S. Raddi

Surrogate mother for endangered Cupressus.

A rare cypress tree increases its chances by using a clever reproductive strategy.

Physiological and structural changes in response to altered precipitation regimes in a Mediterranean macchia ecosystem

Significant decrease in precipitation up to 15–20% has been observed in the Mediterranean area in the last two decades as a consequence of climate change. To simulate an analogous scenario, the precipitation regime was altered in replicated experimental plots in a Mediterranean macchia dominated by Arbutus unedo L. species. Two different levels of soil water content (SWC) were obtained during the summer: a mean value of 7% was obtained in water-depleted (D) plots by a partial (−20%) rain exclusion treatment using rain gutters; while a mean value of 14% in SWC was obtained in watered (W) plots supplying water by a sprinkler net. The physiological and structural changes were investigated over the course of two consecutive years by measurement of water potential, gas exchange leaf carbon isotopes, leaf pigments and growth. Apart from short-term responses, mainly related to the elastic response of stomatal conductance to soil water, a more long-lasting and significant acclimation to water availability was observed as a result of the increase in hydraulic resistance in the soil–plant continuum, which persisted even after the return to full water availability during the fall and winter. This response involved the permanent down-regulation of stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, accumulation of photo-protective pigments, as well as a reduction in shoot growth, leaf area index and an increase in shoot-bearing flowers in D plots. This acclimation response prevented the onset of any run-away damage thereby reducing the forest vulnerability to drought. Furthermore, the imposed drought induced a slight increase or no change in intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEint), as a result of the parallel increase in stomatal and non-stomatal limitations; conversely integrated WUE (i.e., estimated from leaf carbon isotopes) was not affected by drought.

Genetic diversity in natural Cupressus sempervirens L. populations in Turkey

Nine polymorphic out of 13 isoenzymes (Gdh-A, Lap-A, Mdh-B, Mdh-C, Ndh-A, 6Pgd-B, Pgi-B, Pgm-A and Pgm-B) were used to assess genetic diversity in seven natural Cupressus sempervirens populations in South-western Anatolia. Except for Pgi-B, all loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. A high level of genetic diversity was observed within populations. The mean number of alleles was 2.3±0.08, the effective number of alleles was 1.53±0.10, the percentage of polymorphic loci was 82.6±8.7%, expected heterozygosity was 0.350±0.039, observed heterozygosity was 0.326±0.039, and the fixation index was 0.049. Interpopulation differentiation was moderate, with differentiation indices of GST=0.073 and δ=0.104. A UPGMA tree and differentiation (Dj) showed that Kumluca, Kemer and Kas were the most differentiated populations. Pgm-B was one of the loci contributing most to interpopulation differentiation (GST=0.119;Di=0.201), clearly distinguishing Eastern populations, as indicated by a highly significant correlation coefficient between Dj and longitude (R2=0.88∗∗). No other significant correlation was found between genetic measures and geographical traits for the Turkish cypress populations. A metanalysis of these and other cypress populations from Crete and the Aegean islands, that had been characterised previously using the same isoenzymes, showed no significant relationship between altitude and genetic measures (within-population differentiation or δT, observed heterozygosity, fixation index and Dj). Observed heterozygosity and latitude were negatively correlated. Longitude was found to be correlated with heterozygosity, fixation index and differentiation. Genetic and geographic distances were positively correlated over loci. Deviations from selective neutrality by Ewens–Watterson test were observed for Pgm-B, Ndh-A and 6Pgd-B.

Role of xanthophyll cycle-mediated photoprotection in Arbutus unedo plants exposed to water stress during the Mediterranean summer

We analyzed the response of potted strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) seedlings exposed to water stress by withholding water for 10 d (WS). Leaf water potential, net CO2 assimilation, and stomatal conductance decreased with increasing water deficit. A 30 % reduction of chlorophyll (Chl) content in the antenna complexes was observed in WS-plants. Simultaneously, a decline of photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) occurred as a result of an excess of solar radiation energy when carbon assimilation was limited by stomata closure due to soil water deficit. The non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence (ΦNPQ) significantly increased, as well as the leaf contents of zeaxanthin (Z) and antheraxanthin (A) at the expense of violaxanthin during the WS-period. Elevated predawn contents of de-epoxidized xanthophyll cycle components were associated with a sustained lowering of predawn photosystem 2 efficiency; this suggested an engagement of Z+A in a state primed for energy dissipation. Thus, the ability of strawberry trees to maintain the functionality of the xanthophyll cycle during the Mediterranean summer is an efficient mechanism to prevent irreversible damages to the photosynthetic machinery through thermal energy dissipation in the antenna and the reduction in photochemical efficiency.

Let’s exploit available knowledge on vegetation fluorescence

The potential to measure vegetation fluorescence from space (1) and to derive from it direct information on the gross primary productivity (GPP) of terrestrial ecosystems is probably the most thrilling development in remote sensing and global ecology of recent years, as it moves Earth observation techniques from the detection of canopy biophysics (e.g., fraction of absorbed radiation) and biochemistry (chlorophyll and nitrogen content) to the realm of ecosystem function.

Multi-angular hyperspectral observations of Mediterranean forest with PROBA-CHRIS

Measurements of spectro-directional radiances done with the imaging spectrometer CHRIS on-board the agile platform PROBA are being used to determine key properties of terrestrial vegetation at the appropriate spatial resolution. These data on vegetation properties can then be used to improve the accuracy and the parameterizations of models describing biosphere processes, i.e. photosynthesis and water use by irrigated crops and trees. The vegetation properties considered are: albedo, Leaf Area Index (LAI), fractional cover, fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) and canopy chlorophyll content. The Natural Park of San Rossore (Pisa, Central Italy) is a primary test site for several national and international research projects dealing with forest ecosystem monitoring. In particular, since 1999 measurements of transpiration and ecosystem gas-exchange have been regularly taken in the park pine forest to characterize its main water and carbon fluxes. In the same period, several aerial flights have been carried out with onboard hyper-spectral sensors (MIVIS, VIRS, AISA), while a series of satellite images have been acquired using both conventional (NOAAAVHRR, Landsat-TM/ETM+) and advanced sensors (CHRIS-PROBA). The final objective of these activities is to calibrate and validate methodologies which integrate remotely sensed and ancillary data for monitoring forest ecosystem. More specifically, a major research effort has been focused on evaluating the additional information content provided by advanced hyper-spectral multi-angular sensors about the main parameters needed for forest characterization (species, LAI, pigment content, etc.). These activities are part of projects which are financed by the Italian and European Space Agencies (ASI and ESA, respectively) within the framework of the CHRIS-PROBA and SPECTRA missions. During 2002 and 2003 nine complete multi-angular acquisitions were successfully performed over the San Rossore site. This paper summarizes first results of the evaluation of data acquired so far, particularly forward modeling of Top Of Canopy (TOC) reflectances. The models KUUSK, SAIL and GeoSAIL were used to simulate spectro-directional reflectance of different stands in the forest and compared with PROBA - CHRIS and airborne hyperspectral observations. Deviations of simulated from observed reflectances were significant.

Comparison among normalized vegetation indices for the determination of LAI

Airborne hyperspectral images collected over San Rossore Natural Park (Pisa, Italy) by the Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer (MIVIS) on June 21st, 2000 were analyzed in order to assess the best indices for forest LAI estimation. Hemispherical photography was used for ground truth measurements, simultaneously with the overflights, in hardwood and conifer stands characterized by a LAI ranging between 1.2 and 4.5. All band combinations expressed as simple ratios and normalized indices (a total of 89 single bands, and 7832 and 3916 indices, respectively) were linearly correlated to LAI in order to detect the best correlations. Determination coefficients were analyzed by means of a graphical matrix to highlight relevant spectral regions. Normalized indices composed by the red chlorophyll absorption wavelength (680 nm) and the wavelengths after the green reflectance peak (580-640 nm) in the orange region were strongly correlated to LAI. Best results were obtained with the newly proposed Orange Slope Vegetation Index [OSVI=(ρ620-ρ680)/(ρ620+ρ680), R2=0.88, RMSE=0.5). The index performed better than the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI=(ρ780-ρ680)/(ρ780+ρ680), R2=0.47) Using SAIL radiative transfer model, canopy reflectance at different viewing angles and a wide range of LAI was simulated in order to verify the sensitivity of OSVI and NDVI. For LAI between 0.25 and 8 both indices resulted stable for viewing zenith angles between -60° and +60°. OSVI, being saturated with values greater than 4, could be used to estimate a wider range of LAI than NDVI. Application of GeoSail model resulted in a good agreement between simulated and measured OSVI.

Remote Sensing Of Photosynthetic Processes By Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI)

The Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) has been proposed as a tool for the estimation of leaf and canopy light‐use efficiency and photosynthesis from remote‐sensing data. The application of the index is based on more than fifteen years of spectroscopic studies at the leaf level, which support it with a sound physiological basis. In the present study, the correlation between PRI and instantaneous light‐use efficiency was estimated across a range of vegetation types in the San Rossore Regional Park, a CHRIS‐Proba core site. The relationship was also tested over an entire season for a pine forest in the Park, where carbon fluxes have been monitored by eddy‐covariance over the last five years. Seasonal changes in photosynthetic potential were also monitored at the site, in order to test the correlation with PRI reported in the literature. In September 2004, estimates of canopy PRI from CHRIS images were compared with leaf‐level measurements from 13 plots corresponding to different vegetation types. The res...

Visual identification of forest-tree clones by using Chernoff's faces

The use of an iconic representation of many traits for the description and classification of forest tree clones is suggested. Among the kinds of icons available, the cartoon-like representation known as Chernoffs faces was chosen. This graphic technique has proved to be effective for discriminating among 50 clones of common cypress selected for resistance to canker. As descriptors, besides morphological characteristics, the content of five monoterpenes and the polymorphism of six isozymatic loci were considered.

Anatomical and genetic features of the Cupressus megagametophyte: the diploid pattern in C. sempervirens is an exception for this genus.

Abstract The megagametophyte isoenzymic expression analysed in 15 Cupressus species showed that the lack of isoenzyme segregation for megagametophytes of heterozygous trees is typical of C. sempervirens. The specific diploid isoenzymic expression confirms the evidence of nuclear fusion derived from four different megaspores.