Relationships between resprouting ability, species traits and resource allocation patterns in woody species in a temperate forest

Abstract

Summary1. Many woody plants resprout to restore above-ground biomass after disturbances or to survive in stressful environments. Resprouting requires carbohydrate storage, but the general relationship between resource allocation patterns and resprouting ability remains unclear because it can be influenced by the disturbance regime to which species have adapted. 2. We studied deciduous broadleaved trees that coexist in a Japanese cool-temperate forest to investigate the relationships among the biomass and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) allocation patterns of saplings, resprouting ability and functional traits. The study species comprised 16 singlestemmed species that only resprout when above-ground biomass loss occurs and eight multistemmed species that resprout regardless of whether above-ground damage occurs or not. 3. Single-stemmed species with better juvenile resprouting ability had larger roots, whereas multi-stemmed species with better juvenile resprouting ability did not necessarily depend on below-ground reserves. 4. Species that retain their ability to resprout until a larger size had a higher root TNC content as saplings, suggesting that they can survive major disturbances such as fire and coppicing by resprouting supported by TNC stored in their roots. 5. Species with shade-tolerant traits (i.e. low foliar nitrogen indicating low photosynthetic capacity, high wood density indicating high defensive investment) had small below-ground TNC reserves irrespective of resprouting types. On the other hand, multi-stemmed species with high wood density and high LMA (indicating high photosynthetic capacity) had small aboveground TNC reserves. Contrary to our hypothesis, a species' maximum size did not relate to the size of its below-ground reserves. 6. By considering the differences in resprouting types, we suggest more complex control of resprouting than was formerly proposed. Variation in the resprouting ability of single-stemmed species was based on a trade-off between below-ground reserves for resprouting and shade-tolerant traits. However, multi-stemmed species can vigorously resprout irrespective of the size of its below-ground reserves. Their multi-stemmed architecture, well-defended wood, high photosynthetic capacity or large above-ground carbohydrate reserves seem to respectively contribute to their persistence. Such variation in the resprouting strategy based on a trade-off between shade tolerance and resource storage would promote species coexistence under a range of disturbance regimes and light environments.

African shrub distribution emerges via a trade‐off between height and sapwood conductivity

“…Shrubs, being shorter due to their multistemmed architecture, usually do not escape the flame zone. However, shrubs have higher growth rates at low size in aDGVM2, thus, they excel in postfire resprouting (Zizka et al., ), irrespective of their storage capacity (Shibata et al., ).…”

Sequential Management of Commercial Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) Plantations in Central Amazonia: Seeking Sustainable Models for Essential Oil Production

“…Accumulation of these reserves is very sensitive to late-season stresses and management practices, and decreased accumulation can profoundly affect a tree's performance the following year [78]. In addition, it is reported that shade-tolerant species, such as rosewood, can regrow vigorously independent of underground reserves, with above-ground carbohydrate reserves responsible for shoot persistence in the environment after disturbance and before photosynthesis begins [43]. Applying these findings to the management of above ground biomass of rosewood, it is necessary to consider that periods of high vegetative development may represent a good time for harvesting (since there may be rapid regrowth), but during this period the plants are investing in vegetative growth and are not stocking such reserves, which is of importance to studies aiming to find the ideal period of intervention in the above ground biomass.…”

“…The increase in frequency of mass loss causes changes in the content of carbohydrate stores available in reserve tissues for the production of subsequent shoots [75], while resource allocation patterns and the capacity for continuous regrowth may be influenced by the disturbance regime to which the species are adapted [43], which is unknown in the case of rosewood. Plant responses to injury are ecologically and evolutionarily important, allowing sprouting individuals to persist in the environment without changes in population size, while non-regenerating species face the challenges of seed-based regeneration, including pollination failures, the uncertainties associated with dispersion, seedling mortality, and competitive interactions while growing [33].…”

“…Post-harvest plants have no immediate photosynthetic capacity and therefore require nutrient stocks in their underground organs to meet the demands of respiration and the regrowth process until leaves appear on regrown shoots [34,40]. Additionally, several authors [33,[41][42][43] have associated photosynthetic characteristics with the nutritional status of sprouting. Clearly, in the case of plants such as rosewood that are of commercial interest, these sprout (issued after harvest) must have the characteristics that meet the market requirements.…”

Effect of Forest fire on the regeneration of a bamboo species (<i>Cephalostachyum pergracile</i> Munro) at a mixed deciduous forest in Mae Klong Watershed Research Station, Thailand

“…Although these branches contributed little to the total basal area, they may increase photosynthesis by producing many leaves with minimal allocation of resources immediately after the fire, when the bamboo does not have any surviving aboveground parts (Kleinhenz and Midmore 2001). These characteristics seem to be adaptations that allow rapid recovery after a fire by allocating stored reserves to photosynthetic parts, as is seen during resprouting of many woody species, including shrubs (Shibata et al 2016). Since our study site has a clear dry season, fire is a frequent disturbance (typically, at least once every few years), so the production of small branches should be an effective strategy for bamboos in this area.…”