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Verryckt, L. T., Ellsworth, D. S., Vicca, S., Van Langenhove, L., Peñuelas, J., Ciais, P., et al. (2020). Can light-saturated photosynthesis in lowland tropical forests be estimated by one light level? Biotropica, 52(6), 1183–1193.
Abstract: Leaf-level net photosynthesis (An) estimates and associated photosynthetic parameters are crucial for accurately parameterizing photosynthesis models. For tropical forests, such data are poorly available and collected at variable light conditions. To avoid over- or underestimation of modeled photosynthesis, it is critical to know at which photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) photosynthesis becomes light-saturated. We studied the dependence of An on PPFD in two tropical forests in French Guiana. We estimated the light saturation range, including the lowest PPFD level at which Asat (An at light saturation) is reached, as well as the PPFD range at which Asat remained unaltered. The light saturation range was derived from photosynthetic light-response curves, and within-canopy and interspecific differences were studied. We observed wide light saturation ranges of An. Light saturation ranges differed among canopy heights, but a PPFD level of 1,000 µmol m−2 s−1 was common across all heights, except for pioneer trees species that did not reach light saturation below 2,000 µmol m−2 s−1. A light intensity of 1,000 µmol m−2 s−1 sufficed for measuring Asat of climax species at our study sites, independent of the species or the canopy height. Because of the wide light saturation ranges, results from studies measuring Asat at higher PPFD levels (for upper canopy leaves up to 1,600 µmol m−2 s−1) are comparable with studies measuring at 1,000 µmol m−2 s−1. © 2020 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Keywords: canopy architecture; interspecific variation; light intensity; lowland environment; parameter estimation; photon flux density; photosynthesis; saturation; tropical forest; French Guiana
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Verryckt, L. T., Van Langenhove, L., Ciais, P., Courtois, E. A., Vicca, S., Peñuelas, J., et al. (2020). Coping with branch excision when measuring leaf net photosynthetic rates in a lowland tropical forest. Biotropica, 52(4), 608–615.
Abstract: Measuring leaf gas exchange from canopy leaves is fundamental for our understanding of photosynthesis and for a realistic representation of carbon uptake in vegetation models. Since canopy leaves are often difficult to reach, especially in tropical forests with emergent trees up to 60 m at remote places, canopy access techniques such as canopy cranes or towers have facilitated photosynthetic measurements. These structures are expensive and therefore not very common. As an alternative, branches are often cut to enable leaf gas exchange measurements. The effect of branch excision on leaf gas exchange rates should be minimized and quantified to evaluate possible bias. We compared light-saturated leaf net photosynthetic rates measured on excised and intact branches. We selected branches positioned at three canopy positions, estimated relative to the top of the canopy: upper sunlit foliage, middle canopy foliage, and lower canopy foliage. We studied the variation of the effects of branch excision and transport among branches at these different heights in the canopy. After excision and transport, light-saturated leaf net photosynthetic rates were close to zero for most leaves due to stomatal closure. However, when the branch had acclimated to its new environmental conditions—which took on average 20 min—light-saturated leaf net photosynthetic rates did not significantly differ between the excised and intact branches. We therefore conclude that branch excision does not affect the measurement of light-saturated leaf net photosynthesis, provided that the branch is recut under water and is allowed sufficient time to acclimate to its new environmental conditions. © 2020 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Keywords: branch cutting; canopy physiology; French Guiana; gas exchange; photosynthesis; rainforest; stomatal conductance; ecological modeling; environmental conditions; forest canopy; leaf; measurement method; photosynthesis; tree; tropical forest; Gruidae
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Schimann, H., Vleminckx, J., Baraloto, C., Engel, J., Jaouen, G., Louisanna, E., et al. (2020). Tree communities and soil properties influence fungal community assembly in neotropical forests. Biotropica, 52(3), 444–456.
Abstract: The influence exerted by tree communities, topography, and soil chemistry on the assembly of macrofungal communities remains poorly understood, especially in highly diverse tropical forests. Here, we used a large dataset that combines inventories of macrofungal Basidiomycetes fruiting bodies, tree species composition, and measurements for 16 soil physicochemical parameters, collected in 34 plots located in four sites of lowland rain forests in French Guiana. Plots were established on three different topographical conditions: hilltop, slope, and seasonally flooded soils. We found hyperdiverse Basidiomycetes communities, mainly comprising members of Agaricales and Polyporales. Phosphorus, clay contents, and base saturation in soils strongly varied across plots and shaped the richness and composition of tree communities. The latter composition explained 23% of the variation in the composition of macrofungal communities, probably through high heterogeneity of the litter chemistry and selective effects of biotic interactions. The high local heterogeneity of habitats influenced the distribution of both macrofungi and trees, as a result of diversed local soil hydromorphic conditions associated with contrasting soil chemistry. This first regional study across habitats of French Guiana forests revealed new niches for macrofungi, such as ectomycorrhizal ones, and illustrates how macrofungi inventories are still paramount to can be to understand the processes at work in the tropics. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material. © 2020 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Keywords: communities; composition; diversity; habitat; lowland neotropical rain forest; macrofungi; soil properties; trees; ectomycorrhiza; fungus; heterogeneity; Neotropical Region; physicochemical property; rainforest; species inventory; species richness; tree; tropical forest; French Guiana; Agaricales; Aphyllophorales; Basidiomycota
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Rutishauser, E., Herault, B., Petronelli, P., & Sist, P. (2016). Tree Height Reduction After Selective Logging in a Tropical Forest. Biotropica, 48(3), 285–289.
Abstract: By harvesting scattered large trees, selective logging increases light availability and thereby stimulates growth and crown expansion at early-life stage among remnant trees. We assessed the effects of logging on total and merchantable bole (i.e., lowest branch at crown base) heights on 952 tropical canopy trees in French Guiana. We observed reductions in both total (mean, −2.3 m) and bole (mean, −2.0 m) heights more than a decade after selective logging. Depending on local logging intensity, height reductions resulted in 2–13 percent decreases in aboveground tree biomass and 3–17 percent decreases in bole volume. These results highlight the adverse effects of logging at both tree and stand levels. This decrease in height is a further threat to future provision of key environmental services, such as timber production and carbon sequestration.
Keywords: carbon sequestration; forest management; logging; tropical forests; wood production
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Biwolé, A. B., Dainou, K., Fayolle, A., Hardy, O. J., Brostaux, Y., Coste, S., et al. (2015). Light Response of Seedlings of a Central African Timber Tree Species, Lophira alata (Ochnaceae), and the Definition of Light Requirements. Biotropica, 47(6), 681–688.
Abstract: Light is of primary importance in structuring tropical tree communities. Light exposure at seedling and adult stages has been used to characterize the ecological profile of tropical trees, with many implications in forest management and restoration ecology. Most shade-tolerance classification systems have been proposed based on empirical observations in a specific area and thus result in contradictions among categories assigned to a given species. In this study, we aimed to quantify the light requirements for seedling growth of a Central African timber tree, Lophira alata (Ochnaceae), taking into account effects of population origin. In two controlled experiments: a light response experiment and a comparative population experiment, conducted in southwestern Cameroon, using seeds collected from four populations (three from Cameroon and one from Gabon), we examined the quantitative responses to irradiance of seedlings. After 2 years, mortality was very low (<3%), even in extremely low irradiance. Growth and biomass allocation patterns varied in response to light, with intermediate irradiance (24–43%) providing optimal conditions. Light response differed between populations. The Boumba population in the northeastern edge of the species' distribution exhibited the highest light requirements, suggesting a local adaptation. As a result of positive growth at low irradiance and maximum growth at intermediate irradiance, we concluded that L. alata exhibits characteristics of both non-pioneer and pioneer species. Implications of our results to propose an objective way to assign the light requirement for tropical tree species are discussed.
Keywords: biomass allocation; Central Africa; light requirement: Lophira alata; population; relative growth rate; seedling growth; timber species; Afrique centrale; allocation de biomasse; besoins en lumière; croissance des semis; bois d'œuvre; Lophira alata; population; taux de croissance relatif
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Houadria, M., Salas-Lopez, A., Orivel, J., Blüthgen, N., & Menzel, F. (2015). Dietary and Temporal Niche Differentiation in Tropical Ants-Can They Explain Local Ant Coexistence? Biotropica, 47(2), 208–217.
Abstract: How species with similar ecological requirements avoid competitive exclusion remains contentious, especially in the species-rich tropics. Niche differentiation has been proposed as a major mechanism for species coexistence. However, different niche dimensions must be studied simultaneously to assess their combined effects on diversity and composition of a community. In most terrestrial ecosystems, ants are among the most abundant and ubiquitous animals. Since they display direct, aggressive competition and often competitively displace subordinate species from resources, niche differentiation may be especially relevant among ants. We studied temporal and trophic niche differentiation in a ground ant community in a forest fragment in French Guiana. Different baits were presented during day and night to assess the temporal and dietary niches of the local species. They represented natural food resources such as sugars, carrion, excrements, seeds, and live prey. In addition, pitfalls provided a background measure of ant diversity. The communities attracted to the different baits significantly differed from each other, and even less attractive baits yielded additional species. We detected species specialized on living grasshoppers, sucrose, seeds, or dead insects. Community-level differences between day and night were larger than those between baits, and many species were temporally specialized. In contrast to commonness, foraging efficiency of species was correlated to food specialization. We conclude that many ant species occupy different temporal or dietary niches. However, for many generalized species, the dietary, and temporal niche differentiation brought forward through our sampling effort, cannot alone explain their coexistence.
Keywords: Ants; Baiting; Dietary specialization; Functional traits; Niche breadth; Partitioning; Temporal distribution
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Ghislain, B., Nicolini, E. - A., Romain, R., Ruelle, J., Yoshinaga, A., Alford, M. H., et al. (2016). Multilayered structure of tension wood cell walls in Salicaceae sensu lato and its taxonomic significance. Bot. J. Linn. Soc., 182(4), 744–756.
Abstract: Salicaceae have been enlarged to include a majority of the species formerly placed in the polyphyletic tropical Flacourtiaceae. Several studies have reported a peculiar and infrequently formed multilayered structure of tension wood in four of the tropical genera. Tension wood is a tissue produced by trees to restore their vertical orientation and most studies have focused on trees developing tension wood by means of cellulose-rich, gelatinous fibres, as in Populus and Salix (Salicaceae s.s.). This study aims to determine if the multilayered structure of tension wood is an anatomical characteristic common in other Salicaceae and, if so, how its distribution correlates to phylogenetic relationships. Therefore, we studied the tension wood of 14 genera of Salicaceae and two genera of Achariaceae, one genus of Goupiaceae and one genus of Lacistemataceae, families closely related to Salicaceae or formerly placed in Flacourtiaceae. Opposite wood and tension wood were compared with light microscopy and three-dimensional laser scanning confocal microscopy. The results indicate that a multilayered structure of tension wood is common in the family except in Salix, Populus and one of their closest relatives, Idesia polycarpa. We suggest that tension wood may be a useful anatomical character in understanding phylogenetic relationships in Salicaceae. Further investigation is still needed on the tension wood of several other putatively close relatives of Salix and Populus, in particular Bennettiodendron, Macrohasseltia and Itoa.
Keywords: Flacourtiaceae; G-layer; multilayered tension wood; reaction wood
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Petit, M., Céréghino, R., Carrias, J. - F., Corbara, B., Dezerald, O., Petitclerc, F., et al. (2014). Are ontogenetic shifts in foliar structure and resource acquisition spatially conditioned in tank-bromeliads? Bot J Linn Soc, 175(2), 299–312.
Abstract: The phenotypic plasticity of plants has been explored as a function of either ontogeny (apparent plasticity) or environment (adaptive plasticity), although few studies have analyzed these factors together. In the present study, we take advantage of the dispersal of Aechmea mertensii bromeliads by Camponotus femoratus or Pachycondyla goeldii ants in shaded and sunny environments, respectively, to quantify ontogenetic changes in morphological, foliar, and functional traits, and to analyze ontogenetic and ant species effects on 14 traits. Most of the morphological (plant height, number of leaves), foliar (leaf thickness, leaf mass area, total water content, trichome density), and functional (leaf δ13C) traits differed as a function of ontogeny. Conversely, only leaf δ15N showed an adaptive phenotypic plasticity. On the other hand, plant width, tank width, longest leaf length, stomatal density, and leaf C concentration showed an adaptation to local environment with ontogeny. The exception was leaf N concentration, which showed no trend at all. Aechmea mertensii did not show an abrupt morphological modification such as in heteroblastic bromeliads, although it was characterized by strong, size-related functional modifications for CO2 acquisition. The adaptive phenotypic variation found between the two ant species indicates the spatially conditioned plasticity of A. mertensii in the context of insect-assisted dispersal. However, ant-mediated effects on phenotypic plasticity in A. mertensii are not obvious because ant species and light environment are confounding variables. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175, 299–312.
Keywords: Aechmea mertensii; Camponotus femoratus; French Guiana; leaf traits; mutualistic ants; natural stable isotopes; ontogeny; Pachycondyla goeldii; phenotypic plasticity; plant morphology
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Lehours, A. - C., Jeune, A. - H. L., Aguer, J. - P., Céréghino, R., Corbara, B., Kéraval, B., et al. (2016). Unexpectedly high bacteriochlorophyll a concentrations in neotropical tank bromeliads. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 8(5), 689–698.
Abstract: The contribution of bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) to photosynthetically driven electron transport is generally low in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Here, we provide evidence that anoxygenic bacterial phototrophy is widespread and substantial in water retained by tank bromeliads of a primary rainforest in French Guiana. An analysis of the water extracted from 104 randomly selected tank bromeliads using infrared fluorimetry suggested the overall presence of abundant anoxygenic phototrophic bacterial populations. We found that purple bacteria dominated these populations responsible for unusually high BChl a/chlorophyll a ratios (>50%). Our data suggest that BChl a-based phototrophy in tank bromeliads can have significant effects on the ecology of tank-bromeliad ecosystems and on the carbon and energy fluxes in Neotropical forests.
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Coutant, O., Richard-Hansen, C., de Thoisy, B., Decotte, J. - B., Valentini, A., Dejean, T., et al. (2021). Amazonian mammal monitoring using aquatic environmental DNA. Molecular Ecology Resources, 21(6), 1875–1888.
Abstract: Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as one of the most efficient methods to assess aquatic species presence. While the method can in theory be used to investigate nonaquatic fauna, its development for inventorying semi-aquatic and terrestrial fauna is still at an early stage. Here we investigated the potential of aquatic eDNA metabarcoding for inventorying mammals in Neotropical environments, be they aquatic, semi-aquatic or terrestrial. We collected aquatic eDNA in 96 sites distributed along three Guianese watersheds and compared our inventories to expected species distributions and field observations derived from line transects located throughout French Guiana. Species occurrences and emblematic mammalian fauna richness patterns were consistent with the expected distribution of fauna and our results revealed that aquatic eDNA metabarcoding brings additional data to line transect samples for diurnal nonaquatic (terrestrial and arboreal) species. Aquatic eDNA also provided data on species not detectable in line transect surveys such as semi-aquatic, aquatic and nocturnal terrestrial and arboreal species. Although the application of eDNA to inventory mammals still needs some developments to optimize sampling efficiency, it can now be used as a complement to traditional surveys.
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