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Amissah L, Mohren GMJ, Kyereh B, Agyeman VK, Poorter L. Rainfall seasonality and drought performance shape the distribution of tropical tree species in Ghana. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8582-8597. [PMID: 30250725 PMCID: PMC6144999 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree species distribution in lowland tropical forests is strongly associated with rainfall amount and distribution. Not only plant water availability, but also irradiance, soil fertility, and pest pressure covary along rainfall gradients. To assess the role of water availability in shaping species distribution, we carried out a reciprocal transplanting experiment in gaps in a dry and a wet forest site in Ghana, using 2,670 seedlings of 23 tree species belonging to three contrasting rainfall distributions groups (dry species, ubiquitous species, and wet species). We evaluated seasonal patterns in climatic conditions, seedling physiology and performance (survival and growth) over a 2-year period and related seedling performance to species distribution along Ghana's rainfall gradient. The dry forest site had, compared to the wet forest, higher irradiance, and soil nutrient availability and experienced stronger atmospheric drought (2.0 vs. 0.6 kPa vapor pressure deficit) and reduced soil water potential (-5.0 vs. -0.6 MPa soil water potential) during the dry season. In both forests, dry species showed significantly higher stomatal conductance and lower leaf water potential, than wet species, and in the dry forest, dry species also realized higher drought survival and growth rate than wet species. Dry species are therefore more drought tolerant, and unlike the wet forest species, they achieve a home advantage. Species drought performance in the dry forest relative to the wet forest significantly predicted species position on the rainfall gradient in Ghana, indicating that the ability to grow and survive better in dry forests and during dry seasons may allow species to occur in low rainfall areas. Drought is therefore an important environmental filter that influences forest composition and dynamics. Currently, many tropical forests experience increase in frequency and intensity of droughts, and our results suggest that this may lead to reduction in tree productivity and shifts in species distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Amissah
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research‐Forestry Research Institute of GhanaKumasiGhana
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Godefridus M. J. Mohren
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Boateng Kyereh
- College of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Victor K. Agyeman
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research‐Forestry Research Institute of GhanaKumasiGhana
| | - Lourens Poorter
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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Weemstra M, Mommer L, Visser EJW, van Ruijven J, Kuyper TW, Mohren GMJ, Sterck FJ. Towards a multidimensional root trait framework: a tree root review. New Phytol 2016; 211:1159-69. [PMID: 27174359 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Contents 1159 I. 1159 II. 1161 III. 1164 IV. 1166 1167 References 1167 SUMMARY: The search for a root economics spectrum (RES) has been sparked by recent interest in trait-based plant ecology. By analogy with the one-dimensional leaf economics spectrum (LES), fine-root traits are hypothesised to match leaf traits which are coordinated along one axis from resource acquisitive to conservative traits. However, our literature review and meta-level analysis reveal no consistent evidence of an RES mirroring an LES. Instead the RES appears to be multidimensional. We discuss three fundamental differences contributing to the discrepancy between these spectra. First, root traits are simultaneously constrained by various environmental drivers not necessarily related to resource uptake. Second, above- and belowground traits cannot be considered analogues, because they function differently and might not be related to resource uptake in a similar manner. Third, mycorrhizal interactions may offset selection for an RES. Understanding and explaining the belowground mechanisms and trade-offs that drive variation in root traits, resource acquisition and plant performance across species, thus requires a fundamentally different approach than applied aboveground. We therefore call for studies that can functionally incorporate the root traits involved in resource uptake, the complex soil environment and the various soil resource uptake mechanisms - particularly the mycorrhizal pathway - in a multidimensional root trait framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Weemstra
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eric J W Visser
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper van Ruijven
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas W Kuyper
- Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Godefridus M J Mohren
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J Sterck
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Amissah L, Mohren GMJ, Kyereh B, Poorter L. The effects of drought and shade on the performance, morphology and physiology of Ghanaian tree species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121004. [PMID: 25836337 PMCID: PMC4383566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In tropical forests light and water availability are the most important factors for seedling growth and survival but an increasing frequency of drought may affect tree regeneration. One central question is whether drought and shade have interactive effects on seedling growth and survival. Here, we present results of a greenhouse experiment, in which seedlings of 10 Ghanaian tree species were exposed to combinations of strong seasonal drought (continuous watering versus withholding water for nine weeks) and shade (5% irradiance versus 20% irradiance). We evaluated the effects of drought and shade on seedling survival and growth and plasticity of 11 underlying traits related to biomass allocation, morphology and physiology. Seedling survival under dry conditions was higher in shade than in high light, thus providing support for the "facilitation hypothesis" that shade enhances plant performance through improved microclimatic conditions, and rejecting the trade-off hypothesis that drought should have stronger impact in shade because of reduced root investment. Shaded plants had low biomass fraction in roots, in line with the trade-off hypothesis, but they compensated for this with a higher specific root length (i.e., root length per unit root mass), resulting in a similar root length per plant mass and, hence, similar water uptake capacity as high-light plants. The majority (60%) of traits studied responded independently to drought and shade, indicating that within species shade- and drought tolerances are not in trade-off, but largely uncoupled. When individual species responses were analysed, then for most of the traits only one to three species showed significant interactive effects between drought and shade. The uncoupled response of most species to drought and shade should provide ample opportunity for niche differentiation and species coexistence under a range of water and light conditions. Overall our greenhouse results suggest that, in the absence of root competition shaded tropical forest tree seedlings may be able to survive prolonged drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Amissah
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Godefridus M. J. Mohren
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Boateng Kyereh
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lourens Poorter
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Copini P, den Ouden J, Decuyper M, Mohren GMJ, Loomans AJM, Sass-Klaassen U. Early wound reactions of Japanese maple during winter dormancy: the effect of two contrasting temperature regimes. AoB Plants 2014; 6:plu059. [PMID: 25275087 PMCID: PMC4222136 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plu059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
During winter dormancy, temperate trees are capable of only a restricted response to wounding. Depending on the ambient temperature during winter dormancy, wounded trees may start compartmentalization, e.g. by producing inhibitory compounds, but it is thought that processes involving cell proliferation, such as the formation of callus and wound xylem, are delayed until the next growing season. We investigated the effect of two contrasting temperature regimes on early reactions of Acer palmatum trees to wounding during winter bud dormancy. Stems of A. palmatum trees were wounded and stored under an ambient temperature of 4 or 15 °C for 3 weeks during winter bud dormancy. We then studied wound reactions in the living bark, cambial region and xylem. In the 4 °C treatment, wound reactions were virtually absent. In the 15 °C treatment, however, trees reacted to wounding by dieback of the cortex and phloem and by the formation of ligno-suberized layers. In the cambial zone, cambial dieback occurred and callus tissue and wound xylem were formed locally, close to the wound margins. In the xylem, compartmentalization took place by deposition of inhibitory compounds in fibre cells and vessel elements. We conclude that temperature is an important factor in wound reactions during winter dormancy, and may even induce proliferation of callus and wound xylem within a 3-week period. It therefore seems likely that trees that have been wounded during dormancy in areas with mild or warm winters might cope better with wounding, as unlike trees in cold environments, they may compartmentalize wounds even during winter dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Copini
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan den Ouden
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Decuyper
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Godefridus M J Mohren
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Antoon J M Loomans
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, National Plant Protection Organization, PO Box 9102, 6700 HC Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ute Sass-Klaassen
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Eilmann B, Sterck F, Wegner L, de Vries SMG, von Arx G, Mohren GMJ, den Ouden J, Sass-Klaassen U. Wood structural differences between northern and southern beech provenances growing at a moderate site. Tree Physiol 2014; 34:882-93. [PMID: 25163729 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpu069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Planting provenances originating from southern to northern locations has been discussed as a strategy to speed up species migration and mitigate negative effects of climate change on forest stability and productivity. Especially for drought-susceptible species such as European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), the introduction of drought-tolerant provenances from the south could be an option. Yet, beech has been found to respond plastically to environmental conditions, suggesting that the climate on the plantation site might be more important for tree growth than the genetic predisposition of potentially drought-adapted provenances. In this study, we compared the radial growth, wood-anatomical traits and leaf phenology of four beech provenances originating from southern (Bulgaria, France) and northern locations (Sweden, the Netherlands) and planted in a provenance trial in the Netherlands. The distribution of precipitation largely differs between the sites of origin. The northern provenances experience a maximum and the southern provenances experience a minimum of rainfall in summer. We compared tree productivity and the anatomy of the water-conducting system for the period from 2000 to 2010, including the drought year 2003. In addition, tree mortality and the timing of leaf unfolding in spring were analysed for the years 2001, 2007 and 2012. Comparison of these traits in the four beech provenances indicates the influence of genetic predisposition and local environmental factors on the performance of these provenances under moderate site conditions. Variation in radial growth was controlled by environment, although the growth level slightly differed due to genetic background. The Bulgarian provenance had an efficient water-conducting system which was moreover unaffected by the drought in 2003, pointing to a high ability of this provenance to cope well with dry conditions. In addition, the Bulgarian provenance showed up as most productive in terms of height and radial growth. Altogether, we conclude that the similarity in ring-width variation among provenances points to environmental control of this trait, whereas the differences encountered in wood-anatomical traits between the well-performing Bulgarian provenance and the other three provenances, as well as the consistent differences in flushing pattern over 3 years under various environmental conditions, support the hypothesis of genetic control of these features.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Eilmann
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - F Sterck
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - L Wegner
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - S M G de Vries
- Centre for Genetic Resources, The Netherlands, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - G von Arx
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zurcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - G M J Mohren
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J den Ouden
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - U Sass-Klaassen
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Goudiaby V, Zuidema PA, Mohren GMJ. Overcome hurdles to global databases. Nature 2014; 511:410. [DOI: 10.1038/511410b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Matyssek R, Wieser G, Calfapietra C, de Vries W, Dizengremel P, Ernst D, Jolivet Y, Mikkelsen TN, Mohren GMJ, Le Thiec D, Tuovinen JP, Weatherall A, Paoletti E. Forests under climate change and air pollution: gaps in understanding and future directions for research. Environ Pollut 2012; 160:57-65. [PMID: 22035926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2011] [Revised: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Forests in Europe face significant changes in climate, which in interaction with air quality changes, may significantly affect forest productivity, stand composition and carbon sequestration in both vegetation and soils. Identified knowledge gaps and research needs include: (i) interaction between changes in air quality (trace gas concentrations), climate and other site factors on forest ecosystem response, (ii) significance of biotic processes in system response, (iii) tools for mechanistic and diagnostic understanding and upscaling, and (iv) the need for unifying modelling and empirical research for synthesis. This position paper highlights the above focuses, including the global dimension of air pollution as part of climate change and the need for knowledge transfer to enable reliable risk assessment. A new type of research site in forest ecosystems ("supersites") will be conducive to addressing these gaps by enabling integration of experimentation and modelling within the soil-plant-atmosphere interface, as well as further model development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Matyssek
- Technische Universität München, Ecophysiology of Plants, von-Carlowitz Platz 2, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
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Cornelissen JHC, Sass-Klaassen U, Poorter L, van Geffen K, van Logtestijn RSP, van Hal J, Goudzwaard L, Sterck FJ, Klaassen RKWM, Freschet GT, van der Wal A, Eshuis H, Zuo J, de Boer W, Lamers T, Weemstra M, Cretin V, Martin R, Ouden JD, Berg MP, Aerts R, Mohren GMJ, Hefting MM. Controls on coarse wood decay in temperate tree species: birth of the LOGLIFE experiment. Ambio 2012; 41 Suppl 3:231-45. [PMID: 22864697 PMCID: PMC3535053 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-012-0304-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Dead wood provides a huge terrestrial carbon stock and a habitat to wide-ranging organisms during its decay. Our brief review highlights that, in order to understand environmental change impacts on these functions, we need to quantify the contributions of different interacting biotic and abiotic drivers to wood decomposition. LOGLIFE is a new long-term 'common-garden' experiment to disentangle the effects of species' wood traits and site-related environmental drivers on wood decomposition dynamics and its associated diversity of microbial and invertebrate communities. This experiment is firmly rooted in pioneering experiments under the directorship of Terry Callaghan at Abisko Research Station, Sweden. LOGLIFE features two contrasting forest sites in the Netherlands, each hosting a similar set of coarse logs and branches of 10 tree species. LOGLIFE welcomes other researchers to test further questions concerning coarse wood decay that will also help to optimise forest management in view of carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
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Biaou SSH, Holmgren M, Sterck FJ, Mohren GMJ. Stress-Driven Changes in the Strength of Facilitation on Tree Seedling Establishment in West African Woodlands. Biotropica 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00642.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Woltjer M, Rammer W, Brauner M, Seidl R, Mohren GMJ, Lexer MJ. Coupling a 3D patch model and a rockfall module to assess rockfall protection in mountain forests. J Environ Manage 2008; 87:373-88. [PMID: 17412480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2005] [Revised: 12/01/2006] [Accepted: 01/17/2007] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Many forests in the Alps are acknowledged for protecting objects, such as (rail) roads, against rockfall. However, there is a lack of knowledge on efficient silvicultural strategies and interventions to maintain these forests at optimal protection level. Therefore, assessment tools are required that quantify the rockfall protection effect of forest stands over time, and thereby provide the ability to evaluate the necessity and effect of management interventions. This paper introduces such a tool that consists of a 3D rockfall module embedded in the patch based forest simulator PICUS. The latter is extended for this study with a new regeneration module. In a series of experiments the new combined simulation tool is evaluated with regard to parameter sensitivity, model intercomparison experiments with recently proposed algorithms from the literature, and the ability to respond realistically to different management regimes in rockfall protection forests. Results confirm the potential of the new tool for realistic simulation of rockfall activity in heterogeneous mountain forests, but point at the urgent need to improve the knowledge base on the interaction of understory and rockfall activity. Further work will focus on model validation against empirical rockfall data, and include reduced tree vitality due to damage from boulder collisions as well as the explicit consideration of downed dead wood.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Woltjer
- Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
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Slot M, Wirth C, Schumacher J, Mohren GMJ, Shibistova O, Lloyd J, Ensminger I. Regeneration patterns in boreal Scots pine glades linked to cold-induced photoinhibition. Tree Physiol 2005; 25:1139-50. [PMID: 15996957 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/25.9.1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration patterns of Pinus sylvestris L. juveniles in central Siberian glades were studied in relation to cold-induced photoinhibition. Spatial distribution of seedlings in different height classes revealed higher seedling densities beneath the canopy than beyond the canopy, and significantly higher densities of seedlings < 50 cm tall on the north side of the trees. These patterns coincided with differences in light conditions. Compared with plants on the north side of canopy trees (north-exposed), photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) received by plants on the south side of canopy trees (south-exposed) was always higher, making south-exposed plants more susceptible to photoinhibition, especially on cool mornings. Chlorophyll fluorescence data revealed lower photochemical efficiency and increased non-photochemical quenching of small (20-50 cm in height), south-exposed seedlings from spring to early autumn, indicating increased excitation pressure on photosynthesis. Maximum rate of oxygen evolution was less in south-exposed plants than in north-exposed plants. Increased pools of xanthophyll cycle pigments and formation of the photoprotective zeaxanthin provided further evidence for the higher susceptibility to photoinhibition of south-exposed seedlings. A linear mixed model analysis explained many of the physiological differences observed in seedlings according to height class and aspect with early morning temperature and PPF as predictors. The link between photoinhibition and differential distribution of seedlings by height class suggests that photoinhibition, together with other environmental stresses, decreases the survival of small, south-exposed P. sylvestris seedlings, thereby significantly affecting the regeneration pattern of central Siberian pine glades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn Slot
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
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