Acclimation to light in planted and naturally regenerated populations of white spruce seedlings

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1495-1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tala Awada ◽  
Robert E Redmann

Physiological responses to sun and shade were examined in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings collected from three naturally regenerated (N1-N3) and three planted (P1-P3) stands in the boreal forest of Saskatchewan. Seedling survival was greater in the sun than in the shade pretreatment periods. Dark respiration declined by 70% in shade- compared with sun-acclimated seedlings; however, the decline was not statistically significant because of the large within-population variation. Quantum yield, total chlorophyll content, specific leaf area, and absolute water content of needles increased by 45, 33, 32, and 50%, respectively, in response to shade. At low light levels, shade-acclimated populations showed greater photosynthetic rates and steeper light-response curves than seedlings growing in full sun. Seedlings of P3, N2. and N3 saturated at about 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 PAR in the shade, with no increase in photosynthesis at higher light intensities. At light saturation, populations P1 and N3 showed similar photosynthetic rates to both light acclimation regimes; populations P2, P3, and N2 had lower light-saturated photosynthesis in sun, compared with shade pretreatment. Only in N1 was photosynthetic rate greater after sun than shade pretreatment; this population behaved like a "sun" and "shade" population depending on pretreatment. Differences in physiological responses to light among populations suggest the presence of more than one ecotype. N1 showed the greatest plasticity in response to light pretreatment. The remaining populations behaved more like shade-adapted populations, with little adjustment to light conditions. Intrapopulation variation was large for both regeneration types. It appears that selection pressure during reforestation was not great enough to cause a decline in intrapopulation variation in planted compared with naturally regenerated white spruce seedlings.Key words: Picea glauca, white spruce, light acclimation, photosynthesis.

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Youngblood ◽  
Elizabeth Cole ◽  
Michael Newton

To identify suitable methods for reforestation, we evaluated the interacting effects of past disturbance, stock types, and site preparation treatments on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedling survival and growth across a range of sites in Alaska. Replicated experiments were established in five regions. At each site, two complete installations differed in time since disturbance: “new” units were harvested immediately before spring planting and “old” units were harvested at least 3 years before planting. We compared mechanical scarification before planting, broadcast herbicide application during the fall before planting, and no site preparation with 1-year-old container-grown seedlings from two sources, 2-year-old bare-root transplants from two sources, and 3-year-old bare-root transplants. Seedlings were followed for 11 years on most sites. Based on meta-analyses, seedling survival increased 10% with herbicide application and 15% with mechanical scarification compared with no site preparation. Scarification and herbicide application increased seedling height by about 28% and 35%, respectively, and increased seedling volume by about 86% and 195%, respectively, compared with no site preparation. Soil temperature did not differ among site preparation methods after the first 7 years. Results suggest that white spruce stands may be successfully restored through a combination of vegetation control and use of quality planting stock.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L Griffin ◽  
Zoe M. Griffin ◽  
Stephanie C Schmiege ◽  
Sarah G Bruner ◽  
Natalie T. Boelman ◽  
...  

White spruce (Picea glauca) spans a massive range from arctic treeline to temperate forests. Yet the variability in respiratory physiology and the implications for tree carbon balance at the extremes of this distribution remain enigmasWorking at Arctic and Temperate sites more than 5000 km apart, we measured the short-term temperature response of dark respiration (R/T) at upper and lower canopy positions. R/T curves were fit to a polynomial model and model parameters (a, b, and c) were compared between locations, canopy positions, or with published data. Respiration measured at 25°C (R25) was 68% lower at the southern location than the northern location, resulting in a significantly lower a parameter of the R/T response in temperate trees Only at the southern location did upper canopy leaves have a steeper temperature response than lower canopy leaves, likely reflecting steeper canopy gradients in light. No differences were manifest in the maximum temperature of respiration. At the northern range limit, respiration appears extreme. This high carbon cost likely contributes to the current location of northern treeline. We find that respiration will increase with end-of-the-century warming and will likely continue to constrain the future range limits of this important boreal species.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1681-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. T. Logan

Rates of apparent photosynthesis and dark respiration of 4-year-old yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) seedlings, grown in full light and shade (13% of full light), were measured with an infrared gas analyzer. Measurements were made periodically throughout the growing season, using either attached branches or entire seedlings. Effects of light intensities from 0 to 4500 ft-c on photosynthetic rates were studied, and comparisons made between young and old leaves and between photosynthetic rates in normal (300 p.p.m.) and saturating (1245 p.p.m.) CO2 concentration.The photosynthetic apparatus of yellow birch was found to adapt poorly to shaded conditions. In saturating light, the rate of apparent photosynthesis of young leaves of shade-grown seedlings was only half that of sun-grown seedlings; for old leaves the reduction was even greater. As a result, shade-grown seedlings had a lower photosynthetic capacity in saturating light despite their larger leaf area. In low light intensities, leaves of sun- and shade-grown seedlings had nearly the same rates of apparent photosynthesis. Rates of respiration of shade-grown seedlings were one-half those of sun-grown seedlings.When seedlings were exposed to light intensities comparable to those in which they were grown, their photosynthetic rates correlated with their dry matter production.When the CO2 concentration was raised to 1245 p.p.m., photosynthetic rates of leaves of sun- and shade-grown seedlings increased by the same relative amount. It is concluded that the poor adaptation of yellow birch to shade results from a reduction in content of carboxylating enzymes rather than changes in chlorophyll content or resistance to CO2 diffusion. Adaptations of yellow birch are contrasted with those of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.).


2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (03) ◽  
pp. 392-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Hébert ◽  
Vincent Roy ◽  
Isabelle Auger ◽  
Martin-Michel Gauthier

The use of gap-based silviculture and enrichment planting was tested in temperate mixedwood forests in eastern Canada. Four different sizes of canopy opening or patch cuts were applied to six stands in the maple–birch domain of Quebec. We evaluated the influence of opening size, cardinal quadrant within the opening, and distance from the forest edge of openings on white spruce height and ground-level diameter (GLD) five years after enrichment planting. At ≥5 m from the edge, initial canopy transmittance was generally >60% in all four canopy treatments. White spruce seedling height and GLD were lower within 10 m from the edge, and generally increased where understory light levels were higher. Seedling survival, height, and GLD in the smallest opening (0.05 ha) were comparable or higher than those found in relatively larger openings. The 0.05-ha opening that more closely emulates natural canopy gaps of temperate mixedwood forests provided satisfactory seedling development, and is therefore compatible with a gap-based stand dynamics approach to management of mixedwood stands in Quebec.


2000 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Raymond ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
Marius Pineau

Stand regeneration failures, sometimes observed in rich second growth balsam fir stands, prompted a study in 1991 to assess the effects of the shelterwood cutting system on regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh). The factorial experiment design (split-plot) includes forest cover reduction (0% and 25% of basal area) in main plots and germination substrate (mineral soil, litter removed and control) in subplots. Results of five growing seasons showed that germination substrate was the main factor determining first-year seedling establishment, and that cover reduction became important for seedling survival and long-term establishment of the three species. A 25% canopy reduction combined with mineral seedbed treatment resulted in the best regeneration densities of the three species. Thus far, the results demonstrate the importance of combining humus disturbance to seed cutting in order to achieve regeneration goals set for the future stand. Key words: shelterwood cutting system, balsam fir, white spruce, paper birch, regeneration, seed cutting, germination substrate


1997 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Lawrence ◽  
William J. Mattson ◽  
Robert A. Haack

AbstractSynchrony of insect and host tree phenologies has often been suggested as an important factor influencing the susceptibility of white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, and other hosts to the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). We evaluated this hypothesis by caging several cohorts of spruce budworm larvae on three white spruce populations at different phenological stages of the host trees, and then comparing budworm performance with host phenology and variation of 13 foliar traits. The beginning of the phenological window of susceptibility in white spruce occurs several weeks prior to budbreak, and the end of the window is sharply defined by the end of shoot growth. Performance was high for the earliest budworm cohorts that we tested. These larvae began feeding 3–4 weeks prior to budbreak and completed their larval development prior to the end of shoot elongation. Optimal synchrony occurred when emergence preceded budbreak by about 2 weeks. Larval survival was greater than 60% for individuals starting development 1–3 weeks prior to budbreak, but decreased to less than 10% for those starting development 2 or more weeks after budbreak and thus completing development after shoot elongation ceased. High performance by the budworm was most strongly correlated with high levels of foliar nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, copper, sugars, and water and low levels of foliar calcium, phenolics, and toughness. These results suggest that advancing the usual phenological window of white spruce (i.e. advancing budbreak prior to larval emergence) or retarding budworm phenology can have a large negative effect on the spruce budworm’s population dynamics.


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