Sapling growth as a function of resources in a north temperate forest

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 2172-2183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. Pacala ◽  
Charles D. Canham ◽  
John A. Silander Jr. ◽  
Richard K. Kobe
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
High Light ◽  
Fast Growth ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Growth Functions

Radial and height growth are characterized for saplings of 10 dominant tree species in a transition oak–northern hardwoods forest in southern New England. Growth of saplings in the field is regressed against measures of whole-season light availability, soil moisture, and sapling size. Statistical tests show strong effects of light availability on growth, but no significant effects of soil moisture. Comparison of the light-dependent growth functions for the 10 species revealed three apparent interspecific trade-offs. (i) Species growing quickly at high light tended to grow slowly at low light and vice versa. The order of species from fast growing at high light to fast growing at low light did not correspond to traditional classifications of shade tolerance, and variation along this axis was approximately continuous. (ii) There was substantial variation off the species continuum defined in i. At any point along the continuum from fast growth at high light to fast growth at low light, some species grew faster than others, and these faster growing species had lower survivorship during periods of suppression than the slower growing species. (iii) Height growth at high light was inversely related to survivorship when suppressed. This variation was again continuous (species did not cluster into discrete categories), but the order of the species did correspond closely to a traditional ordering of shade tolerance. There was little correspondence between our estimated growth functions and the growth functions assumed in the JABOWA–FORET class of forest simulation models. These results raise serious concerns about the current practice of assigning growth functions to species in simulation models using traditional classifications of shade tolerance.

Are resources allocated differently to symbiosis and reproduction in Geranium sylvaticum under different light conditions?

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarkko Korhonen ◽  
Minna-Maarit Kytöviita ◽  
Pirkko Siikamäki
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
High Light ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Dark Septate Fungi

Light levels under the forest canopy are low and generally limit plant photosynthetic gains. We hypothesized that in low-light habitats, plant photosynthate acquisition is too low to allow the same magnitude of resource allocation to symbiosis and reproduction as in high-light habitats. We tested this hypothesis in a field study where Geranium sylvaticum L. plants were collected on three occasions during the growing season from shade and light habitats. In addition, we investigated the relationship between mycorrhizal colonization level and soil nutrient levels in shade and high-light habitats over a growing season. We found that light availability affects resource allocation in G. sylvaticum. Plants were intensively colonized with both arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi, and the colonization intensities of these two different groups of fungi correlated positively with each other. In comparison with high-light meadows, mycorrhizal colonization levels were as high or higher in low-light forest habitats, but plants produced fewer flowers. This indicates that allocation to symbiosis was of higher priority than allocation to reproduction in low light. Seed size was not affected by light levels and did not correlate with fungal colonization levels. We found no relationship between fungal colonization levels and soil characteristics.Key words: arbuscular mycorrhiza, dark septate fungi, Geranium sylvaticum, reproduction, shade.

scholarly journals Light alters the impacts of nitrogen and foliar pathogens on the performance of early successional tree seedlings

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11587
Author(s):  
Alexander Brown ◽  
Robert W. Heckman
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
High Light ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Light Limitation ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Foliar Damage

Light limitation is a major driver of succession and an important determinant of the performance of shade-intolerant tree seedlings. Shade intolerance may result from a resource allocation strategy characterized by rapid growth and high metabolic costs, which may make shade-intolerant species particularly sensitive to nutrient limitation and pathogen pressure. In this study, we evaluated the degree to which nitrogen availability and fungal pathogen pressure interact to influence plant performance across different light environments. To test this, we manipulated nitrogen availability (high, low) and access by foliar fungal pathogens (sprayed with fungicide, unsprayed) to seedlings of the shade-intolerant tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, growing at low and high light availability, from forest understory to adjacent old field. Foliar fungal damage varied with light and nitrogen availability; in low light, increasing nitrogen availability tripled foliar damage, suggesting that increased nutrient availability in low light makes plants more susceptible to disease. Despite higher foliar damage under low light, spraying fungicide to exclude pathogens promoted 14% greater plant height only under high light conditions. Thus, although nitrogen availability and pathogen pressure each influenced aspects of plant performance, these effects were context dependent and overwhelmed by light limitation. This suggests that failure of shade-intolerant species to invade closed-canopy forest can be explained by light limitation alone.

Species variability in growth response to light across climatic regions in northwestern British Columbia

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 871-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine F Wright ◽  
K Dave Coates ◽  
Charles D Canham ◽  
Paula Bartemucci
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
High Light ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Shade Tolerant Species

We characterize variation in radial and height growth of saplings of 11 tree species across a range of light levels in boreal, sub-boreal, subalpine, and temperate forests of northwestern British Columbia. Shade-tolerant species had the greatest response to an increase in light at low-light levels but had low asymptotic growth at high light. Shade-intolerant species had weaker responses to increases at low light but had the highest growth rates at high light. The effects of climate on intraspecific variation in sapling response to light were also related to shade tolerance: across different climatic regions, the most shade-tolerant species varied in their response to low-light but not high light, while shade-intolerant species varied only in their high-light growth. Species with intermediate shade tolerance varied both their amplitude of growth at high light and the slope of the growth response at low light. Despite the interspecific trade-offs between high- and low-light growth, there was a striking degree of overlap in the light response curves for the component species in virtually all of the climatic regions. Successional dynamics in these forests appear to be more strongly governed by interspecific variation in sapling survival than growth.

Relationship between seed size and litter effects on early seedling establishment of 15 tropical tree species

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (05) ◽  
pp. 569-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiano Micheletto Scarpa ◽  
I. F. M. Valio
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Carbon Fixation ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Early Seedling

A close relationship has been reported between seed size and many different plant traits such as seedling size, relative growth rate, seedling survival, distance of dispersion, colonization and density of seeds in the soil (Coomes & Grubb 2003, Jurado & Westoby 1992, Lahoreauet al. 2006, Saverimuttu & Westoby 1996, Souza & Valio 2001). Although the association of seed size and shade tolerance is unclear (Westobyet al. 1996) some authors have suggested that a larger-seeded species is better able to tolerate low light availability (Foster 1986, Foster & Janson 1985, Leishman & Westoby 1994) by producing a vigorous seedling with a higher ability to withstand predation (Armstrong & Westoby 1993, Foster 1986) and delaying the beginning of carbon fixation so as to increase survival under a canopy and under leaf litter.

Altering light availability to the plant host determined the identity of the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungal partners and mediated mycorrhizal effects on plant growth

Botany ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 439-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslav Kummel ◽  
Phoebe Lostroh
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Root System ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
System Size ◽  
High Light ◽  
Absolute Abundance ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Root System Size ◽  
The Absolute

Variation in light availability likely impacts the processes that determine the identity of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with the host plant, and the resulting changes in fungal composition may modify the plant’s growth response to light. Our two field surveys and two field experiments using Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. seedlings show that the identity of the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungus changed in response to natural and experimentally induced variation in light. Plants in low light were mostly dominated by a Cenococcum -like morphotype, and plants in high light were mostly dominated by a Lactarius -like morphotype. The patterns of absolute abundance show the key role of plant size: the absolute abundance of the Lactarius-like morphotype increased with increasing light and increasing root system size, whereas the absolute abundance of the Cenococcum-like morphotype was unrelated to both variables. Root system size increased with light availability. With increasing light, growth of plants dominated by the Lactarius-like morphotype decreased with respect to average plants, and therefore, as the Lactarius-like morphotype was increasing in dominance, it was decreasing in mutualistic effectiveness. Plants dominated by Cenococcum had lower growth compared with plants dominated by Lactarius in low light. However, the effects of the two morphotypes were indistinguishable in high light. Our results are likely driven by an interaction of priority effects and light-limited plant growth.

Growth and phenotypic plasticity of two tropical tree species under low light availability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marúcia da Cunha Fagundes ◽  
Ândrea Carla Dalmolin ◽  
Luciana Santos Lobo ◽  
Ana Cristina Schilling ◽  
Martielly Santana dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Tropical Tree Species

Abstract Aims Screening tree species in tropical rainforest according to their shade tolerance is important to efficiently manage the native trees of economic significance in secondary forest enrichment regimes. The objective of this study was to determine the whole-plant light compensation point (WPLCP) and compare the phenotypic plasticity in relation to growth and carbon allocation of Cariniana legalis and Gallesia integrifolia seedlings under low light availability. Methods Seedlings were cultivated for 77 days under conditions of five photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (0.02, 1.1, 2.3, 4.5 and 5.9 mol photons m -2 day -1) in three replicates. Growth and carbon allocation variables were determined. Important Findings Growth rates of C. legalis were higher and lower than those of G. integrifolia under 1.1 and 5.9 mol photons m -2 day -1, respectively. The WPLCP differed significantly between the two species. In accordance with the criteria of the shade tolerance classification for these two tropical tree species, our results showed that C. legalis had lower WPLCP and phenotypic plasticity in terms of higher growth rates and greater shade tolerance than G. integrifolia. From a practical point of view, we demonstrated that the differential linkage between growth and changing PAR between the two species can become a useful tool for comparing and selecting tree species in forest enrichment projects.

scholarly journals Vibrionaceae core, shell and cloud genes are non-randomly distributed on Chr 1: An hypothesis that links the genomic location of genes with their intracellular placement

BMC Genomics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie Bækkedal Sonnenberg ◽  
Tim Kahlke ◽  
Peik Haugen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Fast Growth ◽  
Gene Copy ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Gene Distribution ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Genomic Location ◽  
Growing Conditions

Abstract Background The genome of Vibrionaceae bacteria, which consists of two circular chromosomes, is replicated in a highly ordered fashion. In fast-growing bacteria, multifork replication results in higher gene copy numbers and increased expression of genes located close to the origin of replication of Chr 1 (ori1). This is believed to be a growth optimization strategy to satisfy the high demand of essential growth factors during fast growth. The relationship between ori1-proximate growth-related genes and gene expression during fast growth has been investigated by many researchers. However, it remains unclear which other gene categories that are present close to ori1 and if expression of all ori1-proximate genes is increased during fast growth, or if expression is selectively elevated for certain gene categories. Results We calculated the pangenome of all complete genomes from the Vibrionaceae family and mapped the four pangene categories, core, softcore, shell and cloud, to their chromosomal positions. This revealed that core and softcore genes were found heavily biased towards ori1, while shell genes were overrepresented at the opposite part of Chr 1 (i.e., close to ter1). RNA-seq of Aliivibrio salmonicida and Vibrio natriegens showed global gene expression patterns that consistently correlated with chromosomal distance to ori1. Despite a biased gene distribution pattern, all pangene categories contributed to a skewed expression pattern at fast-growing conditions, whereas at slow-growing conditions, softcore, shell and cloud genes were responsible for elevated expression. Conclusion The pangene categories were non-randomly organized on Chr 1, with an overrepresentation of core and softcore genes around ori1, and overrepresentation of shell and cloud genes around ter1. Furthermore, we mapped our gene distribution data on to the intracellular positioning of chromatin described for V. cholerae, and found that core/softcore and shell/cloud genes appear enriched at two spatially separated intracellular regions. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that there is a link between the genomic location of genes and their cellular placement.

scholarly journals Light environment drives evolution of color vision genes in butterflies and moths

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yash Sondhi ◽  
Emily A. Ellis ◽  
Seth M. Bybee ◽  
Jamie C. Theobald ◽  
Akito Y. Kawahara
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Color Vision ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
High Light ◽  
Light Environment ◽  
Evolution Rate ◽  
Animal Evolution ◽  
Light Sensing ◽  
Rates Of Evolution ◽  
Gains And Losses

AbstractOpsins, combined with a chromophore, are the primary light-sensing molecules in animals and are crucial for color vision. Throughout animal evolution, duplications and losses of opsin proteins are common, but it is unclear what is driving these gains and losses. Light availability is implicated, and dim environments are often associated with low opsin diversity and loss. Correlations between high opsin diversity and bright environments, however, are tenuous. To test if increased light availability is associated with opsin diversification, we examined diel niche and identified opsins using transcriptomes and genomes of 175 butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). We found 14 independent opsin duplications associated with bright environments. Estimating their rates of evolution revealed that opsins from diurnal taxa evolve faster—at least 13 amino acids were identified with higher dN/dS rates, with a subset close enough to the chromophore to tune the opsin. These results demonstrate that high light availability increases opsin diversity and evolution rate in Lepidoptera.

Changes in the Stoichiometry of Photosystem II Components as an Adaptive Response to High-Light and Low-Light Conditions during Growth

1986 ◽  
Vol 41 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Wild ◽  
Matthias Höpfner ◽  
Wolfgang Rühle ◽  
Michael Richter
Keyword(s):  
Photosystem Ii ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Photosynthetic Apparatus ◽  
High Light ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Pigment System ◽  
Transport Chain ◽  
The One

The effect of different growth light intensities (60 W·m-2, 6 W·m-2) on the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of mustard plants (Sinapis alba L.) was studied. A distinct decrease in photosystem II content per chlorophyll under low-light conditions compared to high-light conditions was found. For P-680 as well as for Oᴀ and Oв protein the molar ratio between high-light and low-light plants was 1.4 whereas the respective concentrations per chlorophyll showed some variations for P-680 and Oᴀ on the one and Oв protein on the other hand.In addition to the study of photosystem II components, the concentrations of PQ, Cyt f, and P-700 were measured. The light regime during growth had no effect on the amount of P-700 per chlorophyll but there were large differences with respect to PQ and Cyt f. The molar ratio for Cyt f and PQ between high- and low-light leaves was 2.2 and 1.9, respectively.Two models are proposed, showing the functional organization of the pigment system and the electron transport chain in thylakoids of high-light and low-light leaves of mustard plants.

scholarly journals Genotypic traits and tradeoffs of fast growth in silver birch, a pioneer tree

Oecologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Mikola ◽  
Katariina Koikkalainen ◽  
Mira Rasehorn ◽  
Tarja Silfver ◽  
Ulla Paaso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Competition ◽  
Leaf Growth ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Insect Herbivory ◽  
Fast Growth ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
Leaf N

AbstractFast-growing and slow-growing plant species are suggested to show integrated economics spectrums and the tradeoffs of fast growth are predicted to emerge as susceptibility to herbivory and resource competition. We tested if these predictions also hold for fast-growing and slow-growing genotypes within a silver birch, Betula pendula population. We exposed cloned saplings of 17 genotypes with slow, medium or fast height growth to reduced insect herbivory, using an insecticide, and to increasing resource competition, using naturally varying field plot grass cover. We measured shoot and root growth, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal production using ergosterol analysis and soil N transfer to leaves using 15N-labelled pulse of NH4+. We found that fast-growing genotypes grew on average 78% faster, produced 56% and 16% more leaf mass and ergosterol, and showed 78% higher leaf N uptake than slow-growing genotypes. The insecticide decreased leaf damage by 83% and increased shoot growth, leaf growth and leaf N uptake by 38%, 52% and 76%, without differences between the responses of fast-growing and slow-growing genotypes, whereas root mass decreased with increasing grass cover. Shoot and leaf growth of fast-growing genotypes decreased and EM fungal production of slow-growing genotypes increased with increasing grass cover. Our results suggest that fast growth is genotypically associated with higher allocation to EM fungi, better soil N capture and greater leaf production, and that the tradeoff of fast growth is sensitivity to competition, but not to insect herbivory. EM fungi may have a dual role: to support growth of fast-growing genotypes under low grass competition and to maintain growth of slow-growing genotypes under intensifying competition.

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