The Impact of Phenological Gaps on Leaf Characteristics and Foliage Dynamics of an Understory Dwarf Bamboo, <i>Sasa kurilensis</i>
Chongyang Wu,
Ryota Tanaka,
Kyohei Fujiyoshi,
Yasuaki Akaji,
Muneto Hirobe,
Naoko Miki,
Juan Li,
Keiji Sakamoto,
Jian Gao
Affiliations
Chongyang Wu
Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology/International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100102, China
Ryota Tanaka
Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Kyohei Fujiyoshi
Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Yasuaki Akaji
Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
Muneto Hirobe
Department of Environmental Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Naoko Miki
Department of Environmental Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Juan Li
Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology/International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100102, China
Keiji Sakamoto
Department of Environmental Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Jian Gao
Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology/International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100102, China
Phenological gaps exert a significant influence on the growth of dwarf bamboos. However, how dwarf bamboos respond to and exploit these phenological gaps remain enigmatic. The light environment, soil nutrients, leaf morphology, maximum photosynthetic rate, foliage dynamics, and branching characteristics of Sasa kurilensis were examined under the canopies of Fagus crenata and Magnolia obovata. The goal was to elucidate the adaptive responses of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps in the forest understory. The findings suggest that phenological gaps under an M. obovata canopy augment the available biomass of S. kurilensis, enhancing leaf area, leaf thickness, and carbon content per unit area. However, these gaps do not appreciably influence the maximum photosynthetic rate, total leaf number, leaf lifespan, branch number, and average branch length. These findings underscore the significant impact of annually recurring phenological gaps on various aspects of S. kurilensis growth, such as its aboveground biomass, leaf morphology, and leaf biochemical characteristics. It appears that leaf morphology is a pivotal trait in the response of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps. Given the potential ubiquity of the influence of phenological gaps on dwarf bamboos across most deciduous broadleaf forests, this canopy phenomenon should not be overlooked.
