Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “canopy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Distribution and dynamics of two ferns: Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Dennstaedtiaceae) and Thelypteris noveboracensis (Thelypteridaceae) in a Northeast mixed hardwoods-hemlock forest.

Dennstaedtia punctilobula and Thelypteris noveboracensis are two native species that often arrest forest succession and reduce understory diversity. As part of a project to examine the feedback between forest understory and canopy dynamics, we studied the patterns of distribution and dynamics of these two fern species in an oak-transition hardwoods-hemlock forest. Dennstaedtia was least abundant under shade-tolerant tree species and most abundant in small (1-2 trees) canopy gaps, but did not show any distinct patterns across the sampled moisture regime. The light response was verified using light manipulation experiments and examination of plant size-abundance patterns across light environments. Thelypteris tended to be most prevalent under maple canopies and appeared to be more sensitive to soil moisture regime being restricted to more mesic sites than Dennstaedtia. Seasonal and year-to-year changes in abundance of established clones of both fern species were small, suggesting that once established, both species can maintain a strong hold on a site. Further work on the niche requirements of the two species is warranted, but any event that maintains or promotes canopy openness (tree death by disease or windthrow, forest harvesting, or the elimination of a shrub layer by browsing) will promote persistence of Dennstaedtia.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Machine vision monitoring of plant growth and motion.

The tomato plant was used as a model to study growth and movement due to temperature changes in the environment. A morphological feature, plant top projection canopy area (TPCA), was used to characterize the plant growth and movement. Three temperature regimes (normal temperature, low temperature, and a step change from normal to low temperature) were used for the study. It is found that the plants have significant cyclic canopy movement. In addition, both plant growth, which is represented by canopy expansion, and canopy movement are affected by air temperature. The response of the plant to a step change of air temperature was also documented.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed2002

[Influencing mechanism of several shrubs and subshrubs on soil fertility in Keerqin sandy land].

Keerqin sandy land is one of serious desertification areas in the semiarid zone of north China, and shrubs are the dominant plant life form and play an important role in the region. The effects of "fertile island" and rhizosphere of several shrubs and subshrubs were studied. The results showed that the concentrations of organic C, total N and total P, and values of electrical conductivity (EC) in the soils under the canopy of shrubs increased by 56%, 51%, 37%, and 51%, respectively, compared with those of the soils in open spaces, but there was no significant difference in pH value between the soils under shrub canopies and in open spaces. Shrub rhizosphere soils had significant higher contents of organic C, total N, and values of EC as well as lower pH value compared to the bulk soils, but there was no significant difference in total P between rhizosphere and bulk soils. There were close relationships between the properties in soils under shrub canopies and the rhizosphere soils, indicating that the development of "fertile island" were favorable to root growth and induced greater amount of rhizodeposition, and vice versa. Soils under Artemisia frigida and Caragada microphylla canopies and rhizospheres had significant higher organic C and total N contents than those of Artemisia halodendron and Salix gordejvii. This results suggested that shrubs were of vital importance for accumulation of nutrients and maintenance of soil fertility in Keerqin sandy land ecosystem.

Carbon↗
PubMed2003

[A study on multicomponent bidirectional reflectance model for rice].

In this paper, the bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) of rice measured in field experiment in 1999 and 2000 was compared with the BRF computed from the rice multicomponent bidirectional reflectance model that based on the radiative transfer theory, rice canopy geometric structural factors and different characteristics of the different growth period for rice in detail. The contribution of some sensitive factors such as the average inclination angle of all components belonged to rice and LAI was accurately specified. The results showedthat the rice multicomponent bidirectional reflectance model described above could basically simulate the angular distribution characteristic of reflectance spectrum of rice canopies, and the different peak point of the hotspot effect of rice canopies reached under different conditions. In addition, the regulation of the first-order scattering reflectance by soil and water and the multiple scattering reflectance by foliage, stem, fringe and soil changing with the average inclination angle of all components, as well as the contribution of LAI to BRF were analyzed. All of these laid a foundation to monitor rice growth and estimate its yield. Meanwhile, it also implied that some rice canopy parameters could be accurately estimated by the model through selecting the suitable image bands.

Light↗
PubMed2004

[Response of stomatal characteristics and its plasticity to different light intensities in leaves of seven tropical woody seedlings].

Stomatal characteristics and its plasticity in leaves of four canopy species, Shorea chinensis, Pometia tomentosa, Anthocephalus chinensis, Calophyllun polyanthum and three middle-layer species, Barringtonia pendula, Garcinia hanburyi, Horsfieldia tetratepala acclimated to different light conditions (8%, 25%, 50% and 100% of full sunlight) for more than one year were surveyed. All plant's stomata were distributed on the abaxial of leaves. Pometia tomentosa and Barringtonia pendula had higher stomatal density, and the guard cell length of Anthocephalus chinensis and Calophyllun polyanthum were much greater than others'. Stomatal density and stomatal index (ratio of stomatal numbers to epidermal cell number) were increased with growth irradiance increased, while numbers of stomata per leaf were higher in the low than the high relative PFD, and stomatal conductance of leaves was the highest in the 50% of sunlight except for Anthocephalus chinensis. The relative PFD had little effects on the guard cell length of all seven plants. There was a significant negative correlation between stomatal density and leaf area, but the stomatal conductance was not significantly positive with the stomatal conductance in some degree. The analysis of phenotypic plasticity of stomatal characteristics showed that plasticity index for stomatal index and numbers of stomatal per leaf were similar for canopy and middle-layer species, while the plasticity index of stomatal density and stomatal conductance were significantly greater for canopy species than middle-layer species. The high plasticity of canopy species was consistent with the hypothesis that specialization in a more favorable environment increases plasticity.

Light↗
PubMed2004

[Gap features of subalpine dark coniferous forest in Wolong Nature Reserve].

This paper studied the size structure and formation pattern of gaps and the characteristics of gap makers (GM) in subalpine dark coniferous forests in Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. The results showed that the gap density was 18.5 per hm2, and the area of canopy gap and extended gap accounted for 28.4% and 60% of total forest area, respectively. Canopy gap varied from 10 m2 to 1134.7 m2, and expanded gap varied from 84.11 m2 to 1646.3 m2. Canopy gaps and expanded gaps had an average area of 153.45 m2 and 324.34 m2, respectively. The average number of gap makers (GM) per gap was 5.14, and only 8.1% of all gaps were created by just one GM. The order of GM contributed to gap formation was trunk snap > uproot > standing death > branch breakage. Abies faxoniana, Tsuga chinensis, and Betula utilis were the major gap makers, while Abies faxoniana in the canopy layer with 60-70 cm DBH and 30-35 m high had the greatest probability of gap making.

Abies↗
PubMed2004

Use of high resolution digital thermography to detect Heterodera schachtii infestation in sugar beets.

Thermography is a non-destructive method used to monitor pest and disease infestations, as it is related to changes in plant water status. Surface temperature differences of the crop canopy may be an indicator of nematode infestation as the parasitation of the root system reduces evaporation of leaves. To test the potential of high resolution digital thermography to detect Heterodera schachtii infestation, experiments using increasing nematode densities and different sugar beet varieties were conducted. From June to August 2003 the crop canopy temperature was measured with a thermal infrared camera from a helicopter. A significant correlation between canopy temperature and nematode density was observed with the susceptible cultivar Monza whereas the resistant cultivar Paulina did not show any correlation. Mean temperature comparison showed significant differences between the lowest infestation level (500 eggs and larvae/100 ml soil) and the highest infestation level (>1500 eggs and larvae/100 ml soil). At the beginning of the season canopy temperature differences between healthy and nematode infested sugar beets were higher (approximately 1 degree C) compared to later assessment dates when the water supply in the soil was limited. Since low and high nematode infestation could be clearly distinguished with the susceptible cultivar by airborne thermal images, thermography might be a useful tool for monitoring sugar beet fields.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Variation in photosynthetic photon flux density within a tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, south-western China.

The effects of canopy development, solar angle, and weather conditions on temporal variation in photosynthetic photon flux density(PPFD) at three heights within a tropical rain forest canopy in Xishuangbanna, China, were examined. PPFD was measured every second and stored as 10-min averages from 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003. PPFD variability was examined at three different temporal scales. Specific days in March, September, and December with clear and overcast sky conditions were selected to separate the effects of leaf area index (LAI) and solar angle on diurnal variability. On both clear and overcast days, mean daily average PPFD was significantly different between March and September at all heights, except 10 m on clear days, suggesting that LAI directly influences PPFD. In contrast, the differences in daily average PPFD among three heights between September and December were likely due to variation in solar angle. In addition, daily average PPFD at all locations were significantly lower under overcast than clear sky conditions in March, September and December. Over the year-long study, the mean daily total PPFD at 21 m, 10 m and 4 m was 2.8, 2.7 and 0.7 mol/(m2 x d), which accounted for 9.7%, 9.4% and 2.4% of the daily PPFD above the canopy, respectively. Significant differences in mean daily total PPFD occurred at the same heights among different seasons, and diurnal, day-to-day and seasonal PPFD varied at different heights within the canopy. The possible effects of light variability on physiological and morphological responses of plants are discussed.

China↗
PubMed2006

[Neighborhood comparison of Cryptomeria fortunei plantation by using different variables].

Neighborhood comparison is defined as the proportion of the nearest greater neighbors to a given reference tree measured by a certain variable. By this way, the dominant differentiation degree of individual wood could be measured well. In this paper, the variables DBH, biomass, canopy breadth, and tree height were used to make the neighborhood comparison of Cryptomeria fortunei plantation in Chongzhou forest farm. The results showed that the neighborhood comparison measured by DBH and biomass had a slight fluctuation range and the highest reliability. Nevertheless, due to the effects of various tree types, the neighborhood comparison measured by canopy breath and tree height was not as reliable as that measured by the former two variables. The average value of the neighborhood comparison measured by DBH and biomass was visibly higher than that by canopy breath and tree height, indicating that the differentiation degree of individual's DBH and biomass was further greater than that of individual's canopy breath and tree height. It was possible that increasing individual's DBH to enhance its biomass, and thus, to achieve its predominance status among individuals' competition was the main strategy of individual's differentiation. Neighborhood comparison should also be taken as an instructive reference in modifying the spatial structure of stand.

Biomass↗
PubMed2006

[Estimation of rainfall interception by broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountains].

Rainfall interception by forest canopy is an important process of water resources cycle in forest watershed. Most studies focused on the relationships of the interception with the precipitation in one or more rainfall events, without considering rainfall density and vegetation characteristics. By using a semi-theoretical model of canopy rainfall interception model, taking rainfall intensity and leaf area indices as inputs and canopy wetness index as parameter, and combining with Penman-Monteith equation, this paper simulated the rainfall interception by the broad-leaved Korean pine forest canopy in Changbai Mountains, and estimated the total interception of rainfall events from 1 May to 30 September 2004. The results showed that the total interception was 39.96 mm, occupying 10.2% of the precipitation, and the estimated results agreed well with the measured ones. Based on the estimated results, the relationships between interception and rainfall on different temporal scales were analyzed, which suggested that with the increase of temporal scale from 30 min to a month, the correlation between interception and rainfall became more and more obvious.

China↗
PubMed2001

Patterns of positional behavior in mixed-species troops of Callimico goeldii, Saguinus labiatus, and Saguinus fuscicollis in northwestern Brazil.

We present the results of a 4-month field investigation of positional behavior, vertical ranging, and species differences in limb proportions and body mass in a mixed-species troop of Saguinus fuscicollis, Saguinus labiatus, and Callimico goeldii in northwestern Brazil. Despite certain similarities in overall positional repertoire, patterns of positional behavior varied significantly between species. Travel in Callimico occurred principally in the lowest levels of the canopy, and was characterized by an exaggerated form of hindlimb-dominated bounding (bounding-hop), and leaping to and from vertical trunks (55.1% of leaps). In contrast, saddle-back tamarins traveled in the lower and middle levels of the canopy, and engaged in a range of leaping behaviors, including stationary leaps (37.3%), acrobatic leaps (31.3%), and trunk-to-trunk leaps (20%). Red-bellied tamarins exploited the highest levels of the arboreal canopy. Travel in this species was dominated by quadrupedal bounding and acrobatic leaps (67% of leaps) that began and ended on thin, flexible supports. Species differences in positional behavior correlated with species differences in limb proportions and locomotor anatomy, and provide a framework for understanding niche partitioning in mixed-species troops of Saguinus and Callimico.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Patch spraying: future role of electronics in limiting pesticide use.

Developments relating to the control of application equipment can deliver improvements in pesticide use by better matching applications to target requirements. This may have components relating to the spatial distribution of a weed, pest or disease or methods by which the target, particularly a crop canopy, can be described with respect to a given application. Changes in application can relate to the dose and/or volume applied, but may also concern the way in which a treatment is delivered in terms of parameters such as spray trajectory angle and droplet size distribution. For many weed species there is evidence of patchy distributions in field situations. Studies have shown that savings of typically up to 40% in herbicide use can be achieved by adopting patch spraying approaches in such situations. Weed patch detection is key to the performance of such patch spraying systems. In widely spaced rowcrops such as vegetables, there is considerable scope for developing fully automated detection systems based on image analysis, and for the development of accurate guidance systems that apply pesticides only to the crop row. In crops with a relatively high plant density, weed detection in the medium/short term is likely to be based on manual discrimination. The costs of labour for manual weed patch mapping have been estimated at less than 1.50 ha(-1) pounds sterling. Potential savings in pesticide use can also be made if applications are matched to crop canopy structure. This is most important in bush and tree crops where savings of up to 75% in pesticide use could be achieved. In crops such as cereals, studies have shown that savings in fungicide use may be possible, particularly at earlier stages of growth by adjusting spray delivery to measured canopy characteristics. Key components of the performance of application systems concern the ability to deliver over a dose rate range of more than 3:1 while maintaining control of variables such as delivery trajectory angle and spray quality. Traceability and the effective monitoring of applications is likely to be a major driver influencing the uptake of more sophisticated control systems. Methods of labelling pesticides with systems that can be read by the application unit will be an important step in the development of recording and data handling systems that will operate safely with the minimum of operator input and enable the environmental advantages of targeted pesticide application to be monitored.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Recovery of big sagebrush communities after burning in south-western Montana.

Prescribed burning of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities is conducted with the intention of increasing either the productivity of the understory plants or the big sagebrush. It was our objective to compare the recovery of big sagebrush communities from prescribed fire at as many sites as we could locate in south-western Montana with environmentally paired unburned portions. We located and sampled 13 sites that had been burned over a span of two to 32 growing seasons earlier. Big sagebrush canopy cover, density, and production of winter forage were significantly greater (P < or = 0.05) in the unburned portions in 34 of 38 comparisons. Canopy coverage of Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer), the dominant herbaceous species, was greater in the burned portion at only one site while it was less (P < or = 0.05) at four sites. Total perennial grass canopy coverage was not different (P < or = 0.05) between treatments over the 13 sites. Managers considering prescribed burning of big sagebrush communities should be aware that herbaceous plant responses may be minimal while shrub values will likely be lost for many years. The loss of the dominant shrubs in any ecosystem will affect many other organisms and severely impact species that have an obligate habit with the shrubs.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed2006

The interactive effects of fire and diversity on short-term responses of ecosystem processes in experimental mediterranean grasslands.

We conducted a field experiment using constructed communities to test whether species richness contributed to the maintenance of ecosystem processes under fire disturbance. We studied the effects of diversity components (i.e., species richness and species composition) upon productivity, structural traits of vegetation, decomposition rates, and soil nutrients between burnt and unburnt experimental Mediterranean grassland communities. Our results demonstrated that fire and species richness had interactive effects on aboveground biomass production and canopy structure components. Fire increased biomass production of the highest-richness communities. The effects of fire on aboveground biomass production at different levels of species richness were derived from changes in both vertical and horizontal canopy structure of the communities. The most species-rich communities appeared to be more resistant to fire in relation to species-poor ones, due to both compositional and richness effects. Interactive effects of fire and species richness were not important for belowground processes. Decomposition rates increased with species richness, related in part to increased levels of canopy structure traits. Fire increased soil nutrients and long-term decomposition rate. Our results provide evidence that composition within richness levels had often larger effects on the stability of aboveground ecosystem processes in the face of fire disturbance than species richness per se.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed2003

Is there a feedback between N availability in siliceous and calcareous soils and Cistus albidus leaf chemical composition?

The effects of the Mediterranean shrub Cistus albidus on N cycling were studied in two siliceous (granitic-derived and schistic-derived) and one calcareous soil differentiated by their texture and acidity. We aimed to find out whether soils under C. albidus were affected by the release of C compounds from the canopy, and whether phenolic compound production in C. albidus changed depending on the soil N availability. Calcareous soils, with higher clay content and polyvalent cations, had a higher organic matter content but lower net N mineralization rates than siliceous soils, and C. albidus growing therein were characterized by lower foliar N and phenolic compound concentrations. Under C. albidus, all types of soils had higher phenolic compound concentrations and polyphenol oxidase activity. C. albidus presence and leachate addition decreased net N mineralization and increased soil respiration in siliceous soils, and these changes were related to a higher soil C/N ratio under the canopy. In calcareous soils, however, no significant effects of plant presence on N cycling were found. In the studied plant-soil system it is not likely that higher phenolic compound concentrations were selected during evolution to enhance nutrient conservation in soil because (1) higher phenolic compound concentrations were not associated with lower soil fertilities, (2) C compounds released from C. albidus accelerated N cycling by increasing N immobilization and no evidence was found for decreased gross N mineralization, and (3) soil organic N content was more related to soil chemical and physical properties than to the effects of the C. albidus canopy.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed2003

The contribution of C3 and C4 plants to the carbon cycle of a tallgrass prairie: an isotopic approach.

The photosynthetic pathway composition (C(3):C(4) mixture) of an ecosystem is an important controller of carbon exchanges and surface energy flux partitioning, and therefore represents a fundamental ecophysiological distinction. To assess photosynthetic mixtures at a tallgrass prairie pasture in Oklahoma, we collected nighttime above-canopy air samples along concentration and isotopic gradients throughout the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons. We analyzed these samples for their CO(2) concentration and carbon isotopic composition and calculated C(3):C(4) proportions with a two-source mixing model. In 1999, the C(4) percentage increased from 38% in spring (late April) to 86% in early fall (mid-September). The C(4) percentages inferred from ecosystem respiration measurements in 2000 indicate a smaller shift, from 67% in spring (early May) to 77% in mid-summer (late July). We also sampled daytime CO(2 )concentration and carbon isotope gradients above the canopy to determine ecosystem discrimination against (13)CO(2) during net uptake. These discrimination values were always lower than corresponding nighttime ecosystem respiration isotopic signatures would suggest. After accounting for the isotopic disequilibria between respiration and photosynthesis resulting from seasonal variations in the C(3):C(4) mixture, we estimated canopy photosynthetic discrimination. The C(4) percentage calculated from this approach agrees with the percentage determined from nighttime respiration for sampling periods in both growing seasons. Isotopic imbalances between photosynthesis and respiration are likely to be common in mixed C(3):C(4 )ecosystems and must be considered when using daytime isotopic measurements to constrain ecosystem physiology. Given the global extent of such ecosystems, isotopic imbalances likely contribute to global variations in the carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO(2).

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed2003

Negative effects overpower the positive of kelp to exclude invertebrates from the understorey community.

Marine macroalgal forests are one of the most widespread and studied habitats on subtidal coasts, but there remain challenges in understanding why many sessile invertebrates are anomalously absent from understorey communities. In a series of experiments on recruitment of invertebrates, I partitioned the habitat-modifying effects of kelp into their positive and negative effects. Experiments revealed that a reduction of light intensity and removal of sediment by canopies acted to facilitate recruitment, but physical abrasion by the canopy acted as a negative force to overpower these positive effects. Understorey assemblages, therefore, represent biased subsets of taxa from a local pool capable of colonization. On balance, negative effects acted to exclude invertebrates from the understorey community. The asymmetric strength of negative effects not only explains the enigma of exclusion but also indicates that, when it exists, understorey coexistence with canopy plants must reflect a more even match between positive and negative effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Differential seed and seedling predation by crabs: impacts on tropical coastal forest composition.

Recently, the importance of seed predation by crabs on mangrove species distributions and densities has been established by several studies. In a tropical coastal terrestrial forest in Costa Rica, we investigated the relative importance of predation by land crabs, Gecarcinus quadratus, and hermit crabs, Coenobita compressus, on measured forest composition through a series of seed removal and seedling establishment experiments. We also used natural light-gaps and adjacent non-gap sites to test how canopy cover affects crab predation (seed removal) and seedling establishment. We found fewer tree species (S=18) and lower densities (seedlings, saplings, and adults) in the coastal zone within 100 m of coastline, than in the inland zone (S=59). Land crab densities were higher in the coastal zone (3.03+/-1.44 crabs m(-2)) than in the inland zone (0.76+/-0.78 crabs m(-2)), and hermit crabs were not present in the inland zone. Seed removal and seedling mortality also were higher in the coastal zone than in the inland zone, and in the open controls than in the crab exclosures. Mortality of seeds and seedlings was two to six times higher in the controls than exclosures for four of the five experiments. Crabs preferred seeds and younger seedlings over older seedlings but showed no species preferences in the seed (Anacardium excelsum, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Terminalia oblonga) and seedling (Pachira quinata and E. cyclocarpum) stages. We conclude that the observed differences in tree densities were caused by differential crab predation pressure along the coastal gradient, while the differences in species composition were due to predator escape (satiation) by seed quantity. Canopy cover did not affect seed removal rates, but did affect seedling survival with higher mortality in the non-gap versus gap environments. In summary, crab predation of seeds and seedlings, and secondarily canopy cover, are important factors affecting tree establishment in terrestrial coastal forests.

Animals↗