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Nutrient-uptake and -use efficiency in seedlings of rain-forest trees in New Caledonia: monodominants vs. subordinates and episodic vs. continuous regenerators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2018

Jennifer Read Open the ORCID record for Jennifer Read [Opens in a new window] ,
Stéphane McCoy ,
Tanguy Jaffré  and
Murray Logan
Jennifer Read*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
Stéphane McCoy
Affiliation:
Environmental Conservation Service, Vale New Caledonia, BP 218 Nouméa, 98845 New Caledonia
Tanguy Jaffré
Affiliation:
AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Herbarium NOU, BP A5 Nouméa, 98800 New Caledonia
Murray Logan
Affiliation:
Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No 3, Townsville MC, Qld 4810, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: jenny.read@monash.edu
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Abstract:

The upper canopy of some rain forests in New Caledonia is dominated by single species. These monodominants are commonly secondary species, their dominance not persisting without disturbance. We tested whether dominance is associated with efficient uptake and use of nutrients (N, P and K), comparing between seedlings of monodominants (Nothofagus spp., Arillastrum gummiferum and Cerberiopsis candelabra) and 14 subordinates, grown in a nursery house. We also tested whether this trend applies more broadly to shade-intolerant trees that regenerate episodically (ER species) versus shade-tolerant trees that regenerate continuously (CR species). In the sun treatment, monodominants had higher photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency and productivity for N and K, and uptake efficiency for N, P and K, than subordinates; ER species had higher photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency for N, P and K, and uptake efficiency for N and P, than CR species. Uptake efficiency and productivity per nutrient mass were uncorrelated across species, yet Nothofagus spp., A. gummiferum and C. candelabra combined high levels of both traits for N, and Nothofagus spp. and A. gummiferum combined moderate to high levels for P, in sun-grown seedlings. This trait combination may contribute substantially to competitiveness and post-disturbance dominance on these nutrient-poor soils.

Keywords

forest dynamicsforest regenerationmonodominanceNew CaledonianickelNothofagusnutrient-use efficiencysuccessiontropical rain forestultramafic soil
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , September 2018 , pp. 277 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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