When and why do trees begin to decrease their resource allocation to apical growth? The importance of the reproductive onset.

Trees reduce their allocation to apical growth compared with that to radial growth during later life stages. This has often been attributed to hydraulic and mechanical limitations; however, a growth-reproduction tradeoff might also play an important role. To test whether the height-diameter (H-D) relationship in trees changes with the timing of the onset of reproduction, we analyzed the H-D relationship of 13 deciduous broad-leaved tree species in a Japanese old-growth temperate forest using linear and segmented-linear regression models. These models showed a better fit than common continuous models (simple allometry and saturating curve). For 11 out of 13 species having break points on the H-D lines, we assessed whether the height at the breakpoint (BPH) was related to the height at the onset of reproduction determined by multiyear observatory records on several trees. Although BPH estimates for these 11 species were highly variable, most were within 3.1 m of the stable flowering height (staFLH), or the height at which trees achieve the ability to flower regardless of their growth conditions. The interspecies mean value of the difference between staFLH and BPH was only 45 cm, which suggested a causal relationship between these parameters. BPHs of nine out of 11 species were within the canopy layer and, for the two remaining species, were within the subcanopy layer. These results suggest that several species in this forest begin to reduce their allocation to apical growth around the canopy layer at the onset of stable reproduction.

Use of two population metrics clarifies biodiversity dynamics in large-scale monitoring: the case of trees in Japanese old-growth forests: the need for multiple population metrics in large-scale monitoring.

Many indicators/indices provide information on whether the 2010 biodiversity target of reducing declines in biodiversity have been achieved. The strengths and limitations of the various measures used to assess the success of such measures are now being discussed. Biodiversity dynamics are often evaluated by a single biological population metric, such as the abundance of each species. Here we examined tree population dynamics of 52 families (192 species) at 11 research sites (three vegetation zones) of Japanese old-growth forests using two population metrics: number of stems and basal area. We calculated indices that track the rate of change in all species of tree by taking the geometric mean of changes in population metrics between the 1990s and the 2000s at the national level and at the levels of the vegetation zone and family. We specifically focused on whether indices based on these two metrics behaved similarly. The indices showed that (1) the number of stems declined, whereas basal area did not change at the national level and (2) the degree of change in the indices varied by vegetation zone and family. These results suggest that Japanese old-growth forests have not degraded and may even be developing in some vegetation zones, and indicate that the use of a single population metric (or indicator/index) may be insufficient to precisely understand the state of biodiversity. It is therefore important to incorporate more metrics into monitoring schemes to overcome the risk of misunderstanding or misrepresenting biodiversity dynamics.

Relative importance of the area and shape of patches to the diversity of multiple taxa.

Although enhancing reserve shape has been suggested as an alternative to enlarging nature reserves, the importance of reserve shape relative to reserve area remains unclear. Here we examined the relative importance of area and shape of forest patches to species richness, species composition, and species abundance (abundance of each species) for 3 taxa (33 birds, 41 butterflies, and 91 forest-floor plants) in a fragmented landscape in central Hokkaido, northern Japan. We grouped the species according to their potential edge responses (interior-, neutral-, and edge-species groups for birds and forest-floor plants, woodland- and open-land-species groups for butterflies) and analyzed them separately. We used a shape index that was independent of area as an index of shape circularization. Hierarchical partitioning and variation partitioning revealed that patch area was generally more important than patch shape for species richness and species composition of birds and butterflies. For forest-floor plants, effects of patch area and shape were small, whereas effects of local forest structure were large. Patch area and circularization generally increased abundances of interior species of birds and forest-floor plants and woodland species of butterflies. Nevertheless, only patch circularization increased abundances of 1 woodland species of butterfly and 2 and 6 interior species of birds and forest-floor plants, respectively. We did not find any significant interaction effects between patch area and shape. Our results suggest that although reserves generally should be large and circular, there is a trade-off between patch area and shape, which should be taken into consideration when managing reserves.

Nitrogen-14 NMR Study on Solvent Exchange of the Octahedral Cobalt(II) Ion in Neat 1,3-Propanediamine and n-Propylamine at Various Temperatures and Pressures. Tetrahedral-Octahedral Equilibrium of the Solvated Cobalt(II) Ion in n-Propylamine As Studied by EXAFS and Electronic Absorption Spectroscopy.

Solvated cobalt(II) ions in neat 1,3-propanediamine (tn) and n-propylamine (pa) have been characterized by electronic absorption spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The equilibrium between tetrahedral and octahedral geometry for cobalt(II) ion has been observed in a neat pa solution, but not in neat diamine solutions such as tn and ethylenediamine (en). The thermodynamic parameters and equilibrium constant at 298 K for the geometrical equilibrium in pa were determined to be DeltaH degrees = -36.1 +/- 2.3 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS degrees = -163 +/- 8 J mol(-1) K(-1), and K(298) = 6.0 x 10(-3) M(-2), where K = [Co(pa)(6)(2+)]/{[Co(pa)(4)(2+)][pa](2)}. The equilibrium is caused by the large entropy gain in formation of the tetrahedral cobalt(II) species. The solvent exchange of cobalt(II) ion with octahedral geometry in tn and pa solutions has been studied by the (14)N NMR line-broadening method. The activation parameters and rate constants at 298 K for the solvent exchange reactions are as follows: DeltaH() = 49.3 +/- 0.9 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS() = 25 +/- 3 J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaV() = 6.6 +/- 0.3 cm(3) mol(-1) at 302.1 K, and k(298) = 2.9 x 10(5) s(-1) for the tn exchange, and DeltaH() = 36.2 +/- 1.2 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS() = 35 +/- 6 J mol(-1) K(-1), and k(298) = 2.0 x 10(8) s(-1) for the pa exchange. By comparison of the activation parameters with those for the en exchange of cobalt(II) ion, it has been confirmed that the kinetic chelate strain effect is attributed to the large activation enthalpy for the bidentate chelate opening and that the enthalpic effect is smaller in the case of the six-membered tn chelate compared with the five-membered en chelate.

Reproductive success and distance to conspecific adults in the sparsely distributed tree Kalopanax pictus.

To understand how a sparsely distributed species can maintain viable populations, and with a particular interest in distance-dependent reproductive success, we investigated the ovule survival and the factors that determine the survival for sparsely distributed Kalopanax pictus (Araliaceae) in a temperate forest landscape around the Ogawa Forest Reserve, central Japan. We found 154 potentially mature trees (>20 cm diameter at breast height) in a 600-ha site. The year 2000 was a mass flowering year for K. pictus; 96.8% of the trees examined flowered in that year; however, this was less than half of the trees that flowered in other years. The flowers of K. pictus include protandrous inflorescences, which bloom on individual tress in midsummer when few other tree species bloom. We conducted pollination experiments with out-crossed, self-pollinated, bagged, and control inflorescences. Results suggest that self-pollination is limited, partially by low self-compatibility and partially by protandry. Ovule survival from the flower to the seed stages was not dependent on the temporal flowering density of conspecific adults. The flowering habit and presence of effective pollinators may allow K. pictus to avoid the negative effects of sparse distribution on pollination efficiency. However, ovule survival during the ovary development stage depended on infection by a species-specific fungus, Mycosphaerella acanthopanacis. The fungus damages leaves, and the infection intensity depends on the distance between conspecific K. pictus adults. Thus, an advantage of sparse distribution in K. pictus is disease avoidance, whereas its disadvantages are overcome by pollination efficiency.

A mechanistic approach to evaluation of umbrella species as conservation surrogates.

Although species with large area requirements are sometimes used as umbrella species, their general utility as conservation tools is uncertain. We surveyed the species diversity of birds, butterflies, carabids, and forest-floor plants in forest sites across an area (1,600 km2) in which we delineated large breeding home ranges of Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). We tested whether protection of the home ranges could serve as an effective umbrella to protect sympatric species of the four taxa. We also used an empirical habitat model of occupancy of home range to examine mechanisms by which the Northern Goshawk acts as an umbrella species. Among species richness, abundance, and species composition of the four taxa, only abundance and species composition of birds differed between sites located inside and outside home ranges, which was due to greater abundance of bird species that were prey of Northern Goshawks inside the home ranges. Thus, although home range indicated areas with high abundance of certain bird prey species, it was not effective as an indicator of the species diversity of all four taxa. We also did not find any difference in species richness, abundance, and species composition between sites predicted as occupied and unoccupied using the habitat model. In contrast, when we selected sites on the basis of each habitat variable in the model, habitat variables that selected sites either in agricultural or forested landscapes encompassed sites with high species richness or particular species composition. This result suggests that the low performance of the Northern Goshawk as an umbrella species is due to this species' preference for habitat in both agricultural and forested landscapes. Species that can adjust to changes in habitat conditions may not act as effective umbrella species despite having large home ranges.

Tecnologia alternativa para a quebra de dormência das sementes de pau-de-balsa (Ochroma lagopus Sw, Bombacaceae) / Alternative technology for breaking dormancy of balsa wood (Ochroma lagopus Sw., Bombacaceae) seeds

Este trabalho, teve como objetivo estudar a germinação das sementes de pau-de-balsa (Ochroma lagopus Sw., Bombacaceae) em diferentes estágios de maturação aparente dos frutos; a germinação das sementes provenientes de árvores com diferentes diâmetros a altura do peito (DAP) e a germinação das sementes tratadas para quebra de dormência. No primeiro experimento, avaliou-se a germinação das sementes dos frutos verdes, verdosos (verde amarelado), negros (fruto fechado) e negros deiscentes (fruto aberto com painas expostas). No segundo, a germinação das sementes de árvores da mesma idade e com diferentes DAP's: pequeno (5,4 cm), médio (9,1 cm) e grande (13,2 cm). No terceiro, a germinação das sementes com diferentes quebra de dormência: testemunha; água por 24 e 48 horas; água a 80°C até esfriar; H2SO4 por ® e 1 minuto com e sem paina; queima da paina em peneira metálica; e semeio de sementes com a paina. As sementes germinaram em gerbox sobre papel de filtro, em câmara de germinação, nas temperaturas de 20°C, 30°C e 25°C, no primeiro, segundo e terceiro experimentos, respectivamente. As sementes de pau-de-balsa germinaram melhor e mais rápido quando coletadas de frutos negros a negros deiscentes, ou quando coletadas de árvores com menor e médio diâmetros, ou quando tratadas com água quente a 80°C até esfriar, ou com ácido sulfúrico por ® ou 1 minuto com ou sem paina. Os tratamentos com ácido tem a vantagem de quebrar a dormência da semente e dissolver a paina. As sementes recém colhidas e germinadas não apresentaram dormência tegumentar.