Foggy days and dry nights determine crown‐level water balance in a seasonal tropical montane cloud forest

The ecophysiology of tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) trees is influenced by crown‐level microclimate factors including regular mist/fog water inputs, and large variations in evaporative demand, which in turn can significantly impact water balance. We investigated the effect of such microclimatic factors on canopy ecophysiology and branch‐level water balance in the dry season of a seasonal TMCF in Veracruz, Mexico, by quantifying both water inputs (via foliar uptake, FU) and outputs (day‐ and night‐time transpiration, NT). Measurements of sap flow, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and pressure–volume relations were obtained in Quercus lanceifolia, a canopy‐dominant tree species. Our results indicate that FU occurred 34% of the time and led to the recovery of 9% (24 ± 9.1 L) of all the dry‐season water transpired from individual branches. Capacity for FU was independently verified for seven additional common tree species. NT accounted for approximately 17% (46 L) of dry‐season water loss. There was a strong correlation between FU and the duration of leaf wetness events (fog and/or rain), as well as between NT and the night‐time vapour pressure deficit. Our results show the clear importance of fog and NT for the canopy water relations of Q. lanceifolia.     

The effect of drought stress on heterozygosity–fitness correlations in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)

Background and Aims

The interaction between forest fragmentation and predicted climate change may pose a serious threat to tree populations. In small and spatially isolated forest fragments, increased homozygosity may directly affect individual tree fitness through the expression of deleterious alleles. Climate change-induced drought stress may exacerbate these detrimental genetic consequences of forest fragmentation, as the fitness response to low levels of individual heterozygosity is generally thought to be stronger under environmental stress than under optimal conditions.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, a greenhouse experiment was performed in which various transpiration and growth traits of 6-month-old seedlings of Quercus robur differing in multilocus heterozygosity (MLH) were recorded for 3 months under a well-watered and a drought stress treatment. Heterozygosity–fitness correlations (HFC) were examined by correlating the recorded traits of individual seedlings to their MLH and by studying their response to drought stress.

Key Results

Weak, but significant, effects of MLH on several fitness traits were obtained, which were stronger for transpiration variables than for the recorded growth traits. High atmospheric stress (measured as vapour pressure deficit) influenced the strength of the HFCs of the transpiration variables, whereas only a limited effect of the irrigation treatment on the HFCs was observed.

Conclusions

Under ongoing climate change, increased atmospheric stress in the future may strengthen the negative fitness responses of trees to low MLH. This indicates the necessity to maximize individual multilocus heterozygosity in forest tree breeding programmes.     

Factors affecting stress tolerance in recalcitrant embryonic axes from seeds of four Quercus (Fagaceae) species native to the USA or China

MethodsWater relations and survival of excised axes in response to water loss and cryo-exposure were compared for four Quercus species from subtropical China (Q. franchetii, Q. schottkyana) and temperate USA (Q. gambelii, Q. rubra).ConclusionsQuercus species adapted to arid and semi-humid climates still produce recalcitrant seeds. The ability to avoid freezing rather than drought may be a more important selection factor to increase desiccation tolerance. Cryopreservation of recalcitrant germplasm from temperate species is currently feasible, whilst additional protective treatments are needed for ex situ conservation of Quercus from tropical and subtropical areas.     

Assessing the effects of management on forest growth across France: insights from a new functional–structural model

Background and Aims

The structure of a forest stand, i.e. the distribution of tree size features, has strong effects on its functioning. The management of the structure is therefore an important tool in mitigating the impact of predicted changes in climate on forests, especially with respect to drought. Here, a new functional–structural model is presented and is used to assess the effects of management on forest functioning at a national scale.

Methods

The stand process-based model (PBM) Castanea was coupled to a stand structure module (SSM) based on empirical tree-to-tree competition rules. The calibration of the SSM was based on a thorough analysis of intersite and interannual variability of competition asymmetry. The coupled Castanea–SSM model was evaluated across France using forest inventory data, and used to compare the effect of contrasted silvicultural practices on simulated stand carbon fluxes and growth.

Key Results

The asymmetry of competition varied consistently with stand productivity at both spatial and temporal scales. The modelling of the competition rules enabled efficient prediction of changes in stand structure within the Castanea PBM. The coupled model predicted an increase in net primary productivity (NPP) with management intensity, resulting in higher growth. This positive effect of management was found to vary at a national scale across France: the highest increases in NPP were attained in forests facing moderate to high water stress; however, the absolute effect of management on simulated stand growth remained moderate to low because stand thinning involved changes in carbon allocation at the tree scale.

Conclusions

This modelling approach helps to identify the areas where management efforts should be concentrated in order to mitigate near-future drought impact on national forest productivity. Around a quarter of the French temperate oak and beech forests are currently in zones of high vulnerability, where management could thus mitigate the influence of climate change on forest yield     

Distinct male reproductive strategies in two closely related oak species

Reproductive strategies of closely related species distributed along successional gradients should differ as a consequence of the trade‐off between competition and colonization abilities. We compared male reproductive strategies of Quercus robur and Q. petraea, two partly interfertile European oak species with different successional status. In the studied even‐aged stand, trees of the late‐successional species (Q. petraea) grew faster and suffered less from intertree competition than trees of the early‐successional species (Q. robur). A large‐scale paternity study and a spatially explicit individual‐based mating model were used to estimate parameters of pollen production and dispersal as well as sexual barriers between species. Male fecundity was found to be dependent both on a tree's circumference and on its environment, particularly so for Q. petraea. Pollen dispersal was greater and more isotropic in Q. robur than in Q. petraea. Premating barriers to hybridization were strong in both species, but more so in Q. petraea than in Q. robur. Hence, predictions based on the competition–colonization trade‐off are well supported, whereas the sexual barriers themselves seem to be shaped by colonization dynamics.     

两种类型栓皮栎软木细胞微观排列与形态特征

采用扫描电镜对秦岭北坡楼观台地区的厚皮、薄皮两种类型栓皮栎软木进行细胞微观构造观察分析,并与欧洲栓皮槠进行比较,以阐明厚皮、薄皮栓皮栎软木的相关特性,为中国栓皮栎软木的合理利用提供依据。结果表明:(1)两种类型栓皮栎软木细胞的排列结构较一致,均由内部中空的封闭型薄壁细胞紧密排列组成;在弦切面上呈蜂窝状排列,径切面和横切面上呈砖墙状排列;在径切面上,软木细胞侧高整齐地排列成行,且与树干轴向垂直;在横切面上,软木细胞侧高整齐地处于以树干轴为中心散发出来的射线上。(2)栓皮栎软木细胞大小、细胞壁和侧壁褶皱等受生长季节的影响;从软木细胞形态特征上看,厚皮类型软木细胞壁薄、细胞体积大,其软木质量优于薄皮类型。(3)与欧洲栓皮槠比较,发现厚皮类型栓皮栎早软木细胞棱柱高较小(20.6μm vs.(对比)30~40μm),软木细胞壁略厚(1.7μm vs.1~1.5μm),细胞实体积(细胞壁体积占细胞总体积比例)略大(18.75%vs.10%),厚皮类型栓皮栎软木比欧洲栓皮槠的软木质量差一些。(4)受树皮生长应力的影响,两种类型栓皮栎软木细胞侧高壁上多发生褶皱,早软木细胞褶皱严重,晚软木细胞没有褶皱,但在早晚软木交界或含有杂质处褶皱特别严重,表明厚皮类型软木细胞的侧壁褶皱程度高于薄皮类型。(5)对细胞形态特征及软木特性等的分析表明,薄皮类型栓皮栎软木质量比厚皮类型差,未来对软木资源的开发利用应更注重厚皮类型。     

灰木莲生长对土壤养分和气候因子的响应

对原产地越南以及我国多个引种地的灰木莲的树高和胸径生长特征进行研究,分析了灰木莲生长对土壤养分和气候因子的响应.结果表明: 不同种植地灰木莲的树高和胸径年均生长量差异显著.灰木莲胸径和树高的年均生长量与土壤全N、全P、速效N、速效P含量呈显著正相关,而与土壤有机质、全K、速效K含量相关性不显著,表明土壤N、P含量是影响灰木莲生长的主要养分因子.不同海拔灰木莲树高年均生长量差异显著,而胸径无显著差异.海拔为150～550 m,树高年均生长量随海拔升高而增大,在海拔550 m处达到最大,随后降低,表明海拔550 m为灰木莲引种的最适海拔.灰木莲树高和胸径的年均生长量与年均温、≥10 ℃积温呈显著负相关,与年降雨量呈显著正相关,表明年均温、≥10 ℃积温和降雨量是影响灰木莲生长的主要气候因子.     

太行山南麓山区栓皮栎-扁担杆生态系统水分利用策略

分析了太行山南麓低丘山区降水、泉水、地下水、土壤水以及栓皮栎、扁担杆的氢氧稳定同位素特征,结合Iso Source模型确定了栓皮栎和扁担杆水分来源的季节性差异,并对栓皮栎和扁担杆水分利用策略进行分析。结果表明,同一生态系统中的栓皮栎和扁担杆枝条水的δ18O和δD值差别明显。雨季中栓皮栎和扁担杆水分来源较浅,以0—20 cm土壤水分为主,但旱季中栓皮栎和扁担杆水分主要来源均比雨季明显加深,其中栓皮栎主要利用40—60 cm土壤水分,扁担杆则主要利用20—40 cm土壤水分。此外,旱季后期栓皮栎还利用部分泉水,其比例达到了19.6%。二者水分来源的不同,使得栓皮栎与扁担杆在旱季期间能避开用水冲突。旱季中生长在生态系统上层的栓皮栎中午部分气孔关闭,蒸腾速率下降,生长在生态系统下层的扁担杆日均蒸腾速率、气孔导度则分别比栓皮栎下降了46.94%和30.58%。栓皮栎和扁担杆分别采取了深水源及部分气孔关闭和浅水源及低蒸腾耗散的水分利用策略来利用旱季中有限的水分,因而其组成的生态系统表现出较强地适合太行山南麓脆弱环境的生态适应性。     

啮齿动物捕食和搬运蒙古栎种子对种群更新的影响

2010-2011年,在东北林业大学城市林业示范基地研究了啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子的捕食和搬运。结果表明,蒙古栎种子捕食率在年际间无显著差异,但2010年的蒙古栎种子搬运率显著高于2011年,存留率显著低于2011年。啮齿动物在胡桃楸林、樟子松林、水曲柳林和白桦林内对蒙古栎种子的总捕食率和总搬运率分别达到(5.7±13.5)%和(27.1±37.1)%。蒙古栎种子在樟子松林内的捕食率和搬运率均最高,胡桃楸林内蒙古栎种子存留率最高;2010年蒙古栎种子在与蒙古栎林边缘距离0,10,20,30,40,50m组间的捕食率无显著差异,搬运率和存留率有显著差异,但2011年蒙古栎种子在不同距离组间的捕食率呈显著差异,搬运率和存留率无显著差异。与蒙古栎林边缘距离20m处蒙古栎种子的捕食率最高。2010年和2011年,分别有(37.8±49.7)%和(27.7±49.8)%的蒙古栎种子被啮齿动物利用,这表明啮齿动物是林业示范基地内蒙古栎地表种子的主要捕食者。冬季食物匮乏秋季贮藏种子是造成啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子有较大捕食、扩散压力的主要原因。因此,啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子的捕食和搬运影响了蒙古栎林的种群更新。