Wood density explains architectural differentiation across 145 co-occurring tropical tree species

ABSTRACT Angiosperm trees produce tension wood to actively control their vertical position. Tension wood has often been characterised by the presence of an unlignified inner fibre wall layer called the G-layer. Using this definition, previous reports indicate that only one-third of all tree species have tension wood with G-layers. Here we aim to (i) describe the large diversity of tension wood anatomy in tropical tree species, taking advantage of the recent understanding of tension wood anatomy and (ii) explore any link between this diversity and other ecological traits of the species. We sampled tension wood and normal wood in 432 trees from 242 species in French Guiana. The samples were observed using safranin and astra blue staining combined with optical microscopy. Species were assigned to four anatomical groups depending on the presence/absence of G-layers, and their degree of lignification. The groups were analysed for functional traits including wood density and light preferences. Eighty-six% of the species had G-layers in their tension wood which was lignified in most species, with various patterns of lignification. Only a few species did not have G-layers. We found significantly more species with lignified G-layers among shade-tolerant and shade-demanding species as well as species with a high wood density. Our results bring up-to-date the incidence of species with/without G-layers in the tropical lowland forest where lignified G-layers are the most common anatomy of tension wood. Species without G-layers may share a common mechanism with the bark motor taking over the wood motor. We discuss the functional role of lignin in the G-layer.

Download Full-text

Comparative hydraulic architecture of tropical tree species representing a range of successional stages and wood density

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-011-1973-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 167 (1) ◽

pp. 27-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Katherine A. McCulloh ◽

Frederick C. Meinzer ◽

John S. Sperry ◽

Barbara Lachenbruch ◽

Steven L. Voelker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wood Density ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Hydraulic Architecture ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

Successional Stages

Download Full-text

Hydraulic conductivity traits predict growth rates and adult stature of 40 Asian tropical tree species better than wood density

Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01939.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 732-741 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Ze-Xin Fan ◽

Shi-Bao Zhang ◽

Guang-You Hao ◽

J.W. Ferry Slik ◽

Kun-Fang Cao

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Wood Density ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

Better Than ◽

Adult Stature

Download Full-text

Intra-specific patterns of δ13C, growth and wood density variation at sites of contrasting precipitation with implications for modelling carbon sequestration of tropical tree species

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-021-00646-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nirmol Kumar Halder ◽

Md. Qumruzzaman Chowdhury ◽

David Fuentes ◽

Malcolm Possell ◽

Andrew Merchant

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Wood Density ◽

Tree Species ◽

Density Variation ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Tropical Tree Species

Download Full-text

Growth-ring boundaries of tropical tree species: aiding delimitation by long histological sections and wood density profiles

Dendrochronologia ◽

10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125878 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 125878

Author(s):

Manolo Trindade Quintilhan ◽

Luiz Santini ◽

Daigard Ricardo Ortega Rodriguez ◽

Joannès Guillemot ◽

Gabriella Hita Marangom Cesilio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wood Density ◽

Tree Species ◽

Growth Ring ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Density Profiles ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

Histological Sections

Download Full-text

Relationships of wood density and wood chemical traits between stems and coarse roots across 53 Bornean tropical tree species

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467416000018 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 175-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michiko Nakagawa ◽

Megumi Hori ◽

Mitsutoshi Umemura ◽

Takuya Ishida

Keyword(s):

Wood Density ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Coarse Roots ◽

Stem Wood ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

Wood Trait ◽

Wood Traits ◽

Chemical Traits

Abstract:Wood density and wood chemical traits are strong predictors of tree performance, carbon stock, and wood decomposition, which play important roles in ecosystem processes and carbon and nutrient cycling in forests. However, it remains unknown how root wood traits are related to stem wood traits. We examined the relationships of wood density and wood chemical traits (lignin and nitrogen concentrations, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) between the stems and coarse roots of 90 individuals representing 53 tropical tree species in Malaysian Borneo. We developed regression equations of each wood trait using the standardized major axis method. Each root wood trait was highly correlated with the corresponding stem wood trait, and most regression equations fitted well (R2 > 0.5). The lignin concentration of roots was significantly greater than that of stems. We conclude that root wood traits can be estimated from the corresponding stem wood traits in South-East Asian tropical trees. Further analysis of coarse root decomposability will provide more accurate estimates of carbon and nutrient fluxes in tropical forest ecosystems.

Download Full-text