Relations between stomatal closure, leaf turgor and xylem vulnerability in eight tropical dry forest trees

This study examined the linkage between xylem vulnerability, stomatal response to leaf water potential (Ψ_L), and loss of leaf turgor in eight species of seasonally dry tropical forest trees. In order to maximize the potential variation in these traits species that exhibit a range of leaf habits and phenologies were selected. It was found that in all species stomatal conductance was responsive to Ψ_L over a narrow range of water potentials, and that Ψ_L inducing 50% stomatal closure was correlated with both the Ψ_L inducing a 20% loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity and leaf water potential at turgor loss in all species. In contrast, there was no correlation between the water potential causing a 50% loss of conductivity in the stem xylem, and the water potential at stomatal closure (Ψ_SC) amongst species. It was concluded that although both leaf and xylem characters are correlated with the response of stomata to Ψ_L, there is considerable flexibility in this linkage. The range of responses is discussed in terms of the differing leaf‐loss strategies exhibited by these species.     

Impact of Atta colombica Colonies on Understory Vegetation and Light Availability in a Neotropical Forest1

We quantified patterns of vegetation removal and light availability above Atta colombica nests on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Ants cleared vegetation less than 1 cm in diameter from an area of 77 m², and up to 3 m above ground level. Overall light availability 1.5 m above ground level was 49 percent greater at ant nest sites than at sites in undisturbed understory. These higher light levels fell within the range known to enhance growth of both shade tolerant and pioneer species.     

Carbon flux and diversity of nematodes and termites in Cameroon forest soils

Theoretically, there are three principal ways in which ecosystem processes might respond to reductions in species richness. These theories are reviewed, and then considered in the context of a study of the diversity of soil nematodes and termites in near-primary forest sites at Mbalmayo, Cameroon, and the contribution made by these two taxa to carbon fluxes (CO₂ and CH₄) from the forest floor. Nematode abundances average 2.04 × 10⁶ m^-2, and termites between 2933 and 6957 m^-2. The site is the most species-rich yet investigated for both groups anywhere in the world, so that a very large number of species contribute to carbon fluxes. We speculate about how much redundancy might be built into the functioning of both assemblages, and point out the enormous difficulties of resolving such questions, and of producing such detailed species-inventories.     

First report on new evidence for the occurrence of Podocarpus and possible human presence at the mouth of the Amazon during the Late-glacial

Palynological studies on late Quaternary lake sediments from the region of the Amazon estuary, 100 km north-east of Belém, Pará State, Brazil, enable reconstruction of lowland Amazonian rain forest during the Late-glacial and Holocene periods. Late-glacial forests included populations of Podocarpus which suggests a distinct climatic cooling. Ilex was abundant in the early Holocene. Records of the mangrove taxon, Rhizophora, indicate rapid Atlantic sea-level rise in the beginning of the Holocene. High charcoal representation may reflect the first arrival of Amerindians in the Amazon coastal area, probably about 10 800 B.P.     

Managing the pattern of forest harvest: lessons from wildfire

Managing forests for sustainable use requires that both the biological diversity of the forests and a viable forest industry be maintained. A current approach towards maintaining biological diversity is to pattern forest management practices after those of natural disturbance events. This paradigm hypothesizes that ecological processes will be maintained best where active management approximates natural disturbance events. The forest management model now used in most sub-boreal and boreal forests calls for regularly dispersed clearcuts no greater than 60–100 ha in size. However, the spatial characteristics of the landscape produced by this model are distinctly different from the historic pattern generated by wildfire, which was heretofore the dominant stand-replacing process in these forests. Wildfire creates a more complex landscape spatial pattern with greater range in patch size and more irregular disturbance boundaries. Individual wildfires are often over 500 ha but leave patches of unburned forest within them. The combination of these attributes is not present in recent clearcuts. Allowing a proportion of larger (i.e.>500ha) harvest units may provide distinct economic advantages that could outweight the opportunity costs of leaving some patches of forest behind. For the forest type examined, further evaluation of modelling forest harvest patterns more closely after the patterns created by wildfire is required as it may achieve a good balance and strike a suitable compromise between certain ecological and economic objectives of sustainable development.     

Effects of Mg(OH)2-fertilization on nutrient cycling in a heavily damaged Norway spruce ecosystem (NE Bavaria/FRG)

Main objective of this study was to test the effects of Mg(OH)₂-fertilization in a Norway spruce ecosystem showing severe symptoms of Mg-deficiency.The site is characterized by high atmospheric inputs with deposition rates of 1.25 kg H, 42 kg S, and 32 kg N per ha and year. The typic Dystrochrept derived from granite is acidified down to greater depths. The pH-values in soil solution of the organic surface layer and the upper mineral soil are around 3.5. Concentrations of Al, SO₄ ^2-, and especially NO₃ ^- and DOC are very high. The element balance indicates a significant influence of N-inputs and processes of N-turnover on the chemical status of the soil and probably on tree nutrition. Nitrification in the upper mineral soil leads to a transformation of a major part of NH₄ ⁺ into NO₃ ^-, which is quantitatively leached, resulting in an ecosystem-internal H⁺-production of 1.8 keq ha^-1yr^-1. NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- govern the seepage output from the ecosystem.Mg(OH)₂ fertilization resulted in manifold increased Mg²⁺ concentrations in soil solution down to 70 cm soil depth and to a significant increase of pH down to 25 cm mineral soil depth. Nitrate concentrations were elevated after fertilization, but decreased within 15 months below the level of the control plot. As a mean over the whole experimental period, N-output was not increased by fertilization. Despite an elevated internal proton production due to nitrification, acid buffering in the soil was clearly increased, but enhanced Al-mobilization was not observed. Mg/Al- and Ca/H-ratios in soil solution indicate much more favourable conditions for fine root growth. Fertilization also increased the amount of exchangeable Mg down to 40cm mineral soil depth. Mg contents in current-year needles increased after three vegetation periods. Thirty months after application, only 10% and 4% of the fertilized Mg had left the organic surface layer and the mineral soil with seepage water output, respectively.     

Changes in the origin and quality of soil organic matter after pasture introduction in Rondônia (Brazil)

We examined the effects of the conversion of tropical forest to pasture on soil organic matter (SOM) origin and quality along a chronosequence of sites, including a primary forest and six pastures. Bulk soil samples received a physical size-fractionation treatment to assess the contribution of each compartment to total SOM pool. Besides a general increase in total C and N stocks along the chronosequence, we observed a reduction of the relative contribution of the coarser fractions to total soil C content, and an increased concentration in the finer fractions. The origin of the C in each size fraction was established from measurements of¹³C abundance. After 80 years about 93% of the C in the least humified fraction of the top 10 cm of soil was of pasture origin, while in the most humified it was 82%. Chemical analyses indicated that the fine silt and coarse clay fractions contained the most refractory carbon.     

Availability and mobility of nutrients in acid forest soil treated with fast and slow-release nutrients

The effects of slow and fast-release fertilizers (P, K, Mg) on the movement and availability of nutrients in acid forest soil were studied. Fast-release superphosphate, potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate and slow-release apatite (P) and biotite (K, Mg) were applied alone or together with urea or urea+limestone. The nutrient content in the organic horizon was determined one growing season and three growing seasons after the application, and in the mineral layer after one growing season. The movement of nutrient ions in the organic horizon was studied by an ion exchange resin bag method during a 5-month period following application. The fast-release salts immediately increased the soluble P and exchangeable K and Mg contents in the organic and mineral soils and in the resin bags. After three growing seasons the effect of K application in the organic layer was non-detectable and that of P had clearly diminished. Apatite gradually increased soluble P content in the organic layer, but biotite had only a minor effect on the K and Mg contents. The nutrients from the fast-release fertilizers had clearly become available and mobile in the year of application and were thus susceptible to leaching. The rate of nutrient release from apatite and biotite is slower and the added nutrients are retained in the organic horizon. Slow-release compounds, like apatite and biotite, might be potential fertilizers for counteracting acidic deposition and subsequent nutrient losses.     

Rainfall and flowering synchrony in a tropical shrub: Variable selection on the flowering time ofErythroxylum havanense

Summary We tested the adaptive significance of flowering synchrony by means of a quantitative analysis of selection and by flowering induction experiments with the deciduous shrubErythroxylum havanense. Temporal schedules of flower and fruit production were determined for a local population (in three sites) in a Mexican seasonal forest for 2 years (1987–1988). The consequences of natural variation in flowering time (flowering initiation day) on maternal reproductive success (fecundity) were evaluated. We observed high levels of inter- and intraindividual flowering synchrony in 1987, but not in 1988 and this contrast was related to differences in rainfall patterns between the two years. A significant proportion (15.4%) of the phenotypic variation in flowering initiation day was accounted for by environmental variance. The expression of phenotypic variance of flowering time and, consequently, the opportunity for selection to act, are controlled by annual variation in rainfall. Despite the between-year difference in flowering synchrony, we detected a relatively intense directional selection on flowering initiation day in both years, but selection coefficients were of opposite sign (standardized directional gradients were –0.326 and 0.333 for 1987 and 1988, respectively). For both years there was a significant relationship between individual relative fitness and the number of neighbouring flowering plants in a given day, suggesting positive frequency-dependent selection.