Effect of Neighbouring Trees on Eucalypt Growth in a Semi-Arid Woodland in Australia

Penridge, L. K.; Walker, J.

doi:10.2307/2260224

Cited by 46 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Small-scale variability of SOM and N may have important effects on plant demography and biogeochemical processes in shortgrass steppe. Plant-induced heterogeneity in soil resources can have significant feedbacks to plant establishment, growth and survival (Franco and Nobel, 1989;Penridge and Walker, 1986), and smallscale spatial patterns of plant distribution can influence rates of physical and biogeochemical processes that control ecosystem C and N balance (Schlesinger et al, 1990). The demonstration that heterogeneity of SOM and nutrient pools associated with individual bunchgrass plants and openings is large relative to landscape-scale variability reinforces the need to consider small-scale phenomena in ecological research in semiarid grasslands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity of soil and plant N and C associated with individual plants and openings in North American shortgrass steppe

1991

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Small-scale spatial heterogeneity of soil organic matter (SOM) associated with patterns of plant cover can strongly influence population and ecosystem dynamics in dry regions but is not well characterized for semiarid grasslands. We evaluated differences in plant and soil N and C between soil from under individual grass plants and from small openings in shortgrass steppe. In samples from 0 to 5 cm depth, root biomass, root N, total and mineralizable soil N, total and respirable organic C, C:N ratio, fraction of organic C respired, and ratio of respiration to N mineralization were significantly greater for soil under plants than soil from openings. These differences, which were consistent for two sites with contrasting soil textures, indicate strong differentiation of surface soil at the scale of individual plants, with relative enrichment of soil under plants in total and active SOM. Between-microsite differences were substantial relative to previously reported differences associated with landscape position and grazing intensity in shortgrass steppe. We conclude that microscale heterogeneity in shortgrass steppe deserves attention in investigation of controls on ecosystem and population processes and when sampling to estimate properties at plot or site scales.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity of soil and plant N and C associated with individual plants and openings in North American shortgrass steppe

1991

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“…Immediate neighbours, rather than average density, have been appreciated to affect the survival and the growth of a target plant (Watkinson, Lonsdale and Firbank, 1983 ;Mithen, Harper and Weiner, 1984 ;Weiner, 1984 ;Penridge and Walker, 1986 ;Goldberg, 1987 ;Jones and Harper, 1987 a, b). It is worth introducing an index of neighbourhood interference to describe the local environment of examined 0305-7364\96\020159j06 $12.00\0…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Response of Crown Architecture to Crowding in Understorey Trees of Two Co-dominating Conifers

Takahashi

1996

Annals of Botany

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Crown architecture and growth rate of trunk height, trunk diameter and lateral branches of understorey trees (5-10 m tall) were compared between two co-dominating conifers, Abies sachalinensis and Picea glehnii, in relation to the index of local crowding intensity, W, represented as a function of density, distance and basal area of taller neighbours. For the two conifers, the growth of trunk height and diameter was decreased and crowns became flat with increasing W, keeping crown projection area. Self-pruning of lower branches was more intense in Abies than in Picea in crowded conditions, while both conifers showed similar crown forms in less crowded conditions. These results suggest that the growth in lateral branches exceeded that in height in crowded conditions, especially in Abies. Tree age of both conifers increased with increasing W, resulting from the low growth rate in crowded conditions. The age of the longest and lowest branch of Picea, up to 150 years, was positively correlated with the tree age ranging from 70 to 250 years, whereas that of Abies was constant at around 30 years irrespective of tree age varying from 40 to 140 years. This result agrees with the observation that aged Abies had more flat-shaped crowns than in aged Picea in crowded conditions. These results suggest that each conifer adapted to crowding in different ways : high elongation of branches with high turnover rate for Abies and ice ersa for Picea.# 1996 Annals of Botany Company

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“…Competitive interference between trees in E. populnea woodlands has been shown to influence eucalypt growth (Penridge & Walker 1986), while regulation of woody regeneration by large overstorey species is common in other Australian eucalypt forests, through competition for key resources such as light, water and nutrients (Florence 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape structure influences tree density patterns in fragmented woodlands in semi‐arid eastern Australia

et al. 2009

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Landscape and local-scale influences are important drivers of plant community structure. However, their relative contribution and the degree to which they interact remain unclear. We quantified the extent to which landscape structure, within-patch habitat and their confounding effects determine post-clearing tree densities and composition in agricultural landscapes in eastern subtropical Australia. Landscape structure (incorporating habitat fragmentation and loss) and within-patch (site) features were quantified for 60 remnant patches of Eucalyptus populnea (Myrtaceae) woodland. Tree density and species for three ecological maturity classes (regeneration, early maturity, late maturity) and local site features were assessed in one 100 ¥ 10 m plot per patch. All but one landscape characteristic was determined within a 1.3-km radius of plots; Euclidean nearest neighbour distance was measured inside a 5-km radius. Variation in tree density and composition for each maturity class was partitioned into independent landscape, independent site and joint effects of landscape and site features using redundancy analysis. Independent site effects explained more variation in regeneration density and composition than pure landscape effects; significant predictors were the proportion of early and late maturity trees at a site, rainfall and the associated interaction. Conversely, landscape structure explained greater variation in early and late maturity tree density and composition than site predictors. Area of remnant native vegetation within a landscape and patch characteristics (area, shape, edge contrast) were significant predictors of early maturity tree density. However, 31% of the explained variation in early mature tree differences represented confounding influences of landscape and local variables. We suggest that within-patch characteristics are important in influencing semi-arid woodland tree regeneration. However, independent and confounding effects of landscape structure resulting from previous vegetation clearing may have exerted a greater historical influence on older cohorts and should be accounted for when examining woodland dynamics across a broader range of environments.

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Effect of Neighbouring Trees on Eucalypt Growth in a Semi-Arid Woodland in Australia

Cited by 46 publications

References 9 publications

Heterogeneity of soil and plant N and C associated with individual plants and openings in North American shortgrass steppe

Heterogeneity of soil and plant N and C associated with individual plants and openings in North American shortgrass steppe

Plastic Response of Crown Architecture to Crowding in Understorey Trees of Two Co-dominating Conifers

Landscape structure influences tree density patterns in fragmented woodlands in semi‐arid eastern Australia

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