Ecophysiology of Sunfleck Utilization by Understory Plants

这项研究将探讨森林中的日照是如何 林下植被影响植物的生长、繁殖和生态 植物的性能。 光的可用性， 光合作用限制了林下植物的生长， 接收到的光以短暂的 直射阳光（阳光直射）穿透上层的孔洞 树冠 太阳耀斑和由树木产生的较大的太阳“斑块” 或分支福尔斯是生态学上重要的，但很少研究。 这些在空间和时间上都是高度可变的，因为 的差异。 研究在这一 该提案将研究不同频率的光和 持续时间。影响增长业绩。 植物如何适应 光的波动和有效利用的限制 也将对此进行研究。 这项研究将 主要是在热带森林林下草本植物上进行的， 海芋 林下草本植物是重要的， 对热带森林知之甚少。 这项工作对森林管理有若干影响， 农业 森林的再生是通过 在林下或林隙中建立森林群落。 一个 了解环境和生理控制， 因此，这些植物的生长和生态对于 了解如何管理和维护这些森林。

This research will examine how sunflecks in forest understories affect the growth, reproduction and ecological performance of plants. The availability of light for photosynthesis limits plant growth in the understory and much of the light that is received comes in the form of brief periods of direct sunlight (sunflecks) that penetrate holes in the overstory canopy. Sunflecks and the larger sun "patches" created by tree or branch falls are ecologically important but little studied. These are highly variable both spatially and temporally because of differences in overstory canopy structure. Research in this proposal will examine how light of different frequencies and durations. influences growth performance. How plants acclimate to fluctuating light and the constraints to efficient utilization of this light will also be investigated. The research will be carried out primarily on a tropical forest understory herb, Alocasia macrorrhiza. Understory herbs are an important but poorly understood component of tropical forests. This work has several implications for forest management and agriculture. Regeneration of forests occurs through establishment of seedings in the understory or in gaps. An understanding of the environmental and physiological controls on the growth and ecology of these plants is therefore important for understanding how to manage and maintain these forests.