The effect of elevated air humidity on young silver birch and hybrid aspen biomass allocation and accumulation – Acclimation mechanisms and capacity

Rosenvald, Katrin; Tullus, Arvo; Ostonen, Ivika; Kupper, Priit; Aosaar, Jürgen; Varik, Mats; Söber, J.; Niglas, Aigar; Hansen, Raili; Rohula, Gristin; Kukk, Maarja; Sõber, Anu; Lõhmus, Krista

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.07.016

Cited by 38 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Nevertheless, birch trees growing at increased humidity recovered by the fourth year of the experiment, 2011, attaining similar size and greater leaf nitrogen content (Rosenvald et al 2014), consistently with the dynamics of annual height growth assessed in the current study. Drawing on increased biomass allocation to fine roots and altered fine root and leaf morphology, Rosenvald et al (2014) conclude that unlike aspen, birch gradually acclimated to increased humidity. Nevertheless, additional factors likely contributed to the variability of treatment effect across years.…”

Section: The Effects Of Elevated Air Humidity On Crown Developmentsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Based on lower leaf nitrogen content and non-optimal nutrient ratios, the authors propose that increased humidity restricts growth due to limited nutrient uptake, resulting from decreased transpirational flux, and this hypothesis is also consistent with the changes in the morphology of fine roots (Parts et al 2013). Nevertheless, birch trees growing at increased humidity recovered by the fourth year of the experiment, 2011, attaining similar size and greater leaf nitrogen content (Rosenvald et al 2014), consistently with the dynamics of annual height growth assessed in the current study. Drawing on increased biomass allocation to fine roots and altered fine root and leaf morphology, Rosenvald et al (2014) conclude that unlike aspen, birch gradually acclimated to increased humidity.…”

Section: The Effects Of Elevated Air Humidity On Crown Developmentmentioning

confidence: 62%

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Elevated air humidity modulates bud size and the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees: silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Kukk

Räim

Tulva

et al. 2015

Trees

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Elevated air humidity modulates bud size and the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees: silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. 3 P. tremuloides Michx.) Abstract Key message Elevated atmospheric humidity reduced bud size by restricting primordium growth and increased the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees, but the responses are species-specific. Abstract The initiation, development, and growth potential of buds determine the structure of a tree crown. Climate change scenarios project increasing amounts of precipitation at high latitudes in the future, but the effects of a more humid climate on bud size and growth potential remain mostly unexplored. This study investigates the effects of atmospheric humidity on fast-growing deciduous trees, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. 9 P. tremuloides Michx.), planted in a unique free-air experimental facility, designed for increasing air humidity during the growing season. Over four consecutive years (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), the size of overwintering buds was assessed in the upper crown of young trees, and additionally, annual height increments were assessed during the study period. Furthermore, bud contents, probabilities of bud death and break, and subsequent shoot growth were examined. In silver birch, misting effect on height growth depended on year, possibly due to acclimation or variable weather conditions, but bud size was consistently reduced. Nevertheless, misting restricted the growth rather than the initiation of leaf primordia in the bud, and decreased bud size did not translate into changes in the leaf area of future shoots. In contrast, the size of hybrid aspen buds was markedly reduced by misting only in 2009; however, increased humidity promoted bud break, reducing the proportion of dormant buds. The underlying mechanisms causing reduced bud size may involve interactions with shoot growth, but require further study. Although the effect of stimulated bud break is subtle in a given year, cumulative effects may modulate crown structure in the long term, facilitating the acclimation of tree growth to rising humidity in the future.

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Section: The Effects Of Elevated Air Humidity On Crown Developmentsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: The Effects Of Elevated Air Humidity On Crown Developmentmentioning

confidence: 62%

Elevated air humidity modulates bud size and the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees: silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Kukk

Räim

Tulva

et al. 2015

Trees

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“…Thinner absorptive roots and increased SRL have been associated with decreasing nutrient availability (Ostonen et al, 2007; Zobel et al, 2007). The change in soil conditions of humidified plots was mediated by plant responses such as reduced transpiration flux (Kupper et al, 2011), changed hydraulic architecture (Sellin et al, 2013) and higher fine root biomass in trees (Rosenvald et al, 2014). The results of this study indicate that shifts in root morphology have a significant effect on the microbial community in the rhizosphere.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results from this experiment have shown that the increased air humidity induced diverse changes in the functional traits of trees including the soil-to-leaf water transport pathway, resources, and biomass allocation patterns (Tullus et al, 2012; Sellin et al, 2013; Rosenvald et al, 2014). Parts et al (2013) detected several changes in silver birch absorptive root morphology as well as in the ectomycorrhizal colonization pattern, reflecting the adaptation mechanism of this tree species at elevated air humidity conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated Air Humidity Changes Soil Bacterial Community Structure in the Silver Birch Stand

et al. 2017

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Soil microbes play a fundamental role in forest ecosystems and respond rapidly to changes in the environment. Simultaneously with the temperature increase the climate change scenarios also predict an intensified hydrological cycle for the Baltic Sea runoff region. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of elevated air humidity on the top soil microbial community structure of a silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stand by using a free air humidity manipulation facility (FAHM). The bacterial community structures of bulk soil and birch rhizosphere were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of bacteria-specific16S rRNA gene fragments and quantification of denitrification related genes. The increased air humidity altered both bulk soil and rhizosphere bacterial community structures, and changes in the bacterial communities initiated by elevated air humidity were related to modified soil abiotic and biotic variables. Network analysis revealed that variation in soil bacterial community structural units is explained by altered abiotic conditions such as increased pH value in bulk soil, while in rhizosphere the change in absorptive root morphology had a higher effect. Among root morphological traits, the absorptive root diameter was strongest related to the bacterial community structure. The changes in bacterial community structures under elevated air humidity are associated with shifts in C, N, and P turnover as well as mineral weathering processes in soil. Increased air humidity decreased the nir and nosZ gene abundance in the rhizosphere bacterial community. The potential contribution of the denitrification to the N2O emission was not affected by the elevated air humidity in birch stand soil. In addition, the study revealed a strong link between the bacterial community structure, abundance of denitrification related genes, and birch absorptive root morphology in the ecosystem system adaptation to elevated air humidity.

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“…More intensive use of birch timber along the softwood has affected its price and therefore managing birch stands for commercial purposes is economically feasible. In northern climate, silver birch may be very productive on fertile sites (Hytönen et al 1995;Johansson 1999;Uri et al 2012;Rosenvald et al 2014;Lutter et al 2015) and birch stands growing on former farmland can be relevant timber source. Therefore it is essential to give relevant estimations of the aboveground biomass production ability of such stands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

Aosaar¹,

Mander²,

Varik³

et al. 2016

Silva Fenn.

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Highlights• Leafless aboveground biomass of the 17-year-old natural silver birch stand growing in abandoned agricultural land reached 94 Mg ha -1 .• The largest fluxes in N budget were net nitrogen mineralization and gaseous N 2 -N emission.• Nitrogen leaching was low.• Soil N content increased with the stand age, soil C content remained stable.• N 2 O and N 2 fluxes in boreal deciduous forest were analysed. AbstractSilver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is one of the main pioneer tree species occupying large areas of abandoned agricultural lands under natural succession in Estonia. We estimated aboveground biomass (AGB) dynamics during 17 growing seasons, and analysed soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics for 10 year period in a silver birch stand growing on former arable land. Main N fluxes were estimated and nitrogen budget for 10-year-old stand was compiled. The leafless AGB and stem mass of the stand at the age of 17-years were 94 and 76 Mg ha -1 respectively. The current annual increment (CAI) of stemwood fluctuated, peaking at 10 Mg ha -1 yr -1 at the age of 15 years; the mean annual increment (MAI) fluctuated at around 4-5 Mg ha -1 . The annual leaf mass of the stand stabilised at around 3 Mg ha -1 yr -1 . The stand density decreased from 11600 to 2700 trees ha -1 in the 8-and 17-year-old stand, respectively. The largest fluxes in N budget were net nitrogen mineralization and gaseous N 2 -N emission. The estimated fluxes of N 2 O and N 2 were 0.12 and 83 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively; N leaching was negligible. Nitrogen retranslocation from senescing leaves was approximately 45 kg ha -1 , N was mainly retranslocated into stembark. The N content in the upper 0-10 cm soil layer increased significantly (145 kg ha -1 ) from 2004 to 2014; soil C content remained stable. Both the woody biomass dynamics and the N cycling of the stand witness the potential for bioenergetics of such ecosystems.

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The effect of elevated air humidity on young silver birch and hybrid aspen biomass allocation and accumulation – Acclimation mechanisms and capacity

Cited by 38 publications

References 56 publications

Elevated air humidity modulates bud size and the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees: silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Elevated air humidity modulates bud size and the frequency of bud break in fast-growing deciduous trees: silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Elevated Air Humidity Changes Soil Bacterial Community Structure in the Silver Birch Stand

Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

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