapping of Orographic Cloud Immersion

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/2007jamc1819.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 2183-2197 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Udaysankar S. Nair ◽

Salvi Asefi ◽

Ronald M. Welch ◽

D. K. Ray ◽

Robert O. Lawton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

United Nations Environment Programme ◽

Cloud Base ◽

Trade Wind ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Study Region ◽

Modis Data ◽

Monitoring Centre ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

Abstract This study details two unique methods to quantify cloud-immersion statistics for tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs). The first technique uses a new algorithm for determining cloud-base height using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud products, and the second method uses numerical atmospheric simulation along with geostationary satellite data. Cloud-immersion statistics are determined using MODIS data for March 2003 over the study region consisting of Costa Rica, southern Nicaragua, and northern Panama. Comparison with known locations of cloud forests in northern Costa Rica shows that the MODIS-derived cloud-immersion maps successfully identify known cloud-forest locations in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) database. Large connected regions of cloud immersion are observed in regions in which the trade wind flow is directly impinging upon the mountain slopes; in areas in which the flow is parallel to the slopes, a fractured spatial distribution of TMCFs is observed. Comparisons of the MODIS-derived cloud-immersion map with the model output show that the MODIS product successfully captures the important cloud-immersion patterns in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. The areal extent of cloud immersion is at a maximum during morning hours and at a minimum during the afternoon, before increasing again in the evening. Cloud-immersion frequencies generally increase with increasing elevation and tend to be higher on the Caribbean Sea side of the mountains. This study shows that the MODIS data may be used successfully to map the biogeography of cloud forests and to quantify cloud immersion over cloud-forest locations.

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Impact of land use on Costa Rican tropical montane cloud forests: Sensitivity of cumulus cloud field characteristics to lowland deforestation

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres ◽

10.1029/2001jd001135 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 108 (D7) ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

U. S. Nair

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Cumulus Cloud ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

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Amphibian species richness and endemism in tropical montane cloud forests across the Neotropics

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-021-02335-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cecilia Tobar-Suárez ◽

Nicolás Urbina-Cardona ◽

Fabricio Villalobos ◽

Eduardo Pineda

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

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Tropical montane cloud forests: Current threats and opportunities for their conservation and sustainable management in Mexico

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.11.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 974-981 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Tarin Toledo-Aceves ◽

Jorge A. Meave ◽

Mario González-Espinosa ◽

Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Management ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

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Different Wood Anatomical and Growth Responses in European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) at Three Forest Sites in Slovenia

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.669229 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Domen Arnič ◽

Jožica Gričar ◽

Jernej Jevšenak ◽

Gregor Božič ◽

Georg von Arx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ring Width ◽

European Beech ◽

Growing Season ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Vessel Area ◽

Temperature And Precipitation

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) adapts to local growing conditions to enhance its performance. In response to variations in climatic conditions, beech trees adjust leaf phenology, cambial phenology, and wood formation patterns, which result in different tree-ring widths (TRWs) and wood anatomy. Chronologies of tree ring width and vessel features [i.e., mean vessel area (MVA), vessel density (VD), and relative conductive area (RCTA)] were produced for the 1960–2016 period for three sites that differ in climatic regimes and spring leaf phenology (two early- and one late-flushing populations). These data were used to investigate long-term relationships between climatic conditions and anatomical features of four quarters of tree-rings at annual and intra-annual scales. In addition, we investigated how TRW and vessel features adjust in response to extreme weather events (i.e., summer drought). We found significant differences in TRW, VD, and RCTA among the selected sites. Precipitation and maximum temperature before and during the growing season were the most important climatic factors affecting TRW and vessel characteristics. We confirmed differences in climate-growth relationships between the selected sites, late flushing beech population at Idrija showing the least pronounced response to climate. MVA was the only vessel trait that showed no relationship with TRW or other vessel features. The relationship between MVA and climatic factors evaluated at intra-annual scale indicated that vessel area in the first quarter of tree-ring were mainly influenced by climatic conditions in the previous growing season, while vessel area in the second to fourth quarters of tree ring width was mainly influenced by maximum temperature and precipitation in the current growing season. When comparing wet and dry years, beech from all sites showed a similar response, with reduced TRW and changes in intra-annual variation in vessel area. Our findings suggest that changes in temperature and precipitation regimes as predicted by most climate change scenarios will affect tree-ring increments and wood structure in beech, yet the response between sites or populations may differ.

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Effect of the outbreak of horse-chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić) on tree-ring width in common horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-466202/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Cedro ◽

Grzegorz Nowak

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Ring Width ◽

Leaf Miner ◽

Horse Chestnut ◽

Climate Response ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Chestnut Leaf

Abstract Common horse-chestnut is frequently infested by the insect pest horse-chestnut leaf miner [HCLM; Cameraria ohridella (Deschka & Dimić, 1986), Gracillariidae, Lepidoptera]. The larvae, feeding on leaf parenchyma, cause browning and dehydration of leaves, which may be shed as early as in summer. The major aims of this study were: (1) to assess the effect of infestation by HCLM on ring-width dynamics in common horse-chestnut; (2) to determine the date of invasion of the pest; and (3) to compare the growth-climate response in the period before and after the invasion of HCLM. In 2017 in north-western Poland, samples from 30 horse-chestnut trees for the dendrochronological analysis were taken with help of a Pressler increment borer. The ring-width chronology was developed using standard dendrochronological methods. Dendroclimatological analyses were made in 2 periods: before the determined date of HCLM invasion (till the year 1999) and after the invasion (in 20002016). In 2000, in spite of favourable weather conditions, a reduced growth rate was observed in 91% of the analysed trees. The period of strong reductions lasted till 2010. Before the invasion, radial growth rate was dependent on temperature and precipitation in May and June of the current year, whereas after the invasion, the growth-climate response was dependent on temperature and precipitation in the preceding year and the correlation was stronger. Surprisingly, in recent years (2011–2016), in spite of infestation by HCLM every year, the health condition of the analysed trees has improved and tree-ring width has increased.

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