In situ field measurements of photosynthetic rates of tropical tree species: a test of the functional group hypothesis

Ellis, Alexander R.; Hubbell, Stephen P.; Potvin, Catherine

doi:10.1139/b00-095

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…, 2007). Light‐demanding species thus tend to have high photosynthetic rates that enhance carbon gain and boost vertical growth (Ellis et al. , 2000; Poorter & Bongers, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulics and life history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species’ drought and shade tolerance

et al. 2011

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Summary• Plant hydraulic architecture has been studied extensively, yet we know little about how hydraulic properties relate to species' life history strategies, such as drought and shade tolerance. The prevailing theories seem contradictory.• We measured the sapwood (K s ) and leaf (K l ) hydraulic conductivities of 40 coexisting tree species in a Bolivian dry forest, and examined associations with functional stem and leaf traits and indices of species' drought (dry-season leaf water potential) and shade (juvenile crown exposure) tolerance.• Hydraulic properties varied across species and between life-history groups (pioneers vs shade-tolerant, and deciduous vs evergreen species). In addition to the expected negative correlation of K l with drought tolerance, we found a strong, negative correlation between K l and species' shade tolerance. Across species, K s and K l were negatively correlated with wood density and positively with maximum vessel length. Consequently, drought and shade tolerance scaled similarly with hydraulic properties, wood density and leaf dry matter content. We found that deciduous species also had traits conferring efficient water transport relative to evergreen species.• Hydraulic properties varied across species, corresponding to the classical tradeoff between hydraulic efficiency and safety, which for these dry forest trees resulted in coordinated drought and shade tolerance across species rather than the frequently hypothesized trade-off.

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“…, 2007). Light‐demanding species thus tend to have high photosynthetic rates that enhance carbon gain and boost vertical growth (Ellis et al. , 2000; Poorter & Bongers, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulics and life history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species’ drought and shade tolerance

et al. 2011

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“…These species enhanced their photosynthetic capacity and PNUE, rather than their light capture. Other studies have shown that sapling growth of rain forest species was negatively related to leaf life span (Coley 1988, Reich et al 1992 and positively related to A mass (Reich et al 1992, Ellis et al 2000, but they did not evaluate the relative importance of the leaf components.…”

Section: From Leaf Traits To Plant Performancementioning

confidence: 97%

Leaf Traits Are Good Predictors of Plant Performance Across 53 Rain Forest Species

Poorter

Bongers

2006

Ecology

780

682

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We compared the leaf traits and plant performance of 53 co-occurring tree species in a semi-evergreen tropical moist forest community. The species differed in all leaf traits analyzed: leaf life span varied 11-fold among species, specific leaf area 5-fold, mass-based nitrogen 3-fold, mass-based assimilation rate 13-fold, mass-based respiration rate 15-fold, stomatal conductance 8-fold, and photosynthetic water use efficiency 4-fold. Photosynthetic traits were strongly coordinated, and specific leaf area predicted mass-based rates of assimilation and respiration; leaf life span predicted many other leaf characteristics. Leaf traits were closely associated with growth, survival, and light requirement of the species. Leaf investment strategies varied on a continuum trading off short-term carbon gain against long-term leaf persistence that, in turn, is linked to variation in whole-plant growth and survival. Leaf traits were good predictors of plant performance, both in gaps and in the forest understory. High growth in gaps is promoted by cheap, short-lived, and physiologically active leaves. High survival in the forest understory is enhanced by the formation of long-lived well protected leaves that reduce biomass loss by herbivory, mechanical disturbance, or leaf turnover. Leaf traits underlay this growth-survival trade-off; species with short-lived, physiologically active leaves have high growth but low survival. This continuum in leaf traits, through its effect on plant performance, in turn gives rise to a continuum in species' light requirements.

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“…Hubbell, University of Georgia, and R. Peres, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The classification was determined largely by the occurrence of the species in the 50-ha permanent plot of BCI and is coherent with physiological characteristics (Ellis et al 2000). Species classified as pioneers are encountered more frequently in gaps than in a closed forest.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing inter- and intra-specific variation in trunk carbon concentration for 32 neotropical tree species

Elias¹,

Potvin²

2003

Can. J. For. Res.

Self Cite

154

118

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Trunk carbon (C) concentrations were assessed for 32 species of tropical trees to understand sources of variation. The main effect of species accounted for 38% of the total variance in C concentration (p < 0.0001). Tectona grandis demonstrated the greatest C concentration (49.4%), while Ormosia macrocalyx displayed the lowest C concentration (44.4%). We also observed significant differences among the sampling sites (F = 2.2, p < 0.02). For three of the species sampled in both plantations and natural forests, the natural forest individuals had significantly higher C concentrations (Dipteryx panamensis: F = 6.10, p = 0.06; Hura crepitans: F = 5.53, p = 0.06; and Miconia argentea: F = 8.92, p = 0.02). C concentration was highly correlated with wood specific gravity (r2 = 0.86). A canonical correspondence analysis was performed to identify the environmental and (or) growth factors explaining variation in trunk C concentration. The two factors with the highest loading values on the first canonical axis are site and diameter at breast height (DBH), while DBH and density load on axis 2. The biplot shows that species respond differently to environmental factors. Our results suggest that a better consideration of interspecific variation in C concentration could reduce the error associated with estimates of C sequestration by up to 10%.

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In situ field measurements of photosynthetic rates of tropical tree species: a test of the functional group hypothesis

Cited by 18 publications

References 37 publications

Hydraulics and life history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species’ drought and shade tolerance

Hydraulics and life history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species’ drought and shade tolerance

Leaf Traits Are Good Predictors of Plant Performance Across 53 Rain Forest Species

Assessing inter- and intra-specific variation in trunk carbon concentration for 32 neotropical tree species

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