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Ecophysiological adaptations of black spruce ( Picea mariana) and tamarack ( Larix laricina) seedlings to flooding

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Abstract

Black spruce [ Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] and tamarack [ Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch] are the predominant tree species in boreal peatlands. The effects of 34 days of flooding on morphological and physiological responses were investigated in the greenhouse for black spruce and tamarack seedlings in their second growing season (18 months old). Flooding resulted in reduced root hydraulic conductance, net assimilation rate and stomatal conductance and increased needle electrolyte leakage in both species. Flooded tamarack seedlings maintained a higher net assimilation rate and stomatal conductance compared to flooded black spruce. Flooded tamarack seedlings were also able to maintain higher root hydraulic conductance compared to flooded black spruce seedlings at a comparable time period of flooding. Root respiration declined in both species under flooding. Sugar concentration increased in shoots while decreasing in roots in both species under flooding. Needles of flooded black spruce appeared necrotic and electrolyte leakage increased over time with flooding and remained significantly higher than in flooded tamarack seedlings. No visible damage symptoms were observed in flooded tamarack seedlings. Flooded tamarack seedlings developed adventitious roots beginning 16 days after the start of flooding treatment. Adventitious roots exhibited significantly higher root hydraulic conductivity than similarly sized flooded tamarack roots. Flooded black spruce lacked any such morphological adaptation. These results suggest that tamarack is better able to adjust both morphologically and physiologically to prolonged soil flooding than black spruce seedlings.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Research Grant from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to SEM. Financial support for M.A.I. in the form of Graduate Assistantships, Graduate Intern Tuition Supplements, William H. McCardell memorial scholarship, and Herbert and Jeannette Hall scholarship from the Department of Renewable Resources and University of Alberta is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Pak Chow and Chung Nguyen for their help in carbohydrate analysis and Dr. Laki Goonewardene for statistical analysis.

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  1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada

    M. Anisul Islam & S. Ellen Macdonald

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  1. M. Anisul Islam
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  2. S. Ellen Macdonald
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Correspondence to S. Ellen Macdonald.

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Islam, M.A., Macdonald, S.E. Ecophysiological adaptations of black spruce ( Picea mariana) and tamarack ( Larix laricina) seedlings to flooding. Trees 18, 35–42 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0276-9

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