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Browsed Betula pubescens trees are not carbon-limited
Article first published online: 4 JUN 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01433.x
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 British Ecological Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Palacio, S., Hester, A. J., Maestro, M. and Millard, P. (2008), Browsed Betula pubescens trees are not carbon-limited. Functional Ecology, 22: 808–815. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01433.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 SEP 2008
- Article first published online: 4 JUN 2008
- Received 17 February 2008; accepted 5 May 2008; Handling Editor: David Whitehead
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Keywords:
- clipping;
- non-structural carbohydrates;
- herbivory;
- storage;
- nitrogen;
- downy birch
Summary
- 1Slower growth after repetitive browsing of young trees has been attributed to a carbon (C) limitation, but data from long-term studies are lacking. To determine if repeated summer browsing causes a C (source) limitation in trees in the long-term, we analysed the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and nitrogen (N) concentrations and pools of Betula pubescens saplings subjected to different clipping treatments (unclipped, 33% and 66% shoot removal) for 7 years.
- 2The short-term effect of browsing on C allocation was assessed by clipping trees with different browsing histories and analyzing their C and N responses within the same growing season.
- 3Long-term repetitive summer browsing significantly decreased sapling growth and soluble sugar (SS) concentrations in fine roots. However, trees subjected to different browsing histories did not change their C partitioning into starch. Although trees with a different browsing history showed differences in the NSC concentrations and pools of leaves, these differences were not maintained through time.
- 4Simulated browsing had no significant short-term effect on root C and N pools of birch trees, but it decreased all C pools in leaves, 1-year and current-year stems and the starch and total NSC pools in main stems.
- 5We conclude that although browsing may cause a temporary decrease in C pools, B. pubescens trees are able to compensate for such losses and hence are not C-limited in the long-term.