Kuptz, D.; Grams, T. & Günter, S. (2010): <b>Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rain forest</b>. <i>Trees - Structure and Function</i> <b>24</b>(1), 117-127.
Resource Description
Title:
Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rain forest
FOR816dw ID:
702
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual:
Daniel Kuptz
Contact:
email:
kuptz <at> forst.tu-muenchen.de
Individual:
Thorsten Grams
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> tropicalmountainforest.com
Individual:
Sven Günter
Contact:
email:
sven_gunter <at> yahoo.de
Dep. of Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Institute of Silviculture
Am Hochanger 13
Technische Universität München
85354 Freising
Germany
Abstract:
Ecuadorian mountain rainforests are declining dramatically due to deforestation. Exploitation of remaining forests has led to low abundances of native, valuable timber species. Enrichment planting of selected native tree species into forest gaps is a strategy that may increase their abundance and maintain biodiversity. However, the development of successful planting strategies requires knowledge of environmental demands on, and ecological requirements of, native species during their establishment. This knowledge is currently lacking for midand latesuccessional species in Central American forests. Two deciduous, mid-successional (Cedrela montana, Tabebuia chrysantha) and two evergreen, late-successional native tree species (Nectandra membranacea, Podocarpus sprucei) were planted into felling gaps. Photosynthetic performance and growth in height of these species were assessed along light gradients during seedling establishment to test whether species-specific light responses were related to plant successional traits. Both mid-successional species benefited from higher light levels in gaps up to 30% canopy openness60. In larger gaps, C. montana exhibited a significant decline in growth. As expected, growth of the latesuccessional species was only marginally increased at higher light levels. Nevertheless, the photosynthetic apparatus of N. membranacea displayed rapid acclimation to higher light conditions in gaps. Plant response to felling gaps may not always be predicted based on successional status. Our results suggest that the four investigated species may coexist in the same gap by occupying different niches along light gradients. This arrangement may offer an ecological basis to increase the abundance of valuable timber species through enrichment planting in Ecuador mountain rainforests.
