Autoecology and Ecophysiology of Woody Shrubs and Trees Concepts and Applications

Forest trees and shrubs play vital ecological roles, reducing the carbon load from the atmosphere by using carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and by the storage of carbon in biomass and wood as a source of energy. Autoecology deals with all aspects of woody plants; the dynamism of populations, physiological traits of trees, light requirements, life history patterns, and physiological and morphological characters. Ecophysiology is defined by various plant growth parameters such as leaf traits, xylem water potential, plant height, basal diameter, and crown architecture which are, in turn, influenced by physiological traits and environmental conditions in the forest ecosystem. In short, this book details research advances in various aspects of woody plants to help forest scientists and foresters manage and protect forest trees and plan their future research.

Autoecology and Ecophysiology of Woody Shrubs and Trees is intended to be a guide for students of woody plant autoecology and ecophysiology, as well as for researchers in this field. It is also an invaluable resource for foresters to assist in effective management of forest resources.

Professor Ratikanta Maiti, Visiting Scientist, Forest Science Faculty, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Linares, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Dr Maiti is a world renowned botanist and plant physiologist. He has published around 500 research papers and more than 30 books on plant science and crops, and has received various international awards.

Dr Humbero Gonzalez Rodriguez, Director, Forest Science Faculty, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Linares, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.Dr Rodriguez is a renowned plant physiology and author of several books. At UANL he works on various aspects of ecophysiology, with special reference to abiotic stress resistance. He has published more than 150 research papers.

Dr Natalya Sergeevna Ivanova, Senior Scientist, Botanical Garden of Ural Branch RAS, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia. Dr Ivanova is a botanist and forester, and has researched the diversity of forest types and dynamics of forest vegetation in the Urals (Russia) since 1991. She has studied patterns of natural and anthropogenic dynamics of forest vegetation in the mountains of South and Middle Urals, carrying out complex forest geobotanical researches. In 2012 she was awarded the Medal of the VI Vernadsky for success in the development of national science by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

Preface, vii

List of contributors, ix

1 Background, 1

Part I:

2 Autoecology, 15

3 Vegetation and biodiversity, 25

4 Case study: A trip to regions of biodiversity and rainforest in Riviera Maya, 31

5 Plant traits, 42

6 Leaf traits, 74

7 Wood characteristics, 83

8 Phenology, 111

9 Phenology, morphology and variability in pollen viability of four woody species (Cordia boissieri, Parkinsonia texana, P. aculeata and Leucophyllum frutescens) exposed to environmental temperature, north-eastern Mexico, 124

10 Pollen biology and plant productivity: A review, 133

11 Seed characteristics, 158

12 Tree mortality, 162

13 Plant traits related to the productivity of trees, 168

Part II:

14 Ecophysiology, 181

15 Research advances in plant ecophysiology, 190

16 Carbon capture, carbon sequestration and carbon fixation, 199

17 Plant nutrients, 220

18 Litterfall and forest productivity, 238

19 Nutrient cycling, 244

20 Plant water relations and forest productivity, 248

21 Cold tolerance of trees, 261

22 Heat stress tolerance of trees, 266

23 Seed characteristics, seed dormancy, germination and plant propagation, 270

24 Root growth, 278

25 Features of boreal forest in Russia: A special study, 285

26 Case study: Autoecology, biodiversity and adaptive characteristics of Prosopis in the Arizona region, 312

Appendix 1: Leaf Morphology, 325

Index, 333

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