Patterns of biomass allocation between foliage and woody structure: the effects of tree size and specific functional traits

Mensah, Sylvanus; Kakaï, Romain Glèlè; Seifert, Thomas

doi:10.15287/afr.2016.458

Cited by 90 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…It is also generally known to facilitate the transfer of CO 2 and water between foliage and atmosphere. Therefore, the significant influence of CWM of specific leaf area in this study supports the idea that leaf area captures a strategy of the plant for resource consumption, especially light (Mensah, Glèlè Kakaï, et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…We used the multispecies allometric biomass equation developed for the northern mistbelt forests (Mensah, Veldtman, du Toit, Glèlè Kakaï, & Seifert, ) to calculate the aboveground biomass (AGB) for all individual trees present in the plots. The allometric equation provided more accurate estimated biomass values, compared with the existing pantropical biomass equation (Chave et al., ; Mensah, Veldtman, & Seifert, ). The formula for the allometric biomass equation is as follows:

AGB = 1.03 \times exp (- 2.69 + 0.69 \cdot ln false(SWD false) + 0.95 \cdot ln false({DBH}^{2} \cdot H false))

…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…The unexpected lack of strong individual effect of functional richness on aboveground carbon in this study might be due to the number of functional traits used. In fact, only three functional traits were considered; although these traits were found to be crucial to explain biomass allocation patterns (Chave et al., ; Mensah, Glèlè Kakaï, et al., ), they might not be as important as we thought for complementary resource allocation. Similarly, these functional traits might not be sufficient enough to catch the entire variability needed to explain carbon variation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The main sectors for the management policy in the landscape are timber production, nature conservation, and recreation (hiking). The vegetation in the Woodbush‐De Hoek native forest is dominated by canopy and above canopy species such as Xymalos monospora , Podocarpus latifolius , Syzygium gerrardii, and Cryptocarya transvaalensis (Mensah, Glèlè Kakaï, & Seifert, ). The understory vegetation is represented by species such as Oxyanthus speciosus , Peddiea africana , and Kraussia floribunda (Geldenhuys, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree species diversity promotes aboveground carbon storage through functional diversity and functional dominance

Mensah

Veldtman

Assogbadjo

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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130

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The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function has increasingly been debated as the cornerstone of the processes behind ecosystem services delivery. Experimental and natural field‐based studies have come up with nonconsistent patterns of biodiversity–ecosystem function, supporting either niche complementarity or selection effects hypothesis. Here, we used aboveground carbon (AGC) storage as proxy for ecosystem function in a South African mistbelt forest, and analyzed its relationship with species diversity, through functional diversity and functional dominance. We hypothesized that (1) diversity influences AGC through functional diversity and functional dominance effects; and (2) effects of diversity on AGC would be greater for functional dominance than for functional diversity. Community weight mean (CWM) of functional traits (wood density, specific leaf area, and maximum plant height) were calculated to assess functional dominance (selection effects). As for functional diversity (complementarity effects), multitrait functional diversity indices were computed. The first hypothesis was tested using structural equation modeling. For the second hypothesis, effects of environmental variables such as slope and altitude were tested first, and separate linear mixed‐effects models were fitted afterward for functional diversity, functional dominance, and both. Results showed that AGC varied significantly along the slope gradient, with lower values at steeper sites. Species diversity (richness) had positive relationship with AGC, even when slope effects were considered. As predicted, diversity effects on AGC were mediated through functional diversity and functional dominance, suggesting that both the niche complementarity and the selection effects are not exclusively affecting carbon storage. However, the effects were greater for functional diversity than for functional dominance. Furthermore, functional dominance effects were strongly transmitted by CWM of maximum plant height, reflecting the importance of forest vertical stratification for diversity–carbon relationship. We therefore argue for stronger complementary effects that would be induced also by complementary light‐use efficiency of tree and species growing in the understory layer.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

AGB = 1.03 \times exp (- 2.69 + 0.69 \cdot ln false(SWD false) + 0.95 \cdot ln false({DBH}^{2} \cdot H false))

…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Tree species diversity promotes aboveground carbon storage through functional diversity and functional dominance

Mensah

Veldtman

Assogbadjo

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

130

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show abstract

“…The significant effects of species on both wood density and AGB demonstrate that species perform differently in terms of resource acquisition and biomass production [47]. The fact that C. sylvaticus had higher biomass than C. kraussii, S. gerrardii and T. dregeana results from a greater foliage biomass production by C. sylvaticus, which seems to be consistent with the species leaf traits [48]. …”

Section: Effect Of Species On Wood Density and Agbsupporting

confidence: 63%

Aboveground Biomass and Carbon in a South African Mistbelt Forest and the Relationships with Tree Species Diversity and Forest Structures

Mensah

Veldtman

Toit

et al. 2016

Forests

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Biomass and carbon stocks are key information criteria to understand the role of forests in regulating global climate. However, for a bio-rich continent like Africa, ground-based measurements for accurate estimation of carbon are scarce, and the variables affecting the forest carbon are not well understood. Here, we present the first biomass study conducted in South Africa Mistbelt forests. Using data from a non-destructive sampling of 59 trees of four species, we (1) evaluated the accuracy of multispecies aboveground biomass (AGB) models, using predictors such as diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (H) and wood density; (2) estimated the amount of biomass and carbon stored in the aboveground compartment of Mistbelt forests and (3) explored the variation of aboveground carbon (AGC) in relation to tree species diversity and structural variables. We found significant effects of species on wood density and AGB. Among the candidate models, the model that incorporated DBH and H as a compound variable (DBH 2ˆH ) was the best fitting. AGB and AGC values were highly variable across all plots, with average values of 358.1 Mg¨ha´1 and 179.0 Mg¨C¨ha´1, respectively. Few species contributed 80% of AGC stock, probably as a result of selection effect. Stand basal area, basal area of the ten most important species and basal area of the largest trees were the most influencing variables. Tree species richness was also positively correlated with AGC, but the basal area of smaller trees was not. These results enable insights into the role of biodiversity in maintaining carbon storage and the possibilities for sustainable strategies for timber harvesting without risk of significant biomass decline.

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Allometric relationships and trade‐offs in 11 common Mediterranean‐climate grasses

Gao,

Koven,

Kueppers

2024

Ecological Applications

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Biomass allocation in plants is the foundation for understanding dynamics in ecosystem carbon balance, species competition, and plant–environment interactions. However, existing work on plant allometry has mainly focused on trees, with fewer studies having developed allometric equations for grasses. Grasses with different life histories can vary in their carbon investment by prioritizing the growth of specific organs to survive, outcompete co‐occurring plants, and ensure population persistence. Further, because grasses are important fuels for wildfire, the lack of grass allocation data adds uncertainty to process‐based models that relate plant physiology to wildfire dynamics. To fill this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 11 common California grasses varying in photosynthetic pathway and growth form. We measured plant sizes and harvested above‐ and belowground biomass throughout the life cycle of annual species, while for the establishment stage of perennial grasses to quantify allometric relationships for leaf, stem, and root biomass, as well as plant height and canopy area. We used basal diameter as a reference measure of plant size. Overall, basal diameter is the best predictor for leaf and stem biomass, height, and canopy area. Including height as another predictor can improve model accuracy in predicting leaf and stem biomass and canopy area. Fine root biomass is a function of leaf biomass alone. Species vary in their allometric relationships, with most variation occurring for plant height, canopy area, and stem biomass. We further explored potential trade‐offs in biomass allocation across species between leaf and fine root, leaf and stem, and allocation to reproduction. Consistent with our expectation, we found that fast‐growing plants allocated a greater fraction to reproduction. Additionally, plant height and specific leaf area negatively influenced the leaf‐to‐stem ratio. However, contrary to our hypothesis, there were no differences in root‐to‐leaf ratio between perennial and annual or C4 and C3 plants. Our study provides species‐specific and functional‐type‐specific allometry equations for both above‐ and belowground organs of 11 common California grass species, enabling nondestructive biomass assessment in California grasslands. These allometric relationships and trade‐offs in carbon allocation across species can improve ecosystem model predictions of grassland species interactions and environmental responses through differences in morphology.

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Patterns of biomass allocation between foliage and woody structure: the effects of tree size and specific functional traits

Cited by 90 publications

References 50 publications

Tree species diversity promotes aboveground carbon storage through functional diversity and functional dominance

Tree species diversity promotes aboveground carbon storage through functional diversity and functional dominance

Aboveground Biomass and Carbon in a South African Mistbelt Forest and the Relationships with Tree Species Diversity and Forest Structures

Allometric relationships and trade‐offs in 11 common Mediterranean‐climate grasses

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