遮阴对黄波罗幼苗的光合特性及光能利用效率的影响

一直以来黄波罗(Phellodendron amurense)被认为是不耐阴树种, 然而引入美国纽约后, 发现它具有一定的耐阴性, 在全光和林下均能更新, 在纽约已经成为生物入侵种。为了探讨黄波罗的耐阴性问题, 通过设置自然光与遮阴(15%自然光)两种光环境, 观测了三年生黄波罗幼苗(遮阴1 a后)光合生理参数、光能利用效率、叶绿素和比叶重的变化。结果表明, 与自然光处理相比, 遮阴处理的黄波罗幼苗最大光合速率、表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率略有下降, 但差异不显著(p>0.05), 光补偿点下降显著(p＜0.05); 同时, 单位面积叶绿素含量无显著差异(p>0.05), 而单位干重叶绿素含量显著升高, 比叶重显著下降, 叶面积显著增大(p＜0.05)。上述结果说明: 遮阴的黄波罗幼苗通过降低光补偿点和暗呼吸速率利用环境中的弱光, 同时通过减小比叶重、增大叶面积和提高叶绿素b相对含量来增强对光的捕获, 使其在弱光时的光能利用效率提高。由此推断, 黄波罗幼苗能适应一定程度的遮阴。     

骆驼刺在不同遮阴下的水分状况变化及其生理响应

为了研究骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)在不同遮阴环境下的生理适应性, 以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲外围骆驼刺为试验材料, 设置正常光照、中度遮阴(70%自然光)、重度遮阴(30%自然光) 3种光照环境, 观测了遮阴90天后土壤含水率, 骆驼刺水势、气孔导度(G_s)、叶形态、叶绿素(Chl)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量等在不同遮阴条件下的变化特征。结果显示: 随着遮阴强度的增大, 土壤含水率, 骆驼刺水势、G_s、比叶面积、Chl含量、类胡萝卜素含量有一定程度的增加; 骆驼刺叶片厚度、Pro含量、MDA含量、可溶性糖含量以及Chl a/Chl b有不同幅度的减少。结果表明: 一段时间内适度的遮阴在一定程度上降温增湿, 能够改善骆驼刺的生境, 从而避免高温强光和低水势对植物造成的伤害, 促进植物的生长, 但长期遮阴对植物的生长不利。因此建议通过短期的遮阴, 特别是在温度较高、光照较强的夏季正午前后对骆驼刺进行遮阴处理, 以达到对骆驼刺的逆境防护, 促进骆驼刺的生长。     

遮阴对骆驼刺叶性状和水分生理的影响

以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘荒漠绿洲过渡带优势种骆驼刺为试验材料,研究正常光照(NL)、中度遮阴(MS)和重度遮阴(SS)3种不同遮阴环境对骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifoliashap.)叶厚、单叶面积、比叶面积、比叶质量等叶性状参数和相对含水量、水势、失水速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率以及水分利用效率等水分生理参数的影响。结果显示:随着光照强度的降低,骆驼刺的叶片厚度(LT)、比叶质量(LMA)、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和水分利用效率(WUE)明显降低,而单叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)、相对含水量(RWC)、失水速率(RWL)和水势(WP)明显升高;各叶性状参数与水分生理参数之间均有极显著的相关性。说明:骆驼刺在遮阴环境下,其叶性状特征主要通过单叶面积和单叶干物质积累的变化来响应遮阴环境;其水分生理特征主要是牺牲对水分胁迫具有较好抗逆性的水分生理特征并通过气孔调节和更多的水分消耗用于维持一定的光合能力来响应遮阴环境。叶性状与水分生理参数相关性分析表明,遮阴环境下骆驼刺叶性状变化主要通过影响RWL、WP、Tr和WUE进而影响其水分生理特征的变化。因此,建议可利用遮阴措施对极端干旱区荒漠植物骆驼刺进行植被恢复,但其遮光度应设置在70%—80%自然光之间。     

两种绣线菊耐弱光能力的光合适应性

研究彩色叶花灌木金山绣线菊(Spiraea bunmalba‘Goldmound’)、金焰绣线菊(Spiraea bunmalba‘Goldflame’)对弱光胁迫的光合适应能力,分析其弱光处理及恢复过程中光合特性的变化,探讨其对弱光环境的光合生理适应性变化,为绣线菊在城市园林不同光照环境中得到科学应用提供参考.2种绣线菊具明显光合日变化规律,光强为自然光照60％-65％、40％-45％时光合速率日变化为双峰型曲线,第1峰值高于第2峰值,有明显光合“午休”现象,光强为自然光照20％-25％时光合速率日变化为单峰型曲线,无明显光合“午休”现象;2种绣线菊最大净光合速率、光补偿点、光饱和点、最大表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率随处理光强减弱而减小;叶绿素(a+b)、类胡萝卜素含量随处理光强减弱而增加,叶绿素a/b值随处理光强减弱而降低;随处理光强减弱2种绣线菊叶片变薄,上、下表皮细胞变小,栅栏组织、海绵组织厚度变薄,海绵组织细胞间隙变大,2者比值减小;2种绣线菊弱光胁迫均产生低分子量(45.0-66.2 kDa)特异表达蛋白,推测为弱光胁迫诱导蛋白.2种绣线菊经60％-65％、40％-45％弱光处理后具一定恢复能力,光强仅为自然光照20％-25％处理时其恢复能力较弱.栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比值、叶绿素a/b值和最大净光合速率是评价2种绣线菊耐弱光能力的重要指标,叶绿素a/b值与耐弱光能力显著负相关,栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比值、最大净光合速率与耐弱光能力显著正相关,2种绣线菊耐弱光能力按隶属函数值排序为金焰绣线菊＞金山绣线菊.     

遮阴对闽楠叶绿素含量和光合特性的影响

为探讨闽楠对不同光环境的光合适应机制,以2年生闽楠幼苗为材料,设置3个光照处理(全光照、遮光率50%和遮光率78%),适应6个月后,测定其叶绿素含量、气体交换和叶绿素荧光同步数据,研究不同光环境处理对闽楠叶片叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数和光合特性的影响.结果表明: 3种光照处理下,闽楠叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素(a+b)和类胡萝卜素含量大小次序为78%遮光率>50%遮光率>全光照,但不同光照处理对闽楠叶绿素a/b值没有显著影响.遮阴条件下,闽楠叶片光补偿点(LCP)降低,光饱和点(LSP)和表观量子效率(AQY)升高,说明遮阴条件下闽楠叶片对弱光和强光的利用能力均有所提高;最大净光合速率(P_{n max})、光下暗呼吸速率(R_d)和最大电子传递速率(J_max)均增大.在不同处理间,闽楠叶片净光合速率(P_n)、CO₂气孔导度(g_sc)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)和叶肉导度(g_m)均存在显著差异.P_n和g_m的大小顺序为: 78%遮光率>50%遮光率>全光照.78%遮光率处理下g_sc显著大于全光照.50%遮光率条件和78%遮光率条件下C_i均显著小于全光照.78%遮光率条件下PSⅡ实际光量子产量(F_v′/F_m′)、PSⅡ光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)和电子传递速率(J)均显著大于50%遮光率条件和全光照.由此可知,在遮阴条件下闽楠可以通过增加叶绿素含量、AQY、J、g_sc和g_m来增大光合能力.     

不同品种小豆光合作用和生长发育对弱光的响应

为确定小豆作为林果行间套种作物的适宜性,通过田间试验和盆栽试验,测定全光和弱光处理(全光的48%)下3个小豆品种(阜南绿小豆、早熟黑小豆、晚熟黑小豆)在初花期的叶片光合特征参数、光合色素含量和RuBPCase活性,研究小豆生长发育对弱光的响应.结果表明: 弱光使3个品种小豆叶片的最大净光合速率、光饱和点、光补偿点等光合参数不同程度地向耐荫的方向变化,净光合速率、水分利用效率和RuBPCase活性也显著下降;遮阴后,阜南绿小豆的叶绿素a和b含量显著增加,Chl a/b和类胡萝卜素含量显著降低,其他小豆的叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量无明显变化;弱光使3个品种小豆的生物量和干物质积累效率降低,根冠比降低,根瘤量减少,叶片数和叶面积指数减小;弱光胁迫下,阜南绿小豆提前开花、提前成熟,早熟黑小豆推迟开花、延迟成熟,而晚熟黑小豆只开花不结实.从遮阴后小豆的光合特性变化和生长发育差异等方面综合考虑,3个小豆品种的耐阴能力大小为:阜南绿小豆>早熟黑小豆>晚熟黑小豆.     

四种豆科作物的光合生理和生长发育对弱光的响应

为了确定豆科作物作为林果行间套种作物的适宜性, 于2014年通过田间试验和盆栽试验对4种豆科作物的耐阴能力及其光合生理进行了研究。测定全光和弱光处理(全光的48%)下豆科作物在初花期的叶片光合特征参数、光合色素含量与核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶(RuBPCase)活性, 监测其生长发育对弱光的响应。结果表明: 弱光使供试作物的最大净光合速率、光饱和点、光补偿点、表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率不同程度地向耐阴植物变化; 弱光还使供试作物的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、瞬时水分利用效率和RuBPCase活性不同程度地下降, 而胞间CO₂浓度显著上升; 遮阴后, 乌豇豆(Vigna cylindrica)和绿豆(Vigna radiata)的叶绿素(Chl) a和Chl b含量显著增加, Chl a/b值显著降低, 大猪屎豆(Crotalaria assamica)和望江南(Senna occidentalis)的光合色素含量也有不同程度的变化; 弱光使供试作物茎变细, 侧枝数减少, 生物量和干物质积累效率降低, 根冠比降低, 根瘤量减少, 叶片变小变薄, 叶片数减少, 叶面积指数降低; 弱光胁迫下, 大猪屎豆不开花, 望江南只开花不结实, 而绿豆和乌豇豆开花数减少, 花期缩短, 种子产量显著降低。根据供试作物的光合特性和生长发育对弱光的响应, 得出它们的耐阴能力排序是: 乌豇豆>绿豆>望江南>大猪屎豆, 其中乌豇豆和绿豆适宜与林果套种, 而望江南和大猪屎豆不适宜套种。     

遮荫对甜瓜叶片光合特性的影响

以适宜不同栽培条件的3个甜瓜品种为材料,研究了遮荫对其光合色素含量、净光合速率及比叶重等叶片特性的影响。结果表明:与正常光照相比,遮光处理能诱使甜瓜叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量显著提高,叶绿素a/b显著降低。全光照条件下,3个甜瓜品种的净光合速率日变化曲线均呈双峰型,有明显的"光合午休"现象,而在遮荫条件下则呈单峰曲线变化,且光合峰值出现的时间比全光照下推迟;遮光条件下甜瓜叶片气孔导度日变化曲线与其净光合速率日变化类似。3个品种间比叶重在全光照条件下差异不显著,但遮荫显著降低了壮龄叶片的比叶重,且遮荫强度越重,比叶重越小;品种‘黄河蜜3号’壮龄叶的比叶重降幅(31.83%)显著大于‘银帝’(27.22%)和‘玉金香’(26.01%)。可见,遮荫降低了甜瓜叶片的净光合速率和功能叶片的比叶重,植株通过增加自身叶片光合色素含量以增强对环境的适应性,缓解遮荫对其的影响,品种‘银帝’表现出较强的耐弱光性。     

弱光胁迫影响夏玉米光合效率的生理机制初探

大田条件下, 以普通夏玉米(Zea mays) ‘泰玉2号’为材料, 于授粉后1-20天遮光55% (+S), 以大田自然光照条件下生长的玉米作为对照(-S), 研究了遮光及恢复过程中玉米植株的光合性能、叶绿体荧光参数、叶黄素循环以及光能分配的变化, 初步揭示夏玉米开花后弱光条件下光适应的生理机制, 为玉米高产稳产提供理论依据。结果表明, 遮光后玉米穗位叶叶绿素含量及可溶性蛋白含量均减少, RuBP羧化酶和PEP羧化酶活性显著降低, 导致穗位叶净光合速率(P_n)迅速下降, 光饱和点也明显降低; 恢复初期P_n迅速升高, 光合关键酶活性有所增强。遮光后植株的最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、实际光化学效率(Ф_PSII)显著降低, 非光化学淬灭(NPQ)则显著升高, 而恢复初期植株穗位叶Ф_PSII有所升高, 表明突然暴露在自然光下的光合电子传递速率明显加快, 这与其光合速率及光合酶活性的趋势保持一致; 遮光处理对穗位叶叶黄素循环库的大小(紫黄质+花药黄质+玉米黄质(V + A + Z))影响不显著, 但使叶黄素循环的脱环氧化状态(A + Z)/(V + A + Z)增加; 遮光后植株分配于光化学反应的光能明显减少, 天线耗散光能比率显著增加, 恢复过程中植株主要以过剩非光化学反应的形式耗散过剩的光能。遮光后及恢复初期, 玉米植株的PSII原初光化学活性明显下降, 限制了光合碳代谢的电子供应从而抑制了光合作用, 主要依赖叶黄素循环途径进行能量耗散, 而在光照转换后遮光的玉米叶片在适应自然光过程中的光保护机制不断完善, 光合能力逐渐得到 恢复。     

欧洲3种常见乔木幼苗在两种光环境下叶片的气体交换、叶绿素含量和氮素含量

在室内测定了分别栽培于全光照和20％光照条件下的垂枝桦Betulapendula,欧洲水青冈Fagussylvatica和欧洲白栎Quercusrobur幼苗叶片的光合作用－光响应曲线、叶片气孔导度、胞间二氧化碳浓度、水分利用效率,叶绿素含量和氮素含量,并分析叶片叶绿素含量和净光合速率的回归关系．20％光照条件引起净光合速率的光饱和点下降,叶片气孔导度和水分利用效率以及单位叶面积叶绿素含量降低,叶片的光合物质积累减少,但氮素含量上升．回归分析结果表明,叶片叶绿素含量与净光合速率成正相关．3种植物的幼苗对荫蔽条件有一定的适应性,其中B．pendula和Q．robur的耐荫能力比Fsylvatica强.     

Variation in growth form in relation to spectral light quality (red/far-red ratio) in Plantago lanceolata L. in sun and shade populations

Plants from a sun and shade population were grown in two environments differing in the ratio of red to far-red light (R/FR ratio). A low R/FR ratio, simulating vegetation shade, promoted the formation of long, upright-growing leaves and allocation towards shoot growth, whereas a high R/FR ratio had the opposite effects. The increase in plant height under the low R/FR ratio was accompanied by a reduction in the number of leaves. Population differences in growth form resembled the differences between plants grown in different light environments: plants from the shade population had rosettes with long erect leaves, whereas plants from the sun population formed prostrate rosettes with short leaves. Plants from the shade population were more responsive to the R/FR ratio than plants from the sun population: the increases in leaf length, plant height, and leaf area ratio under a low R/FR ratio were larger in the shade population. However, differences in plasticity were small compared to the population difference in growth form itself. We argue that plants do not respond optimally to shading and that developmental constraints might have limited the evolution of an optimal response. Received: 8 December 1996 / Accepted: 31 March 1997     

Acclimation of Myrtus communis to contrasting Mediterranean light environments - effects on structure and chemical composition of foliage and plant water relations

Leaf anatomical and chemical characteristics, water relations and stomatal regulation were studied in the shrub Myrtus communis growing under two contrasting Mediterranean light environments (full light versus 30% of full light) during the spring-summer period. These studies aimed to assess plant response to the combined effects of light and water availability. Foliar morphology, anatomy and chemistry composition acclimated positively to light conditions. Leaves of sun-exposed plants were thicker (38.7%) than those of shaded plants, mainly due to increased palisade parenchyma thickness, had a higher nitrogen concentration and stomatal density than the shade ones, which maximized foliar area (>SLA) and Chl/N molar ratio to improve light interception. Chlorophyll concentration per leaf area (Chl(a)) was always higher in sun leaves while, as expressed on dry mass (Chl(m)), significant differences were only apparent in September, shade leaves presenting higher values. During the summer period Chl(a) and Chl(m) markedly declined in sun leaves and remained unchanged in shade ones. The ratio of chlorophyll a/b was not affected either by the light intensity or by the season. Shade leaves presented generally a higher concentration of soluble carbohydrates per dry mass. No significant differences in starch concentration were apparent between sun and shade leaves and a gradual depletion occurred during the water stress period. Maximum stomatal conductances correlated positively with predawn water potential. Throughout the season, sun plants always presented higher leaf conductance to water vapour and lower minimum leaf water potentials, indicating an interaction of light-environment on these water relation parameters. Stomatal closure constitutes a mechanism to cope with diurnal and seasonal water deficits, sun plants presenting a more efficient control of water losses during water deficiency period. In addition, both sun and shade plants evidenced leaf osmotic adjustment ability in response to water stress, which was greater in sun ones.     

The functional ecology of shoot architecture in sun and shade plants of Heteromeles arbutifolia M. Roem., a Californian chaparral shrub

The functional roles of the contrasting morphologies of sun and shade shoots of the evergreen shrub Heteromeles arbutifolia were investigated in chaparral and understory habitats by applying a three-dimensional plant architecture simulation model, YPLANT. The simulations were shown to accurately predict the measured frequency distribution of photosynthetic photon flux density (PFD) on both the leaves and a horizontal surface in the open, and gave reasonably good agreement for the more complex light environment in the shade. The sun shoot architecture was orthotropic and characterized by steeply inclined (mean = 71^o) leaves in a spiral phyllotaxy with short internodes. This architecture resulted in relatively low light absorption efficiencies (E _A) for both diffuse and direct PFD, especially during the summer when solar elevation angles were high. Shade shoots were more plagiotropic with longer internodes and a pseudo-distichous phyllotaxis caused by bending of the petioles that positioned the leaves in a nearly horizontal plane (mean = 5^o). This shade-shoot architecture resulted in higher E _A values for both direct and diffuse PFD as compared to those of the sun shoots. Differences in E _A between sun and shade shoots and between summer and winter were related to differences in projection efficiencies as determined by leaf and solar angles, and by differences in self shading resulting from leaf overlap. The leaves exhibited photosynthetic acclimation to the sun and the shade, with the sun leaves having higher photosynthetic capacities per unit area, higher leaf mass per unit area and lower respiration rates per unit area than shade leaves. Despite having 7 times greater available PFD, sun shoots absorbed only 3 times more and had daily carbon gains only double of those of shade shoots. Simulations showed that sun and shade plants performed similarly in the open light environment, but that shade shoots substantially outperformed sun shoots in the shade light environment. The shoot architecture observed in sun plants appears to achieve an efficient compromise between maximizing carbon gain while minimizing the time that the leaf surfaces are exposed to PFDs in excess of those required for light saturation of photosynthesis and therefore potentially photoinhibitory. Received: 8 June 1997 / Accepted: 2 November 1997     

Morpho‐anatomical and physiological differences between sun and shade leaves in Abies alba Mill. (Pinaceae,Coniferales): a combined approach

Morphology, anatomy and physiology of sun and shade leaves of Abies alba were investigated and major differences were identified, such as sun leaves being larger, containing a hypodermis and palisade parenchyma as well as possessing more stomata, while shade leaves exhibit a distinct leaf dimorphism. The large size of sun leaves and their arrangement crowded on the upper side of a plagiotropic shoot leads to self‐shading which is explainable as protection from high solar radiation and to reduce the transpiration via the lamina. Sun leaves furthermore contain a higher xanthophyll cycle pigment amount and Non‐Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) capacity, a lower amount of chlorophyll b and a total lower chlorophyll amount per leaf, as well as an increased electron transport rate and an increased photosynthesis light saturation intensity. However, sun leaves switch on their NPQ capacity at rather low light intensities, as exemplified by several parameters newly measured for conifers. Our holistic approach extends previous findings about sun and shade leaves in conifers and demonstrates that both leaf types of A. alba show structural and physiological remarkable similarities to their respective counterparts in angiosperms, but also possess unique characteristics allowing them to cope efficiently with their environmental constraints.     

The role of leaf lobation in elongation responses to shade in the rosette-forming forb Serratula tinctoria (Asteraceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lobed leaves are considered selectively advantageous in conditions of high irradiance. However, most studies have involved woody species, with only a few considering the role of leaf lobation in herbaceous rosette species. In this study, it is hypothesized that, in addition to its adaptive value in high light, leaf lobation may add to the function of petioles as vertical spacers in herbaceous species in conditions of strong competition for light. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, leaf development was examined under seasonally changing natural light conditions and a field experiment was conducted in which light climate was manipulated in a wooded meadow population of Serratula tinctoria. KEY RESULTS: No changes in leaf lobation were observed in response to experimental shading or different natural light conditions. However, in tall herbaceous vegetation, plants with highly lobed leaves achieved significantly greater vertical elongation than plants with less-lobed leaves. In contrast to herbaceous shade, tree shade had no effect on leaf elongation, suggesting differential responsiveness to competition from neighbouring herbs versus overhead shade. In shading treatments, imposed shade could only be responded to by the elongation of leaves that were produced late in development. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that extensive leaf lobation can enable greater leaf elongation in response to shade from surrounding herbaceous vegetation. The different morphological responses displayed by Serratula tinctoria to different types of shade demonstrate the importance of critically assessing experimental designs when investigating phenotypic plasticity in response to shade.     

Irradiance heterogeneity within crown affects photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen distribution of leaves in Cedrela sinensis

Because light conditions in the forest understory are highly heterogeneous, photosynthetic acclimation to spatially variable irradiance within a crown is important for crown‐level carbon assimilation. The effect of variation in irradiance within the crown on leaf nitrogen content and photosynthetic rate was examined for pinnate compound leaves in saplings of Cedrela sinensis, a pioneer deciduous tree. Five shading treatments, in which 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of leaves were shaded, were established by artificial heavy shading using shade screen umbrellas with 25% transmittance. Although the nitrogen content of leaves was constant regardless of shading treatment, ribulose 1·5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) content and light‐saturated photosynthetic capacity were lower in shade leaves within partially shaded crowns than within fully shaded crowns. Shade leaves within partially shaded crowns contained higher amount of amino acids. Most shade leaves died in partially shaded crowns, whereas more than half of shade leaves survived in totally shaded crowns. Assumptions on photosynthetic acclimation to local light conditions cannot explain why shade leaves have different photosynthetic capacities and survival rates in between partially and totally shaded crowns. Irradiance heterogeneity within the crown causes a distinct variation in photosynthetic activity between sun and shaded leaves within the crown.     

Light,allelopathy, and post-mortem invasive impact on native forest understory species

Extended leaf phenology (early budbreak and/or delayed leaf drop) and allelopathy are potentially key invasion mechanisms in North American deciduous forests. Because extended phenology confers increased access to light energy and allelochemical production is energetically costly, these traits may interact synergistically to determine invader impact. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) exhibits both traits, and may also exploit high light in open habitats. We manipulated seasonal light availability to examine effects of light on garlic mustard’s growth, allelochemical production, and impact on native species. Invaded and not-invaded woodland microcosms were exposed to three light treatments: shading year-round (‘extended shade’), shading when the local tree canopy was closed (‘natural shade’), and ambient light year-round (‘no-shade’). Regardless of native presence, garlic mustard biomass was highest under natural shade and, due to apparent irradiation damage, lowest under no-shade. Similarly, growth and fruit production of garlic mustard monocultures were reduced in unshaded conditions. Consistent with these results, garlic mustard reduced the growth of native woodland forbs Blephilia hirsuta and Ageratina altissima most under natural shade, suggesting that extended leaf phenology mediates impact on these herbaceous species. However, garlic mustard growth did not predict reduction of whole-community biomass: invasion reduced native community growth most under no-shade, where invader biomass was lowest but allelochemical production was highest. This result may be driven by a ‘post-mortem’ pulse of allelochemicals from decaying garlic mustard tissue. We conclude that extended leaf phenology may mediate garlic mustard’s impact on some native species, and that light and allelopathy may interact to drive invasion.     

Light environment and the impacts of foliage quality on herbivorous insect attack and bird predation

Theory predicts that variation in plant traits will modify both the direct interactions between plants and herbivores and the indirect impacts of predators of those herbivores. Light has strong effects on leaf quality, so the impacts of herbivores and predators may differ between plants grown in sun and shade. However, past experiments have often been unable to separate the effects of light environment on plant traits and herbivory from direct effects on herbivores and predators. We first manipulated light availability in an open habitat using a shade cloth pre-treatment to produce oak saplings with different leaf qualities. Leaves on plants exposed to high light were thicker and tougher and had lower nitrogen and water contents, and higher carbon and phenolic contents than leaves on plants under a shade cloth. Then, in the main experiment, we moved all plants to a common shade environment where bird predators were excluded in a factorial design. We measured insect herbivore abundance and leaf damage. Herbivores were significantly more abundant and caused greater leaf damage on sun trees, although these leaf characteristics are usually associated with low-quality food. Bird exclusion did not change herbivore abundance but did increase leaf damage. Contrary to our predictions, the effects of birds did not differ between trees grown in sun and shade conditions. Thus, differences in effects of predators on herbivores and plants between light habitats, when observed, might be due to variation in predator abundance and not bottom-up effects of host plant quality.