Sapling growth and survivorship as affected by light and flooding in a river floodplain forest of southeast Texas

Abstract

We investigated the effects of light and flooding on growth and survivorship of saplings in a river floodplain forest of southeast Texas. Growth responses to light were consistent with the expectation that shade-intolerant species grow faster than shade-tolerant species in high light, and vice versa. Mortality risk was not associated with shade tolerance level unless high mortality risks associated with a period of high flooding were removed. These results support the hypothesis that shade-tolerant species in floodplains may be limited by flooding as previous studies suggested. Also, compared to their performance at a nearby mesic site, common species showed little intraspecific difference in shade tolerance, especially for shade-intolerant species. Finally, the positive correlation between low-light growth and survivorship suggests that carbon allocation to continued growth may be favored as a sapling strategy in floodplains.

Riparian woody plant traits across an urban–rural land use gradient and implications for watershed function with urbanization

“…Burns and Honkala (1990), Clark and Benforado (1980) X D O IT T WD W W F SH ST USDA- , Burns and Honkala (1990), Clark and Benforado (1980), Samuelson and Hogan (2006) X Acer rubrum , Burns and Honkala (1990), Clark and Benforado (1980), Battaglia and Sharitz (2006), Lin et al (2004) X Burns and Honkala (1990), Clark and Benforado (1980), Samuelson and Hogan (2006), Battaglia and Sharitz (2006), Dirr …”

Recruitment Limitation, Seedling Performance and Persistence of Exotic Tree Monocultures

“…Alternatively, native tree saplings may remain rare in the understory until a gap occurs but have a higher probability of capturing a gap than Sapium saplings once one occurs (Denslow 1987). However, long-term observational data (Lin et al 2004) and experimental data (Jones and McCleod 1990;Rogers and Siemann 2002;Siemann and Rogers 2003a, b) show that Sapium has a higher growth rate than native species, especially at high light levels. Together these studies suggest that Sapium present at the time of gap formation will have a greater chance of capturing gaps in which they occur than native saplings will.…”

Experimental test of the impacts of feral hogs on forest dynamics and processes in the southeastern US

“…This species is an aggressive invader of southeastern forests (Harcombe et al, 1999;Siemann and Rogers, 2003). It responds strongly to high light availability both in terms of survival and growth (Lin et al, 2004) so it is possible that hogs increased light availability and invasion, but this seems unlikely since they did not increase mortality of saplings or trees. Tallow trees also respond strongly and positively to increased nitrogen availability (Siemann and Rogers, 2007;Nijjer et al, 2008) so this may reflect a nutrient effect (Fig.…”