Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : A standardized rapid inventory method providing information on both tree species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in tropical forests will be an important tool for evaluating efforts to conserve biodiversity and to estimate the carbon emissions that result from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Herein, we contrast five common plot methods differing in shape, size, and effort requirements to estimate tree diversity and aboveground tree biomass (AGB). We simulated the methods across six Neotropical forest sites that represent a broad gradient in forest structure, tree species richness, and floristic composition, and we assessed the relative performance of methods by evaluating the bias and precision of their estimates of AGB and tree diversity. For a given sample of forest area, a several small' (<1ha) sampling strategy led to a smaller coefficient of variation (CV) in the estimate of AGB than a few large' one. The effort (person-days) required to achieve an accurate AGB estimate (<10% CV), however, was greater for the smallest plots (0.1ha) than for a compromise approach using 0.5ha modified Gentry plots, which proved to be the most efficient method to estimate AGB across all forest types. Gentry plots were also the most efficient at providing accurate estimates of tree diversity (<10% CV of Hill number). We recommend the use of the 0.5ha modified Gentry plot method in future rapid inventories, and we discuss a set of criteria that should inform any choice of inventory method.
ISSN: 0006-3606

hal-01032408
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032408
DOI : 10.1111/btp.12006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecological Society of America
Résumé : We investigated performance trade-offs among seedlings of nine tropical tree species during a five-year field experiment. Seedlings were grown in eight microhabitat types composed of paired gap and shaded understory sites in each of four soil types. We defined performance trade-offs relevant to coexistence as significant pairwise rank reversals for species performance between contrasting situations, of which we characterize three types: microhabitat, fitness component, and ontogenetic. Only 2 of 36 species pairs exhibited microhabitat trade-offs or reversed rankings for survival or relative growth rate (RGR) among microhabitats, and only one species pair reversed performance ranks among soil types. We found stronger evidence for rank reversals between fitness components (survival and RGR), particularly in gap vs. understory environments, suggesting a general trade-off between shade tolerance (survival in shade) and gap establishment (RGR in gaps). Third, the most frequent rank reversals between species pairs occurred between early and later ontogenetic stages, especially between fitness components in contrasting microhabitats. Overall, 15 of 36 pairs of potentially competing species exhibited some type of seedling performance trade-off, two species pairs never outperformed one another, and for 19 species pairs one species was a consistent better performer. We suggest that ontogenetic trade-offs, in concert with microhabitat and fitness component trade-offs, may contribute to species coexistence of long-lived organisms such as tropical trees.
ISSN: 0012-9658

hal-01031914
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031914

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Over the past decade, much attention has been devoted to the development of forest biomass estimation methods at a stand scale, leading to the establishment of allometric models (Chave et al., 2014). These allometric equations use a unique wood specific gravity value (WSG) per species, but neglect the within tree variations of WSG found by others (Wiemann & Williamson, 1989).The main objectives of this study are (1) to illustrate the diversity of radial (from pith to bark) and longitudinal (from bottom to top) patterns of WSG variation within and between species, (2) to highlight different trends of WSG radial variations and the possible misinterpretations of these trends due to the effect of heartwood and (3) to link these variations and patterns to the successional status of the species (from pioneer to sciaphilic species).We sampled 33 small trees (10 Wood sciences underpinning tropical ecology and management. International closing symposium of the XYLAREDD project.
Tervuren, Belgium

hal-01188894
https://hal-sde.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01188894

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : Architectural analyses of temperate tree species using a chronological approach suggest that the expression of epicormic branches is closely related to low growth rates in the axes that make up the branching system. Therefore, sole consideration of epicormic criteria may be sufficient to identify trees with low secondary growth levels or with both low primary and secondary growth levels. In a tropical tree such as Dicorynia guianensis (basralocus), where chronological studies are difficult, this relationship could be very useful as an easily accessible indicator of growth potentials. A simple method of architectural tree description was used to characterize the global structure of more than 1650 basralocus trees and to evaluate their growth level. Measurements of simple growth characters [height, basal diameter, internode length of submittal part (top of the main axis of the tree)] and the observation of four structural binary descriptors on the main stem (presence of sequential branches and young epicormic branches, state of the submittal part, global orientation), indicated that epicormic branch formation is clearly related to a decrease in length of the successive growth units of the main stem. Analysis of height vs. diameter ratios among different tree subgroups, with and without epicormic branching, suggested that trees with epicormic branches generally have a low level of secondary growth compared with primary growth.
ISSN: 0305-7364

hal-01032037
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032037
DOI : 10.1093/aob/mcg119

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Variation of dead wood decay rates among tropical trees remains one source of uncertainty in global models of the carbon cycle. Taking advantage of a broad forest plot network surveyed for tree mortality over a 23-year period, we measured the remaining fraction of boles from 367 dead trees from 26 neotropical species widely varying in wood density (0.23–1.24 g cm-3) and tree circumference at death time (31.5–272.0 cm). We modeled decay rates within a Bayesian framework assuming a first order differential equation to model the decomposition process and tested for the effects of forest management (selective logging vs. unexploited), of mode of death (standing vs. downed) and of topographical levels (bottomlands vs. hillsides vs. hilltops) on wood decay rates. The general decay model predicts the observed remaining fraction of dead wood (R2 = 60%) with only two biological predictors: tree circumference at death time and wood specific density. Neither selective logging nor local topography had a differential effect on wood decay rates. Including the mode of death into the model revealed thatstanding dead trees decomposed faster than downed dead trees, but the gain of model accuracy remains rather marginal. Overall, these results suggest that the release of carbon from tropical dead trees to the atmosphere can be simply estimated using tree circumference at death time and wood density.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01094187
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01094187
DOI : 10.1007/s00442-010-1602-8

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé :  Diffusion du document : INRA Antilles-Guyane, UMR ECOFOG, F97387 Kourou, Guyane (France)Diplôme : Master Recherche
il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATION
Origin and maintenance of species diversity is one of the main questions in evolutive biology. Species complexes, ie sister species still exchanging genes, are common in tropical forests and contribute to this diversity. This poster describes the organization of the genetic diversity in two closely related tree species, Carapa guianensis and C. procera, which are in sympatry in French Guiana. By using a clustering method based on nuclear markers (Pritchard et al. 2000), 506 trees sampled in French Guiana have been assigned to a species. Interestingly, many individuals harbored intermediate genome and we assigned to an hybrid group. The geographic distribution of these individuals revealed the presence of a contact zone between the two carapa species in the Eastern part of French Guiana. We then analysed genetic diversity at cholroplast genome and revealed a symmetrical gene flow between the two sister species. In addition, hybridization between hybrids and parental species ar likely possible but still need validations thanks to control crosses. Within species, we finally revealed the presence of a departure from the neutral equilibrium in thedirection of a population expansion likely related to Holocene perturbations. This expansion may have contributed to the hybrid zone formation in French Guiana.
L'origine et le maintien de la diversité spécifique des forêts tropicales humides est une question clé en biologie évolutive. Ce travail contribue à améliorer la compréhension de ces mécanismes à travers l'étude de la distribution de la diversité génétique de deux espèces sœurs interfertiles, le Carapa procera et C. guianensis en Guyane. L'assignation botanique des arbres échantillonnés (506) a été effectuée en adoptant une approche moléculaire qui repose sur l'analyse de la répartition des fréquences alléliques de six microsatellites nucléaires (Pritchard et al. 2000). Chaque locus présente des allèles dont les différences de fréquences entre espèces sont importantes, permettant ainsi d'envisager des outils simples de reconnaissances pour ces espèces difficilement identifiables sur la seule base de leurs caractères phénotypiques. Une zone de contact des deux espèces où les phénomènes d'hybridations sont fréquents a par ailleurs été localisée. En associant une analyse de la diversité au niveau du génome chloroplastique sur un sous ensemble d'individus (244), j'ai pu montrer que l'introgression est bidirectionnelle et que les backcross sont possibles. Les flux de gènes entre les deux espèces sont fréquents, et à l'intérieur des espèces, les populations sont peu structurées bien que la différenciation soit significative entre les sites les plus éloignés. Enfin, ce travail met en évidence que les populations de chacune des deux espèces présentent un signal d'expansion de population, avec un signal plus fort pour le C. procera, qui laisse présager une expansion récente, vraisemblablement à l'origine de la zone de contact. L'impact des évènements climatiques et/ou des activités amérindiennes des 10 000 dernières années pourrait expliquer la restriction puis l'expansion de ce genre post pionnier.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189488

hal-01189488
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189488
PRODINRA : 42333

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : Plant litter diversity effects on decomposition rates are frequently reported, but with a strong bias towards temperate ecosystems. Altered decomposition and nutrient recycling with changing litter diversity may be particularly important in tree species-rich tropical rainforests on nutrient-poor soils. Using 28 different mixtures of leaf litter from 16 Amazonian rainforest tree species, we tested the hypothesis that litter mixture effects on decomposition increase with increasing functional litter diversity. Litter mixtures and all single litter species were exposed in the field for 9 months using custom-made microcosms with soil fauna access. In order to test the hypothesis that the long-term presence of tree species contributing to the litter mixtures increases mixture effects on decomposition, microcosms were installed in a plantation at sites including the respective tree species composition and in a nearby natural forest where these tree species are absent. We found that mixture decomposition deviated from predictions based on single species, with predominantly synergistic effects. Functional litter diversity, defined as either richness, evenness, or divergence based on a wide range of chemical traits, did not explain the observed litter mixture effects. However, synergistic effects in litter mixtures increased with the long-term presence of tree species contributing to these mixtures as the home field advantage hypothesis assumes. Our data suggest that complementarity effects on mixed litter decomposition may emerge through long-term interactions between aboveground and belowground biota.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01032393
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032393
DOI : 10.1007/s00442-011-1966-4

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nature Publishing Group
Résumé :  
In this paper, we report a study of the mating system and gene flow of Symphonia globulifera, a hermaphroditic, mainly bird-pollinated tree species with a large geographic distribution in the tropical Americas and Africa.Using three microsatellites, we analysed 534 seeds of 28 open pollinated families and 164 adults at the experimental site 'Paracou' in French Guiana. We observed, compared to other tropical tree species, relatively high values for the effective number of alleles. Significant spatial genetic structure was detected, with trees at distances up to 150 m more genetically similar than expected at random. We estimated parameters of the mating system and gene flow by using the mixed mating model and the TwoGener approach. The estimated multilocus outcrossing rate, tm, was 0.920. A significant level of biparental inbreeding and a high proportion of full-sibs were estimated for the 28 seed arrays. We estimated mean pollen dispersal distances between 27 and 53 m according to the dispersal models used. Although the adult population density of S. globulifera in Paracou was relatively high, the joint estimation of pollen dispersal and density of reproductive trees gave effective density estimates of 1.6 and 1.3trees/ha. The parameters of the mating system and gene flow are discussed in the context of spatial genetic and demographic structures, flowering phenology and pollinator composition and behaviour.
ISSN: 0018-067X

hal-01032178
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032178
DOI : 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800560

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The patterns of the distribution of fungal species and their potential interactions with trees remain understudied in Neotropical rainforests, which harbor more than 16,000 tree species, mostly dominated by endomycorrhizal trees. Our hypothesis was that tree species shape the non-mycorrhizal fungal assemblages in soil and litter and that the diversity of fungal communities in these two compartments is partly dependent on the coverage of trees in the Neotropical rainforest. In French Guiana, a long-term plantation and a natural forest were selected to test this hypothesis. Fungal ITS1 regions were sequenced from soil and litter samples from within the vicinity of tree species. A broad range of fungal taxa was found, with 42 orders and 14 classes.Significant spatial heterogeneity in the fungal communities was found without strong variation in the species richness and evenness among the tree plots. However, tree species shaped the fungal assemblages in the soil and litter, explaining up to 18 % of the variation among the communities in the natural forest.These results demonstrate that vegetation cover has an important effect on the structure of fungal assemblages inhabiting the soil and litter in Amazonian forests, illustrating the relative impact of deterministic processes on fungal community structures in these highly diverse ecosystems.
ISSN: 0095-3628

hal-01595373
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01595373
DOI : 10.1007/s00248-016-0839-0
PRODINRA : 395655
PUBMED : 27645139

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Functional traits are posited to explain interspecific differences in performance, but these relationships are difficult to describe for long-lived organisms such as trees, which exhibit strong ontogenetic changes in demographic rates. Here, we use a size-dependent model of tree growth to test the extent to which of 17 functional traits related to leaf and stem economics, adult stature and seed size predict the ontogenetic trajectory of tree growth.[br/] 2. We used a Bayesian modelling framework to parameterize and contrast three size-dependent diameter growth models using 16 years of census data from 5524 individuals of 50 rain forest tree species: a size-dependent model, a size-dependent model with species-specific parameters and a size-dependent model based on functional traits.[br/] 3. Most species showed clear hump-shaped ontogenetic growth trajectories and, across species, maximum growth rate varied nearly tenfold, from 0.58 to 5.51 mm year(-1). Most species attained their maximum growth at 60% of their maximum size, whereas the magnitude of ontogenetic changes in growth rate varied widely among species.[br/] 4. The Trait-Model provided the best compromise between explained variance and model parsimony and needed considerably fewer parameters than the model with species terms.[br/] 5. Stem economics and adult stature largely explained interspecific differences in growth strategy. Maximum absolute diameter growth rates increased with increasing adult stature and leaf delta(13)C and decreased with increasing wood density. Species with light wood had the greatest potential to modulate their growth, resulting in hump-shaped ontogenetic growth curves. Seed size and leaf economics, generally thought to be of paramount importance for plant performance, had no significant relationships with the growth parameters.[br/] 6. Synthesis. Our modelling approach offers a promising way to link demographic parameters to their functional determinants and hence to predict growth trajectories in species-rich communities with little parameter inflation, bridging the gap between functional ecology and population demography.
ISSN: 0022-0477

hal-01032387
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032387
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01883.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : Growth defense tradeoff theory predicts that plants in low-resource habitats invest more energy in defense mechanisms against natural enemies than growth, whereas plants in high-resource habitats can afford higher leaf loss rates. A less-studied defense against herbivores involves the synchrony of leaf production, which can be an effective defense strategy if leaf biomass production exceeds the capacity of consumption by insects. The aim of this study was to determine whether leaf synchrony varied across habitats with different available resources and whether insects were able to track young leaf production among tree habitat specialists in a tropical forest of French Guiana. We predicted that high-resource habitats would exhibit more synchrony in leaf production due to the low cost and investment to replace leaf tissue. We also expected closer patterns of leaf synchrony and herbivory within related species, assuming that they shared herbivores. We simultaneously monitored leaf production and herbivory rates of five pairs of tree species, each composed of a specialist of terra firme or white-sand forests within the same lineage. Our prediction was not supported by the strong interaction of habitat and lineage for leaf synchrony within individuals of the same species; although habitat specialists differed in leaf synchrony within four of five lineages, the direction of the effect was variable. All species showed short time lags for the correlation between leaf production and herbivory, suggesting that insects are tightly tracking leaf production, especially for the most synchronous species. Leaf synchrony may provide an important escape defense against herbivores, and its expression appears to be constrained by both evolutionary history and environmental factors.
ISSN: 1385-0237

hal-01204221
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204221
DOI : 10.1007/s11258-013-0290-y
PRODINRA : 288500

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
1. Estimating forest above-ground biomass (AGB), or carbon (AGC), in tropical forests has become a majorconcern for scientists and stakeholders. However, AGB assessment procedures are not fully standardized andeven more importantly the uncertainty associated with AGB estimates is seldom assessed.2. Here, we present an R package designed to compute both AGB/AGC estimate and its associated uncertaintyfrom forest plot datasets, using a Bayesian inference procedure. The package builds upon previous work onpantropical and regional biomass allometric equations and published datasets by default but it can alsointegrate unpublished or complementary datasets in many steps.3. BIOMASS performs a number of standard tasks on input forest tree inventories: i) tree speciesidentification, if available, is automatically corrected; ii) wood density is estimated from tree species identity;iii) if height data are available, a local height-diameter allometry may be built; else height is inferred frompantropical or regional models; iv) finally, AGB/AGC are estimated by propagating the errors associated withall the calculation steps up to the final estimate. R code is given in the paper and in the appendix forillustration purpose.4. The BIOMASS package should contribute to improved standards for AGB calculation for tropical foreststands, and will encourage users to report the uncertainties associated with stand-level AGB/AGC estimatesin future studies.
ISSN: 2041-210X

hal-01558180
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01558180
DOI : 10.1111/2041-210X.12753

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Radiocarbon dating and "old wood problem" in the Antilles : the state of the artAmong the many effects that may distort the interpretation of radiocarbon dates are those for which the age of the archaeological event is different from the radiocarbon age of the sample or "14C event" age. This type of problem arises in many cases, notably in the "old wood effect”, and occurs in various regions of the world where very long-lived trees species are common. In the Caribbean anthracological studies indicate a very high frequency of some indigenous centuries-old species such as Guaiacum, Guaiacum officinale L. However the absence of tree-ring data in humid tropical zones deprives us of an accurate inventory of long-lived species and especially the assessment of their longevity. Here we present measurements which enable us to estimate the longevity of archaeological Guaiacum wood posts. They highlight a gap of several centuries between wood from the outer edge and the heart of the tree. This example illustrates the additional uncertainty that can result from dating archeological events when dates are realized on unidentified botanical species from which the area that was sampled is unknown. Another source of error could arise from the use of rot-proof dead wood as fuel if we take into consideration that major hurricanes can produce large amounts of dead wood that may be collected for decades, even centuries. To improve chronometric data used in archaeological interpretations, it is necessary to ensure the quality of the dating process by following a protocol similar to those used in other regions of the world based on a better understanding of the material to be dated by preliminary identifications of wood samples: species, anatomical part, wood moisture content (unseasoned or seasoned).
Radiocarbono y "problema madera vieja", que data de las Antillas: estado del arteEntre los muchos efectos que pueden distorsionar la interpretación de fechas de radiocarbono, destacan aquellos para los que la edad de la prueba arqueológica es diferente de la edad de radiocarbono de la muestra, o la edad del "evento de radiocarbono." Este tipo de problema se presenta en muchos casos, especialmente uno llamado "efecto madera vieja." Esto se refleja en diversas regiones del mundo donde las especies de plantas de mucha longevidad son comunes. En el Caribe, los estudios antracológicos disponibles indican una muy alta frecuencia de algunas especies autóctonas como el guayaco, Guaiacum officinale L. Sin embargo, la casi ausencia de datos de anillos de árboles en los trópicos húmedos, nos impide realizar un inventario exacto de especies de mucha longevidad y sobre todo la evaluación de la longevidad. Algunas de las pruebas presentadas aquí permitieron una estimación de la longevidad de de unos postes de guayaco de origen arqueológico. Ponen de manifiesto una brecha de varios siglos entre las partes externas y el corazón del tronco. Este ejemplo ilustra la aparición de una incertidumbre adicional en la datación de los eventos arqueológicos cuando no conocemos la especie botánica y tampoco la zona de la muestra en el árbol. Otra fuente de error puede surgir de la utilización de la madera muerta de calidad duradera como combustible ya que los grandes huracanes pueden producir grandes cantidades de madera muerta, que puede ser requerida durante décadas, incluso siglos. Para mejorar los datos cronométricos utilizados en interpretaciones arqueológicas, es necesario asegurarse de la calidad de las fechas, y por lo tanto seguir un protocolo similar a los utilizados en otras regiones fundado en una mejor comprensión de los elementos: especie, parte anatómica, humedad de la madera usada (verde o seco).
Parmi les nombreux effets susceptibles de fausser l’interprétation des datations par le radiocarbone, figurent ceux pour lesquels l’âge de l’événement archéologique est différent de l’âge radiocarbone de l’échantillon, ou âge de l’« événement radiocarbone ». Ce type de problème se pose dans de nombreux cas, en particulier celui dénommé « effet vieux bois ». Cette question est prise en compte dans diverses régions du monde où des espèces végétales très longévives sont fréquentes. Dans les Antilles les études anthracologiques disponibles indiquent une fréquence très importante de certaines espèces autochtones multiséculaires dont le gaïac, Guaiacum officinale L.. Cependant, la quasi absence de données dendrochronologiques dans la zone tropicale humide, nous privent d’un inventaire précis des espèces longévives et surtout de l’évaluation de leur longévité. Quelques tests présentés ici ont permis une estimation de la longévité de poteaux d’origine archéologique en bois de gaïac. Ils mettent en évidence un décalage de plusieurs siècles entre les parties externes et le cœur du tronc. Cet exemple illustre l’apparition d’une incertitude supplémentaire dans la datation de l’événement archéologique lorsque que l’on ne connaît ni l’espèce botanique ni la zone de prélèvement dans l’arbre. Une autre source d’erreur pourrait provenir de l’utilisation de bois mort de qualité très durable comme combustible, sachant que les grands cyclones peuvent produire d’importantes quantités de bois mort susceptible d’être récolté pendant des décennies, voire des siècles. Afin d’améliorer les données chronologiques utilisées dans les interprétations archéologiques, il apparaît nécessaire de s’assurer de la qualité des datations, et donc de suivre un protocole similaire à ceux utilisés dans d’autres régions basé sur une meilleure connaissance des éléments datés : espèce, partie anatomique, humidité du bois utilisé (vert ou sec).
Puerto Rico 2013 : Actas del 25to Congreso Internacional de Arqueología del Caribe - Proceeding of the 25th International Congress for Caribbean Archeology - Comptes rendus des communications du 25e Congrés International de l'Archéologie de la Caraïbe
San-Juan, Puerto Rico

hal-01198567
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01198567
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01198567/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01198567/file/Stouvenot%20et%20al.%202015.%20Effet%20vieux%20bois%20radiocarbone%20Antilles%20HD.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Heartwood/sapwood profile and the tradeoff between trunk and crown increment in a natural forest: the case study of a tropical tree (Dicorynia guianensis Amsh., Fabaceae) Key message Sapwood area and the radial growth rate of the trunk follow the same pattern at breast height, with an initial increase and subsequent constant value, resulting from the increasing growth allocation toward the crown rather than tree decline. Heartwood area and heartwood volume in the trunk increase more rapidly after this shift occurs. Abstract Sapwood (SW) and heartwood (HW) are two functionally distinct classifications of wood in perennial stems for which quantities can vary greatly in tropical trees. Numerous positive correlations have been found between the radial growth rate (RGR) and SW quantity; however, variations in the SW/HW quantities have not been studied in light of the ontogenetic variation of RGR. Wood core sampling, intensive measurements of tree structure (number of branches, stem volumes), and radial growth monitoring were performed on an abundant and highly exploited tree species in French Guiana (Dicorynia guianensis) to investigate the relationship between RGR, SW/HW quantity, tree structure, and their variations on the course of a tree's ontogeny. SW area and RGR followed the same pattern of variation throughout tree development, both increasing first and reaching a steady state after 50 cm DBH (diameter at breast height). After this value, we observed a strong increase in both the HW area and HW volume increment, concomitant with a more rapid increase in crown volume. The stabilization of RGR for trees with DBH >50 cm was related not to a tree's decline but rather to an increasing wood allocation to the crown, confirming that RGR at breast height is a poor indicator of whole-tree growth for bigger individuals. We also confirmed that HW formation is an ontogenetic process managing SW quantity that is continuously and increasingly produced within the crown as the tree grows. This study highlights the effect of growth-mediated ontogenetic changes on the localization of water and carbohydrate storage within a tree, resulting from SW and HW dynamics throughout tree ontogeny.
ISSN: 0931-1890

hal-01654003
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01654003
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01654003/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01654003/file/Lehnebach%20et%20al.%E2%80%94Trees%202016-%20Own%20version.pdf
DOI : 10.1007/s00468-016-1473-7

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Ethnopharmacological relevancePsidium acutangulum Mart. ex DC is a small tree used by the Wayana Amerindians from the Upper-Maroni in French Guiana for the treatment of malaria.Aim of the studyIn a previous study, we highlighted the in vitro antiplasmodial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the traditional decoction of P. acutangulum aerial parts. Our goal was then to investigate on the origin of the biological activity of the traditional remedy, and eventually characterize active constituents.Materials and methodsLiquid-liquid extractions were performed on the decoction, and the antiplasmodial activity evaluated against chloroquine-resistant FcB1 ([3H]-hypoxanthine bioassay) and 7G8 (pLDH bioassay) P. falciparum strains, and on a chloroquine sensitive NF54 ([3H]-hypoxanthine bioassay) P. falciparum strain. The ethyl acetate fraction (D) was active and underwent bioguided fractionation. All the isolated compounds were tested on P. falciparum FcB1 strain. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα) of the ethyl acetate fraction and of an anti-Plasmodium active compound, was concurrently assessed on LPS-stimulated human PBMC and NO secretion inhibition was measured on LPS stimulated RAW murine macrophages. Cytotoxicity of the fractions and pure compounds was measured on VERO cells, L6 mammalian cells, PBMCs, and RAW cells.ResultsFractionation of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction (IC50 ranging from 3.4 to <1 µg/mL depending on the parasite strain) led to the isolation of six pure compounds: catechin and five glycosylated quercetin derivatives. These compounds have never been isolated from this plant species. Two of these compounds (wayanin and guaijaverin) were found to be moderately active against P. falciparum FcB1 in vitro (IC50 5.5 and 6.9 µM respectively). We proposed the name wayanin during public meetings organized in June 2015 in the Upper-Maroni villages, in homage to the medicinal knowledge of the Wayana population. At 50 µg/mL, the ethyl acetate fraction (D) significantly inhibited IL-1β secretion (−46%) and NO production (−21%), as previously observed for the decoction. The effects of D and guiajaverin (4) on the secretion of other cytokines or NO production were not significant.ConclusionsThe confirmed antiplasmodial activity of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the decoction and of the isolated compounds support the previous results obtained on the P. acutangulum decoction. The antiplasmodial activity might be due to a mixture of moderately active non-toxic flavonoids. The anti-inflammatory activities were less marked for ethyl acetate fraction (D) than for the decoction.
ISSN: 0378-8741

hal-01313006
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01313006
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01313006/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01313006/file/Houel_Wayanin_and.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.jep.2016.04.053

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : We examined tree-soil habitat associations in lowland forest communities at Paracou, French Guiana. We analyzed a large dataset assembling six permanent plots totaling 37.5 ha, in which extensive LIDAR-derived topographical data and soil chemical and physical data have been integrated with precise botanical determinations. Map of relative elevation from the nearest stream summarized both soil fertility and hydromorphic characteristics, with seasonally inundated bottomlands having higher soil phosphate content and base saturation, and plateaus having higher soil carbon, nitrogen and aluminum contents. We employed a statistical test of correlations between tree species density and environmental maps, by generating Monte Carlo simulations of random raster images that preserve autocorrelation of the original maps. Nearly three fourths of the 94 taxa with at least one stem per ha showed a significant correlation between tree density and relative elevation, revealing contrasted species-habitat associations in term of abundance, with seasonally inundated bottomlands (24.5% of species) and well-drained plateaus (48.9% of species). We also observed species preferences for environments with or without steep slopes (13.8% and 10.6%, respectively). We observed that closely-related species were frequently associated with different soil habitats in this region (70% of the 14 genera with congeneric species that have a significant association test) suggesting species-habitat associations have arisen multiple times in this tree community. We also tested if species with similar habitat preferences shared functional strategies. We found that seasonally inundated forest specialists tended to have smaller stature (maximum diameter) than species found on plateaus. Our results underline the importance of tree-soil habitat associations in structuring diverse communities at fine spatial scales and suggest that additional studies are needed to disentangle community assembly mechanisms related to dispersal limitation, biotic interactions and environmental filtering from species-habitat associations. Moreover, they provide a framework to generalize across tropical forest sites.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01260289
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01260289
PRODINRA : 342930
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0141488

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecological Society of America
Résumé : We investigated the relationship between habitat association and physiological performance in four congeneric species pairs exhibiting contrasting distributions between seasonally flooded and terra firme habitats in lowland tropical rain forests of French Guiana, including Virola and Iryanthera (Myristicaceae), Symphonia (Clusiaceae), and Eperua (Caesalpiniaceae). We analyzed 10-year data sets of mapped and measured saplings (stems 150 cm in height and <10 cm diameter at breast height [dbh]) and trees (stems 10 cm dbh) across 37.5 ha of permanent plots covering a 300-ha zone, within which seasonally flooded areas (where the water table never descends below 1 m) have been mapped. Additionally, we tested the response of growth, survival, and leaf functional traits of these species to drought and flood stress in a controlled experiment. We tested for habitat preference using a modification of the torus translation method. Strong contrasting associations of the species pairs of Iryanthera, Virola, and Symphonia were observed at the sapling stage, and these associations strengthened for the tree stage. Neither species of Eperua was significantly associated with flooded habitats at the sapling stage, but E. falcata was significantly and positively associated with flooded forests at the tree stage, and trees of E. grandiflora were found almost exclusively in nonflooded habitats. Differential performance provided limited explanatory support for the observed habitat associations, with only congeners of Iryanthera exhibiting divergent sapling survival and tree growth. Seedlings of species associated with flooded forest tended to have higher photosynthetic capacity than their congeners at field capacity. In addition, they tended to have the largest reductions in leaf gas exchange and growth rate in response to experimental drought stress and the least reductions in response to experimental inundation. The corroboration of habitat association with differences in functional traits and, to a lesser extent, measures of performance provides an explanation for the regional coexistence of these species pairs. We suggest that specialization to seasonally flooded habitats may explain patterns of adaptive radiation in many tropical tree genera and thereby provide a substantial contribution to regional tree diversity.
ISSN: 0012-9658

hal-01031746
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031746

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Decomposing litter provides critical nutrients for plants, particularly in nutrient-poor ecosystems such as tropical forests. We hypothesised that decomposing litter improves the performance of a variety of tropical tree seedlings, and that this litter effect varies depending on the species of litter present in litter mixtures. We addressed these hypotheses with a large pot experiment manipulating a range of different litter mixtures of contrasting quality and using seedlings of four tree species from the Amazonian forest of French Guiana. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, decomposing litter had either neutral or negative impacts on seedling growth, despite strongly different growth rates, biomass allocation patterns and leaf and root traits among tree species. Tree species varied in their responses to litter additions, which were further modified by species identity of the added litter. Our data show litter species-specific effects on growth, biomass allocation and leaf and root traits of tropical tree seedlings. These results suggest that a net nutrient release from decomposing litter does not necessarily improve tree seedling growth, even under nutrient-limiting conditions. In conclusion, litter layer composition may affect seedling establishment and recruitment success beyond litter-derived plant nutrient availability, which may contribute to tree species composition and dynamics in the studied tropical forest.
ISSN: 1435-8603

hal-01032421
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032421
DOI : 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00534.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Unveiling the genetic basis of local adaptation to environmental variation is a major goal in molecular ecology. In rugged landscapes characterized by environmental mosaics, living populations and communities can experience steep ecological gradients over very short geographical distances. In lowland tropical forests, interspecific divergence in edaphic specialization (for seasonally flooded bottomlands and seasonally dry terra firme soils) has been proven by ecological studies on adaptive traits. Some species are nevertheless capable of covering the entire span of the gradient; intraspecific variation for adaptation to contrasting conditions may explain the distribution of such ecological generalists. We investigated whether local divergence happens at small spatial scales in two stands of Eperua falcata (Fabaceae), a widespread tree species of the Guiana Shield. We investigated Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) and sequence divergence as well as spatial genetic structure (SGS) at four genes putatively involved in stress response and three genes with unknown function. Significant genetic differentiation was observed among sub-populations within stands, and eight SNP loci showed patterns compatible with disruptive selection. SGS analysis showed genetic turnover along the gradients at three loci, and at least one haplotype was found to be in repulsion with one habitat. Taken together, these results suggest genetic differentiation at small spatial scale in spite of gene flow. We hypothesize that heterogeneous environments may cause molecular divergence, possibly associated to local adaptation in E. falcata.
ISSN: 1010-061X

hal-01032412
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032412
DOI : 10.1111/jeb.12069

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : [b]Background[/b][br/] [br/] The Amazonian rainforest is predicted to suffer from ongoing environmental changes. Despite the need to evaluate the impact of such changes on tree genetic diversity, we almost entirely lack genomic resources.[br/] [br/] [b]Results[/b][br/] [br/] In this study, we analysed the transcriptome of four tropical tree species (Carapa guianensis, Eperua falcata, Symphonia globulifera and Virola michelii) with contrasting ecological features, belonging to four widespread botanical families (respectively Meliaceae, Fabaceae, Clusiaceae and Myristicaceae). We sequenced cDNA libraries from three organs (leaves, stems, and roots) using 454 pyrosequencing. We have developed an R and bioperl-based bioinformatic procedure for de novo assembly, gene functional annotation and marker discovery. Mismatch identification takes into account single-base quality values as well as the likelihood of false variants as a function of contig depth and number of sequenced chromosomes. Between 17103 (for Symphonia globulifera) and 23390 (for Eperua falcata) contigs were assembled. Organs varied in the numbers of unigenes they apparently express, with higher number in roots. Patterns of gene expression were similar across species, with metabolism of aromatic compounds standing out as an overrepresented gene function. Transcripts corresponding to several gene functions were found to be over- or underrepresented in each organ. We identified between 4434 (for Symphonia globulifera) and 9076 (for Virola surinamensis) well-supported mismatches. The resulting overall mismatch density was comprised between 0.89 (S. globulifera) and 1.05 (V. surinamensis) mismatches/100 bp in variation-containing contigs.[br/] [br/] [b]Conclusion[/b][br/] [br/] The relative representation of gene functions in the four transcriptomes suggests that secondary metabolism may be particularly important in tropical trees. The differential representation of transcripts among tissues suggests differential gene expression, which opens the way to functional studies in these non-model, ecologically important species. We found substantial amounts of mismatches in the four species. These newly identified putative variants are a first step towards acquiring much needed genomic resources for tropical tree species.
ISSN: 1471-2164

hal-01032439
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032439
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032439/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032439/file/art_10-1186_1471-2164-15-238.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/1471-2164-15-238