Asynchronous leaf and cambial phenology in a tree species of the Congo Basin requires space-time conversion of wood traits.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Wood traits are increasingly being used to document tree performance. In the Congo Basin, however, weaker seasonality causes asynchrony of wood traits between trees. Here, we monitor growth and phenology data to date the formation of traits.

Methods

For two seasons, leaf and cambial phenology were monitored on four Terminalia superba trees (Mayombe) using cameras, cambial pinning and dendrometers. Subsequently, vessel lumen and parenchyma fractions as well as high-resolution isotopes (δ13C/δ18O) were quantified on the formed rings. All traits were dated and related to weather data.

Key results

We observed between-tree differences in green-up of 45 d, with trees flushing before and after the rainy season. The lag between green-up and onset of xylem

SUBMITTER: De Mil T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6758582 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature