The hydrostatic gradient, not light availability, drives height‐related variation in <i>Sequoia sempervirens</i> (Cupressaceae) leaf anatomy

Oldham, Alana R.; Sillett, Stephen C.; Tomescu, Alexandru M. F.; Koch, George

doi:10.3732/ajb.0900214

Cited by 65 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…This conclusion was drawn primarily from statistical analysis (maximum likelihood analysis). In marked contrast, Cavaleri et al (2010) arrived at the opposite conclusion in a large survey of tropical plants based on statistical analysis, and Oldham et al (2010) reached a similar conclusion based on many parameters measured in world's tallest trees (Sequoia sempervirens) based on principle component analysis. Fig.…”

Section: Towards a Testable Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 78%

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia L. I: height-associated variation in leaf structure

Zhang

Zheng

Tyree

2011

Annals of Forest Science

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Context Physiological ecologists have been fascinated by height-or position-linked differences of leaf morphology within tall trees >25 m, but the exact cause is still debated, i.e., is it due to light or height-induced water stress? • Aims The aim of this study was to demonstrate that relatively small trees (<15 m) have leaf morphologies that vary with height and that such variation depends on sitemoisture variability. • Methods Leaves were collected from Robinia pseudoacacia trees at two sites in China with contrasting moisture variability to gather baseline data on leaf morphology parameters.• Results Most measured parameters changed regularly with height. Water potential linearly decreased with height. Leaf area and stomata area decreased with height, while leaf mass per area, carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C), and stomata density increased with height. Mesophyll and epidermal cell width decreased with height, while leaf thickness and palisade cell length increased with height. All the morphology parameters between two sites were also significantly different. • Conclusions Based on the field results, it is concluded that minor variations in water potential at the time of leaf growth influence leaf morphology at both site-level and height-level. Controlled environment experiments will be conducted to confirm this conclusion.

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Section: Towards a Testable Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 78%

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia L. I: height-associated variation in leaf structure

Zhang

Zheng

Tyree

2011

Annals of Forest Science

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“…In general, leaf orientation becomes more plagiotropic, the number of leaves attached to twigs decreases, and each leaf becomes flatter in cross-section, with fewer palisade cells toward the bottom of the canopy (Fig. 3a, Cavaleri et al 2010;Ishii et al 2007;Niinemets 2007;Oldham et al 2010). A marked example is the vertical variation in leaf morphology of S. sempervirens, the world's tallest tree species.…”

Section: The Importance Of Individual-level Phenotypic Plasticity In mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A marked example is the vertical variation in leaf morphology of S. sempervirens, the world's tallest tree species. (Ishii et al 2008;Koch et al 2004;Mullin et al 2009;Oldham et al 2010). In S. sempervirens, leaf mass per area (LMA) can change as much as 2.5-fold within the crown of a single tree (Fig.…”

Section: The Importance Of Individual-level Phenotypic Plasticity In mentioning

confidence: 99%

The need for a canopy perspective to understand the importance of phenotypic plasticity for promoting species coexistence and light‐use complementarity in forest ecosystems

Ishiga

Azuma

Nabeshima

2013

Ecological Research

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Because of their overwhelming size over other organisms, trees define the structural and energetic properties of forest ecosystems. From grasslands to forests, leaf area index, which determines the amount of light energy intercepted for photosynthesis, increases with increasing canopy height across the various terrestrial ecosystems of the world. In vertically welldeveloped forests, niche differentiation along the vertical gradient of light availability may promote species coexistence. In addition, spatial and temporal differentiation of photosynthetic traits among the coexisting tree species (functional diversity) may promote complementary use of light energy, resulting in higher biomass and productivity in multi-species forests. Trees have evolved retaining high phenotypic plasticity because the spatial/ temporal distribution of resources in forest ecosystems is highly heterogeneous and trees modify their own environment as they increase nearly 1,000 times in size through ontogeny. High phenotypic plasticity may enable coexistence of tree species through divergence in resource-rich environments, as well as through convergence in resource-limited environments. We propose that the breadth of individual-level phenotypic plasticity, expressed at the metamer level (leaves and shoots), is an important factor that promotes species coexistence and resource-use complementarity in forest ecosystems. A cross-biome comparison of the link between plasticity of photosynthesis-related traits and stand productivity will provide a functional explanation for the relationship between species assemblages and productivity of forest ecosystems.

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“…In redwood, the number of transfusion tracheids, which transport water and solutes between the leaf vein and mesophyll, increases with increasing height in the crown. In addition, they become deformed, suggesting they may collapse under water stress and act as a hydraulic buffer that decreases the probability of xylem dysfunction (Oldham et al 2010). Morphological and anatomical traits that contribute to improved water status may compensate for hydraulic limitation to promote photosynthesis at the tree top and branch terminal where light availability is highest.…”

Section: Improvement Of Hydraulic Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…8.5). With increasing height in the crown, LMA increases and mesoporosity (proportion of leaf cross section devoted to air space) decreases (Oldham et al 2010), which leads to slower CO 2 diffusion inside the leaf (Parkhurst 1994;Hanba et al 1999;Mullin et al 2009;Steppe et al 2011) and reduced photosynthetic rate per leaf area near the tree top (Ishii et al 2008;Ambrose et al 2009). In contrast to the linear decrease in mass-based photosynthetic rate, the highest photosynthetic rate per leaf area is observed around 70-90 m above the ground.…”

Section: Hydrostatic Constraints On Morphological Development and Expmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Changes in Leaf/Shoot Morphology and Crown Architecture Affect Growth and Physiological Function of Tall Trees?

Ishiga

2011

Tree Physiology

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With increasing height within the crowns of tall trees, leaves tend to become smaller and thicker and shoots shorter. In tall trees, the vertical variation in leaf/shoot morphology is largely driven by water status. Morphological changes associated with increasing height in the crown present static constraints on photosynthesis, such as decreasing light intercepting area relative to leaf mass and decreasing CO 2 diffusion rate inside the leaf. Despite high light availability, leafarea-based photosynthetic rates at the tops of tall trees tend to be low and this may limit height growth. However, the observed changes in leaf/shoot morphology as well as xylem/leaf anatomy, and crown architecture may compensate for various physiological constraints associated with increasing tree height. Continuous renewal of branches and foliage through epicormic shoot production and the change from hierarchic to polyarchic crown architecture may allow large trees to maintain physiological function and continue to grow.

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The hydrostatic gradient, not light availability, drives height‐related variation in Sequoia sempervirens (Cupressaceae) leaf anatomy

Abstract: That such variation in leaf structure may be caused more by gravity than by light calls into question use of the terms "sun" and "shade" to describe leaves at the tops and bottoms of tall tree crowns.

Cited by 65 publications

References 66 publications

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia L. I: height-associated variation in leaf structure

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia L. I: height-associated variation in leaf structure

The need for a canopy perspective to understand the importance of phenotypic plasticity for promoting species coexistence and light‐use complementarity in forest ecosystems

How Do Changes in Leaf/Shoot Morphology and Crown Architecture Affect Growth and Physiological Function of Tall Trees?

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