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Photosynthetic acclimation to light in juveniles of two cloud forest tree species

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Abstract

The photosynthetic response of juveniles of Decussocarpus rospigliosii, an emergent primary forest species and shade tolerant in its juvenile stages and Alchornea triplinervia, a gap-colonizing species of tropical cloud forest in Venezuela was studied. Daily courses of microenvironmental variables and gas exchange under contrasting light conditions (gap and understory) were carried out in their natural environment and transplanted to different light regimes (shade and sun) in the field. The photosynthetic response and some anatomical characteristics of plants from different treatments were analyzed in the laboratory. Photosynthetic rates were low for both species, and were negative during some diurnal periods, related to the low photosynthetically active radiation levels obtained at both gap (6% of total radiation) and understory (2%). A. triplinervia shows higher rates (1.5–3.0 μmolm-2 -1) than D. rospigliosii (0.7–1.1 μmolm-2s-1). Both species showed increased photosynthetic rates when grown in gaps. A. triplinervia did not adjust its maximum photosynthetic rates to the prevailing light conditions. In contrast, D. rospigliosii responded to increased light levels. Both species showed low light compensation points when grown under total shade. There was a partial stomatal closure generally during midday in D. rospigliosii. A. triplinervia presented lower leaf conductances, transpiration rates and lesser stomatal control. Some leaf anatomical characteristics, in both species, were affected by variations in the light regime (i.e. increased leaf thickness, leaf specific weight and stomatal density). These results suggest that both species have the ability to respond to variations in their natural light environments, therefore maintaining a favorable carbon balance during the day.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones Ecológicas de los Andes Tropicales (CIELAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela

    Carlos García-Núñez, Aura Azócar & Fermín Rada

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  1. Carlos García-Núñez
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  2. Aura Azócar
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  3. Fermín Rada
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García-Núñez, C., Azócar, A. & Rada, F. Photosynthetic acclimation to light in juveniles of two cloud forest tree species. Trees 10, 114–124 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192192

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192192

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