| Home | [31–40] << 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 >> [51–60] |
|
Levionnois, S., Jansen, S., Wandji, R. T., Beauchêne, J., Ziegler, C., Coste, S., et al. (2021). Linking drought-induced xylem embolism resistance to wood anatomical traits in Neotropical trees. New Phytol., 229(3), 1453–1466.
Abstract: Drought-induced xylem embolism is considered to be one of the main factors driving mortality in woody plants worldwide. Although several structure–functional mechanisms have been tested to understand the anatomical determinants of embolism resistance, there is a need to study this topic by integrating anatomical data for many species. We combined optical, laser, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate vessel diameter, vessel grouping, and pit membrane ultrastructure for 26 tropical rainforest tree species across three major clades (magnoliids, rosiids, and asteriids). We then related these anatomical observations to previously published data on drought-induced embolism resistance, with phylogenetic analyses. Vessel diameter, vessel grouping, and pit membrane ultrastructure were all predictive of xylem embolism resistance, but with weak predictive power. While pit membrane thickness was a predictive trait when vestured pits were taken into account, the pit membrane diameter-to-thickness ratio suggests a strong importance of the deflection resistance of the pit membrane. However, phylogenetic analyses weakly support adaptive coevolution. Our results emphasize the functional significance of pit membranes for air-seeding in tropical rainforest trees, highlighting also the need to study their mechanical properties due to the link between embolism resistance and pit membrane diameter-to-thickness ratio. Finding support for adaptive coevolution also remains challenging. © 2020 The Authors New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Foundation
Keywords: bordered pits; drought-induced embolism; pit membrane; transmission electron microscopy; tropical trees; vessel grouping; xylem anatomy
|
|
Levionnois, S., Ziegler, C., Jansen, S., Calvet, E., Coste, S., Stahl, C., et al. (2020). Vulnerability and hydraulic segmentations at the stem–leaf transition: coordination across Neotropical trees. New Phytol., 228(2), 512–524.
Abstract: Hydraulic segmentation at the stem–leaf transition predicts higher hydraulic resistance in leaves than in stems. Vulnerability segmentation, however, predicts lower embolism resistance in leaves. Both mechanisms should theoretically favour runaway embolism in leaves to preserve expensive organs such as stems, and should be tested for any potential coordination. We investigated the theoretical leaf-specific conductivity based on an anatomical approach to quantify the degree of hydraulic segmentation across 21 tropical rainforest tree species. Xylem resistance to embolism in stems (flow-centrifugation technique) and leaves (optical visualization method) was quantified to assess vulnerability segmentation. We found a pervasive hydraulic segmentation across species, but with a strong variability in the degree of segmentation. Despite a clear continuum in the degree of vulnerability segmentation, eight species showed a positive vulnerability segmentation (leaves less resistant to embolism than stems), whereas the remaining species studied exhibited a negative or no vulnerability segmentation. The degree of vulnerability segmentation was positively related to the degree of hydraulic segmentation, such that segmented species promote both mechanisms to hydraulically decouple leaf xylem from stem xylem. To what extent hydraulic and vulnerability segmentation determine drought resistance requires further integration of the leaf–stem transition at the whole-plant level, including both xylem and outer xylem tissue. © 2020 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust
Keywords: drought-induced embolism resistance; hydraulic segmentation; leaf-specific conductivity; stem–leaf transition; tropical trees; vulnerability segmentation; air bubble; hydraulic conductivity; leaf; Neotropical Region; rainforest; tropical forest; vulnerability; xylem
|
|
Fortunel, C., Stahl, C., Heuret, P., Nicolini, E., & Baraloto, C. (2020). Disentangling the effects of environment and ontogeny on tree functional dimensions for congeneric species in tropical forests. New Phytol., 226(2), 385–395.
Abstract: Soil water and nutrient availability are key drivers of tree species distribution and forest ecosystem functioning, with strong species differences in water and nutrient use. Despite growing evidence for intraspecific trait differences, it remains unclear under which circumstances the effects of environmental gradients trump those of ontogeny and taxonomy on important functional dimensions related to resource use, particularly in tropical forests. Here, we explore how physiological, chemical, and morphological traits related to resource use vary between life stages in four species within the genus Micropholis that is widespread in lowland Amazonia. Specifically, we evaluate how environment, developmental stage, and taxonomy contribute to single-trait variation and multidimensional functional strategies. We find that environment, developmental stage, and taxonomy differentially contribute to functional dimensions. Habitats and seasons shape physiological and chemical traits related to water and nutrient use, whereas developmental stage and taxonomic identity impact morphological traits –especially those related to the leaf economics spectrum. Our findings suggest that combining environment, ontogeny, and taxonomy allows for a better understanding of important functional dimensions in tropical trees and highlights the need for integrating tree physiological and chemical traits with classically used morphological traits to improve predictions of tropical forests’ responses to environmental change. © 2019 The Authors New Phytologist © 2019 New Phytologist Trust
Keywords: chemistry; developmental stage; habitats; Micropholis; morphology; physiology; plant traits; seasons; developmental stage; ecosystem function; forest ecosystem; habitat selection; habitat structure; nutrient availability; ontogeny; physiological response; soil water; taxonomy; tropical forest; Amazonia
|
|
Schmitt, S., Tysklind, N., Hérault, B., & Heuertz, M. (2021). Topography drives microgeographic adaptations of closely related species in two tropical tree species complexes. Molecular Ecology, 30(20), 5080–5093.
Abstract: Closely related tree species that grow in sympatry are abundant in rainforests. However, little is known of the ecoevolutionary processes that govern their niches and local coexistence. We assessed genetic species delimitation in closely related sympatric species belonging to two Neotropical tree species complexes and investigated their genomic adaptation to a fine-scale topographic gradient with associated edaphic and hydrologic features. Combining LiDAR-derived topography, tree inventories, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from gene capture experiments, we explored genome-wide population genetic structure, covariation of environmental variables, and genotype-environment association to assess microgeographic adaptations to topography within the species complexes Symphonia (Clusiaceae), and Eschweilera (Lecythidaceae) with three species per complex and 385 and 257 individuals genotyped, respectively. Within species complexes, closely related tree species had different realized optima for topographic niches defined through the topographic wetness index or the relative elevation, and species displayed genetic signatures of adaptations to these niches. Symphonia species were genetically differentiated along water and nutrient distribution particularly in genes responding to water deprivation, whereas Eschweilera species were genetically differentiated according to soil chemistry. Our results suggest that varied topography represents a powerful driver of processes modulating tropical forest biodiversity with differential adaptations that stabilize local coexistence of closely related tree species.
|
|
Birer, C., Moreau, C. S., Tysklind, N., Zinger, L., & Duplais, C. (2020). Disentangling the assembly mechanisms of ant cuticular bacterial communities of two Amazonian ant species sharing a common arboreal nest. Mol. Ecol., 29(7), 1372–1385.
Abstract: Bacteria living on the cuticle of ants are generally studied for their protective role against pathogens, especially in the clade of fungus-growing ants. However, little is known regarding the diversity of cuticular bacteria in other ant host species, as well as the mechanisms leading to the composition of these communities. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to study the influence of host species, species interactions and the pool of bacteria from the environment on the assembly of cuticular bacterial communities on two phylogenetically distant Amazonian ant species that frequently nest together inside the roots system of epiphytic plants, Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior. Our results show that (a) the vast majority of the bacterial community on the cuticle is shared with the nest, suggesting that most bacteria on the cuticle are acquired through environmental acquisition, (b) 5.2% and 2.0% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are respectively specific to Ca. femoratus and Cr. levior, probably representing their respective core cuticular bacterial community, and (c) 3.6% of OTUs are shared between the two ant species. Additionally, mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis of metabolites on the cuticle of ants, which excludes the detection of cuticular hydrocarbons produced by the host, were conducted to evaluate correlations among bacterial OTUs and m/z ion mass. Although some positive and negative correlations are found, the cuticular chemical composition was weakly species-specific, suggesting that cuticular bacterial communities are prominently environmentally acquired. Overall, our results suggest the environment is the dominant source of bacteria found on the cuticle of ants. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Keywords: ant gardens; bacterial communities; cuticular microbiome; insect cuticle; metabarcoding
|
|
Schmitt, S., Raevel, V., Réjou-Méchain, M., Ayyappan, N., Balachandran, N., Barathan, N., et al. (2021). Canopy and understorey tree guilds respond differently to the environment in an Indian rain forest. Journal of Végétation Science, 32(5), e13075.
Abstract: Questions Changes in the functional composition of tree communities along resource availability gradients have received attention, but it is unclear whether understorey and canopy guilds respond similarly to different light, biomechanical, and hydraulic constraints. Location An anthropically undisturbed, old-growth wet evergreen dipterocarp forest plot located in Karnataka State, India. Methods We measured leaf and wood traits of 89 tree species representing 99% of all individuals in a 10-ha permanent plot with varying topographic and canopy conditions inferred from Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) data. We assigned tree species to guilds of canopy and understorey species and assessed the variation of the guild-weighted means of functional-trait values with canopy height and topography. Results The functional-trait space did not differ between canopy and understorey tree species. However, environmental filtering led to significantly different functional composition of canopy and understorey guild assemblages. Furthermore, they responded differently along environmental gradients related to water, nutrients, light, and wind exposure. For example, the canopy guild responded to wind exposure while the understorey guild did not. Conclusions The pools of understorey and canopy species are functionally similar. However, fine-scale environmental heterogeneity impacts differently on these two guilds, generating striking differences in functional composition between understorey and canopy guild assemblages. Accounting for vertical guilds improves our understanding of forest communities' assembly processes.
|
|
Vleminckx, J., Bauman, D., Demanet, M., Hardy, O. J., Doucet, J. - L., & Drouet, T. (2020). Past human disturbances and soil fertility both influence the distribution of light-demanding tree species in a Central African tropical forest. J. Veg. Sci., 31(3), 440–453.
Abstract: Questions: In vast areas of Central African forests, the upper canopy is presently dominated by light-demanding tree species. Here, we confront three hypotheses to explain this dominance: (a) these species have expanded their distribution because of widespread past slash-and-burn activities, as suggested by important charcoal amounts recorded in the soils of the region; (b) their abundance is rather explained by soil properties, as this guild establishes preferentially on favourable physico-chemical conditions for rapid growth; (c) soil properties have been substantially influenced by past human disturbances and those two effects cannot be disentangled. Location: Pallisco-CIFM logging concession, southeastern Cameroon (300,000 ha). Methods: We quantified soil charcoal abundance and measured ten soil variables at the basis of 60 target trees that belonged to a list of three long-living pioneer light-demanding (LLP) and four shade-bearer (SB) species. We identified all stems with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 20 cm within a distance of 15 m around each target tree. Species were characterised by their wood-specific gravity (WSG), which reflected their light requirement. Multiple regression models were used to quantify and test the relative effects of charcoal abundance and soil variables on the mean WSG of the 60 tree communities, as well as the abundance of three guilds: LLP, SB, and non-pioneer light demanders (NPLD). Results: The mean WSG was the only response variable significantly explained by soil variables and charcoal abundance combined. It was significantly negatively associated with soil calcium and Mg content and with charcoal abundance, with soil and charcoal influencing the mean WSG independently. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that past human disturbances and soil fertility have independently promoted the establishment of light-demanding species in western Central African forests, thereby shedding light on tree community assembly rules in these ecosystems which remain considerably understudied compared to the tropical forests of other continents. © 2020 International Association for Vegetation Science
Keywords: light-demanding species; moist tropical forests; past human disturbances; shade-bearer species; soil charcoal abundance; soil properties; tree community assemblages; wood-specific gravity; anthropogenic effect; forest canopy; forest ecosystem; shifting cultivation; soil fertility; soil property; tree; tropical forest; Cameroon
|
|
Malé, P. - J. G., Leroy, C., Humblot, P., Dejean, A., Quilichini, A., & Orivel, J. (2016). Limited gene dispersal and spatial genetic structure as stabilizing factors in an ant-plant mutualism. J. Evol. Biol., 29(12), 2519–2529.
Abstract: Comparative studies of the population genetics of closely associated species are necessary to properly understand the evolution of these relationships because gene flow between populations affects the partners' evolutionary potential at the local scale. As a consequence (at least for antagonistic interactions), asymmetries in the strength of the genetic structures of the partner populations can result in one partner having a co-evolutionary advantage. Here, we assess the population genetic structure of partners engaged in a species-specific and obligatory mutualism: the Neotropical ant-plant, Hirtella physophora, and its ant associate, Allomerus decemarticulatus. Although the ant cannot complete its life cycle elsewhere than on H. physophora and the plant cannot live for long without the protection provided by A. decemarticulatus, these species also have antagonistic interactions: the ants have been shown to benefit from castrating their host plant and the plant is able to retaliate against too virulent ant colonies. We found similar short dispersal distances for both partners, resulting in the local transmission of the association and, thus, inbred populations in which too virulent castrating ants face the risk of local extinction due to the absence of H. physophora offspring. On the other hand, we show that the plant populations probably experienced greater gene flow than did the ant populations, thus enhancing the evolutionary potential of the plants. We conclude that such levels of spatial structure in the partners' populations can increase the stability of the mutualistic relationship. Indeed, the local transmission of the association enables partial alignments of the partners' interests, and population connectivity allows the plant retaliation mechanisms to be locally adapted to the castration behaviour of their symbionts.
Keywords: gene flow; local adaptation; metapopulation; myrmecophyte; population genetics
|
|
Vedel, V., Apostolou, Z., Arthur, W., Akam, M., & Brena, C. (2010). An early temperature-sensitive period for the plasticity of segment number in the centipede Strigamia maritima. Evol Dev, 12(4), 347–352.
|
|
Martos, F., Dulormne, M., Pailler, T., Bonfante, P., Faccio, A., Fournel, J., et al. (2009). Independent recruitment of saprotrophic fungi as mycorrhizal partners by tropical achlorophyllous orchids. New Phytologist, 184(3), 668–681.
Abstract: Mycoheterotrophic orchids have adapted to shaded forest understory by shifting to achlorophylly and receiving carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi. In temperate forests, they associate in a highly specific way with fungi forming ectomycorrhizas on nearby trees, and exploiting tree photosynthates. However, many rainforests lack ectomycorrhizal fungi, and there is evidence that some tropical Asiatic species associate with saprotrophic fungi. To investigate this in different geographic and phylogenetic contexts, we identified the mycorrhizal fungi supporting two tropical mycoheterotrophic orchids from Mascarene (Indian Ocean) and Caribbean islands. We tested their possible carbon sources by measuring natural nitrogen (15N) and carbon (13C) abundances. Saprotrophic basidiomycetes were found: Gastrodia similis associates with a wood-decaying Resinicium (Hymenochaetales); Wullschlaegelia aphylla associates with both litter-decaying Gymnopus and Mycena species, whose rhizomorphs link orchid roots to leaf litter. The 15N and 13C abundances make plausible food chains from dead wood to G. similis and from dead leaves to W. aphylla. We propose that temperature and moisture in rainforests, but not in most temperate forests, may favour sufficient saprotrophic activity to support development of mycoheterotrophs. By enlarging the spectrum of mycorrhizal fungi and the level of specificity in mycoheterotrophic orchids, this study provides new insights on orchid and mycorrhizal biology in the tropics. © 2009 New Phytologist.
Keywords: Mycoheterotrophy; Mycorrhizas; Orchids; Rainforests; Saprotrophic fungi; Stable isotopes
|