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 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 Elsevier Masson
Résumé :  
Modeling soil water availability for tropical trees is a prerequisite to predicting the future impact of climate change on tropical forests. In this paper we develop a discrete-time deterministic water balance model adapted to tropical rainforest climates, and we validate it on a large dataset that includes micrometeorological and soil parameters along a topographic gradient in a lowland forest of French Guiana. The model computes daily water fluxes (rainfall interception, drainage, tree transpiration and soil plus understorey evapotranspiration) and soil water content using three input variables: daily precipitation, potential evapotranspiration and solar radiation. A novel statistical approach is employed that uses Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) soil moisture data to estimate water content at permanent wilting point and at field capacity, and root distribution. Inaccuracy of the TDR probes and other sources of uncertainty are taken into account by model calibration through a Bayesian framework. Model daily output includes relative extractable water, REW, i.e. the daily available water standardized by potential available water. The model succeeds in capturing temporal variations in REW regardless of topographic context. The low Root Mean Square Error of Predictions suggests that the model captures the most important drivers of soil water dynamics, i.e. water refilling and root water extraction. Our model thus provides a useful tool to explore the response of tropical forests to climate scenarios of changing rainfall regime and intensity.
ISSN: 0168-1923

hal-01032181
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032181
DOI : 10.1016/j.agrformet.2011.04.012

Résumé : L'importance des forêts tropicales dans le cycle du carbone à l'échelle planétaire est majeure, tant en terme de stock qu’en terme de flux de CO2. Plusieurs études mettent en évidence des changements au sein des forêts tropicales au cours des 20 dernières années, notamment des changements de la dynamique forestière et une augmentation de la biomasse aérienne. Les déterminants de ces variations sont aujourd’hui discutés et nous proposons ici d’apporter une contribution à ce débat. Les données utilisées dans ce travail proviennent du dispositif de suivi forestier à long terme de Paracou, Guyane Française, mis en place en 1984 et qui recouvre plus de 120 ha de forêt tropicale humide. Les données météorologiques proviennent de la tour à flux du dispositif, Guyaflux. Les mesures de diamètre proviennent de la base Guyafor pour les données annuelles et bisannuelles, et des mesures de 260 arbres à proximité de la tour à flux pour les mesures diamétriques intra-annuelles.Cette thèse se divise en deux grandes parties. La première concerne l’analyse de la biomasse du dispositif de suivi forestier de Paracou en Guyane et l’implication des changements de structure de cette forêt sur le bilan de carbone. Cette partie est constituée de deux points. (i) Quelles échelles temporelles et spatiales sont pertinentes pour analyser les composantes de structure (biomasse, aire basale et nombre de tiges) et de dynamique (croissance, recrutement et mortalité) des forêts tropicales afin de minimiser les effets d’échantillonnage ? Nous avons établi une méthodologie permettant de relier les intervalles de temps et la surface de mesure aux coefficients de variation de chacune des variables de structure et de dynamique de la forêt. (ii) Quels processus démographiques sont prépondérants dans l’explication des variations de biomasse et comment se redistribue la biomasse accumulée dans le système ? L’augmentation de la biomasse observée sur le dispositif de Paracou serait liée à la rareté des évènements de mortalité des gros arbres qui portent une part très importante de la biomasse.La deuxième partie de la thèse concerne l’analyse de l’effet du climat à moyen terme, inter et intra-annuel, et les effets directs du climat dans les changements de dynamique de la forêt. Cette partie se divise en 3 points. (i) Comment quantifier le stress hydrique en forêt tropicale humide ? Nous avons réalisé un modèle journalier de réserve en eau du sol pour les arbres en forêt tropicale. (ii) Quelles variables sont explicatives de la croissance des arbres en forêt guyanaise ? Nous avons montré que l’eau dans le sol est le facteur le plus explicatif du déterminisme climatique parmi un panel de variables climatiques. (iii) Quels traits fonctionnels sont prédicteurs de la réponse des arbres aux variations climatique ? Nous avons déterminé que des traits spécifiques, densité du bois et la hauteur maximale, ainsi que le diamètre de l'arbre au moment de la mesure, modulent la croissance des arbres en réponse au climat.
At a global scale tropical forest play a major role in term of carbon stock as well as in term of CO2 fluxes. Several studies have highlighted changes in tropical forest functioning during the last 20 years including a faster turnover and an increase of above ground biomass. The drivers of these changes are discussed and throughout this thesis we propose to contribute to this debate. We use the data from the Paracou experimental site in French Guiana established in 1984 on 120 hectares of moist tropical forest. Meteorological data come from the flux tower of the site, Guyaflux. We use annual and bisannual diameter measurements from the Guyafor database, and intra-annual diameter increments from the measurements of 260 trees near the flux tower.This thesis has two main parts. In the first part we present the biomass analysis of the Paracou permanent plots and the impact of structural changes in this forest on the carbon budget. The first part is constituted by two points. (i) Which temporal and spatial scale used to analyze the structure (biomass, basal area and stem density) and dynamics (tree growth, recruitment and mortality)components of tropical forest in order to minimized sample bias ? We establish a simple method to rely measurement interval between census and surface of measurement to the coefficient of variation of forests structure and dynamic components (ii) Which demographic process are involved in the explanation of biomass variation and how the biomass is distributed in the system ? The observed increase of biomass at Paracou could be link to the rarity of big trees mortality events. These big trees represent the larger part of the biomass. In the second part, we present the analysis of intra and inter-annual climate variation effects on forest dynamic changes. This part is divided in two points. (i) How to model drought stress in moist tropical forest ? We built a daily water balance model for tropical trees. (ii) Which climate variables explain the tree growth in guianian forests? We shown that soil water availability is the determinant factor of tree growth among a panel of climate variables. (iii) Which functional traits are involved in the tropical tree growth responses to climate? In this analysis, we determined that wood specific gravity, maximum tree height and tree diameter modulate the tree growth response to climate variations.

http://www.theses.fr/2011AGUY0481/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Résumé : We tested the response of seedlings of Dicorynia guianensis, a major timber tree species of French Guiana, to mycorrhizal symbiosis and water limitation in a semi-controlled experiment under natural light conditions. Under well-watered conditions, mycorrhizal colonization resulted in an increase of net photosynthesis, growth and phosphorus uptake. When submitted to water stress, no growth reduction of mycorrhizal seedlings was observed. Mycorrhizal seedlings were more sensitive to drought than non-mycorrhizal ones in terms of carbon assimilation, but not with regard to stomatal closure. In contrast to previous studies on temperate tree seedlings, this result precludes a mycorrhizal effect on the hydraulic properties of this species. Furthermore, our results suggest that below a specific threshold of soil moisture, carbon assimilation of D. guianensis seedlings was decreased by the mycorrhizal symbiosis. This is probably related to the competition between the plant and its host fungus for carbon allocation under low light intensity, even though it did not seem to have a significant effect on mortality in our experiment.
ISSN: 0266-4674

hal-01031901
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031901
DOI : 10.1017/S0266467405002348

Résumé : Les forêts côtières inondables (FCI) des régions tropicales et subtropicales remplissent des fonctions écologiques nécessaires aux écosystèmes marins côtiers situés en aval et aux populations humaines vivant à proximité Aux Antilles, les mangroves et les forêts marécageuses à Pterocarpus officinalis sont structurés par des espèces ligneuses qui ont développé des adaptations particulières à la salinité, à l’inondation et aux substrats meubles sur lesquels elles reposent. Dans des contextes climatiques à forte saisonnalité, les saisons sèches prolongées entraînent de fortes variations de la salinité et du niveau de la nappe, que le changement climatique devrait amplifier. Les modèles climatiques de la région Caraïbe prévoient des saisons sèches plus sèches liées à une baisse des précipitations de 20 à 50 %. Or, la question des capacités de résistance et d’acclimatation des espèces ligneuses des FCI à des variations saisonnières marquées de leur environnement édaphique a été peu traitée dans la littérature scientifique.L’objectif de ce travail de thèse a été double. Il s’est agi, d'une part, de caractériser la structure et la croissance de faciès de végétation représentatifs des FCI antillaises et de mettre en évidence leurs déterminants. A cet effet, des individus adultes, des espèces ligneuses dominantes des FCI, (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, Pterocarpus officinalis, Rhizophora mangle), dans cinq faciès de végétation sur le gradient terre-mer, ont été suivis sur l'île de Grande-Terre (Guadeloupe). D’autre part, les effets de variations salines extrêmes sur la croissance et l’écophysiologie de ces quatre espèces ont été évalués au stade plantule par une expérience en conditions contrôlées.A travers cette étude, il a été montré que les différences de salinité et de fertilité entre les stationspermettent d’expliquer la composition et la structure des peuplements de FCI. Cette étude a égalementmontré que P. officinalis peut se maintenir dans une gamme de salinité plus large que ne l'indiquait lalittérature.Dans le contexte des Antilles où les marnages sont faibles, la saisonnalité du climat entraine des variations saisonnières importantes d’un ensemble de descripteurs édaphiques tels que le niveau de la nappe, la salinité du sol, le pH et le potentiel RedOx. L’inondation et la salinité des sols sont fortement corrélées aux variations mensuelles des précipitations. Les périodes sèches sont accompagnées de salinités élevées et d’une baisse du niveau de la nappe allant jusqu’à l’exondation des sols dans toutes les stations suivies. Les stress environnementaux liés à la saisonnalité entrainent une baisse de la production primaire. L’accroissement cambial mensuel des individus est fortement corrélé avec les précipitations et l’intensité du vent. Dans les stations de mangrove, la sècheresse édaphique régule la production primaire des palétuviers. En forêt marécageuse, la part de la sècheresse atmosphérique semble plus importante pour expliquer la production de P. officinalis. Aussi, les sècheresses édaphique et atmosphérique doivent être prises en compte toutes deux pour modéliser efficacement la croissance des peuplements des FCI.Lors de la saison sèche, le stress le plus important est le stress hydrique, lié à la diminution de la teneur en eau du sol et à l’augmentation de la salinité, qui entraine des contraintes physiologiques sur les palétuviers (ajustements stomatiques, pertes de surface foliaire et de conductivité hydraulique). Le stress ionique, lié à la toxicité des ions Na+ et Cl-, permet aussi d’expliquer une partie de la contrainte sur l’assimilation en carbone. En saison sèche, l’aération des sols ne se traduit pas par une amélioration des performances de croissance chez toutes les espèces. Aussi, la croissance cambiale maximale de toutes les espèces de FCI est réalisée en saison des pluies lorsque la salinité est faible et les niveaux d’inondation élevés.
In tropical and subtropical regions, flooded coastal forests provide essentials goods and services to local communities. In the Antilles, mangrove forests and the Pterocarpus officinalis swamp forest host tree species that are adapted to salinity, flooding and loose substrates. In areas were climatic seasonality is strong, dry seasons lead to strong fluctuations of soil salinity and water table level ; that climate change is likely to make stronger again. Climate model for the Caribbean project drier dry seasons with a decease of 20 to 50 % in annual rainfall amounts. However, resistance and acclimation ability of flooded coastal forest’s species to strong environmental fluctuations still remain poorly studied.This thesis aims two objectives. On the one hand, it aims to characterize the forest structure and monthly growth of vegetation structures representative of the Antillean flooded coastal forests and to highlight their determinants. In this respect, adult trees of the four dominant species of local flooded coastal forest (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, Pterocarpus officinalis, Rhizophora mangle), in five stations along a sea – land gradient were monitored on the Grande-Terre island (Guadeloupe). On the other hand, the effects of salinity variation patterns and salinity levels on growth performances and physiology of seedlings from the four same species were investigated through a greenhouse experiment.This study shows that differences among average salinity and soil fertility explain the vegetation structure of flooded coastal forest. It also extents, in the literature, the range of salinity in which P. officinalis can stand at the tree stage.In the Antilles were tidal range is small, climate seasonality lead to strong edaphic seasonal variations in water table level, soil salinity, pH and RedOx potential. Flooding and soil salinity are strongly correlated to monthly rainfall amounts: dry periods lead to high salinity and to a decrease in water table level under the soil surface. Seasonal environmental stresses lead to a decrease of primary production. Cambial growth was strongly correlated to monthly precipitation and average wind speed. In mangrove stations, edaphic drought determines primary production of mangrove trees, when, in swamp forest stations, atmospheric drought determines an important part of P. officinalis’ primary production.During the dry season, water stress is the more important environmental stress, both by the decrease in soil humidity and the increase in soil salinity, and leads to physiological strains (stomatal adjustment, loss of leaf area and hydraulic conductivity) for mangrove trees. Ionic toxicity of ions Na+ and Cl- also explains a part of the strain on carbon assimilation. During the dry season, re oxygenation of soils via low water table level does not lead to an increase of physiological traits. Thus, maximum cambial growth of all species is observed during the rainy season, when salinity is low and water table level is high.Flooded coastal forest’s species do not have the same ability to recover after a dry episode. In all the studied stations, A. germinans’ cambial growth rises back as soon as the rainy season starts, when, for one station, cambial growth of L. racemosa and R. mangle stay null during the three first month of the rainy season. This low ability to recover after a dry episode is correlated to a stronger impact of the dry season on the physiological traits of these two species.The greenhouse experiment shows that salinity variation patterns are to be taken into consideration for explaining seedlings’ growth and salinity tolerance. A stronger salinity increase impacts the growth of all the studied species; a punctual drop of salinity highlights that flooded coastal forest’s species differ in ability to take advantage of a low salinity episode. These results are coherent with field observations as cambial growth was fairly explained by monthly precipitation.

http://www.theses.fr/2013AGUY0674/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Wood specific gravity (WSG) is a strong predictor of tree performance across environmental gradients. Yet it remains unclear how anatomical elements linked to different wood functions contribute to variation in WSG in branches and roots across tropical forests. [br/][br/]We examined WSG and wood anatomy in white sand, clay terra firme and seasonally flooded forests in French Guiana, spanning broad environmental gradients found throughout Amazonia. We measured 15 traits relating to branches and small woody roots in 113 species representing the 15 most abundant species in each habitat and representative species from seven monophyletic lineages occurring in all habitats. [br/][br/]Fiber traits appear to be major determinants of WSG, independent of vessel traits, in branches and roots. Fiber traits and branch and root WSG increased from seasonally flooded species to clay terra firme species and lastly to white sand species. Branch and root wood traits were strongly phylogenetically constrained. Lineages differed in wood design, but exhibited similar variation in wood structure across habitats. [br/][br/]We conclude that tropical trees can invest differently in support and transport to respond to environmental conditions. Wind disturbance and drought stress represent significant filters driving tree distribution of Amazonian forests; hence we suggest that biophysical explanations should receive more attention.
ISSN: 0028-646X

hal-01195075
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01195075
PRODINRA : 269680
PUBMED : 24329812

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Résumé :  
Although the potential contribution to tropical tree species coexistence of niche differentiation along light gradients has receivedmuch attention, the degree to which species perform differentially along soil resource gradients remains unclear. To examine differential growth response to soil resources, we grew seedlings of nine tropical tree species at 6.0% of full sun for 12mo in a factorial design of two soil types (clay and white sand), two phosphate fertilization treatments (control and addition of 100mgP kg−1) and two watering treatments (field capacity and water limitation to one-third field capacity). Species differedmarkedly in biomass growth rate, but this hierarchy was almost completely conserved across all eight treatments. All species grew more slowly in sand than clay soils, and no species grew faster with phosphate additions. Only Eperua grandiflora and E. falcata showed significant growth increases in the absence of water limitation. Faster-growing species were characterized by high specific leaf area, high leaf allocation and high net assimilation rate but not lower root allocation. Slower-growing species exhibited greater plasticity in net assimilation rate, suggesting that tolerance of edaphic stress in these species is related more to stomatal control than to whole-plant carbon allocation. Although relative growth rate for biomass was correlatedwith both its physiological and morphological components, interspecific differences were best explained by differences in net assimilation rate across six of the eight treatments. A suite of traits including high assimilation and high specific leaf area maintains rapid growth rate of faster-growing species across awide gradient of soil resources, but the lack of plasticity they exhibit may compromise their survival in the poorest soil environments.
ISSN: 0266-4674

hal-01032086
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032086
DOI : 10.1017/S0266467406003439