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Costa A, Moreira AC. Stem Diameter Decrement in Holm Oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.): Insights into Tree Decline Pathways in Endangered Woodlands of Southern Portugal. ECOLOGIES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Stem diameter growth in living trees refers to the invariably increase in dimension over a given period. However, reversible stem diameter decrease could occur, related to water movement in the vessels within the wood (on a daily basis) and to tree water deficit and depletion of stored water (on a seasonal basis). Recently, the perennial decrement in stem diameter size has been related to a tree decline pathway, and eventually resulting in tree death. In this study, we analysed stem diameter intra-annual growth dynamics of holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) trees for two full growing seasons in distinct woodlands, Laborela and Aldeia dos Fernandes, in southern Portugal (Ourique district). Our focus was to assess stem diameter growth patterns and trends in holm oak trees in endangered woodlands with high tree mortality and to question if perennial decrement. Holm oaks in Laborela were much more sensitive in their stem diameter variations than in Aldeia dos Fernandes and, on average, their stem diameter decreased continuously by 1.0 mm along the 2-year study period, with a slightly higher annual decrease in the first study year (0.6 mm.yr−1). In addition, on average, trees had a higher decrease in stem sectional area of 5.8 cm2 in Laborela against a decrease of 3.7 cm2 in Aldeia dos Fernandes, where the stem diameter of holm oaks only decreased in the first study year (0.1 mm.yr−1). In each study area, the repeated- measures ANOVA showed that tree size effect influenced the stem diameter variations in contrast to tree crown defoliation. Trees were, on average, relatively smaller in Laborela, with DBH = 35.5 cm against DBH = 40.6 cm in Aldeia dos Fernandes, and were highly sensitive in their stem diameter decrement along two consecutives full growing seasons. This is the first exploratory study on assessing the stem diameter fluctuations on holm oaks to address a decline pathway. Our results revealed that holm oaks can survive during two consecutive growing seasons, with a continuous decrease in their stem diameters, which might indicate one tree’s decline pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusta Costa
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P., Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-159 Oeiras, Portugal
- NOVA Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Moreira
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P., Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-159 Oeiras, Portugal
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Yuan C, Liang S, Wu X, Farooq TH, Liu T, Hu Y, Wang G, Wang J, Yan W. Land Use Changes Influence the Soil Enzymatic Activity and Nutrient Status in the Polluted Taojia River Basin in Sub-Tropical China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13999. [PMID: 36360877 PMCID: PMC9657305 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Different land use practices may improve soil quality or lead to soil deterioration. Recently, environmental problems, such as heavy pollution and soil erosion, have led to serious land degradation in the Taojia River basin. In this study, we explored the soil fertility characteristics (mechanical composition; pH; soil organic matter (SOM); soil total nitrogen (TN); and the activity of four enzymes, i.e., urease, hydrogen peroxide, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrose enzymes) under different types of land use in the Taojia River basin. Soil samples were taken from 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm depths from four different land use types that were widely used in the Taojia river basin, including cultivated land, vegetable fields, woodlands, and wastelands. The results showed that the soil enzyme activity and the constituents of the soil were closely related and significantly affected each other (p < 0.05). Woodland soil exhibited the highest content of SOM in all soil depths. Soil total nitrogen mainly depended on the accumulation of biomass and the decomposition intensity of organic matter, so the changes in TN followed the trends of the changes in SOM. Woodland soil showed an improved mechanical composition. We were also able to observe an increased clay content in woodland soil. Woodland soil also exhibited the reversal of soil desertification and an increase in nutrient/water retention capacity. Therefore, an increase in woodland areas would be an appropriate goal in terms of land use in order to improve the eco-environmental quality of the Taojia River basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglin Yuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Siqi Liang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Taimoor Hassan Farooq
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
- Bangor College China, a Joint School between Bangor University and Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yu Hu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Guangjun Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Jun Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wende Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
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Xu‐Ri, Dai D, Xu X. The symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legumes in a legume‐companion and a legume‐dominant alpine steppe on the central Tibetan Plateau. Ecol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xu‐Ri
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences Beijing China
| | - Dongxue Dai
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Xingliang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- State Key Lab of Resources and Environmental Information System Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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Small-Scale Abiotic Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi under Declining Quercus ilex Trees. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11040375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phytophthora root rot is considered one of the main factors associated with holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) mortality. The effectiveness and accuracy of soilborne pathogen and management could be influenced by soil spatial heterogeneity. This factor is of special relevance in many afforestation of southwestern Spain, which were carried out without phytosanitary control of the nursery seedlings. We selected a study area located in a 15 year-old afforestation of Q. ilex, known to be infested by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Soil samples (ntotal = 132) were taken systematically from a grid under 4 trees, and analysed to quantify 12 variables, the colony forming units (cfu) of P. cinnamomi plus 11 physical and chemical soil properties. The combined analysis of all variables was performed with linear mixed models (GLMM), and the spatial patterns of cfu were characterised using an aggregation index (Ia) and a clustering index (ν) by SADIE. Cfu values ranged from 0 to 211 cfu g−1, and the GLMM built with the variables silt, P, K and soil moisture explained the cfu distribution to the greatest extent. The spatial analysis showed that 9 of the 12 variables presented spatial aggregation (Ia > 1), and the clustering of local patches (νi ≥ 1.5) for organic matter, silt, and Ca. The spatial patterns of the P. cinnamomi cfu under planted holm oak trees are related to edaphic variables and canopy cover. Small-scale spatial analysis of microsite variability can predict which areas surrounding trees can influence lower oomycetes cfu availability.
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Xiao D, Tan Y, Liu X, Yang R, Zhang W, He X, Wang K. Effects of different legume species and densities on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a karst grassland ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 678:551-558. [PMID: 31078845 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Legumes can increase nitrogen (N) input to soil via N2 fixation, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can colonize legumes, which further promotes the acquisition of nutrients such as phosphorus (P). Nevertheless, little is known about how different legume species or planting densities affect soil AMF communities. We measured soil AMF abundance, diversity, and community composition in two legume species that had been planted at two densities in a karst grassland. Five treatments were used: control (CK), Amorpha fruticosa at 1.5 × 2 m density (AFD1), A. fruticosa at 1 × 1 m density (AFD2), Indigofera atropurpurea at 1.5 × 2 m density (IAD1), and I. atropurpurea at 1 × 1 m density (IAD2). The results showed that A. fruticosa plots were significantly richer in Redeckera spp., while I. atropurpurea plots were richer in Septoglomus. AMF abundance in AFD1, AFD2, and IAD1 was significantly higher than in CK, but AMF abundance in IAD2 was significantly lower than that in the other treatments. AMF richness and Chao1 estimator in AFD1 were significantly higher than in CK. Funneliformis, Septoglomus, and Acaulospora were significantly more abundant in IAD2 than in the other treatments. The interaction between legume species and density had a significant effect on AMF abundance and community composition. AMF abundance and diversity were significantly negatively and positively correlated with available P and microbial biomass N, respectively. These results suggest that different species and densities of legumes may increase available N, which could improve AMF abundance and alleviate soil P deficiencies. Planting A. fruticosa or I. atropurpurea at a low density may be an effective method to increase AMF colonization of roots, and thus, nutrient transport in karst grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yongjun Tan
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Rong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China.
| | - Xunyang He
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China
| | - Kelin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, China.
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