Persistence of the Slow Growing Conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum in Old-Growth and Fire-Disturbed Southern Bog Forests

“…Nevertheless, many studies have suggested that under nutrient limitation, there is a close correlation between foliar N and P content and photosynthetic performance [44,45]. In this context, the higher foliar N and P concentration in seedlings established beneath a canopy (UF-50 and UF-Den) may be also influencing the rates of net CO 2 assimilation under lower light availabilities, especially in the nutrient limited sites of our study area [6]. The fact that this is not reflected in the relative basal area growth maybe simply related to the extremely slow diameter growth of P. uviferum seedlings.…”

Section: Performance Of P Uviferum Seedlings In Upland Areasmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…However, only seedlings with "rapid" height growth were able to stay ahead of the upward growth of Sphagnum [15]. In northern Patagonia, this over-growing by bryophytes has also been reported for Drimys winteri seedlings of successional shrublands with waterlogged conditions [16] and for P. uviferum seedlings in undisturbed bog forests [6]. In addition, owing to the accumulation of peat and retarded decomposition of organic matter, nutrient deficiencies, in particular for N and P, are typical for plants growing on bogs [17].…”

mentioning

confidence: 71%

“…However, recent findings show that P. uviferum seedlings planted in bogs under the shade of shrubs and ferns grew taller and had higher survival than in open areas [12]. In addition, growth of P. uviferum seedlings in disturbed and undisturbed forests was not related to light availability in both bog and upland sites [6]. The physiological adaptations of seedlings to high light environments may comprise higher C costs associated with photo-protection, higher metabolic cost and concomitant higher respiration rates of seedlings growing in the open [21].…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Planting seedlings beneath existing canopies of other trees, like D. winteri, W. trichosperma, N. nitida or T. stipularis, is a good option to promote better nutrition and faster growth of P. uviferum seedlings. Under these shady conditions, P. uviferum can persist over long periods of time [6].…”

Section: Implications For Restoration Plantingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Importance of Microtopography and Nurse Canopy for Successful Restoration Planting of the Slow-Growing Conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum

Bannister

Coopman

Donoso

et al. 2013

Forests

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Abstract:Recent studies have shown that, owing to a lack of seed trees, the natural rate of recovery of fire-disturbed bog forests previously dominated by the endemic and endangered conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum (D. Don) Florin is extremely slow. Hence, increasing the number of seed trees in the landscape through restoration planting could remove the principal biotic filter, limiting recovery of these forests. Here, we analyzed how the success of restoration plantings may be improved through the choice or manipulation of microsites in P. uviferum forests on Chiloé Island in North Patagonia. For this purpose, we manipulated microtopography in water-logged sites in bogs (mounds, flat terrain, mineral soil) and changed canopy conditions (gaps, semi-open, closed canopy) in upland sites with better drainage. In bogs, there was no significant effect of microtopography on growth and survival of P. uviferum plantings. However, fluorescence measurements indicated lower stress in seedlings established on mounds. Seedlings in upland areas established beneath a nurse canopy had lower mortality and higher relative shoot growth, foliar nutrients, photosynthetic light use efficiency and chlorophyll fluorescence values than those planted in the open. This indicates that seedlings of the slow growing P. uviferum can tolerate extremely wet conditions, yet suffer from stress when grown in the open. Here, the OPEN ACCESSForests 2013, 4 86 removal of canopy appeared to have also removed or reduced mycorrhizal networks for seedlings, leading to poorer nutrition and growth. Based on these results, recommendations for restoration plantings in highly degraded P. uviferum forests are presented.

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Revisiting the relative growth rate hypothesis for gymnosperm and angiosperm species co‐occurrence

Piper

Hoch

Fajardo

2019

American J of Botany

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Premise of the Study It is unclear to what extent the co‐occurrence of angiosperm and gymnosperm species in some marginal ecosystems is explained by reduced growth in angiosperms due to carbon (C) limitation and by high stress tolerance in gymnosperms associated with lack of vessels and resource conservation. Methods We examined growth patterns and traits associated with C balance in four evergreen angiosperm species (including one vesselless species, Drimys winteri) and three gymnosperm tree species of a cold‐temperate rainforest in southern Chile. We measured the mean basal area increment for the first 50 (BAI50) and the last 10 years (BAI10), wood density, leaf lifespan, and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in different organs. Key Results BAI50 was 6‐fold higher in angiosperms than in gymnosperms and ca. 4‐fold higher in Drimys than in the fastest‐growing gymnosperm. BAI10 and aboveground NSC concentrations were significantly higher and leaf lifespan lower in angiosperms than in gymnosperms; these differences, however, were largely driven by the slow growth and low NSC concentrations of the Cupressaceae species (Pilgerodendron uviferum), while the two Podocarpaceae had BAI10 and NSC concentrations similar to angiosperms. In angiosperms, NSC and starch concentrations were generally higher in species with lower BAI10, indicating no severe C limitation. Conclusions The co‐occurrence of angiosperms and gymnosperms in cold‐temperate rainforests of southern Chile is not explained by growth disadvantages and C limitation in angiosperms. Long leaf longevity, but not lack of vessels, appeared to favor resource conservation and C balance in some gymnosperms (Podocarpaceae).

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Persistence of the Slow Growing Conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum in Old-Growth and Fire-Disturbed Southern Bog Forests

Cited by 21 publications

References 32 publications

Forest Typification to Characterize the Structure and Composition of Old-growth Evergreen Forests on Chiloe Island, North Patagonia (Chile)

Forest Typification to Characterize the Structure and Composition of Old-growth Evergreen Forests on Chiloe Island, North Patagonia (Chile)

The Importance of Microtopography and Nurse Canopy for Successful Restoration Planting of the Slow-Growing Conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum

Revisiting the relative growth rate hypothesis for gymnosperm and angiosperm species co‐occurrence

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