Rapid temperature acclimation of leaf respiration rates in Quercus alba and Quercus rubra

We conducted controlled (chamber) and natural (field) environment experiments on the acclimation of respiration in Quercus alba L. and Quercus rubra L. Three-year-old Louisiana, Indiana and Wisconsin populations of Q. alba were placed in growth chambers and exposed to alternating 5-week periods of cool (20 degrees C mean) and warm (26 degrees C mean) temperatures. We measured respiration rates on fully expanded leaves immediately before and approximately every 2 days after a switch in mean temperature. In a second chamber experiment, 3-year-old potted Q. alba seedlings were exposed to alternating warm (26 degrees C mean) and cool (16 degrees C mean) temperatures at 4-day intervals. Leaf dark respiration rates were measured on days 2, 3 and 4 after each change in temperature. In a third, field-based study, we measured leaf respiration rates in the same three sources of Q. alba and in Arkansas, Indiana and Minnesota sources of Q. rubra before and after a natural 16 degrees C change in mean daily ambient temperature. We observed rapid, significant and similar acclimation of leaf respiration rates in all populations of Q. alba and Q. rubra. Cold-origin populations were no more plastic in their acclimation responses than populations from warmer sites. All geographic sources showed lower respiration rates when measured at 24 degrees C after exposure to higher mean temperatures. Respiration rates decreased 13% with a 6 degrees C increase in mean temperature in the first chamber study, and almost 40% with a 10 degrees C increase in temperature in the second chamber study. Acclimation was rapid in all three studies, occurring after 2 days of exposure to changed temperature regimes. Acclimation was reversible when changes in ambient temperature occurred at 4-day intervals. Respiration response functions, ln(R) = ln(beta0) + beta1T, were statistically different among treatments (cool versus warm, first chamber study) and among sources in a pooled comparison. Pair-wise comparisons indicated statistically significant (P<0.05) differences in cool- versus warm-measured temperature/respiration response functions for Indiana and Wisconsin sources of Q. alba. Log-transformed base respiration rates were significantly lower during periods of higher mean temperatures. Indiana Q. alba showed a significantly higher beta1 when plants were grown at 16 degrees C than when grown at 26 degrees C. Acclimation in Q. alba was unaccompanied by changes in leaf nitrogen concentration, but was associated with a change in leaf total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration. Total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration was slightly, but statistically, lower (13.6 versus 12%, P<0.05) after a 10 degrees C increase in temperature.     

Changes in respiration and chemical content during autumnal senescence of Populus tremuloides and Quercus rubra leaves

Changes in respiration rate, chemical content and chemical concentration were measured in leaves of field-grown Populus tremuloides Michx. and Quercus rubra L. trees throughout the growing season and autumnal senescence. Chlorophyll, soluble sugar, N, P, K and Mg contents and concentrations all declined during leaf senescence, whereas Ca content and concentration increased. Leaf dry mass per area declined 24 and 35% in P. tremuloides and Q. rubra, respectively, during senescence. In leaves of both species, respiration rates peaked during leaf expansion in the spring and then declined, as a result of reduced cytochrome-mediated respiration, to reach relatively constant rates by midsummer. In senescing P. tremuloides leaves, respiration rates remained relatively constant until mid-October and then declined rapidly. In senescing Q. rubra leaves, respiration rates increased in late September, as a result of the appearance of residual respiration that could not be reduced by respiratory inhibitors, and then declined quickly in early November. No changes in alternative pathway respiratory activity were observed in leaves of either species during senescence until late autumn when rates declined. Because respiration rates were correlated with both leaf sugar and nitrogen content during leaf senescence, we conclude that respiration rates were maintained or increased during leaf senescence to supply energy for degradation and mobilization of chemical constituents.     

Bark gnawing of forest trees by voles during the growing season

This study investigated the impact of small rodents on young trees during three growing seasons (2018–2020) in the Czech Republic. Tree damage by small rodents, the quantity and quality of herbaceous plant biomass and the species composition of small mammals were monitored at two sites in European beech forest plantations. The number of trees damaged during three growing seasons correlated positively with fibre content and negatively with nitrogen content in herbaceous plant biomass. The importance of winter precipitation is reflected in the positive correlation with nitrogen content in herbaceous plant biomass. The observed tree-gnawing damage correlated positively with the abundance of one rodent species only—the bank vole. The highest damage occurred after the concurrence of a dry winter and a higher number of voles. Given current climate variability, this situation could become more common in the future. Gnawing may be a limiting factor for the successful restoration of trees with thin bark—in our case, European beech. In addition, the proportion of this woody species should be increased to achieve a more stable and closer composition in the Czech Republic.

     

锐齿栎林土壤呼吸对土壤水热变化的响应

按照5个土壤含水量(0.20、0.25、0.30、0.35、0.40 kg·kg-1)和5个温度(15、20、25、30、35 ℃)梯度设计试验,对取自北亚热带-暖温带过渡区锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata)天然林中0～20 cm的原状土柱进行恒温培养和呼吸速率测定.结果表明:土壤温度、含水量及二者的交互作用都对土壤呼吸速率产生显著影响(P＜0.01); 土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈正相关,随土壤含水量增高的变化规律为单峰曲线,含水量为0.20～0.35 kg·kg-1 时土壤呼吸速率随含水量的增加而增加,0.35 kg·kg-1时土壤呼吸速率最高,0.35～0.40 kg·kg-1时随含水量的增加土壤呼吸速率下降,是对土壤呼吸产生抑制的土壤含水量临界点;锐齿栎林土壤呼吸Q10值的变化范围为1.36～3.10,平均为2.13,Q10随土壤温度的升高而下降,随含水量增加的变化趋势与土壤呼吸速率一致;土壤含水量0.35 kg·kg-1和土壤温度35 ℃结合下的土壤呼吸速率最高; 回归关系表明土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈显著的指数函数关系(P＜0.01),与土壤含水量呈二次函数关系(P＜0.10),土壤温度与含水量可以分别解释呼吸速率变化的73.26%与21.85%,共同解释能力为86.40%,土壤温度对呼吸速率的影响大于土壤含水量.     

Applying age-based mortality analysis to a natural forest stand in Japan

Mortality analysis of tree populations is widely applied to forest science studies. When mortality analysis is applied to forest inventories, the use of the variable of tree age is not common due to the difficulty of measuring age data censored in successive observations. The purpose of this study is to apply age-based mortality analysis, i.e., survival analysis, to the individual tree populations in a natural forest. The study site was the secondary natural stand of 0.26 ha dominated by fir (Abies firma), hemlock (Tsuga sieboldii), and oak (Quercus serrata) in the Boso peninsula, Japan. First, we measured the ages of the trees with diameter at breast height greater than or equal to 5 cm using a RESISTOGRAPH. Then, tree mortality probabilities of both non-parametric Kaplan–Meier estimates and parametric probability distributions of Gamma and Weibull were estimated by applying survival analysis techniques to the tree age data. The results implied that the survival analyses could be implemented not only by the non-parametric estimates in any cases but also by the common parametric distributions of Gamma and Weibull in cases in which the tree mortality probability distribution had a monotonously decreasing shape as observed in the immature natural stand in the study site.     

Soil respiration in a mixed temperate forest and its contribution to total ecosystem respiration

Soil respiration (SR) was measured with an infrared gas analyzer in nine plots representative of the heterogeneous vegetation in a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest in the Belgian Campine region. Selected plots included the two most representative overstory species (Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L.) in combination with the most representative understory species of the forest. A model that includes temperature and water as the main controlling variables was fitted to the data. We found large spatial variability in SR among plots, with typically lower fluxes under the coniferous overstory than under the deciduous overstory (means of 4.8 +/- 0.4 and 8.8 +/- 0.5 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1), respectively). Total annual soil carbon (C) emissions were estimated by weighting fluxes from different types of vegetation according to their relative contribution to the footprint area of the eddy covariance flux measurement. The relative contribution of the two main tree species to the footprint-weighted total SR varied among seasons with the more abundant coniferous overstory contributing the most to total SR during most of the year. Nonetheless, during summer, the contribution of deciduous plots to total SR was disproportionally high because of the more pronounced seasonality of belowground metabolic activity. Net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange was measured by eddy covariance, and we estimated total ecosystem respiration (TER) with footprint-constrained nighttime fluxes. Mean total annual SR and TER were 6.1 +/- 0.11 and 9.1 +/- 1.15 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1), respectively. The 95% confidence interval of the ratio of annual SR:TER ranged from 0.58 to 0.76, with a mean of 0.67. The contribution of SR to TER tended to vary seasonally, with minimum contributions during summer (less than 50% of TER) and maximum contributions during winter (about 94% of TER).     

Spatial and temporal variations in soil respiration in relation to stand structure and soil parameters in an unmanaged beech forest

Soil CO2 efflux (soil respiration) plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and efflux rates may be strongly altered by climate change. We investigated the spatial patterns of soil respiration rates in 144 measurement locations in a 0.5-ha plot and the temporal patterns along a 300-m transect in the 0.5-ha plot. Measurements were made in an unmanaged, highly heterogeneous beech forest during 2000 and 2001. We investigated the effects of soil, roots and forest stand structure on soil respiration, and we also assessed the stability of these spatial patterns over time. Soil temperature alone explained between 68 and 95% of the temporal variation in soil respiration; however, pronounced spatial scatter of respiration rates was not explained by soil temperature. The observed spatial patterns stayed remarkably stable throughout the growing season and over 2 years. The most important structural parameter of the stand was the mean diameter at breast height of trees within a distance of 4 m of the measurement locations (m-dbh4), which explained 10-19% of the variation in soil respiration throughout the growing season. Among the soil chemical parameters, carbon content (bulk as well as dissolved) and magnesium content explained 62% of the spatial variation in soil respiration. The final best model combining soil, root and stand structural parameters (fine root biomass, soil carbon content, m-dbh4 and soil water content) explained 79% of the variation in soil respiration, illustrating the importance of both biotic and abiotic factors.     

Heterotrophic respiration causes seasonal hysteresis in soil respiration in a warm-temperate forest

To assess the effect of changes in organic litter stock on seasonal changes in heterotrophic respiration (R _H), soil respiration (R _S), and total ecosystem respiration (R _E), we measured seasonal changes in leaf litter respiration (R _LL) by the chamber method and estimated the seasonal change in total R _H using the RothC model in a warm-temperate mixed deciduous?Cevergreen forest in Japan. Both R _E and R _S had seasonal hysteresis and were higher in spring than at the same temperature during autumn. Under warm and humid conditions, the rate of decomposition of newly supplied leaf litter in one?year was high (60% loss). Consequently, R _LL and R _H were higher in spring after leaf drop, when more fresh material was available, than in autumn. In this study, 42 and 88% of the difference in R _E and R _S between spring and autumn (soil temperature 16?C18°C) could be accounted for by the difference in R _H, respectively, and 71% of the difference in R _H could be accounted for by the difference in R _LL. This study showed that seasonal changes in heterotrophic respiration (R _LL and R _H) could be a major factor in the seasonal hysteresis of R _E and R _S.     

Improving the simulation of stand structure in a forest gap model

There is currently great interest in improving the applicability of forest gap models to changing environmental conditions, in order to facilitate the assessment of possible impacts of climatic change on forest ecosystems. Moreover, for the development of mitigation strategies, it is necessary to include forest management options in the models. Both the simulation of transient effects of climatic change and of forest management regimens require a realistic representation of stand structure in gap models, since tree species respond to variations in stand density in characteristic ways, depending on their ecological strategies.In this study, we compared the effect of five different height growth functions that are sensitive to stand density on simulated stand structure of the FORSKA forest gap model. We used long term observation data from a beech thinning trial at Fabrikschleichach, Bavaria, to test the alternative functions. First, we compared simulation results of the original FORSKA model with measured stand development from 1870 to 1990. Whereas simulated stand level variables (e.g. biomass, mean diameter and height) showed good correspondence with observations, individual tree dimensions and simulated stand structure were quite unrealistic. After calibrating parameters of the height growth functions with data from a lightly thinned plot at Fabrikschleichach, we ran the model with data from a heavily thinned plot for validation. All five functions considerably improved the simulation of height/diameter relationships and stand structure. However, there were distinct differences between functions. The best correspondence with measurements was shown by a function which uses the relative radiation intensity in the centre of a tree crown as an indicator of the competition status of the tree. This function is rather simple and needs only two growth parameters, which can be derived for different functional types of species, according to their shade tolerance.With the new, flexible height growth function it should be possible to extend the applicability of gap models to more realistic simulation experiments including forest management and natural disturbance. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt to employ long term forest observation data for the calibration and validation of a forest gap model. The results suggest that such data could be very useful in model testing and improvement.     

Thinning effects on carbon allocation to fine roots in a Quercus ilex forest

The dynamics of the fine root system are relevant to calculations of the carbon balance of the ecosystem, and there is also a need to quantify changes in this component caused by disturbances. Mediterranean forest systems have historically been coppiced to obtain charcoal. As a result of the resprouting capacity of holm oaks (Quercus ilex L.), these forests present more than 50% of their biomass below ground (stump + roots > 1 cm in diameter), but the effects of thinning on the fine root system are unknown. Fine root biomass, production, mortality and longevity were studied in a control and a thinned Mediterranean holm oak forest by minirhizotron methodology. Observations of fine roots started 2 years after thinning and continued for almost 3 years. Extraction of 80% of the former basal area of the forest greatly affected carbon allocation patterns. Biomass increased by more than 100%, production increased by 76%, mortality increased by 32% and longevity decreased by around 2 weeks. The greatest differences between treatments were associated with differences in growth during autumn months in the top 40 cm of soil, particularly between 10 and 20 cm depth.     

Stem respiration in a closed-canopy upland oak forest

Stem respiration was measured throughout 1993 on 56 mature trees of three species (Quercus alba L., Quercus prinus L., and Acer rubrum L.) in Walker Branch Watershed, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A subset of the trees was remeasured during 1994. Diameter increments, stem temperatures and soil water were also monitored. Respiration rates in the spring and summer of 1993 tracked growth rate increments, except during a drought when growth dropped to zero and respiration increased to its highest rate. During the dormant season, rates of total stem respiration (R(t)) tended to be greater in large trees with thick sapwood but no such trend was observed during the growing season. Before and after the growing season, respiration rates correlated well with stem temperatures. Estimated values of Q(10) were 2.4 for the two oak species and 1.7 for red maple. The Q(10) values were used along with baseline respiration measurements and stem temperatures to predict seasonal changes in maintenance respiration (R(m)). In red maple, annual total R(m) accounted for 56 and 60% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. In chestnut oak, R(m) accounted for 65 and 58% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. In white oak, R(m) accounted for 47 and 53% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Extrapolating these data to the stand level showed that woody tissue respiration accounted for 149 and 204 g C m(-2) soil surface year(-1) in 1993 and 1994, respectively.     

Drought susceptibility and recovery of transplanted Quercus rubra seedlings in relation to root system morphology

? Transplant shock, implicated by depressed seedling physiological status associated with moisture stress immediately following planting, limits early plantation establishment. Large root volume (Rv) has potential to alleviate transplant shock because of higher root growth potential and greater access to soil water.

? We investigated impacts of drought and transplant Rv on photosynthetic assimilation (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g _s ), predawn leaf xylem water potential (Ψ_L), and growth of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings to explain mechanisms associated with susceptibility to transplant shock. One year-old barerooot seedlings were graded into four Rv categories and either well watered or subjected to drought consisting of low, medium, or high moisture stress by discontinuing irrigation at 22-day intervals for 3 months. Thereafter, all treatments were re-watered to examine recovery.

? Transplant shock was signified by reduced A, E, g _s, and Ψ_L, which generally increased with increasing moisture stress and Rv. Physiological status improved during recovery, though stress was still evident in seedlings exposed to medium or high moisture stress and in larger Rv seedlings. Growth declined with increasing moisture stress but was generally similar among Rv treatments, likely reflecting greater A at the whole plant level and/or reliance upon stored reserves in large Rv seedlings.

? The most effective drought avoidance mechanisms were root growth, stomatal regulation, reduced leaf area, and higher growth allocation to roots relative to shoots. Our results suggest that large initial Rv does not enhance drought avoidance during the first season after transplant in northern red oak seedlings.

     

Dispersal of Quercus mongolica acorns in a broadleaved deciduous forest

Effects of two sets of factors on the disappearance of acorns of Q. mongolica var. grosserrata were investigated. Acorns were distributed on (a) the floor of a forest with its canopy intact, (b) the floor of a forest clearing, (c) the vegetated sloping bank of a forest road, and (d) a bare forest road. They disappeared fastest from the forest with intact canopy and slowest from the bare road, an effect thought to be directly related to amounts of cover.When the acorns were covered with frames having netting with different-sized apertures, a mesh of 3.0×4.0 cm did not appreciably alter the rate of acorn disappearance compared with the uncovered controls: a mesh of 0.5×0.5 cm totally inhibited the disappearance of acorns.Five species of small mammal were live-trapped. Of these, Clethrionomys rufocanus, Apodemus argentinus and A. speciosus are thought to be implicated in the disappearance of acorns. The rate of acorn disappearance seems to be directly related to total numbers of small mammals.Acorns disappeared more rapidly when distributed on the ground than when buried.     

薄壳山核桃生长季芽接试验

为快速繁育薄壳山核桃优良品种容器苗,于生长季节进行了不同方法、不同时期、不同芽段、不同环境条件的嫁接试验。结果表明,采用带韧皮部方块芽接法效果好,比带木质芽接成活率高63%。生长季节带韧皮部方块芽接,7月上旬至9月中旬嫁接效果较好,成活率高达77.5%～90.0%,其中,最佳嫁接时期为8月上旬至9月上旬,嫁接成活在85.9%～90.0%之间。带韧皮部方块芽接采用中芽段嫁接成活率高达85.2%,比上芽段和下芽段分别提高22.0%和25.0%。露地（大田）环境条件下,嫁接成活率高达81.3%,比温室（高温、高湿）条件下增加50.1%。     

黄河三角洲不同林龄人工柽柳林生长季土壤微生物与土壤呼吸特征研究

为探讨人工柽柳林对滨海盐碱地的改善效果,以黄河三角洲滨海盐碱地区3种不同林龄(8 a、6 a、3 a)人工柽柳林为对象,采用多点混合采样法,对生长季土壤微生物量C、N及微生物数量变化进行了对比分析;同时利用LI-8100A土壤碳通量测量系统,原位监测了柽柳生长季内土壤呼吸速率的变化特征。结果表明:1)人工柽柳林土壤微生物微生物量C、N变化受林龄和季节影响明显,其中8 a林地含量最高,3 a林地最小,夏季较高,春季较低,且8 a与3 a差异显著,夏季与春季差异显著(P <0.05);不同林龄土壤微生物商生长季介于2.56～4.15%之间,其变化规律与微生物量一致。2)土壤3种微生物数量均随林龄的增大而增加,微生物数量关系为细菌>放线菌>真菌,而3种微生物数量季节变化规律不一致。3)3种林龄土壤呼吸速率的大小为8 a> 6 a> 3 a,土壤呼吸具有明显的季节变化和日变化,其中季节变化表现为夏季>秋季>春季,日变化则呈现出低-高-低的单峰曲线,最大值则出现在12:00―14:00。4)相关分析表明,土壤含盐量与土壤微生物量C和呼吸速率呈显著负相关,与细菌、真菌呈极显著负相关,是主要限制因子;土壤微生物量C、N与微生物商、土壤呼吸、土壤微生物数量均呈正相关;除土壤湿度外,土壤温度与其它指标均呈正相关;而土壤湿度与各指标间均不显著。5)综上所述,不同林龄人工柽柳林土壤微生物量、微生物数量及呼吸速率均可反映土壤环境状况,可为滨海盐碱地土壤改良和土壤质量演变规律提供理论依据。     

Hybridization between Quercus robur and Q. petraea in a mixed oak stand in Denmark

? Hybridization and mating pattern between Quercus robur and Q. petraea was studied in a 5.8 ha mixed forest stand in Jutland, Denmark which comprises in total 135 Quercus robur and 230 Q. petraea trees. Classification of the oak trees into species was performed using canonical discriminant analysis of a range of leaf morphological traits. Adult trees (365) and offspring (582) were genotyped with eight microsatellite markers. Seedlings were sampled in 2003 and acorns were collected in 2004.

? Mating patterns of Q. robur and Q. petraea are expected to be different in the northern range of the distribution area and a larger hybridization rate is expected. It is further expected, that pollination from outside sources will be relatively less in small fragmented forest management systems compared to large scale oak forest. The conclusions should be verified through repeated year to year analysis of the mating pattern.

? Phenological studies revealed that there was no difference in flowering time between species. Data for the adult trees revealed no significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg proportions and there was weak, but significant spatial genetic structure, which supports the idea that the stand is of natural origin. Spatial genetic structure in the first distance class is stronger for Q. petraea. The genetic composition of the offspring was remarkably consistent from year to year. Paternity analysis revealed that, on average, 85% pollination came from fathers within the stand. The direction of the pollen flow varied from year to year. Inter-specific hybridization was high and ranged from 15–17% and from 48–55% for Q. petraea and Q. robur mothers respectively. Paternity analysis revealed that the population was basically outcrossing and only 3.7% of the analysed progeny were the product of selfing. Over the two years of study, approximately 200 trees contributed to the paternity of the next generations.

? The study confirms earlier studies with a greater tendency for Q. robur mothers to produce hybrid seeds than Q. petraea mothers. The rate of hybridization is higher in this Danish stand than in comparable studies elsewhere in Europe. Gene flow from outside sources are relatively low.

     

Inventory and analysis of tree injuries in a rockfall-damaged forest stand

Rockfall is a major threat to settlements and transportation routes in many places. Consequently, the protective function of mountain forests has recently gained particular interest. However, much is still unknown about the ideal properties of protective forest stands. Therefore the present paper discusses a method for the inventory and analysis of tree injuries in a rockfall-damaged forest stand. With this method, the interrelation between stand geometry and rockfall injuries in a subalpine Polygalo chamaebuxi-Piceetum was examined. The study site of 0.3 Ha is located in the transit zone of frequently passing, small rockfall fragments (~10 cm in diameter) causing healable tree injuries. Tree and injury parameters were recorded and analysed as to injury number, height and size. The spatial distribution of the 157 trees (diameter at breast height dbh>5 cm) in the stand as well as of the 1,704 identified rockfall injuries showed a very uneven pattern. As expected, number, height and size of the injuries generally declined with increasing distance from the cliff as well as due to higher stem densities. In contrast, results indicated that the dbh of trees has no significant influence on the number of injuries per tree. However, this study showed a clear interrelation between tree and injury distribution: in general, large trees close to the cliff and smaller trees with a high density further down the slope seem to be favourable for good protection. At least an uneven-aged, multilayered stand should be sustained. Overall, the combined analysis of stand geometry and injury parameters provides information on the spatial distribution of rockfall and on the influence of tree arrangements.     

Profound impoverishment of the large-tree stand in a hyper-fragmented landscape of the Atlantic forest

Large tree species have a disproportional influence on the structure and functioning of tropical forests, but the forces affecting their long-term persistence in human-dominated landscapes remain poorly understood. Here we test the hypothesis that aging forest edges and small fragments (3.4–295.7 ha) are greatly impoverished in terms of species richness and abundance of large trees in comparison to core areas of forest interior. The study was conducted in a hyper-fragmented landscape of the Atlantic forest, northeast Brazil. Large tree species were quantified by recording all trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) within fifty-eight 0.1-ha plots distributed in three forest habitats: small forest fragments (n = 28), forest edges (n = 10), and primary forest interior areas within an exceptional large forest remnant (n = 20). Large tree species and their stems ≥10 cm DBH were reduced by half in forest edges and fragments. Moreover, these edge-affected habitats almost lacked large-stemmed trees altogether (0.24 ± 0.27% of all stems sampled), and very tall trees were completely absent from forest edges. In contrast, large trees contributed to over 1.5% of the whole stand in forest interior plots (2.9 ± 2.8%). Habitats also differed in terms of tree architecture: relative to their DBH trees were on average 30% shorter in small fragments and forest edges. Finally, an indicator species analysis yielded an ecological group of 12 large tree species that were significantly associated with forest interior plots, but were completely missing from edge-affected habitats. Our results suggest a persistent and substantial impoverishment of the large-tree stand, including the structural collapse of forest emergent layer, in aging, hyper-fragmented landscapes.     

Physiological and morphological responses of olive plants to ozone exposure during a growing season

We studied physiological (gas exchange and stomatal aperture) and morphological (individual leaf area and stomatal density) responses in leaves of five-year-old olive plants (Olea europaea L. cvs. Frantoio and Moraiolo) exposed to filtered air containing < 3 ppb O(3) or 100 ppb O(3) for 5 h day(-1) for 120 days in fumigation chambers. After 100 days of treatment, leaf drop and development of necrotic spots were observed in O(3)-fumigated plants of Moraiolo but not of Frantoio. Significant reductions in photosynthetic activity (57%) and stomatal conductance (69%) were detected in O(3)-fumigated plants of Frantoio compared with control plants. In O(3)-fumigated plants of Moraiolo, the decrease in photosynthetic activity (17%) was not statistically significant, but a significant reduction in stomatal conductance (40%) was observed. In both cultivars, leaves that developed after exposure to O(3) showed decreased stomatal aperture (63.6 and 54.8% with respect to the Frantoio and Moraiolo controls, respectively) and one-sided leaf area, and increased stomatal density compared with control leaves. Actual transpiring stomatal surface decreased substantially in both Frantoio (59.8%) and Moraiolo (56.3%) in response to O(3) treatment. Relative transpiring stomatal surface (RTSS) in Frantoio decreased from 0.54 (control) to 0.27% (O(3) treated) of total leaf surface. The corresponding values for Moraiolo were 0.79 and 0.42%. However, because the RTSS of Moraiolo leaves in the O(3) treatment was 0.42 versus 0.27% in Frantoio, the potential uptake of O(3) was higher for Moraiolo plants than for Frantoio plants. The large O(3)-induced reduction in transpiring stomatal surface in both cultivars could have significant effects on olive productivity in the Mediterranean area, where high O(3) concentrations persist for long periods during the year.