Correlated photosynthetic responses and habitat factors of two successional tree species

Abstract

Ulmus alata and Diospyros virginiana are components of the shrub-early tree communities of old-field succession in several areas in the deciduous forests of E North America. In these habitats, the plants experience high insolation, high temperatures and low soil moisture during the summer. They exhibit pronounced daily changes in water potential and usually develop more negative water potentials as the season progresses. The species light saturate at .apprx. 1150 .mu.Einsteins m-2 s-1 with photosynthetic rates of 15 mg CO2 dm-2h-1 for U. alata and 17 mg CO2 dm-2h-1 for D. virginiana. The optimum temperatures for photosynthesis are .apprx. 25.degree. C. U. alata maintains maximum photosynthesis to water potentials of -14 bars and recovers from -20 bars to .apprx. 60% of maximum photosynthesis within 10 h after watering. When they are deprived of water, twigs of D. virginiana exhibit faster decline in photosynthesis and leaf conductance than twigs of U. alata. The 2 spp. have somewhat different responses to the environmental conditions of the field but are well adapted to this environment of high insolation and low water supply. Unlike Ulmus, D. virginiana has some adaptations which may explain the persistence of a few individuals in mature forests.