Low Light Availability Associated with American Beech Is the Main Factor for Reduced Sugar Maple Seedling Survival and Growth Rates in a Hardwood Forest of Southern Quebec

The dependence of tree seedling survival and growth on light availability was evaluated over 15 mo in three second-growth, wet forest stands (15–18 y old) in north-eastern Costa Rica. Seedlings of four canopy tree species (Dipteryx panamensis, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Virola koschnyi and Vochysia guatemalensis) were planted into four canopy treatments in three replicated stands and in a pasture site, spanning a nearly complete gradient of light availability. Survival and growth of all species increased in response to increasing light availability, but species differed in survival in shaded microsites (6–20% light transmittance) and in growth increments per light increase. Hyeronima showed the highest mortality at low light levels and the highest relative height growth increase per light increase. In contrast, Virola showed high survival at low and moderate light, but showed the lowest leaf area and above-ground biomass per light increase among all species. Dipteryx and Vochysia maintained relatively high rates of survival and growth across the entire light gradient. Hyeronima and Virola showed trade-offs between growth and survival responses to light, unlike Dipteryx and Vochysia. Differences among species in seedling survival at low light may be determined by a variety of physiological and morphological traits that may or may not be mechanistically linked to growth responses.

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

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2014-0240 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 632-638 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

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.

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Linking leaf-level morphological and physiological plasticity to seedling survival and growth of introduced Canadian sugar maple to elevated precipitation under warming

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 457 ◽

pp. 117758

Author(s):

Yingying Zhu ◽

Chen Chen ◽

Yuan Guo ◽

Songling Fu ◽

Han Y.H. Chen

Keyword(s):

Sugar Maple ◽

Seedling Survival ◽

Physiological Plasticity ◽

Leaf Level ◽

Survival And Growth

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

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467408005300 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (05) ◽

pp. 569-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

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.

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Activity of flying beetles (Coleoptera) at two heights in canopy gaps and intact forests in a hardwood forest in Quebec

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n09-022 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 141 (5) ◽

pp. 515-520 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Briana Schroeder ◽

Christopher M. Buddle ◽

Michel Saint-Germain

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Acer Saccharum ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Hardwood Forest ◽

Forest Gap ◽

American Beech ◽

Forest Gaps ◽

Closed Canopy

AbstractWe studied the effects of forest height and forest gap on assemblages of flying beetles in an American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (Fagaceae) – sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh. (Aceraceae)) forest in Quebec. From June until August of 2005, beetles were collected in Lindgren funnel traps placed in the canopy (20–25 m height) and upper understorey (3–5 m height) in proximity to five forest gaps (15–30 m in diameter) (at the edge of the forest opening or within the closed-canopy forest). We collected 1852 beetles representing 38 families and 172 species. Based on rarefaction curves, species richness was significantly higher in the canopy than in the upper understorey. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed a change in species composition in relation to vertical stratification but not to the forest gaps. Our findings confirmed the importance of the vertical forest gradient to overall diversity of forest coleopterans.

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Trade-offs in seedling survival, growth, and physiology among hardwood species of contrasting successional status along a light-availability gradient

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x01-090 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 31 (9) ◽

pp. 1602-1616 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Christopher M Kaelke ◽

Eric L Kruger ◽

Peter B Reich

Keyword(s):

Populus Tremuloides ◽

Carbon Balance ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Light Availability ◽

High Rate ◽

Carbon Gain ◽

Low Light ◽

Successional Status ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Deep Shade

To better understand the regeneration ecology of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) in mesic forests, we compared its seedling growth and physiology with those of two other hardwoods, differing in successional status, along a gradient in light availability ranging from forest understories (2.6% of full light) to small clearings (69% of full light). Oak's relative growth rate (RGR) closely resembled that of shade-tolerant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and the positive response of both to increasing light was modest, especially beyond a relative light availability of 15%. Intolerant trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) outgrew the others when relative light availability exceeded 5%, and its RGR increased more or less linearly with increasing light. However, there was a rank reversal of RGR in deep shade, where maple and oak had a higher RGR than aspen. This reversal was mirrored by seedling demography, as aspen survival was comparatively high in small clearings but negligible in deep shade. Aspen's low RGR and poor survival in low light were associated with a high rate of shoot dark respiration and minimal allocation to starch reserves. Aspen's high RGR in openings was attributed primarily to a high photosynthetic capacity per unit leaf mass. Thus, differential growth and survival among species could be explained in part by trade-offs in attributes that promoted rapid growth in high light at the expense of a favorable carbon balance in low light, or vice versa. Oak's suite of traits facilitated a positive carbon balance in perhaps all but the darkest understories. We suggest that the lack of persistence of oak seedlings in many understory environments may center around factors (e.g., vulnerability to biotic stresses) not directly related to carbon gain.

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Liming has a limited effect on sugar maple – American beech dynamics compared with beech sapling elimination and canopy opening

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2015-0010 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (10) ◽

pp. 1376-1386 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Philippe Nolet ◽

Sylvain Delagrange ◽

Kim Bannon ◽

Christian Messier ◽

Daniel Kneeshaw

Keyword(s):

Acer Saccharum ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Light Availability ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Stand Dynamics ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

American Beech ◽

Canopy Opening ◽

Light Soil ◽

Sapling Growth

Sugar maple (SM, Acer saccharum Marsh.) dominated forests of North America are increasingly affected by many human-induced modifications in environmental conditions. As a remedy, adapted silvicultural treatments are needed. Even though it is generally accepted that SM health is related to soil fertility and even though there is extensive literature on SM – American beech (AB, Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) regeneration stand dynamics related to light availability, the interaction between these two factors has rarely been studied. Our main objective was thus to verify the possible role of a light–soil interaction on SM–AB stand dynamics. We used a factorial design with three factors (harvest intensity, liming, and AB sapling elimination) to test this interaction. Our results showed that the radial growth of SM and AB tree and sapling growth was positively affected by canopy opening but not by liming. Liming did not favour AB seedlings, whereas it favoured SM seedlings in specific canopy opening situations, confirming, albeit partially, the light–soil interaction hypothesis. Overall, liming had very limited effects on SM–AB stand dynamics compared with canopy opening and AB sapling elimination treatments. We do not advocate the extensive use of liming, as other silvicultural strategies tested provided more promising results to favour SM over AB.

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EFFECTS OF ROOT DEFORMATION AND LIGHT AVAILABILITY ON GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION OF Senna multijuga SEEDLINGS (Rich) H. S. Irwin & Barneby

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/1806-908820200000018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

Author(s):

Emile Caroline Silva Lopes ◽

Ândrea Carla Dalmolin ◽

Ivan Bezerra Allama ◽

Karine Ferreira Pereira ◽

William Martin Aitken II ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Allocation ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Forest Restoration ◽

Light Availability ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Low Light ◽

Relative Growth ◽

Root Deformation ◽

Senna Multijuga

ABSTRACT The effects of root deformation caused by errors in the pricking-out process in forest nurseries are still unknown for tropical tree seedlings. We analyzed the effects of light availability and root deformation on growth and biomass allocation in seedlings of Senna multijuga, a pioneer tropical tree commonly used in forest restoration programs. Our hypotheses were: (a) as a typical light-demanding species, the seedlings of S. multijuga may have their growth compromised by low light availability; (b) root deformation impairs growth rates and induces changes in biomass allocation; and (c) the effects of low light availability on growth and biomass allocation are increased by root deformation. Seedlings with and without root deformation were cultivated for 43 days under three levels of total daily photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (28, 12, and 1 mol photons m-2 day-1). Seedlings of S. multijuga had their growth rates severely affected by values of PAR at about 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, but root deformation did not affect the relative growth rates of the whole plant. Instead, root deformation caused a decrease in the relative growth rate of roots in all light availabilities. The changes in root growth affected biomass allocation to the roots. The interactive effects of light availability and root deformation on the allocation of biomass to leaves are more pronounced at low light availability. Root deformations may lead to the production of seedlings with a low competitiveness capacity regardless of light conditions.

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

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtaa095 ◽

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.

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Growth responses of seven major co-occurring tree species of the northeastern United States to elevated CO2

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x90-195 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 1479-1484 ◽

Cited By ~ 99

Author(s):

F. A. Bazzaz ◽

J. S. Coleman ◽

S. R. Morse

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Growth Enhancement ◽

Black Cherry ◽

Red Maple ◽

Growth Responses ◽

White Pine ◽

American Beech ◽

Harvard Forest ◽

Paper Birch

We examined how elevated CO2 affected the growth of seven co-occurring tree species: American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.), white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), red maple (Acerrubrum L.), sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr). We also tested whether the degree of shade tolerance of species and the age of seedlings affected plant responses to enhanced CO2 levels. Seedlings that were at least 1 year old, for all species except beech, were removed while dormant from Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts. Seeds of red maple and paper birch were obtained from parent trees at Harvard Forest, and seeds of American beech were obtained from a population of beeches in Nova Scotia. Seedlings and transplants were grown in one of four plant growth chambers for 60 d (beech, paper birch, red maple, black cherry) or 100 d (white pine, hemlock, sugar maple) under CO2 levels of 400 or 700 μL•L−1. Plants were then harvested for biomass and growth determinations. The results showed that the biomass of beech, paper birch, black cherry, sugar maple, and hemlock significantly increased in elevated CO2, but the biomass of red maple and white pine only marginally increased in these conditions. Furthermore, there were large differences in the magnitude of growth enhancement by increased levels of CO2 between species, so it seems reasonable to predict that one consequence of rising levels of CO2 may be to increase the competitive ability of some species relative to others. Additionally, the three species exhibiting the largest increase in growth with increased CO2 concentrations were the shade-tolerant species (i.e., beech, sugar maple, and hemlock). Thus, elevated CO2 levels may enhance the growth of relatively shade-tolerant forest trees to a greater extent than growth of shade-intolerant trees, at least under the light and nutrient conditions of this experiment. We found no evidence to suggest that the age of tree seedlings greatly affected their response to elevated CO2 concentrations.

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