1
|
Carvajal MA, Alaniz AJ, Vergara PM, Hernández-Valderrama C, Fierro A, Toledo G, Gamin J. Climate-induced tree senescence leads to a transient increase in reproductive success of a large woodpecker species. Sci Total Environ 2022; 806:150604. [PMID: 34597564 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change-induced mortality of trees is a concerning phenomenon for global forest ecosystems. The rapid decay and death of long-lived trees can significantly impact forest dynamics, with effects that transmit through ecological networks, becoming more evident in organisms occupying high trophic levels, such as large and specialized woodpecker species. However, understanding how populations of high trophic level species respond to climate change is still a challenge. In this study it was analyzed 32-year data of social groups of the Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) in North Patagonia, a region facing increasingly frequent droughts and increased temperatures. A positive trend in the size of woodpecker social groups as a response to climate-induced tree senescence was tested. A causal structural equation model examining climate- tree senescence- woodpecker relationships was used. Increasing nonlinear trends and positive interannual growth rates (>10%) for tree senescence and group size were found. Lowland forest sites had higher levels of tree senescence and more numerous social groups. The causal model supported the positive effect of mean temperature on tree senescence and the positive association of woodpeckers with tree senescence. These results provide evidence of a climate-induced increase in tree senescence that causes an increase in the size of woodpecker social groups. It is suggested that accelerated decay and mortality of trees in the northern Patagonian forests will decrease the stocks of deadwood in the long term, threatening the persistence of this large woodpecker species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario A Carvajal
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Facultad Tecnológica, Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto J Alaniz
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Ingeniería Geográfica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de, Chile; Centro de Estudios en Ecología Espacial y Medio Ambiente, Ecogeografía, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo M Vergara
- Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Facultad Tecnológica, Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Santiago, Chile.
| | | | - Andrés Fierro
- Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Facultad Tecnológica, Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gisela Toledo
- Corporación Nacional Forestal, Sección Diversidad Biológica, Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Juan Gamin
- Corporación Nacional Forestal, Sección Diversidad Biológica, Puerto Montt, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou Q, Jiang Z, Zhang X, Zhang T, Zhu H, Cui B, Li Y, Zhao F, Zhao Z. Leaf anatomy and ultrastructure in senescing ancient tree, Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae). PeerJ 2019; 7:e6766. [PMID: 30997297 PMCID: PMC6462394 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae) has a lifespan of thousands of years. Ancient trees have very high scientific, economic and cultural values. The senescence of ancient trees is a new research area but is poorly understood. Leaves are the primary and the most sensitive organ of a tree. To understand leaf structural response to tree senescence in ancient trees, experiments investigating the morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure were conducted with one-year leaves of ancient P. orientalis (ancient tree >2,000 years) at three different tree senescent levels (healthy, sub-healthy and senescent) at the world's largest planted pure forest in the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, Shaanxi Province, China. Observations showed that leaf structure significantly changed with the senescence of trees. The chloroplast, mitochondria, vacuole and cell wall of mesophyll cells were the most significant markers of cellular ultrastructure during tree senescence. Leaf ultrastructure clearly reflected the senescence degree of ancient trees, confirming the visual evaluation from above-ground parts of trees. Understanding the relationships between leaf structure and tree senescence can support decision makers in planning the protection of ancient trees more promptly and effectively by adopting the timely rejuvenation techniques before the whole tree irreversibly recesses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianyi Zhou
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhaohong Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hailan Zhu
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bei Cui
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- Beijing Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong Zhao
- Key Comprehensive Laboratory of Forestry, College of Forestry, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yang Ling, Shaanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|