Woody Species Research Articles

Drought impact on tree productivity: Varying roles of tree size and structural diversity in 18 woody species along gradients of slow-fast growth strategies

Drought impact on tree productivity: Varying roles of tree size and structural diversity in 18 woody species along gradients of slow-fast growth strategies

Effect of UV-B stress on stomatal pore size and pore width in some landscape plants

It is known that global climate change is an irreversible process and will directly or indirectly affect all living things in the world. It is estimated that the most devastating effects of the process will be seen on plants and, especially, woody species that do not have a long life cycle. Therefore, being prepared for the process, determining the extent to which species will be affected, and taking precautions are of great importance in terms of preventing individual, population, and even species losses. This study determined the effects of the increase in UV-B, one of the process's most important effects, on stomatal pore length and pore width. Within the scope of the study, UV-B treatments were made to 10 woody broad-leafed plants at 4 different intensities. At the end of the treatments, leaf samples were obtained from tree species, and images were then taken to scale with the help of an SEM (scanning electron microscope), and stomatal pore length and width were measured. The study results show that the treatments do not significantly affect these characters. However, it is also known that the most important effects of global climate change will be temperature increase and drought. Therefore, it is recommended that similar studies be conducted by including drought stress.

Development of ecosystem processes, functions and biodiversity in new forests on post-agricultural land

Afforestation of post-agricultural land offers a promising nature-based solution to address climate change and biodiversity loss. However, understanding the long-term effects of land-use legacies on ecosystem processes and functions in these new forests requires a comprehensive integration of field-based measurements and advanced technologies. This study combines forest inventory data, biodiversity surveys, and soil sampling with remote sensing (LiDAR) and environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess forest structure (FS), biodiversity, and carbon dynamics in forests established on former agricultural land. We conducted a chronosequence study in beech (Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus robur), and spruce (Picea abies) stands planted over the past 50 years in the same afforestation area in Denmark. Ground truth data were collected within a circular plot of 15 m radius and included forest inventory, understory vegetation and soil fungal community composition from 2022, while forest floor carbon and mineral soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was from the years 1998, 2011 and 2022. FS was analysed using high-resolution national LiDAR data under leaf-off conditions from 2019, while the PacBio sequencing technology for eDNA analyses was employed to explore belowground fungal diversity and community composition. Preliminary findings suggest that FS and biodiversity are shaped by a combination of tree species types and stand age. Spruce showed rapid vertical development with dense canopy cover, while oak forests supported higher structural heterogeneity and tree species richness due to their multi-layered canopy architecture and light conditions, supporting colonization of other woody species. Beech forests exhibited significant vertical heterogeneity at later stages but tended to develop a more homogeneous structure over time. The development in understory plant and belowground fungal communities reflected land-use legacies, showing a gradual yet slow, recovery over time. In general, open habitat understory species disappeared with canopy closure and forest specialist species slowly increased over time, while generalist species remained abundant in all surveys. Dispersal limitations emerged as a primary constraint shaping the vegetation. Fungal communities transitioned more rapidly, becoming dominated by ectomycorrhizal and basidiomycete species. Forest floor carbon sequestration followed a non-linear temporal trend, stabilizing after about 30 years, suggesting higher SOC stocks under spruce compared to oak. The mineral soil C stocks increased with forest age across the three soil inventories and sequestrated 0.29 ± 0.05 Mg C ha-1 per year, where spruce exhibited the highest rates of soil carbon accumulation and biomass over time. This study emphasizes the value of combining traditional ecological measurements with emerging technologies to better understand the complex interactions driving forest development on post-agricultural landscapes. The findings highlight the potential of afforestation to support biodiversity recovery, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem functioning, while emphasizing the long-term influence of agricultural legacies on forest ecosystems.

Effects of artificial waterpoints on woody species composition and structure in semi-arid communal rangelands, northern Namibia

The provision of artificial water resources for livestock in communal rangelands in arid environments is a major driver of land degradation. This study examined the impact of waterpoints on woody plant species composition and structure in the Omuntele communal rangeland, Namibia. Fieldwork was conducted during the dry season at three waterpoints within the rangeland. The study employed a randomised block design, with quadrats placed at 50 m intervals radiating from each waterpoint. Results show the effects of distance from waterpoints on species richness, abundance, diversity, and evenness of woody species. The results further reveal variations in woody plant structural attributes across distance from waterpoints. Pearson’s correlation indicated complex relationships between woody vegetation composition and structure, suggesting an interplay between vegetation structural attributes, richness, diversity, and evenness. The findings improved our understanding of ecological dynamics in rangeland ecosystems, particularly concerning how structural variations affect ecological functions. For example, alterations in vegetation structure may have an impact on it’s grazing and browsing value for livestock, and forest resource availability to the local communities. They may also influence biodiversity within the area due to habitat change. These revelations are essential for developing sustainable land management strategies that meet the requirements of communities and their livestock.

Physiological and molecular responses of tomato and citrus to chromium (III) stress at early growth stage

Chromium (Cr) contamination poses food safety and environmental challenges, yet the early-stage physiological and molecular responses to Cr(III) stress remain unclear. Citrus and tomato are economically important crops representing woody and herbaceous species, making them valuable models for studying heavy metal toxicity in plants. This study investigates the impact of Cr (III) exposure on citrus and tomato seedlings, with a focus on physiological phenotypes and transcriptional response. Citrus seed germination declines with increasing Cr(III) concentrations, while low Cr(III) levels promote tomato germination, with inhibition occurring above 1 g/L. Under hydroponic conditions, Cr (III) severely hampers root and leaf growth in both citrus and tomato plants, accompanied by decreased net photosynthetic rate. Using a GFP-based confocal microscopy system, we observed reduced fluorescence intensity within three days of Cr(III) exposure (100 mg/L and 500 mg/L), indicating early cellular damage. Biochemical assays revealed oxidative stress, marked by increased H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzyme activity. Additionally, low Cr (III) concentrations could result in the death of various microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Agrobacterium rhizogenes, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes related to “MAPK signaling pathway” and “Plant hormone signal transduction pathway”. Transcription of many transcription factors, such as bHLH, WRKY, and MYB, also underwent significant changes.

Leaf isoprene and monoterpene emissions vary with fast-slow carbon economics strategies in central Amazon woody species

Plant responses to stress, inter-organismal signaling, and atmospheric chemistry are significantly influenced by leaf volatile isoprenoid (VI) emissions (e.g., isoprene and monoterpenes). Despite their critical roles in ecology and the atmosphere, we have little understanding of whether and how VI emissions vary with axes of plant functional variation. Understanding these relationships is particularly important in tropical forests, which emit more VIs into the atmosphere than any other biome, and where high species diversity necessitates the imputation of plant traits based on functional and evolutionary relationships. Here, we investigated how VI emissions varied with functional trait axes of fast-slow carbon economics strategies (CES) in Central Amazon Forest woody species. We measured leaf-level isoprene and monoterpene emission capacity (Ec; emission measured under standard conditions of photosynthetically active radiation of 1000 µmol m-2 s-1 and leaf temperature of 30 ˚C), and 12 leaf and four stem functional traits for 91 trees from 31 species of angiosperm distributed across different vegetation types: non-flooded upland, white sand, and ancient non-flooded river terrace forests. Principal component analysis (PCA) of functional traits revealed two partially independent main axes of CES: a first axis of leaf strategies and a second of mixed leaf/stem strategies. The capacity to emit monoterpenes was observed in 27 species, and monoterpene emitters occupied the whole range of fast-slow strategies, but magnitudes of monoterpene Ec increased toward faster leaves. The capacity to emit isoprene was observed in 14 species, and isoprene emitters tended to be positioned toward slower leaf/stem strategies, with magnitudes of isoprene Ec also increasing toward slower leaves/stems. Our results highlight the importance of understanding leaf-level emissions to accurately estimate VI fluxes and provide a holistic view of emissions within CES on different organ-system levels. This shows a direction for improving current modeling estimates, which have simplified plant functional type representations and are poorly developed for compounds other than isoprene in the tropics. A more mechanistic representation of plant functional types based on forest functional compositions can reduce modeling emission uncertainties and contribute to understanding the roles of VIs within forest-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric chemistry, and the carbon cycle.

Population Size and Microhabitat Characteristics of the Endangered Endemic Plant Pedicularis hallaisanensis

Pedicularis hallaisanensis is a strictly biennial, hemiparasitic herb endemic to Republic of Korea and listed as an endangered species. Its populations are limited to high-altitude habitats, with recent surveys confirming survival only in Gayasan. This study aimed to assess the population size and ecological traits of P. hallaisanensis to inform conservation strategies. We established 23 quadrats at 1400–1410 m above sea level and collected microhabitat data (air temperature, soil moisture, electroconductivity, vegetation cover, and species richness) from 2022 to 2024. Flora composition and pollinator species were surveyed, with bumblebees (Bombus ignitus, B. hypocrita sapporoensis) identified as the most frequent pollinators. General linear mixed models and Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between species richness and population size and between vegetation cover and stem height. The study area’s average temperature was 6.3 °C below Republic of Korea’s national average, suggesting that climate change could disrupt the microclimatic conditions necessary for this species’ survival. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining plant diversity and controlling invasive woody species to sustain P. hallaisanensis populations. Targeted conservation measures, including habitat management and ex situ propagation, are recommended to safeguard this vulnerable species.

Woody carbon stock estimation in homegarden agroforestry along altitudinal gradients in southwest Ethiopia

Woody plant species in homegarden agroforestry store a large proportion of carbon stocks. However, there is limited information on the carbon stock potential of homegarden agroforestry along altitudinal gradients in southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to estimate aboveground and belowground carbon stocks in homegardens using a non-destructive allometric model. Data were collected from 72 homegardens selected using a random sampling method. Woody plants were measured for diameter at breast height (DBH) of ≥ 5 cm and height of ≥ 1.5 m. The study revealed that the mean aboveground carbon stock (14.39 ± 2.95 Mg C ha−1) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the middle altitude than (6.12 ± 0.72 Mg C ha−1) in the low altitude. Carbon stocks were significantly different between middle and low altitudes. The overall mean carbon stock was 11.25 ± 1.60, with mean aboveground and belowground carbon stocks of 9.39 ± 1.34 and 1.88 ± 0.27 Mg C ha−1, respectively. The top 10 woody species contributed to 78.50% of the total carbon stock, of which 56.73% were Persea americana and Cordia africana. Wealth status and size of homegardens were significantly correlated (r = 0.298 and r = 0.307, respectively) with the carbon stock. The overall woody carbon stock distributions varied primarily due to altitudinal gradients, woody species, and socioeconomic factors. As a result, this study will assist researchers and policymakers in selecting optimal ecological areas and addressing socioeconomic gaps for agroforestry practices that produce biomass and store carbon for long-term climate change mitigation.

Woody plant species composition, structure, and regeneration status of ruruki forest of Liban Jawi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess the woody plant species composition, population structure, and regeneration status of Ruruki Forest. A total of 30 sample plots, each 20 m × 20 m, were established using a systematic sampling method. A sub-plot of 5 m × 5 m was used to count saplings and seedlings. To describe the vegetation structure of the study forest we computed DBH and height size frequency distributions of individuals and species importance value indexes (IVI).A total of 70 woody species which categorized into 64 genera, and 45 families were identified of which 57.14% were trees, while shrubs and lianas cover37.14%and5.7%, respectively. The total density of woody species recorded was 868.33 individuals / ha. The highest IVI index was recorded for Syzygium guineense species, indicating the species is ecologically important. The results of height showed that there was a greater predominance of small-sized individuals of woody species than large-sized woody species for the study forest. The general pattern of the DBH class distribution of the forest showed an irregular distribution, which implies there was some selective cutting of individual woody species for different purposes. The overall regeneration status of the forest was found to be fair. Generally, the result obtained from this study shows that there is disturbances and selective cutting of trees in the forest. Hence, there is a need for full participation in sustainable forest management to control selective cutting and to apply the best forest management practices, such as reforestation and afforestation.

Stem gravitropism and tension wood formation in three tropical woody species with different wood densities

Angiosperm trees develop tension wood on the upper side of leaning stems to reorient the direction of stems towards their normal positions in response to a gravitational stimulus. The development of gelatinous fibers with thick inner gelatinous layers (G-layers) might elevate tensile stress required for such reorientation in many angiosperm species. This study aims to investigate negative gravitropism and tension wood formation in response to a gravitational stimulus in tree species with different respective wood densities. Seedlings of three tropical trees, namely, Diospyros celebica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Falcataria moluccana were artificially inclined at 45° from the vertical and harvested three months later for analysis of plant gravitropism and tension wood formation. Inclined seedlings of the three species exhibited different rates of stem recovery and movement towards the vertical. The widths of region of tension wood in the thickness of G-layers were positively correlated with the negative gravitropism of stems. However, such relationships differed significantly among the three species. The differences in patterns of negative gravitropism of stems, widths of tension wood and thicknesses of G-layers in inclined seedlings of F. moluccana, A. heterophyllus, and D. celebica were due to differences among species rather than to differences in the wood density of the respective species. Larger amounts of gelatinous fibers and/or thicker G-layers were essential for the negative gravitropism of inclined stems. However, each tree species exhibited different features during stem recovery.

Bud structure, time of budbreak and crown architecture in woody species from Cerrado and seasonal forests of Brazil.

Different light intensities in cerrado stricto sensu (CSS) and semideciduous seasonal forests (SSF) can result in distinct morphological responses among woody species. This research evaluated the size and bud composition, budbreak time, and crown architecture of woody species in response to precipitation and varying light intensities in these two environments. The study was conducted in CSS (19°57'29″ S and 44°25'29″ W) and an SSF fragment (19°53'84″ S and 44°25'56″ W) in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The research focused on four species: Miconia albicans and Xylopia aromatica, which occur in both environments, as well as Bauhinia cfr. ungulata (CSS) and B. cfr. rufa (SSF). Shoots from the main axis were manually dissected, and budbreak times were recorded. Crown architecture was evaluated based on diagrams of the vegetative above-ground structure, excluding leaves. Light intensities was measured with a luxmeter at the crown's apex, interior, and base. Shoots were larger and had more preformed organs in CSS than in SSF trees. Trichomes were observed on shoots of all CSS and SSF trees. The number of cataphylls varied: B. cfr. ungulata had one, B. cfr. rufa had 1-3, while compound buds of X. aromatica averaged 5.4 in CSS and 3.7 in SSF. Simple buds of X. aromatica and all M. albicans buds lacked cataphylls. Budbreak occurred in September for M. albicans (CSS and SSF), October for B. cfr. ungulata, Juy-October for X. aromatica and August-October for B. cfr. rufa. A positive correlation between budbreak and rainfall was recorded only for B. cfr. ungulata. Despite differences in bud size and composition between environment, these didn't result in distinct crown architectures. The findings highlight that tropical woody species with cataphyll-protected buds are as common as in temperate regions. Further research is needed to explore phylogenetic traits and the ecological role of cataphylls in tropical species.

Diversity, stand structure and ecosystem services of Ouagadougou regional urban forest, Burkina Faso

Urban forests are key natural solutions for biodiversity conservation in West Africa. However, increasing urban population negatively affects the ecological and social attributes of urban forests. This study assessed the woody diversity, stand structure, ecosystem services, and management of the Ouagadougou Regional Urban Forest in Burkina Faso. Forest inventory data were collected in 40 plots of 1000 m2, following a stratified sampling design based on the three vegetation types in the forest. Ecosystem services and forest management were assessed through semi-structured interviews with 120 informants. Data were analyzed using diversity attributes, structural attributes and ethnobotanical indicators. The findings showed a γ-diversity of 55 woody species from 44 genera and 20 families, distributed in tree savannas, shrub savannas and shrub steppes. Diversity attributes such as species richness, Shannon’s index, Pielou’s index, Simpson’s index as well as structural attributes i.e. stem DBH, tree height, basal area, tree density indicated significant variations between the three vegetation types (p-value < 0.05). The distribution of diameter and height classes revealed unstable populations associated with poor regeneration potential and recruitment problems. Ecosystem services included provisioning (77.5%), regulating (29.17), cultural (21.67%), and supporting (7.27%) services. However, the surrounding populations recognized the severe degradation of the forest due to agriculture, wood cutting, waste depositing, and settlements installation. This study showed that the regional urban forest contributes to biodiversity conservation and livelihood supports, but undergoes degradation, resulting in declining population dynamics and poor regeneration potential. As a provider of many ecosystem services, the regional urban forest must benefit from more restrictive policies and legislation on the management of urban green spaces. These policies must be strengthened in order to reduce the effects of urbanization on the forest.

Trait coordination and trade-offs constrain the diversity of water use strategies in Mediterranean woody plants

The diversity of water-use strategies among dryland plants has been the focus of extensive research, but important knowledge gaps remain. Comprehensive surveys of water-use traits encompassing multiple species growing at contrasting sites are needed to further advance current understanding of plant water use in drylands. Here we show that ecohydrological niche segregation driven by differences in water uptake depth among coexisting species is widespread across Mediterranean plant communities, as evidenced by soil and stem water isotopes measured in 62 native species growing at 10 sites with contrasting climatic conditions. Foliar carbon and oxygen isotopes revealed that leaf-level stomatal regulation stringency and water-use efficiency also differ markedly among coexisting species, and are both coordinated with water uptake depth. Larger and taller woody species use a greater proportion of deeper soil water, display more conservative water use traits at leaf level (“water-savers”) and show greater investment in foliage relative to shoots. Conversely, smaller species rely mainly on shallow soil water, exhibit a more profligate water use strategy (“water-spenders”) and prioritize investment in shoots over foliage. Drought stress favours coordination between above and belowground water-use traits, resulting in unavoidable trade-offs that constrain the diversity of whole-plant water use strategies in Mediterranean plant communities.

Future of Three Endemic Woody Species of Colutea (Fabaceae) in a Changing Climate in Iran.

Woody plants offer valuable services to ecosystems, including providing useful products, stabilizing ecosystems, and mitigating climate and pollution effects. However, they face significant abiotic and biotic stresses, with climate change being the most critical challenge. It is essential to understand that reducing populations of woody species, particularly those found only in a specific area, can have severe and irreversible effects on the entire ecosystem. Therefore, exploring the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of endemic woody species is an appealing subject for conservation researchers. This study investigates how climate change affects the distribution of three endemic species of woody plants in the genus Colutea in Iran. The MaxEnt model was used to analyze the data, and the results showed that the model was effective for predicting the impact of climate change on the plants (AUC ≥ 0.9). The distribution of C. persica was significantly affected by solar radiation, Precipitation of Wettest Month, sand, and silt content. C. porphyrogamma's distribution was impacted by Mean Temperature of Coldest Quarter, Precipitation of Driest Month, and Cation Exchange Capacity, while C. triphylla was most affected by Precipitation Seasonality, Precipitation of Driest Quarter, and Isothermality. According to the findings, the distribution of these species is expected to decrease in the 2050s and 2070s due to climate change, based on the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios. These findings can be useful for developing strategies to manage the impacts of climate change on these species.

Influence of Myrmecophytic Acacia drepanolobium on the Composition and Growth of Surrounding Herbaceous Vegetation.

Whistling thorn acacia (Acacia (Vachellia) drepanolobium) forms nearly monospecific stands among woody species in black cotton soils in East Africa arid highlands. The tree defends itself against large mammal herbivores with spinescence and symbiotic ants. While these defenses have been extensively studied, little is known about the extent to which A. drepanolobium defense may benefit other plants growing in close association. We examined variation in herbaceous vegetation height, biomass, and composition between areas underneath A. drepanolobium canopies and the adjacent matrix in both fenced herbivore exclosures and unfenced areas. In unfenced areas, there was more tall herbaceous vegetation and biomass underneath tree canopies than away from tree canopies, while these differences were not significant in fenced exclosures. Both height and biomass of understory vegetation were negatively correlated with A. drepanolobium canopy height. Species richness was higher underneath tree canopies in both fenced and unfenced locations. In the unfenced locations, species evenness was lower underneath tree canopies than in the surrounding matrix, but the opposite was true in the fenced herbivore exclosures. The differences in herbaceous vegetation composition (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index) between underneath tree and off tree locations were more pronounced in the unfenced areas than within the fenced herbivore exclosures. Our findings suggest that highly defended trees may moderate herbivore effects on herbaceous vegetation. To the extent that herbaceous vegetation underneath trees experiences protection from herbivory, such refugia microhabitats may serve as recolonization nuclei in attempts to restore chronically overgrazed systems.

Monitoring, distribution and clinical relevance of airborne pollen and fern spores in Southeast Asia - A systematic review.

Monitoring, distribution and clinical relevance of airborne pollen and fern spores in Southeast Asia - A systematic review.

Impacts of Plant Functional Group Dominance and Geochemical Factors on Soil Carbon Concentrations and Fractions in Grassland Ecosystems

AbstractClimate change and anthropogenic activities are reshaping plant functional group dominance and altering soil physicochemical properties in grassland ecosystems. Although plant carbon inputs, microbial activity, and mineral protection are known to govern soil carbon turnover, how changes in functional group dominance and geochemical factors regulate carbon storage and stability remains unclear. Here, we selected 124 mono‐species patches of 12 common grass, forb, and woody species in a temperate grassland nature reserve, measuring plant chemical traits, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and soil physicochemical properties. We found that across all plant functional groups, root, and microbial contributions outweighed aboveground inputs in soil organic carbon (SOC) formation. Soil mineral properties, especially exchangeable calcium, played predominant roles in influencing soil carbon concentration, surpassing the impact of plant and microbial input. Despite sandier soil and lower plant carbon input in woody patches, bulk soil carbon concentration, and its mineral‐associated organic carbon and particulate organic carbon fractions in woody patches did not differ from those in grass and forb patches. Further analysis revealed that woody patches had higher soil moisture, which increased MBC and fostered organo‐mineral interactions. These processes could facilitate SOC stabilization, thereby compensating for low root carbon input and the low carbon retention capacity of sandy soils. Overall, our findings reveal how biotic and geochemical factors interact to regulate SOC and its fractions across plant functional groups, highlighting the crucial role of exchangeable calcium and soil moisture in driving organic carbon concentrations in temperate grasslands.

Size Variation in Flower Petals of Chinese Animal-Pollinated Plants in Response to Climatic and Altitudinal Gradients.

The evolutionary adaptations of plant reproductive structures, including angiosperm petal size, are driven by a combination of natural selection influenced by ecological conditions. While previous studies have emphasized pollinator-driven selection on petal traits, significant gaps remain in understanding how abiotic factors, biotic interactions, and life-history trade-offs jointly shape petal size across broad environmental gradients. This study integrates macrogeographic analyses of 10,228 animal-pollinated angiosperm species across China's diverse climatic regions, combining trait data from national flora databases, species distribution records, and high-resolution climate variables. Using hierarchical regression, variance partitioning, and threshold detection models, we disentangle the effects of altitude, latitude, temperature, and precipitation on absolute petal size and its ratio to plant height (MR), while contrasting woody and herbaceous life histories. Key findings reveal: (1) nonlinear thresholds in environmental drivers, with herbaceous petal size declining sharply above 3200 m altitude and 1100 mm annual precipitation; (2) altitude as the dominant predictor of MR, explaining 30% of variance, particularly in alpine zones where floral conspicuousness increases despite plant dwarfing; (3) divergent strategies between woody and herbaceous species, where woody plants prioritize absolute petal size in warm climates, while herbaceous species amplify MR under high-altitude stress; and (4) climate-geography interactions explaining 62%-71% of trait variation, highlighting context-dependent trade-offs between pollinator attraction and stress tolerance. This work provides a comprehensive framework linking petal size traits to multivariate environmental gradients at continental scales, offering critical insights into plant adaptive strategies under climate change and emphasizing altitude-mediated selection as a key driver of floral diversity.

Fire increases the risk of hydraulic failure of woody species: Evidence from an experiment and a meta-analysis

Fire increases the risk of hydraulic failure of woody species: Evidence from an experiment and a meta-analysis

Steep Slopes and Cliff Edges Are Browsing Refugia for Woody Species within Temperate Deciduous Forest

Steep Slopes and Cliff Edges Are Browsing Refugia for Woody Species within Temperate Deciduous Forest