Shade-intolerant plants need to be able to grow shoots rapidly. New research shows that the shoots are successful because of preparations below ground.
Tag - shade tolerance
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Shade tolerance, fruiting phenology and Janzen-Connell effects in Amazonian palms
Differences in shade-tolerance and fruiting phenology life history traits may explain variation in the strength of Janzen-Connell effects across whole communities.
Active or passive? Specific-leaf-area plasticity responses
Liu et al. conducted a meta-analysis to test the hypothesis that shade-induced increases in specific-leaf-area (SLA) indicate an adaptive plant response to optimizing light capture. They conclude that species with...
Functional significance of crown shape diversity and plasticity across tropical tree species
It has been maintained that selection for sapling performance in the strongly limiting light conditions of tropical forest understorey is likely to maximise whole-plant light capture efficiency. In their investigation...
Seedling functional traits of tropical vs. cool-temperate trees
The dynamics of humid forests are thought to involve a trade-off between shade tolerance and growth in high light. Lusk et al. compare seedling growth and functional traits of tropical and cool-temperate Australian...
Climbing plants and deep shade in rainforests
Climbing plants and deep shade in rainforests The climbing habit allows vines to reach well-lit canopy areas but most of them have to survive in the shade for at least part of their life cycle. Valladares et al. show...
Stem uprighting in tree saplings
Tree saplings growing in a forest understorey undergo frequent changes in their light environment, to which they must adapt. Collet et al. analyse changes in sapling stem inclination over 4 years after canopy opening in...
