Physiological behaviors of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acer mono</Emphasis> under drought and low light

The seedlings of Acer mono Maxim. were exposed to two watering regimes (well watered (100% of field capacity) and drought (30% of field capacity)) and two light levels (high light (100% of full sunlight) and low light (15% of full sunlight)) in a greenhouse to assess growth, photosynthesis, and foliar nutrient traits of woody plants under drought and low light. Drought significantly reduced growth and gas exchange characteristics of A. mono, including net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE). Also, drought reduced relative water content (RWC) and foliar C and N concentrations, but increased the C/N ratio. P _N and C concentration were lower under drought and low light than in any other treatment, indicating that deep shade might seriously decrease C assimilation. However, the negative effect induced by drought was alleviated by improving RWC and maintaining C balance, and therefore low-light seedlings accumulated more biomass than those under high light when they were exposed to drought. Our results showed that trade-off and facilitation effects of drought and low light might be complementary and alter in different species.     

Establishment of Sweet Birch on Surface Mine Spoil as Influenced by Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Fertility

Induced mycorrhization of sweet birch (Betula lenta L.) by Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch, as influenced by substrate fertility, was evaluated for its effects on seedling growth and physiology. Following a brief period in seed flats, seedlings were transplanted to mine spoil where they resided for 30 months, and three nutrition regimes were imposed throughout the study by application of differing nutrient solution concentrations. High fertility suppressed mycorrhizal formation by P. tinctorius but promoted that of other mycobionts. Pisolithus mycorrhization induced substantial aboveground and belowground growth as indicated by dimensions and mass for the former and mass and length for the latter but favoring root over shoot growth overall. Furthermore, these mycorrhizae were frequently able to compensate for the growth stimulation of higher nutrient additions. Measurements of xylem pressure potential and soil water potential indicated that water uptake was enhanced by P. tinctorius during simulated drought episodes of two durations and in subsequent recovery periods. Inoculated seedlings had higher foliar concentrations of critical nutrients, especially N, and lower concentrations of potentially phytotoxic metallic elements, particularly Mn, than uninoculated seedlings, although the latter response was absent in high fertility. Spoil analyses clearly revealed the influence of the nutrition regimes but also the effects of seedling uptake on substrate chemistry, and reinforced the findings of the foliar analysis concerning suppression of metal uptake by P. tinctorius. Collectively, these results suggest that P. tinctorius can provide sweet birch an array of physiological benefits that will permit this tree species to flourish on harsh substrates such as surface mine spoils without heavy application of chemical fertilizers.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in trees of a Mexican tropical dry forest

Resorption efficiency (RE) and proficiency, foliar nutrient concentrations, and relative soil nutrient availability were determined during 3 consecutive years in tree species growing under contrasting topographic positions (i.e., top vs. bottom and north vs. south aspect) in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. The sites differed in soil nutrient levels, soil water content, and potential radiation interception. Leaf mass per area (g m^–2) increased during the growing season in all species. Soil P availability and mean foliar P concentrations were generally higher at the bottom than at the top site during the 3 years of the study. Leaf N concentrations ranged from 45.4 to 31.4 mg g^–1. Leaf P varied from 2.3 to 1.8 mg g^–1. Mean N and P RE varied among species, occasionally between top and bottom sites, and were higher in the dry than in the wet years of study. Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations (i.e., a measure of resorption proficiency) varied from 13.7 to 31.2 mg g^–1 (N) and 0.4 to 3.3 mg g^–1 (P) among the different species and were generally indicative of incomplete nutrient resorption. Phosphorus concentrations in senesced leaves were higher at the bottom than at the top site and decreased from the wettest to the the driest year. Soil N and P availability were significantly different in the north- and south-facing slopes, but neither nutrient concentrations of mature and senesced leaves nor RE differed between aspects. Our results suggest that water more than soil nutrient availability controls RE in the Chamela dry forest, while resorption proficiency may be interactively controlled by both nutrient and water availability.     

Effects of food quality,particularly nitrogen concentrations,of Eucalyptus blakelyi foliage on the growth of Paropsis atomaria larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Five groups of E. blakelyi seedlings were differentially fertilized to obtain a range of N concentrations from 0.8–3.0% dry wt in the foliage. Groups of P. atomaria larvae were reared from eclosion to the prepupal stage on these seedlings. The effects on larval growth and development caused by foliar concentrations of N, moisture content, and tannins and leaf toughness were measured. Pupal dry weight and development time of P. atomaria did not differ between those reared on foliage with N levels of 1.7–3.0% but there was a significant decrease in pupal weight and increase in development time for individuals fed foliage with N below this level. Larvae fed foliage with an average of 0.8% N died before reaching instar III. Total dry matter consumption increased with a decrease in N concentration. Larval nitrogen utilization efficiency increased as foliar N level decreased until N reached a level somewhere between 1.7%–1.2% below which it decreased. There appeared to be an N concentration threshold above which P. atomaria larvae received adequate N by regulating consumption and nitrogen utilization efficiency but below which they could no longer accumulate enough N by compensation to maintain an optimum growth rate and development time. Effects of food quality variables on relative growth and consumption rates are presented and discussed.     

Effect of phosphorus fertilization on water stress in Douglas fir seedlings during soil drying

A growth chamber experiment was conducted to determine if P fertilization to enhance the P nutrition of otherwise N and P deficient Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seedlings reduces water stress in the seedlings during drought periods. Seedlings were grown in pasteurized mineral soil under well-watered conditions and fertilized periodically with a small amount of nutrient solution containing P at either of three levels: 0, 20, or 50 mg P L^-1. By age 6 mo, leaf nutrient analysis indicated that N and P were deficient in control (0 mg P L^-1) seedlings. The highest level of P fertilization, which doubled leaf P concentration, did not affect plant biomass, suggesting that N deficiency was limiting growth. When these seedlings were subjected to drought, there was no effect of P fertilization on leaf water potential or osmotic potential. Furthermore, P fertilized seedlings had lower stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis rate. These results indicate that enhanced P nutrition, in the presence of N deficiency, does not reduce water stress in Douglas fir seedlings during drought periods.     

Relationships between growth and foliar nutrient concentrations in Eucalyptus deglupta

Summary Relationships beween nutrient concentrations and the growth of the fast growing tropical eucalypt E. deglupta were examined at two sites in Papua New Guinea. At the Gogol Valley site a predominantly linear relationship was found between growth and foliar N over the range 0.68–2.04 per cent N. At the Kerevat site the relationship between growth and foliar nutrients was less strongly developed (foliar N varied from 1.77 to 3.36 per cent). The combined data could be described by a second degree polynomial. Height=11.05N – 2.03N² – 3.52P – 4.46.This accounted for 72 per cent of the variation in height. Based on this relationship a tentative critical foliar N concentration (corresponding with 90 per cent of maximum height) of 2.1 per cent is proposed. re]19760128     

Nutrients limit photosynthesis in seedlings of a lowland tropical forest tree species

We investigated how photosynthesis by understory seedlings of the lowland tropical tree species Alseis blackiana responded to 10 years of soil nutrient fertilization with N, P and K. We ask whether nutrients are limiting to light and CO₂ acquisition in a low light understory environment. We measured foliar nutrient concentrations of N, P and K, isotopic composition of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), and light response curves of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence. Canopy openness was measured above each study seedling and included in statistical analyses to account for variation in light availability. Foliar N concentration increased by 20% with N addition. Foliar P concentration increased by 78% with P addition and decreased by 14% with N addition. Foliar K increased by 8% with K addition. Foliar δ¹³C showed no significant responses, and foliar δ¹⁵N decreased strongly with N addition, matching the low δ¹⁵N values of applied fertilizer. Canopy openness ranged from 0.01 to 6.71% with a mean of 1.76 ± 0.14 (±1SE). Maximum photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation rate increased by 9% with N addition. Stomatal conductance increased with P addition and with P and K in combination. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed that quantum yield of photosystem II increased with K addition, maximum electron transport rate trended 9% greater with N addition (p = 0.07), and saturating photosynthetically active radiation increased with N addition. The results demonstrate that nutrient addition can enhance photosynthetic processes, even under low light availability.     

Potassium nutrition and free polyamines of Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.

Potassium and free polyamine concentrations in the leaves of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh) were followed during three successive growing seasons 1996, 1997 and 1998 in order to define K deficiency levels.The highest foliar K concentrations were found in June. In August, the K concentrations were lower and remained quite stable in Betula pendula but varied in Betula pubescens. In addition to a common diamine, putrescine, and the polyamines, spermidine and spermine, also a less common diamine and polyamine, 1,3-diaminopropane and norspermidine were found in the birch leaves. The accumulation of both diamines, putrescine and 1,3-diaminopropane, was used to define the critical levels of K nutrition in birch leaves. Foliar K concentrations below 7–8 mg g ^–1 DW were found to correlate with the accumulation of diamines at most sampling dates.     

On the Reason for the Different Photosynthetic Rates of Seedlings of Pinus silvestris and Betula verrucosa

The growth and net photosynthetic properties of seedlings of Pinus silvestris L. and Betula verrucosa Ehrh., grown under identical conditions in a controlled environment chamber, were compared. The relative growth rate of birch was about twice that of pine. The rates of in situ net photosynthesis were 1.50 and 2.30 micromoles CO₂ meter⁻² second⁻¹ and the photosynthetic quantum yields under light-limiting conditions were 0.022 and 0.032 for pine and birch, respectively. The total leaf surface areas were used for calculating the CO₂ flux densities. The difference in the rates of in situ net photosynthesis depended equally on morphological and metabolic factors. It was assumed that a pronounced mutual shading and an unfavorable leaf inclination made the pine seedlings less efficient in absorbing the unidirectional light of the climate chamber than the broadleaved seedlings of birch. Both pine and birch were adapted to the growth conditions so the flux densities of absorbed quanta were rate-limiting for in situ net photosynthesis. It was concluded that the difference in the photosynthetic quantum yields (i.e. the linear slope of the photosynthetic light curve) of the two species defined the metabolically controlled part of the difference in the rate of in situ net photosynthesis. The quantum yield of pine was lower than that of birch and was partly explained by pine having a higher rate of photorespiration than birch. The remaining difference was most likely controlled by the properties of the chloroplast thylakoids, e.g. energy transfer efficiency between pigments, photosynthetic electron transport, or coupling between electron transport and photophosphorylation.     

The impact of NO inf3 sup− loading on the freshwater macrophyte Littorella uniflora: N utilization strategy in a slow-growing species from oligotrophic habitats

The decline and disappearance of Littorella uniflora from oligotrophic waters which have become eutrophic has been associated with shading or reduced CO₂ supply. However NO _inf3 ^sup– concentrations can reach very high levels (100–2000 mmol m^–3 compared with <1–3 in oligotrophic habitats). To investigate the impact of NO _inf3 ^sup– loading alone, plants were grown under three NO _inf3 ^sup– regimes (very low, near-natural and high). The interactive effects of NO _inf3 ^sup– and photon flux density (low and high regimes) on N assimilation and accumulation, CO₂ concentrating mechanisms, C₃ photosynthesis and growth were also examined. The results were unexpected. Increased NO _inf3 ^sup– supply had very little effect on photosynthetic capacity, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or lacunal CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]_i), although there was considerable plasticity with respect to light regime. In contrast, increased NO _inf3 ^sup– supply resulted in a marked accumulation of NO _inf3 ^sup– , free amino acids and soluble protein in shoots and roots (up to 25 mol m^–3, 30 mol m^–3 and 9 mg g^–1 fresh weight respectively in roots), while fresh weight and relative growth rate were reduced. Total N content even under the very low NO _inf3 ^sup– regime (1.6–2.3%) was mid-range for aquatic and terrestrial species (and 3.1–4.3% under the high NO _inf3 ^sup– regime). These findings, together with field data, suggest that L. uniflora is not growth limited by low NO _inf3 ^sup– supply in natural oligotophic habitats, due not to an efficient photosynthetic nitrogen use but to a slow growth rate, a low N requirement and to the use of storage to avoid N stress. However the increased NO _inf3 ^sup– concentrations in eutrophic environments seem likely have detrimental effects on the long-term survival of L. uniflora, possibly as a consequence of N accumulation.     

Effects of ozone exposure on sub-tropical evergreen Cinnamomum camphora seedlings grown in different nitrogen loads

The present study aims in investigating the individual and combined effects of ozone (O₃) exposure and nitrogen (N) load on the growth and photosynthetic characters of Cinnamomum camphora seedlings, a dominant evergreen broadleaf tree species in sub-tropical regions. The seedlings were supplied with N as NH₄NO₃ solution at 0, 30 and 60 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (simplified as N0, N30, N60, respectively) and were exposed to ambient O₃ concentration (AA) or elevated [O₃] (E-O₃, AA +60 ppb) for one growth season. E-O₃ induced significant negative effects on foliar photosynthesis, including lower photosynthetic rate, reduced carboxylation efficiency, quantum yield of PSII and photosynthetic pigment contents, despite no effect on growth. In contrast, N load acted as fertilization effects. Medium N (N30) increased photosynthetic pigments and stem-base diameter growth relative to N0, whereas high N load (N60) significantly enhanced the growth, photosynthetic pigments, and dark and light action of photosynthesis of C. camphora seedlings. No significant interactive effects of O₃ and N load on the growth, net photosynthetic rate and pigment contents of the seedlings were found, suggesting that N supply to the soil at ≤60 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ does not significantly change the sensitivity of C. camphora to ozone.     

Effects of nitrogen supply and elevated carbon dioxide on construction cost in leaves of Pinus taeda (L.) seedlings

Seedlings of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were grown under varying conditions of soil nitrogen and atmospheric carbon dioxide availability to investigate the interactive effects of these resources on the energetic requirements for leaf growth. Increasing the ambient CO₂ partial pressure from 35 to 65 Pa increased seedling growth only when soil nitrogen was high. Biomass increased by 55% and photosynthesis increased by 13% after 100 days of CO₂ enrichment. Leaves from seedlings grown in high soil nitrogen were 7.0% more expensive on a g glucose g^–1 dry mass basis to produce than those grown in low nitrogen, while elevated CO₂ decreased leaf cost by 3.5%. Nitrogen and CO₂ availability had an interactive effect on leaf construction cost expressed on an area basis, reflecting source-sink interactions. When both resources were abundant, leaf construction cost on an area basis was relatively high (81.8±3.0 g glucose m^–2) compared to leaves from high nitrogen, low CO₂ seedlings (56.3±3.0 g glucose m^–2) and low nitrogen, low CO₂ seedlings (67.1±2.7 g glucose m^–2). Leaf construction cost appears to respond to alterations in the utilization of photoassimilates mediated by resource availability.     

Interactive effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the acclimation potential of foliage photosynthetic properties of cork oak,Quercus suber,to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Leaf gas-exchange and chemical composition were investigated in seedlings of Quercus suber L. grown for 21 months either at elevated (700 μmol mol^–1) or normal (350 μmol mol^–1) ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, [CO₂], in a sandy nutrient-poor soil with either ‘high’ N (0.3 mol N m^–3 in the irrigation solution) or with ‘low’ N (0.05 mol N m^–3) and with a constant suboptimal concentration of the other macro- and micronutrients. Although elevated [CO₂] yielded the greatest total plant biomass in ‘high’ nitrogen treatment, it resulted in lower leaf nutrient concentrations in all cases, independent of the nutrient addition regime, and in greater nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations. By contrast, nitrogen treatment did not affect foliar N concentrations, but resulted in lower phosphorus concentrations, suggesting that under lower N, P use-efficiency in foliar biomass production was lower. Phosphorus deficiency was evident in all treatments, as photosynthesis became CO₂ insensitive at intercellular CO₂ concentrations larger than ≈ 300 μmol mol^–1, and net assimilation rates measured at an ambient [CO₂] of 350 μmol mol^–1 or at 700 μmol mol^–1 were not significantly different. Moreover, there was a positive correlation of foliar P with maximum Rubisco (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) carboxylase activity (V_cmax), which potentially limits photosynthesis at low [CO₂], and the capacities of photosynthetic electron transport (J_max) and phosphate utilization (P_max), which are potentially limiting at high [CO₂]. None of these potential limits was correlated with foliar nitrogen concentration, indicating that photosynthetic N use-efficiency was directly dependent on foliar P availability. Though the tendencies were towards lower capacities of potential limitations of photosynthesis in high [CO₂] grown specimens, the effects were statistically insignificant, because of (i) large within-treatment variability related to foliar P, and (ii) small decreases in P/N ratio with increasing [CO₂], resulting in balanced changes in other foliar compounds potentially limiting carbon acquisition. The results of the current study indicate that under P-deficiency, the down-regulation of excess biochemical capacities proceeds in a similar manner in leaves grown under normal and elevated [CO₂], and also that foliar P/N ratios for optimum photosynthesis are likely to increase with increasing growth CO₂ concentrations. Symbols: A, net assimilation rate (μmol m^–2 s^–1); A_max, light-saturated A (μmol m^–2 s^–1); α, initial quantum yield at saturating [CO₂] and for an incident Q (mol mol^–1); [CO₂], atmospheric CO₂ concentration (μmol mol^–1); C_i, intercellular CO₂ concentration (μmol mol^–1); C_a, CO₂ concentration in the gas-exchange cuvette (μmol mol^–1); F_B, fraction of leaf N in ‘photoenergetics’; F_L, fraction of leaf N in light harvesting; F_R, fraction of leaf N in Rubisco; Γ*, CO₂ compensation concentration in the absence of R_d (μmol mol^–1); J_max*, capacity for photosynthetic electron transport; J_mc, capacity for photosynthetic electron transport per unit cytochrome f (mol e^–[mol cyt f]^–1 s^–1); K_c, Michaelis-Menten constant for carboxylation (μmol mol^–1); K_o, Michaelis-Menten constant for oxygenation (mmol mol^–1); M_A, leaf dry mass per area (g m^–2); O, intercellular oxygen concentration (mmol mol^–1); [P_i], concentration of inorganic phosphate (mM); P_max*, capacity for phosphate utilization; Q, photosynthetically active quantum flux density (μmol m^–2 s^–1); R_d*, day respiration (CO₂ evolution from nonphotorespiratory processes continuing in the light); Rubisco, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase; RUBP, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate; T_l, leaf temperature (°C); U_TPU*, rate of triose phosphate utilization; V_cmax*, maximum Rubisco carboxylase activity; V_cr, specific activity of Rubisco (μmol CO₂[g Rubisco]^–1 s^–1] *given in either μmol m^–2 s^–1 or in μmol g^–1 s^–1 as described in the text.     

Effect of wood ash application on the biomass distribution and physiological state of Norway spruce seedlings on sandy soils

The effect of wood ash applied as a fertiliser (0.25, 0.5 and 1 kg m^–2) to nutrient poor sandy soil on 4-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies) growing in small-scale sample plots was studied. Analyses carried out with roots, stems, needles and shoots of different age showed that an increase in the pH level and K and Ca concentrations and a decrease in N and P concentrations in the soil was accompanied by a disbalance of nutrients in tree compartments. Stimulation of pigment synthesis in Norway spruce needles was observed, and no disbalances occurred in the pigment system (Chl a/Chl b, TChl/Car) guaranteeing normal process of photosynthesis. Biomass responses to wood ash application depended on the age of needles and shoots, being only slightly notable in current year organs. Inhibition of height growth of seedlings, but stimulation of root biomass was established.     

Effects of nutrient addition on leaf chemistry,morphology, and photosynthetic capacity of three bog shrubs

Plants in nutrient-poor environments typically have low foliar nitrogen (N) concentrations, long-lived tissues with leaf traits designed to use nutrients efficiently, and low rates of photosynthesis. We postulated that increasing N availability due to atmospheric deposition would increase photosynthetic capacity, foliar N, and specific leaf area (SLA) of bog shrubs. We measured photosynthesis, foliar chemistry and leaf morphology in three ericaceous shrubs (Vaccinium myrtilloides, Ledum groenlandicum and Chamaedaphne calyculata) in a long-term fertilization experiment at Mer Bleue bog, Ontario, Canada, with a background deposition of 0.8 g N m⁻² a⁻¹. While biomass and chlorophyll concentrations increased in the highest nutrient treatment for C. calyculata, we found no change in the rates of light-saturated photosynthesis (A _max), carboxylation (V _cmax)_, or SLA with nutrient (N with and without PK) addition, with the exception of a weak positive correlation between foliar N and A _max for C. calyculata, and higher V _cmax in L. groenlandicum with low nutrient addition. We found negative correlations between photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) and foliar N, accompanied by a species-specific increase in one or more amino acids, which may be a sign of excess N availability and/or a mechanism to reduce ammonium (NH₄) toxicity. We also observed a decrease in foliar soluble Ca and Mg concentrations, essential minerals for plant growth, but no change in polyamines, indicators of physiological stress under conditions of high N accumulation. These results suggest that plants adapted to low-nutrient environments do not shift their resource allocation to photosynthetic processes, even after reaching N sufficiency, but instead store the excess N in organic compounds for future use. In the long term, bog species may not be able to take advantage of elevated nutrients, resulting in them being replaced by species that are better adapted to a higher nutrient environment.     

Foliar elemental composition of spruce-fir in the southern blue ridge province

Data are presented for what we believe to be the first assessment of the elemental foliar status of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh.) Poir.] trees in the high elevation forests of the southern Appalachian mountans. Needle samples were collected from September–November 1984. Needles were separated according to flush year for the 1984, 1983 and 1982 growing seasons. Each sample was analyzed without washing for 28 macro- and micronutrients and trace elements. Significant differences in foliar concentrations were observed between flush year for N, P, Ca, Mg, K, Cl, Cu, Ce, Th, Cs, Pb, Fe, La and Rb for Fraser fir (n=41), and P, Ca, K, Cl, Cu, Pb and Rb for red spruce (n=30). Nitrogen concentrations ranged from 11.2–20.2 mg g^?1 for Fraser fir, and 8.7–15.9 mg g^?1 for red pruce. The mean concentration of Ca observed in red spruce needles (1.4 mg g^?1 1984 growing season) fell at the low extreme of reported values for non-necrotic red spruce foliage in the northeastern United States (1.2–11.6 mg g^?1). The mean concentration of Ca in Fraser fir foliage (3.4 mg g^?1, 1984 growing season) was also lower than reported values for eastern fir, but not to the extent demonstrated for red spruce. Fraser fir needles had higher concentrations of Al than red spruce (310vs 91 mg kg^?1, respectively, 1984 growing season), but both values are higher than those reported for spruce or fir from the northeastern United States. Calcium:aluminum ratios in current foliage are the lowest yet reported for the eastern spruce/fir forest type, suggesting that Al toxicity and/or Ca deficiency may be important stresses in these stands. Comparison of Pb concentrations with those of other rare-earth elements known to be associated with dust on needle surfaces (Ce, La, Sc, Sm, and Th) suggested that a substantial portion of the Pb found was due to particulates on the needle surfaces. The significance of these results to the observed forest decline syndrome in high elevation forests of the eastern United States is also discussed.     

How does light and phosphorus fertilisation affect the growth and ectomycorrhizal community of two contrasting dipterocarp species?

Phosphorus concentrations in many south-east Asian tropical rain forest soils are very low. To determine the growth responses of seedlings of a light-demanding (Shorea leprosula) and a more shade-tolerant (Hopea nervosa) dipterocarp species to increasing P, we carried out a nursery fertilisation experiment. Responses of symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi to the treatments were also determined. Seedlings were grown under high light (13 mol m⁻² d⁻¹) or moderate light (4 mol m⁻² d⁻¹) in shade-chambers and were fertilised with a solution containing 0, 1, 10 or 100 mg L⁻¹ P. The growth of Hopea and Shorea showed different responses to the light and P fertilisation treatments with Hopea having greater growth under moderate light conditions and Shorea having greater growth under high light conditions. Shorea responded to P fertilisation by increasing its foliar P concentrations and growth rates, whereas Hopea did not take up additional P and did not improve its growth rates. There was no effect of either light or P fertilisation on total EcM colonisation or EcM diversity, but around half of the EcM morphotypes observed were affected by one of these two abiotic perturbations, most notably for Riessiella sp. which increased with P fertilisation suggesting it may not be a mutualistic fungus. These results show how niche partitioning in both dipterocarp seedlings and EcM fungi can be divided along contrasting axes.     

高山森林林窗对凋落叶分解的影响

林窗对降水和光照等环境条件的再分配以及分解者群落的影响可能深刻作用于森林凋落物分解过程,但有关高山森林林窗大小对凋落物分解的影响尚无研究报道。采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了川西高山森林不同大小林窗对非生长季节和生长季节红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)凋落叶质量损失的影响。结果显示,经过1a的分解,不同生境下红桦和岷江冷杉凋落叶分别分解了27.25%—30.12%和27.04%—27.96%,其中非生长季节占53.83%—60.18%和50.23%—59.09%。林窗对红桦和岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失的影响因物种不同而呈现季节差异。总体上,林窗加快了岷江冷杉凋落叶的分解而延缓了红桦凋落叶的分解。与郁闭林下相比,林窗显著增加了2种凋落叶非生长季节的质量损失速率,显著降低了生长季节2种凋落叶的质量损失速率;2种凋落叶质量损失速率在非生长季节随林窗面积增大而加快,在生长季节随林窗面积增大而减慢。林窗显著影响了初冻期、深冻期和融化期岷江冷杉凋落叶的质量损失率,但对红桦凋落叶质量损失率影响不显著。可见,高山森林凋落物分解过程受到林窗的显著影响,并且阔叶和针叶凋落叶在非生长季节和生长季节对林窗的响应具有明显差异。     

Effects of N addition rates on the productivity ofPicea Sitchensis,Thuja plicata,andTsuga heterophylla seedlings

Seedlings ofPicea sitchensis, Thuja plicata andTsuga heterophylla were supplied N hydroponically at one of four exponentially increasing rates of addition (0.09, 0.07, 0.05, or 0.025 gN^-1 day^-1) for up to 3 months in a naturally illuminated glasshouse. Relative growth rates (RGR) were analyzed as a function of N uptake, the allocation of assimilated N to foliage (LNFR), foliar N concentrations (N_la) and met assimilation rates (NAR), which were combined to estimate N productivity (RGR per unit whole-plant N concentration). Nitrogen accumulation, biomass and N partitioning and RGR and its components varied with species in response to the different N regimes.T. heterophylla had the lowest maximum wholeplant N concentrations (wpN) and specific absorption rates for N and exhibited the least plasticity in root: shoot ratios as wpN increased from 11–21 mg g^-1. In all species, RGR increased linearly with wpN, while LNFR increased curvilinearly. Foliar N (N_la) increased linearly with wpN and NAR increased linearly with N_la. The RGRs ofT. heterophylla were highest at wpNs up to 18 mg g^-1, a result of higher foliar N use efficiencies (NAR/N_la). However, RGR increased more with wpN inT. plicata andP. sitchensis. Although LNFR increased with wpN in all species, foliar N use efficiency declined, possibly due to an increased partitioning of foliar soluble N to non-photosynthetic compounds. Thus, in each species, N productivity did not increase above intermediate levels of wpN: 14 mg g^-1 inT. heterophylla, 16 mg g^-1 inP. sitchensis and 17 mg g^-1 inT. plicata.     

Effects of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus supply on nitrogen aquisition from alanine by birch seedlings in symbiosis with Paxillus involutus

Northern forests are exposed to relatively high ammonia inputs due to high atmospheric deposition and the common practise of forest fertilization. It is not known how increased soil NH₄ ⁺concentrations affect acquisition of symbiosis-mediated N from organic sources. We examined the effect of inorganic N and P availability on N acquisition from alanine by 43 weeks old birch (Betula pendula) seedlings in symbiosis with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus. The seedlings were exposed for 9 weeks to nutrient additions equivalent to 43 kg N and 6.4 kg P ha^-1 (low N and P availability), 250 kg N and 38 kg P ha^-1(high N and P availability) or to 250 kg N and 6.4 kg P ha^-1 (high N and low P availability). Carbon and nitrogen allocation between the symbionts was assessed by exposing the foliage to ¹⁴CO₂ and the mycelium to ¹⁵N-alanine or ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ simultaneously and measuring the distribution of the isotopic tracers after a three-day chase period. High inorganic N combined with low P availability did not have marked effect on symbiosis-mediated N uptake from alanine, whilst high N and P availability reduced alanine-derived ¹⁵N translocation by the fungus to the plant. Shoot ¹⁵N concentration and concentration of ¹⁴C in the extramatrical mycelium correlated significantly across treatments pointing to controlled reciprocity of transactions between the partners.