Food-chain chemistry, reproductive success, and foraging behaviour of songbirds in acidified maple forests of central Ontario

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Mahony ◽  
Erica Nol ◽  
Tom Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Acid Leaching ◽  
Magnesium Concentration ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Parus Atricapillus ◽  
Neotropical Migrant ◽  
Dendroica Pensylvanica

We examined the breeding success of two insectivorous bird species, the resident black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) and the Neotropical migrant chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), in relation to food-chain chemistry at a healthy and a declining forest site in central Ontario, Canada. The health of sugar maples (Acer saccharum) was poorer and the pH of both soil and throughfall was lower at the declining site than at the healthy site. The calcium and magnesium concentrations and the calcium:aluminum ratio in the soil were also lower at the declining site than at the healthy site. The calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus concentrations and the calcium:aluminum ratio in sugar maple foliage were lower at the declining site than at the healthy site, indicating extensive acid leaching of the soil and foliage at the declining site. Caterpillars (Geometridae) at the declining site had a lower calcium concentration and beetles had a lower magnesium concentration than these groups at the healthy site. The calcium:aluminum ratios in the tissues of insects in both groups were lower at the declining site than at the healthy site, paralleling the foliar and soil chemical differences. There were, however, no differences in clutch or brood sizes, or percent hatch, for either bird species between the healthy and declining sites. Chickadees consistently foraged lower in the canopy at the declining site, a possible compensatory behaviourial response to canopy dieback and (or) lower food quality in the upper canopy.

The mycorrhizal status, root anatomy, and phenology of plants in a sugar maple forest

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Brundrett ◽  
Bryce Kendrick
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽  
Root Anatomy ◽  
Herbaceous Plants ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Almost All

The phenology, root anatomy, and mycorrhizal colonization of vascular plant species occurring in a hardwood forest site were studied. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum), the dominant tree, ash (Fraxinus americana), another important tree, and the most abundant herbaceous plants were examined periodically. Most of the herbaceous species present were highly colonized by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), but some consistently had low levels of VAM, or were nonmycorrhizal, and several had orchid mycorrhizae. Most trees were associated with VAM, although several ectomycorrhizal species occurred in low numbers. Herbaceous plants could be divided into four phenological categories of shoot activity, spring, spring–summer, summer, and fall, but many species had periods of root growth that did not parallel their aboveground activity. Almost all species that produced new roots in summer were well colonized by VAM, while those active mainly in late fall or early spring tended to be nonmycorrhizal. Roots of the woodland plants typically had a well-developed exodermis and also tended to be long-lived and coarse. Possible relationships among these root system characteristics, phenological categories, and levels of mycorrhizal colonization of woodland plants are discussed.

Decay of birdseye sugar maple (Acer Saccharum) and curly red maple (Acer Rubrum)

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-297
Author(s):  
Tara Lee Bal ◽  
Katherine Elizabeth Schneider ◽  
Dana L. Richter
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Red Maple

High light intensity stress as the limiting factor in micropropagation of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)

2017 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amritpal S. Singh ◽  
A. Maxwell P. Jones ◽  
Mukund R. Shukla ◽  
Praveen K. Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
High Light Intensity ◽  
High Light ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Intensity Stress

American beech and sugar maple sapling relative abundance and growth are not modified by light availability following partial and total canopy disturbances

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 632-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Bannon ◽  
Sylvain Delagrange ◽  
Nicolas Bélanger ◽  
Christian Messier
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Canopy Opening ◽  
Unmanaged Forest

Studies have reported divergent results on the effect of soil fertility and canopy opening on understory density and growth of sugar maple (AS; Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech (FG; Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a gradient of canopy opening and soil fertility on the density and growth of AS and FG saplings in southwestern Quebec, Canada. We investigated 56 stands containing both AS and FG that were subjected to different disturbance history types (DHTs) (UF, unmanaged forest; PC, partial cut; and CC, clearcut) on various soil types. AS and FG absolute and relative sapling density varied greatly among the 56 stands; however, no significant effects of DHT, soil nutrient availability, or their interaction were found. Both species responded positively in terms of radial growth to canopy openings, with FG growth being slightly better than AS growth in PC stands compared with other canopy treatments. Contrary to our hypothesis, AS did not show significantly higher growth than FG following clear-cutting. These results do not support the idea that AS abundance and growth could be promoted by increasing the intensity of the canopy opening during harvest, at least on the generally acidic and base-poor soils that were investigated.

scholarly journals Three sympatrically occurring species of Metarhizium show plant rhizosphere specificity

Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (10) ◽  
pp. 2904-2911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wyrebek ◽  
Cristina Huber ◽  
Ramanpreet Kaur Sasan ◽  
Michael J. Bidochka
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Root Exudate ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Metarhizium Robertsii ◽  
Grass Roots

Here we tested the hypothesis that species of the soil-inhabiting insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium are not randomly distributed in soils but show plant-rhizosphere-specific associations. We isolated Metarhizium from plant roots at two sites in Ontario, Canada, sequenced the 5′ EF-1α gene to discern Metarhizium species, and developed an RFLP test for rapid species identification. Results indicated a non-random association of three Metarhizium species (Metarhizium robertsii, Metarhizium brunneum and Metarhizium guizhouense) with the rhizosphere of certain types of plant species (identified to species and categorized as grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees). M. robertsii was the only species that was found associated with grass roots, suggesting a possible exclusion of M. brunneum and M. guizhouense. Supporting this, in vitro experiments showed that M. robertsii conidia germinated significantly better in Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) root exudate than did M. brunneum or M. guizhouense. M. guizhouense and M. brunneum only associated with wildflower rhizosphere when co-occurring with M. robertsii. With the exception of these co-occurrences, M. guizhouense was found to associate exclusively with the rhizosphere of tree species, predominantly Acer saccharum (sugar maple), while M. brunneum was found to associate exclusively with the rhizosphere of shrubs and trees. These associations demonstrate that different species of Metarhizium associate with specific plant types.

scholarly journals Response of Acer saccharum seedlings to elevated O3 and CO2 concentrations

2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-17
Author(s):  
Catherine Gaucher ◽  
Pierre Dizengremel ◽  
Yves Mauffette ◽  
Normand Chevrier
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
High Light ◽  
Assimilation Rate ◽  
Competitive Growth ◽  
Elevated O3 ◽  
Fertilizing Effect

The effects of three times ambient [O3] (3x) and high [CO2] (650 µL L-1 CO2) alone and in combination were studied on 2-yr-old sugar maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings for 86 days in open top chambers. Sugar maple net CO2 assimilation rate and growth were not decreased by the O3 treatment after one growing season, and the epicuticular wax was not damaged compared with the control. The absence of response to the O3 treatment is attributable to the low stomatal conductance of this species resulting in a low O3 uptake, together with the succession of periods of high and low [O3], which allowed the seedlings to alleviate the oxidative stress. At the end of August, under high [CO2], the growth of the seedlings and net CO2 assimilation to stomatal conductance to CO2 ratio in the second flush of leaves had doubled. Under the environmental growth conditions of the chambers (high light, nutrients and water availabilities), the seedlings may benefit from the availability of CO2. Sugar maple seedlings may have a competitive growth advantage under elevated CO2 conditions and three times ambient [O3] did not decreased the fertilizing effect of CO2.

Present-day expansion of American beech in northeastern hardwood forests: Does soil base status matter?

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2273-2282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Duchesne ◽  
Rock Ouimet
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Soil Base ◽  
Large Area ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Permanent Sample Plots

Recently, sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) decline in northeastern North America has been regarded as a major factor structuring hardwood forests by favouring American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the understory of maple-dominated stands. To determine whether soil fertility differences associated with sugar maple decline may have promoted the expansion of American beech, we explored the relationships between the soil base status and the sapling and tree strata density and composition, using data from 426 permanent sample plots distributed throughout Quebec. Our results indicate that American beech is currently expanding in the sugar maple range of Quebec. The abundance and proportion of American beech in the sapling stratum are mainly associated with the proportion of American beech in the tree stratum, the relative basal area of dead sugar maple trees, and the base status of soils. In accordance with the many studies reporting on the high sensitivity of sugar maple to the acid–base status of soils and the decline of the sugar maple population, this study supports the hypothesis that soil base cation depletion, caused in part by atmospheric acid deposition, is among the main factors involved in the present-day expansion of American beech over a large area in Quebec.

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