Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
We examined fine-scale heterogeneity of environmental conditions in a primary rain forest in French Guiana to describe variation in microhabitats that plants may experience during establishment. We characterized both the range as well as the spatial structuring of 11 environmental factors important for seedling establishment in six hexagonal sampling grids, one each in gap and understory sites at three points representing the predominant geomorphic units in this primary forest. Each grid contained 37 sampling points separated by 31 cm-20 m. Monte-Carlo tests of semivariograms against complete spatial randomness indicated that for many variables in all six sampling grids, spatial dependence did not exceed 1 m. A principal component analysis of all sampling points revealed a lack of spatial microhabitat structure, rather than homogeneous patches associated with canopy structure or geomorphology. Our results suggest that ample fine-scale spatial heterogeneity exists to support the coexistence of plant species with differential abiotic requirements for regeneration.
Botropica

halsde-00520179
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halsde-00520179
DOI : 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00620.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : One of the major challenges in forest ecology is to understand the ecology, physiology and potential responses of the> 250000 species of vascular plants of the planet through the categorization of this diversity into functional groups. This approach is essentially based on functional traits analysis, but few investigations were made in tropical areas. The aim of this study was to determine functional groups in two contrasted tropical ecosystems, dry (DF) and mountain rain (MRF) forest (respectively rainfall of 1 200 mm/year and 10 000 mm/year). Guadeloupe Island in FWI presents both these ecosystems spread over less 100 km. In a first time, we developed an original species typology based on 7 "soft" traits, easy to measure (stomatal density, leaf trichom density, chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen content, specific leaf area, wood density, leaf area, plant height). The method was based on principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) applied to these traits measured at the individual level (Blazy et al., 2009). In a second time, we evaluated the relevance of these soft trait-based groups compared to a typology based on 5 "hard" ecophysiological traits, more costly to quantify but with higher functional significance (difference between predawn and minimum leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, maximal carbon assimilation rate, leaf water potential at 90% of loss of stem hydraulic conductivity). When performed on the dominant canopy species in DF and MRF (a total of 13 species and 60 mature individuals), the typological approach based on soft traits seems relevant to discriminate groups with a distinct functional reality. Through both ecosystems, we obtained 4 homogenous groups. Two were exclusively composed by DF's or MRF's species, indicating that a functional strategy can be linked to specific environmental conditions. The two other groups showed a mix of DF and MRF species indicating that different functional strategies can coexist in the same environment. These mixed groups seem distinct by their ecophysiological features, particularly in term of hydraulic characteristics. One group was composed by drought tolerant species, water spender species, with a high xylem embolism resistance, whereas the second one was composed by water saver species, less resistant to embolism. Therefore, a determination of functional groups based on soft traits could be useful to model ecosystem's responses to environmental changes on a global scale.
Book of Abstracts - isem 2013 - Ecological Modelling for Ecosystem Sustainability
Toulouse, France

hal-00964668
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00964668

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option A
Résumé :  
absent
Journal of Experimental Botany

hal-01032195
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032195
DOI : 10.1093/jxb/erp276

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Plant germination and development depend upon a seed's successful dispersal into a suitable habitat and its ability to grow and survive within the surrounding biotic and abiotic environment. The seeds of Aechmea mertensii, a tank-bromeliad species, are dispersed by either Camponotus femoratus or Neoponera goeldii, two ant species that initiate ant gardens (AGs). These two mutualistic ant species influence the vegetative and reproductive traits of the bromeliad through their divergent ecological preferences (i.e. light and substrate). We hypothesised that the seeds dispersed by these two ant species have underlying genetic differences affecting germination, growth and survival of A.mertensii seedlings in different ways. To test this, we used an experimental approach consisting of sowing seeds of A.mertensii: (i) taken from the two AG-ant associations (i.e. seed origin), (ii) in two contrasting light conditions, and (iii) on three different substrates. Light and substrate had significant effects on germination, survival and on eight key leaf traits reflecting plant performance. Seed origin had a significant effect only on germination and on two leaf traits (total dry mass and relative growth rate). Overall, this bromeliad performs better (i.e. high growth and survival rates) when growing both in the shade and in the carton nest developed by C.femoratus ants. These results suggest that the plasticity of the tank bromeliad A.mertensii is mainly due to environment but also to genetic differences related to seed origin, as some traits are heritable. Thus, these two ant species may play contrasting roles in shaping plant evolution and speciation.
ISSN: 1435-8603

hal-01606565
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01606565
DOI : 10.1111/plb.12452
PRODINRA : 407514

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Chlorophyll meters such as the SPAD-502 offer a simple, inexpensive and rapid method to estimate foliar chlorophyll content. However, values provided by SPAD-502 are unitless and require empirical calibrations between SPAD units and extracted chlorophyll values. * Leaves of 13 tree species from the tropical rain forest in French Guiana were sampled to select the most appropriate calibration model among the often-used linear, polynomial and exponential models, in addition to a novel homographic model that has a natural asymptote.* The homographic model best accurately predicted total chlorophyll content (μg cm−2) from SPAD units (R2 = 0.89). Interspecific differences in the homographic model parameters explain less than 7% of the variation in chlorophyll content in our data set. * The utility of the general homographic model for a variety of research and management applications clearly outweighs the slight loss of model accuracy due to the abandon of the species' effect.
ISSN: 1286-4560

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
hal-00883628
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883628
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883628/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883628/file/hal-00883628.pdf
DOI : 10.1051/forest/2010020

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Wood samples were taken from the upper and lower sides of 21 naturally tilted trees from 18 families of angiosperms in the tropical rainforest in French Guyana. The measurement of growth stresses ensured that the two samples were taken from wood tissues in a different mechanical state: highly tensile stressed wood on the upper side, called tension wood and lower tensile stressed wood on the lower side, called opposite wood. Eight species had tension wood fibres with a distinct gelatinous layer (G-layer). The distribution of gelatinous fibres varied from species to species. One of the species, Casearia javitensis (Flacourtiaceae), showed a peculiar multilayered secondary wall in its reaction wood. Comparison between the stress level and the occurrence of the G-layer indicates that the G-layer is not a key factor in the production of high tensile stressed wood.
IAWA Journal

hal-00112579
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00112579
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00112579/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00112579/file/IAWA2006_ClairRuelleBeauchenePrevostFournier_ccsd.pdf
IRD : PAR00001136

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé :   Diplôme : DEA
il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATION
En forêt tropicale humide les espèces arborées ont des stratégies différentes d'acquisition de l'azote : les espèces fixatrices utilisent l'azote atmosphérique N2 de l'air. Il existe des espèces à préférence à ammonium (NH+) ou à nitrate (NO3-), mais aussi des espèces ubiquistes se nourrissant des deux sources d'azote du sol. L'objectif de ce travail était de déterminer si ces stratégies différentes étaient intrinsèques à l'espèce ou si elles étaient conditionnées par le milieu du fait des compétitions intra et/ou interspécifiques. Nous avons étudié la nutrition azotée d'une vingtaine d'espèces d'arbres juvéniles élevés en pot sur sol de forêt en conditions semi-contrôlées (20% d'éclairement). Deux méthodes ont été utilisées : la mesure de l'activité nitrate réductase in vivo après induction par pulvérisation de nitrate sur les feuilles et la signature isotopique naturelle δ15N. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que la majorité des plantes en serre sembleraient capable d'utiliser l'une ou l'autre des deux sources avec une forte plasticité vis-à-vis de l'azote. Quelques espèces cependant n'utiliseraient que l'ammonium comme source d'azote malgré le milieu limitant, bien qu'ayant une activité nitrate reductase potentielle, traduisant une capacité non exploitée à assimiler le nitrate, les plantes fixatrices, elles, sembleraient avoir accès aux deux sources d'azote du sol. En utilisant des traits d'héliophile peu de liens ont été observés avec le tempérament des espèces vis-à-vis de la lumière. Des mesures complémentaires sous différents éclairements (5, 10 et 30%) seraient nécessaires pour conclure sur ce sujet. Les différences de nutrition observées dans le milieu naturel seraient dues aux conditions du milieu même si indirectement il se pourrait que la plante ait le pouvoir d'influencer le choix de la source en inhibant la nitrification au niveau rhizosphérique par le biais d'exsudats racinaires.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189235

hal-01189235
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189235
PRODINRA : 17890

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil
Résumé : Variations in diel activity among hyperdiverse tropical communities of moths, despite representing a key component of niche partitioning between species, have barely been studied so far. Using light trapping from dawn to sunset over a 1-year period in French Guiana, we investigated these variations within and between two families of moths (Sphingidae and Saturniidae). Our results revealed contrasting patterns in flight activity at night between Sphingidae and Saturniidae. Sphingidae reached their peak in species richness and abundance between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., followed by a decrease around 11:00 p.m. to midnight, whereas Saturniidae were continuously present throughout the night, with a peak around midnight. In addition, we found changes in diel activity among some of the most common genera in each family, highlighting distinct behavioral, physiological, and functional traits among taxa. Given differences in flight activity at different taxonomic levels, it is strongly recommended to monitor by light trapping throughout the night to effectively sample saturniid and sphingid assemblages, even though the activity of Sphingidae sharply declines after midnight. These results improve the general natural history information of tropical moths and reinforce the need of further research on the ecological and taxonomic consequences of differences in diel activity.
ISSN: 1519-566X

hal-01536447
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01536447
DOI : 10.1007/s13744-014-0264-3
PRODINRA : 320714

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecole nationale du génie rural
Résumé :  
La régénération naturelle comprend l'ensemble des processus biologiques et écologiques qui permettent aux peuplements de se renouveler. L'article s'attache à décrire synthétiquement l'ensemble des facteurs et des paramètres auxquels sont soumis les végétaux arborés lorsqu'il y a reproduction par voie sexuée. Les stades de la germination, de la plantule, de la jeune tige sont ainsi successivement décrits et les caractéristiques principales du contexte écologique dans lequel ils se déroulent, la forêt tropicale humide, sont mises en relief.
ISSN: 0035-2829

hal-01032116
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032116

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Diffusion du document : INRA Documentation de Centre, Domaine de Duclos, 97170 Petitt-Bourg (Guadeloupe, France) Diplôme : DEA
il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATION
Because soil respiration representes 80% of ecosystem respiration, it is a major flux between biosphere and atmosphere. We examined the effects of root and litter exclusion on soil CO! efflux (Rsu1) using trenching and litter exclusion in a tropical plantation constituted of trees seedlings installed in 16 mono-specific stands 20 years ago near Kourou, French Guyana. Soil CO2 efflux was measured using an infra red gas analyser (PP System,EGM4 ) at 16 randomly distributed plot in each treatment: control, root exclusion, litter exclusion and both root and litter exclusion. in the plantation. We measured R'1l1during four periods, and we have collected soil samples, litter biomass and measured moisture at 5 cm depth in the soil. Soil CO, efflux varied significantly among species from 2,8±O,7f1mo l. m''. s' (mean ± standard deviation) to 7.4± 1.7fLmol. n'-' . s ' for Qualea rosea and Vochys ia tomentosa, respectively. 1'0 significant correlation was found between RSIlI variability and soil moisture, which is mostly related to soil texture in the experimental site. Soil CO2 efflux was significantly reduced in litter exclusion treatment and root exclusion plots (6 months litter and/or root exclusion) during ail measurements period and for ail species, compared to control plots. The reduction of soil CO, efflux was higher in plot without root than in plot without litter of control plot (42% and 25%, respectively). There was an import ant specific diversity in these reductions . We estimated the contribution of roof respiration (Rr) to total Rso1 by calculating the difference between Rso1 control and Rsn l root exclusion plot corrected for the decomposition of root that were killed following t re n e h in ~. Thus the heterotrophic component of soil carbon efflux accounts for 46% of total carbon efflux (1,9f1 mol. rn" . s•') while root respiration accounts for 54% of soil carbon release (2,3 ~t mo l. m-2 S-I) . Because there was a negative and significant correlation between microbial respiration (Rrn) and C/N of mature leaves it seemed to be possible to predict Rm if we known the mature leaves quality. In addition a good estimate theorical R ~, values from R~, measured in different treatments.
La respiration du sol en représentant une part de 80% de la respiration de l'écosystème apparaît être un flux majeur entre la biosphère et l'atmosphère. Nous avons étudié les effets de l'exclusion racinaire et de la litière sur le flux de CO, du sol (R ~ , ) en utilisant la méthode de " Trench-plots" et de suppression de litière dans une plantation d'arbres tropicaux. Ces arbres, âgés de 20 ans ont été plantés sur un sol uniforme, près de Kourou en Guyane française, en 16 placeaux mono-spécifiques. Pour mesurer les flux de CO2 provenant du sol, nous avons utilisé un analyseur différentiel de gaz infrarouge portable muni d'une chambre. Les mesures ont été faites sur 4 traitements différents tels que : le contrôle, l'exclusion racinaire, l'exclusion de litière et l'exclusion de litière et de racine et ce, répétés sur chacune des 16 placettes mono-spécifiques. Cette étude comporte 4 campagnes de mesures. Nous avons également effectué des prélèvements de sol de litière et nous avons fait des mesures d’humidité de sol à une profondeur de 5 cm. Les flux de C01 du sol varient fortement entre espèces de 2.8±O.7 ~t m o 1. m-2. sol à 7 A± 1. 7 ~t m o l. m•1 sol pour Qua/ev rosea ct Vochysto tomentasa, respectivement. Il n'existe pas de corrélation significative entre les variations de Rw l ct celles de l'humidité du sol (indication sur la texture du sol de la plantation ). Nous avons observé que Rso1 était significativement plus faible dans les placeaux sans racines et/ou sans litière (6 mois après la mise en place de l'expérimentation) pour toutes les campagnes de mesures et pour toutes les espèces que dans les placeaux contrôlés. Cette réduction du flux de CO2 du sol est plus forte dans les "trench-plots " que dans les traitement s d'exclusion de litière avec 42 et 25% respectivement. Un effet "traitement " et un effet "espèce" important expliquent 3 1"/.. ct 13% de la variabilité totale de R~. Nous avons cherché à connaître la contribution des racines dans les valeurs de R""I. en comparant le flux de CO2 provenant du sol sur des "trench -plot s'' au flux de COl provenant du sol dans les placeaux contrôlés . Cette estimation a été corrigée pour prendre en compte la décomposition des racines tuées par les tranchées. Ainsi, la composante appartenant aux micro -organismes représente 46% du flux total de carbone provenant du sol (1.9Jlmo l. m-2 S•I ) alors que la respiration des racines représente 54% du dégagement de carbone (2 ,3~lmol. m ol . 5-La respiration des micro-organismes pourrait être estimée en mesurant le C/N des feuilles matures puisqu'il existe une corrélation significative et négative entre les deux. Enfin les résultats obtenus sur les différents traitements permettent d'obtenir une bonne estimation de la respiration du sol avec un RSIlI théorique corrélé à 66% avec les valeurs réelles mesurées.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189239

hal-01189239
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189239
PRODINRA : 18212

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Wasp nests range from simple to complex structures made of paper or mud. Here, we show that a Neotropical wasp of the genus Nitela builds its nest entirely by weaving endophytic fungal hyphae and spider silk harvested from the leaves growing in the understory of the rain forest in French Guiana.
ISSN: 0006-3606

hal-01095857
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01095857
DOI : 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00645.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option B
Résumé : International audience
To recover verticality after disturbance, angiosperm trees produce " tension wood " allowing them to bend actively. The driving force of the tension has been shown to take place in the G-layer, a specific unlignified layer of the cell wall observed in most temperate species. However, in tropical rain forests, the G-layer is often absent and the mechanism generating the forces to reorient trees remains unclear. A study was carried out on tilted seedlings, saplings and adult Simarouba amara trees – a species known to not produce a G-layer. Microscopic observations were done on sections of normal and tension wood after staining or observed under UV light to assess the presence/absence of lignin. We showed that S. amara produces a cell-wall layer with all of the characteristics typical of G-layers, but that this G-layer can be observed only as a temporary stage of the cell-wall development because it is masked by a late lignification. Being thin and lignified, tension wood fibres cannot be distinguished from normal wood fibres in the mature wood of adult trees. These observations indicate that the mechanism generating the high tensile stress in tension wood is likely to be the same as that in species with a typical G-layer and also in species where the G-layer cannot be observed in mature cells.
ISSN: 0829-318X

hal-01229280
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01229280
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01229280/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01229280/file/Roussel-Clair-2015-TreePhysiol-LateLignifGLayerSimarouba_preprintHAL.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/treephys/tpv082

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : The analysis of fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) within populations can provide insights into eco-evolutionary processes. Restricted dispersal and locally occurring genetic drift are the primary causes for FSGS at equilibrium, as described in the isolation by distance (IBD) model. Beyond IBD expectations, spatial, environmental or historical factors can affect FSGS. We examined FSGS in seven African and Neotropical populations of the late-successional rain forest tree Symphonia globulifera L. f. (Clusiaceae) to discriminate the influence of drift-dispersal vs. landscape/ecological features and historical processes on FSGS. We used spatial principal component analysis and Bayesian clustering to assess spatial genetic heterogeneity at SSRs and examined its association with plastid DNA and habitat features. African populations (from Cameroon and São Tomé) displayed a stronger FSGS than Neotropical populations at both marker types (mean Sp = 0.025 vs. Sp = 0.008 at SSRs) and had a stronger spatial genetic heterogeneity. All three African populations occurred in pronounced altitudinal gradients, possibly restricting animal-mediated seed dispersal. Cyto-nuclear disequilibria in Cameroonian populations also suggested a legacy of biogeographic history to explain these genetic patterns. Conversely, Neotropical populations exhibited a weaker FSGS, which may reflect more efficient wide-ranging seed dispersal by Neotropical bats and other dispersers. The population from French Guiana displayed an association of plastid haplotypes with two morphotypes characterized by differential habitat preferences. Our results highlight the importance of the microenvironment for eco-evolutionary processes within persistent tropical tree populations.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01608324
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01608324
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0182515
PRODINRA : 403154
PUBMED : 28771629

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Diffusion du document : INRA Antilles-Guyane, UMR ECOFOG, 97387 Kourou, Guyane (France)Diplôme : Maîtrise
il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATION
Nous avons analysé la composition chimique de feuilles matures et sénescentes de 21 espèces d'arbres de forêt tropicale humide. Ces arbres ont été plantés il y a 20 ans, sur un sol uniforme pour tous, sous forme de jeunes plants. Cette plantation est organisée sous forme de placeaux mono-spécifiques et estsituée près de Kourou, en Guyane française. Les mesures de concentration d’azote, de phosphore, de carbone et des polyphénols ont été réalisées et ont permis de calculer le rapport C/N et la résorption desnutriments. Les compositions chimiques varient radicalement entre les espèces à la fois pour les feuilles matures et sénescentes : dans les feuilles matures les concen- trations en N et P varient de 1.03% à 2.69% et de 0,037% à 0,115%, respectivement. La concentration d'N dans les feuilles sénescentes varie de 0,72% à 2.03% et pour le P de 0,0 13% à 0.074%. La vitesse de croissance est positivement corrélée avec laconcentration d'N dans les feuilles. La résorption est le phénomène suivant lequel les plantes réabsorbent les nutriments des feuilles avant la période d'abscission pour les redistribuer à travers ses tissus.L'efficience de résorption varie fortement en fonction des espèces et est plus élevée pour le P que pour l'N. La résorption de l'N varie de -9,84% à 57.22% (moyenne ~30.7%) et celle du P varie de -15,75% à 79,56% (moyenne ~47.64%). Une analyse par corrélation montre que les résorptions de N et P sont signifi- cativement et positivement corrélés. Il y a aussi une corrélation significative et positive entre l'efficience de résorption et i) les concentrations en nutriment dans les feuilles vertes et ii) le coût de construction des feuilles et la vitesse de croissance.Parmi les espèces, une forte relation positive est trouvée entre le C/N de la litière et la résorption de l’N,suggérant que celle-ci est un élément déterminant de la qualité de la litière. Une forte résorption entraîne une faible qualité de litière et par conséquent une mauvaise décomposition. La résorption et la décomposition sont liés dans le recyclage des nutriments dans les écosystèmes, et sont négativement corrélés. Il semble que la connaissance de la résorption seule ou de la décomposition seule peut fausser la compréhension du fonctionnement de l’écosystème ou des espèces.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189262

hal-01189262
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189262
PRODINRA : 21212

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Studies on the periodicity of wood formation provide essential data on tree age and factors related to the control of tree growth. The aim of this work was to investigate the cambial phenology and its relation with leaf phenology and climatic seasonality in two tropical rainforest species belonging to the genus Parkia known for having a contrasted leaf phenology. From wood samples collected at 15 day intervals from April 2009 to February 2012 in five trees of both species, we quantified cambial activity by counting layers of cells in cambial zone, enlarging cells zone and wall thickening cells zone from wood prepared anatomical micro sections. In the same time, we observed leaf shedding behaviors in the crown of the studied trees. In both species, cambial activity was significantly reduced during leafless period. However, the cambial activity of P. velutina was not affected by seasonality while in P. nitida, we found a significant positive effect of the dry season on cambial activity. This diminution of activity associated to leaf shedding occurred annually during the dry season in P. nitida whereas the trees were not synchronous in time for P. velutina. On the contrary that is often admitted, the rest cambial period can be independent of environmental restriction such as dry season. Leaf phenology remains the best proxy to estimate cambial activity.
ISSN: 0931-1890

hal-01135166
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01135166
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01135166/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01135166/file/Art_Morel_al_Seasonal_variations_phenological_traits_2015.pdf
DOI : 10.1007/s00468-015-1177-4

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Irradiance elicits a large plasticity in leaf traits, but little is known about the modulation of this plasticity by ontogeny. Interactive effects of relative irradiance and ontogeny were assessed on leaf traits for two tropical rainforest tree species: Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff and Tachigali melinonii (Harms) Barneby (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae). Eleven morphological and physiological leaf traits, relative to photosynthetic performance, were measured on saplings at three different architectural development stages (ASD 1, 2 and 3) and used to derive composite traits like photosynthetic N-use efficiency. Measurements were made along a natural irradiance gradient. The effect of ASD was very visible and differed between the two species. For Dicorynia guianensis, only leaf mass-per-area (LMA) significantly increased with ASDs whereas for Tachigali melinonii, almost all traits were affected by ASD: LMA, leaf N content and photosynthetic capacity increased from ASD 1 to ASD 3. Photosynthetic N-use-efficiency was not affected by ASD in any species. Leaf traits were severely modulated by irradiance, whereas the degree of plasticity was very similar among ASDs. Only few interactions were detected between irradiance and ASD, for leaf thickness, carbon content, and the ratio Chl/N in T. melinonii and for photosynthetic capacity in D. guianensis. We conclude that ontogenic development and irradiance-elicited plasticity modulated leaf traits, with almost no interaction, i.e., the degree of irradiance-elicited plasticity was stable across development stages and independent of ontogeny in these two species, at least in the early stages of development assessed here
ISSN: 1286-4560

halsde-00434378
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halsde-00434378
DOI : 10.1051/forest/2009062