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Growth and biomass allocation in seedlings of rain-forest trees in New Caledonia: monodominants vs. subordinates and episodic vs. continuous regenerators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2017

Jennifer Read ,
Stephane McCoy ,
Tanguy Jaffré ,
Gordon Sanson  and
Murray Logan
Jennifer Read*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
Stephane McCoy
Affiliation:
Environmental Conservation Service, Vale New Caledonia, BP 218, Noumea 98845, New Caledonia
Tanguy Jaffré
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) – UMR AMAP, Herbarium NOU, BP A5, Noumea 98800, New Caledonia
Gordon Sanson
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
Murray Logan
Affiliation:
Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No 3, Townsville MC, Qld 4810, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: jenny.read@monash.edu
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Abstract:

Some species-rich secondary forests in New Caledonia have a monodominant canopy. Here we investigate growth and biomass allocation traits that might explain single-species’ dominance of these post-disturbance stands, and their later decline in the absence of large-scale disturbance. Seedlings of 20 rain-forest trees were grown in two light treatments in a nursery house. In the sun treatment, monodominants grew faster (56.7 ± 1.4 mg g−1 wk−1) than subordinates (40.2 ± 2.6 mg g−1 wk−1). However, some episodically regenerating (ER) subordinates had high growth rates similar to those of monodominants. In the shade treatment, monodominants and subordinates had similar growth rates (33.7 ± 2.6 and 34.0 ± 1.9 mg g−1 wk−1 respectively). Notably, monodominants in both sun and shade treatments had lower root mass fraction (0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.27 ± 0.02 g g−1 respectively) than subordinates (0.39 ± 0.02 and 0.37 ± 0.02 g g−1). Fast growth in sunny conditions is probably imperative for these relatively shade-intolerant ER monodominants. In field conditions, high shoot mass fraction combined with efficient root performance may facilitate faster growth in monodominants competing with other ER species in sunlit sites. Slower growth in shade may contribute to loss of dominance over time in undisturbed forests.

Keywords

biomass allocationforest dynamicsgrowth ratesmonodominanceNew CaledoniaNothofagusregenerationshade tolerancetropical rain forestultramafic soil
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , March 2017 , pp. 128 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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References

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