Radial growth responses of three co-occuring species to small canopy disturbances in a secondary hardwood forest on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

HART, J.L.

Dep. of Geography, Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Etats-Unis

AUSTIN, D.A.

Dep. of Geography, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence, Etats-Unis

VAN DE GEVEL, S.L.

Dep. of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State Univ., Boone, Etats-Unis

Description :
The AA. analyzed the radial growth patterns of Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Acer saccharum growing in 39 canopy gaps in a mature secondary hardwood forest on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee to compare species-specific growth responses to small canopy disturbances. They tested for differences between mean radial growth increases during the year of release initiation (i.e., first year of discernible growth increase) over the year prior, mean percent growth increases during the year of release initiation over the year prior, mean release durations, and mean lag times between canopy gap formation and radial growth response. These findings provide information on the successional pathway of the forest, the physiological responses of these species to small canopy openings, and the applicability of these species to reconstruct canopy gap formation in secondary stands from tree-ring records.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2010, vol. 31, n°. 3, p. 270-291, nombre de pages : 22, Références bibliographiques : 5 p.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais