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.

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