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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
How to catch the patch? A dendrometer study of the radial increment through successive cambia in the mangrove Avicennia
Annals of Botany, Volume 113, No. 4, Year 2014
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Description
Background and Aims Successive vascular cambia are involved in the secondary growth of at least 200 woody species from >30 plant families. In the mangrove Avicennia these successive cambia are organized in patches, creating stems with non-concentric xylem tissue surrounded by internal phloem tissue. Little is known about radial growth and tree stem dynamics in trees with this type of anatomy. This study aims to (1) clarify the process of secondary growth of Avicennia trees by studying its patchiness; and (2) study the radial increment of Avicennia stems, both temporary and permanent, in relation to local climatic and environmental conditions. A test is made of the hypothesis that patchy radial growth and stem dynamics enable Avicennia trees to better survive conditions of extreme physiological drought. Methods Stem variations were monitored by automatic point dendrometers at four different positions around and along the stem of two Avicennia marina trees in the mangrove forest of Gazi Bay (Kenya) during 1 year.Key ResultsPatchiness was found in the radial growth and shrinkage and swelling patterns of Avicennia stems. It was, however, potentially rather than systematically present, i.e. stems reacted either concentrically or patchily to environment triggers, and it was fresh water availability and not tidal inundation that affected radial increment. Conclusions It is concluded that the ability to develop successive cambia in a patchy way enables Avicennia trees to adapt to changes in the prevailing environmental conditions, enhancing its survival in the highly dynamic mangrove environment. Limited water could be used in a more directive way, investing all the attainable resources in only some locations of the tree stem so that at least at these locations there is enough water to, for example, overcome vessel embolisms or create new cells. As these locations change with time, the overall functioning of the tree can be maintained. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3936594/bin/supp_113_4_741__index.html
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3936594/bin/supp_mcu001_mcu001supp.pdf
Authors & Co-Authors
Robert, Elisabeth M.R.
Belgium, Brussels
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Belgium, Tervuren
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Jambia, Abudhabi H.
Kenya, Mombasa
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
Schmitz, Nele
Belgium, Brussels
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Belgium, Tervuren
Royal Museum for Central Africa
De Ryck, Dennis J.R.
Belgium, Brussels
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Belgium, Tervuren
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Belgium, Brussels
Université Libre de Bruxelles
De Mey, Johan
Belgium, Jette
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Kairo, James Gitundu
Kenya, Mombasa
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid
Belgium, Brussels
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Belgium, Brussels
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Beeckman, Hans
Belgium, Tervuren
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Koedam, Nico E.
Belgium, Brussels
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Statistics
Citations: 33
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/aob/mcu001
ISSN:
03057364
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Locations
Kenya