Dissertation Research: Determinants of Shade Tolerance in Temperate Hardwood Tree Species

这项研究对理解一些树苗如何能够在深度遮蔽的环境中生长，而另一些树苗则不能生长做出了重要贡献。这种方法在遮荫耐受性研究中是独一无二的。这项研究将生理过程、光合作用和呼吸作用与分配模式(根与茎中的组织数量)联系在一起。这项研究还考察了含有一种重要的矿物质营养氮的肥料对树木幼苗在阴凉处生长能力的影响。在成熟木材下的遮荫环境中，寄养者对促进树苗的再生非常感兴趣。了解影响树苗在阴凉处生长的植物和环境特征，将有助于林农选择和管理林分，以获得高的长期生产力。

The research represents an important contribution to the understanding of how some tree seedings are able to grow in deeply shaded environments while others are not. The approach is unique in the study of shade tolerance. The study ties the physiological processes, photosynthesis and respiration, with allocational patterns (amount of tissue in roots versus stems). The study also examines the effect of fertilization with an important mineral nutrient, nitrogen, on the ability to tree seedings to grow in shade. Fosters have a keen interest in promoting the regrowth of tree seedlings in the shaded environments beneath mature timber. Understanding plant and environmental characteristics affecting seedling growth in shade will assist foresters in selecting and managing forest stands for high long-term productivity.