Impact of one year crozier removal on long-term frond production in Matteuccia struthiopteris

Abstract

Bergeron, M. E. and Lapointe, L. 2001. Impact of one year crozier removal on long-term frond production in Matteuccia struthiopteris. Can. J. Plant Sci. 81: [155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162][163]. Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro populations that had been subjected to crozier harvesting over the past 25 yr were investigated. The number of crowns harvested and the number of croziers harvested per crown varied annually, but most crowns were harvested at least once over 5 yr. In 1995, total and 50% defoliation impacts were tested on subsequent years' frond production in understorey and open site populations. The effect of mineral fertilization on the understorey population was also investigated. Crowns in the open habitat produced more fronds annually than the understorey crowns and were less susceptible to partial defoliation. One year with total defoliation was sufficient to significantly reduce the number of fronds produced in both habitats over the next 4 yr. Defoliated crowns also accumulated less carbohydrates at the end of the first season. Mineral fertilization increased the number of fronds produced the following year but had no long-term benefit and did not significantly alleviate defoliation effects. Despite the fact that harvesting intensity was relatively low, it appears necessary to limit crozier harvesting per crown to less than 50% in understorey populations to preserve wild populations of M. struthiopteris. Todaro étudiées subissent la cueillette des frondes depuis 25 an. Le nombre de couronnes subissant la cueillette de même que le nombre de frondes récoltées par couronne varie d'une année à l'autre mais la plupart des couronnes sont soumises à au moins une cueillette à tous les 5 an. En 1995, nous avons testé l'impact d'une défoliation totale et à 50 % sur la production de frondes au cours des années subséquentes dans une population située en sous-bois et une population située en milieu ouvert. L'impact d'une fertilisation combinée aux mêmes traitements de défoliation a également été testé en sous-bois. Les couronnes en milieu ouvert ont produit plus de frondes annuellement que les couronnes en sous-bois et sont moins susceptibles à une défoliation partielle. Une seule année de défoliation complète a été nécessaire pour réduire de façon significative le nombre de frondes produites dans les deux habitats au cours des 4 an suivantes. Moins de réserves de carbone ont également été accumulées à la fin de la première saison chez les couronnes défoliées. La fertilisation a augmenté le nombre de frondes produites l'année suivante mais n'a pas montré d'impact à long terme et ne permet pas de compenser les effets de la défoliation. Malgré le fait que l'intensité de cueillette est relativement faible, il semble nécessaire de réduire à moins de 50 % le nombre de frondes récoltées par couronne dans les populations situées en sous-bois si l'on veut maintenir ces populations à long terme. Key words:

Variations in the population structure and ecology ofMatteuccia struthiopteris

“…A higher number of rootstocks measuring less than 2 cm in diameter was reported in areas where the canopy cover was 30 % lower in comparison with the remaining quadrats (t =- 3.07, P = 0.003). Similar results were reported by Prange and von Aderkas (1985), von Aderkas and Green (1986), and Bergeron and Lapointe (2001). A study by Kołos and Wanaks (2008) showed that M. struthiopteris in the Kulikówka valley was larger in shady areas than in full sunshine.…”

“…Previous studies on Matteuccia struthiopteris populations revealed that an increased fertility rate was correlated with direct light availability (Prange and von Aderkas 1985;von Aderkas and Green 1986;Bergeron and Lapointe 2001). The fertility rate of populations directly exposed to sunlight was higher than in populations growing under a dense canopy (Prange and von Aderkas 1985;von Aderkas and Green 1986;Bergeron and Lapointe 2001). Ostrich fern finds optimum growth conditions at a density of the canopy of upper layers of plants of 20 % (Odland et al 2006).…”

“…It has two distinct leaf forms: trophophylls which supply the plant with photosynthates and sporophylls, separate spore-producing leaves. Many authors have noted that since morphological traits in the populations investigated by them are susceptible to environmental changes, they play a key role in differentiating M. struthiopteris communities (Prange 1980;Prange et al 1984;Prange and von Aderkas 1985;von Aderkas and Green 1986;Peck et al 1990;Odland 1992Odland , 1995Odland , 2004de Kroon et al 1994;Kenkel 1994Kenkel , 1997Odland et al 1998Odland et al , 2004Odland et al , 2006Bergeron and Lapointe 2001;Ranker and Haufler 2008;Mehltreter et al 2010). Favorable habitats positively affect the height, growth rate and, consequently, competitive abilities of M. struthiopteris (Odland 1995;Odland et al 2004).…”

Geographical variation in frond size, rootstock density, and sexual reproduction inMatteuccia struthiopterispopulations in Norway

“…According to Ellenberg et al (1991), M. struthiopteris has an indicator light value of five which is characteristic for semi shade plants, and this is in accordance with Prange (1980), who maintains that it is a typical shade-adapted plant. Condition of direct sunlight has been found to increase its fertility rate (Prange and von Aderkas 1985;von Aderkas and Green 1986;Bergeron and Lapointe 2001) as compared with a dense canopy. Donelan and Corey (1994) found a decreased survival of plants with increasing light intensity, and Dykeman (1981) found in an experimental study that M. struthiopteris responded positively to reduced light.…”

Broad-Scale Integrity and Local Divergence in the Fiddlehead Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro (Onocleaceae)

“…However, it is known that the species' health can be significantly affected by the removal of young fronds. Bergerson and Lapointe (2001) conducted a five-year study in Québec, Canada, investigating the impacts of harvesting on Matteuccia struthiopteris. They found that harvesters should collect no more than half the croziers produced by a shoot, as removal of all shoots in a single year impaired carbohydrate accumulation and crozier production in subsequent years.…”