Journal ArticleDOI
The light environment and growth of C3 and C4 tree species in the understory of a Hawaiian forest.
TLDR
Light environment in the understory of a Hawaiian forest containing a C4 tree species, Euphorbia forbesii, was characterized using photosynthetic photon flux density sensors connected to portable data acquisition systems and a strip chart recorder, and hemispherical “fisheye” photographs of the canopy.Abstract:
The light environment in the understory of a Hawaiian forest containing a C4 tree species, Euphorbia forbesii, was characterized using photosynthetic photon flux density sensors connected to portable data acquisition systems and a strip chart recorder, and hemispherical “fisheye” photographs of the canopy During July 1980, 86 μmol cm2 day1 was received in the understory of which approximately 40% was contributed by sunflecks The understory received 24% of the light reaching the top of the canopy Nearly all sunflecks had peak photon flux densities greater than 250 μmol m2 s1, but two-thirds were less than 05 min in length The number of minutes of sunflecks received per day at any site was highly variable, depending on cloudiness and the overstory canopy structure On a relatively clear day a 10-fold difference in the number of minutes of sunflecks was observed between sample sites Estimates obtained from hemispherical photographs were used to calculate the annual mean potential number of minutes of sunflecks per day received by saplings of Euphorbia and a C3 tree species, Claoxylon sandwicense The growth of saplings of both species was highly correlated with the estimates of the minutes of sunflecks and was similar for both species Although C4 photosynthesis is usually found in plants native to high-light environments, it does not appear to confer any disadvantage in terms of growth to Euphorbia forbesii in the low-light conditions of the forest understoryread more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Tropical rainforest gaps and tree species diversity
TL;DR: Interest in the role of adaptations by species to different regeneration sites in structuring plant assemblages in general and tropical tree communities in particular is heightened by rising rates of deforestation throughout the tropics and a critical need for management strategies of the remaining preserves.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Phenology of Tropical Forests: Adaptive Significance and Consequences for Primary Consumers*
TL;DR: The idea that plant species can reduce predation by synchronizing their phenological activity has the best support, because biotic factors are often arbitrary with respect to the timing of these peaks, it is essential also to consider abiotic influences.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Color of Light in Forests and Its Implications
TL;DR: The structure of forests leads to four major light habitats when the sun is not blocked by clouds: forest shade, woodland shade, small gaps, and large gaps, respectively, characterized by yellow—green, blue—gray, reddish, and "white" ambient light spectra, respectively.
Journal ArticleDOI
Light regimes beneath closed canopies and tree-fall gaps in temperate and tropical forests
Charles D. Canham,Julie S. Denslow,William J. Platt,James R. Runkle,Thomas A. Spies,Peter S. White +5 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared light regimes beneath closed canopies and tree-fall gaps for five temperate and tropical forests using fish-eye photography of intact forest canopie and a model for calculating light penetration through idealized gaps.
Book ChapterDOI
Foraging in Plants: the Role of Morphological Plasticity in Resource Acquisition
Michael J. Hutchings,H. de Kroon +1 more
TL;DR: Triffids were, admittedly, a bit weird—but that was, after all, just because they were novelties; people had felt the same about novelties of other days—about kangaroos, giant lizards, black swans.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum Yields for CO(2) Uptake in C(3) and C(4) Plants: Dependence on Temperature, CO(2), and O(2) Concentration.
TL;DR: In this article, the quantum yields of C3 and C4 plants from a number of genera and families as well as from ecologically diverse habitats were measured in normal air of 21% O2 and in 2% CO2.
Journal ArticleDOI
PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF TROPICAL SUCCESSION: A Comparative Review
TL;DR: This review collates available literature, identifies trends, suggests research directions, and makes comparisons with temperate forest successions where possible, relying heavily on a review of the ecology of temperate successions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Studies of the Woodland Light Climate: I. The Photographic Computation of Light Conditions
Journal ArticleDOI
Implications of quantum yield differences on the distributions of C3 and C4 grasses.
TL;DR: It is concluded that while the C4 photosynthetic mechanism may be highly advantageous in specific environments, it may be disadvantageous in others.
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