Abstract
The geophytoelectrical current of three evergreen tropical tree species is studied as an indirect measure of their relative water content. Two intermediate shade-tolerant species (Aphananthe monoica and Pleuranthodendron lindenii), distributed in the middle and upper canopy strata, and an understory shade-tolerant species (Psychotria costivenia) were examined. The annual rhythm of geophytoelectrical currents per cm of diameter (DBH) is seasonal, with the highest occurrence in the winter and summer. There is a significant association between maximum temperature, moisture in the environment, and geophytoelectrical current per cm of DBH in the three species, as shown by multiple regression analysis. This finding suggests the existence of various geophytoelectrical current patterns which differs from that reported for temperate species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Abbreviations
- DBH:
-
diameter at breast height
- GPEC:
-
geophytoelectrical current
- GPEDC:
-
geophytoelectrical current per cm of DBH
References
Belsley, D.A.: Conditioning diagnostics: collinearity and weak data in regression.-John Wiley and Sons, New York 1991.
Borchert, R.: Electric resistance as a measure of tree water status during seasonal drought in a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica.-Tree Physiol. 14: 299–312, 1994a.
Borchert, R.: Soil and stem water storage determine phenology and distribution of tropical dry forest trees.-Ecology 75: 1437–1449, 1994b.
Davis, W., Shigo, A., Weyrick, R.: Seasonal changes in electrical resistance of inner bark in red oak, red maple and eastern white pine.-Forest Sci. 25: 282–286, 1979.
Dixon, M.A., Thompson, R.G., Fensom, D.S.: Electrical resistance measurements of water potential in avocado and white spruce.-Can. J. Forest Res. 8: 73–80, 1978.
Doley, D.: Tropical and subtropical forests and woodlands.-In: Kozlowski, T.T. (ed.): Water Deficits and Plant Growth. Vol. VI. Pp. 209–323. Academic Press, New York 1981.
Fensom, D.S.: On measuring electrical resistance in situ in higher plants.-Can. J. Plant Sci. 46: 169–175, 1966.
Godínez-Ibarra, O., López-Mata, L.: [Structure, composition, richness and diversity in three samples of semi-evergreen tropical forest.]-An. Inst. Biol. (Ser. Bot.) Univ. Nac. Autónoma México 73: 283–314, 2002. [In Spanish.]
Kathiresan, K., Rajendran, N.: The effects of electric impulse on growth of Rhizophora mucronata seedlings (Rhizophorales: Rhizophoraceae).-Rev. Biol. Trop. 48: 919–925, 2000.
Meinzer, F.C., Goldstein, G., Holbrook, N.M., Jackson, P., Cavelier, J.: Stomatal and environmental control of transpiration in a lowland tropical forest tree.-Plant Cell Environ. 16: 429–436, 1993.
Rajda, V.: [The activation of geo-phyto natural electrical currents in grape-vine plants.]-Zahradnictví 13: 261–273, 1986. [In Czech.]
Rajda, V.: Electro-diagnostics of the health of oak trees.-Acta Sci. natur. Brno 26: 1–40, 1992.
Schulze, E.D., Mooney, H.A., Bullock, S.H., Mendoza, A.: Water contents of wood of tropical deciduous forest species during the dry season.-Bol. Soc. Bot. México 48: 113–118, 1988.
Shortle, W.S., Shigo, A.L., Berry, P., Abusamra, J.: Electrical resistance in tree cambium zone: relationship to rates of growth and wound closure.-Forest Sci. 23: 326–329, 1977.
Wargo, P.M., Minocha, R., Wong, B.L., Long, R.P., Horsley, S.B., Hall, T.J.: Measuring changes in stress and vitality indicators in limed sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania.-Can. J. Forest Res. 32: 629–641, 2002.
Wargo, P.M., Skutt, H.R.: Resistance to pulsed electric current: an indicator of stress in forest trees.-Can. J. Forest Res. 5: 557–561, 1975.
Wisniewski, M., Linn Bogle, A., Wilson, C.L.: Seasonal variation in cambial electrical resistance and its relation to growth in two cultivars of peach.-Can. J. Plant Sci. 65: 345–350, 1985.
Yáñez-Espinosa, L., Terrazas, T. López-Mata, L., Valdez-Hernández, J.I.: Leaf trait variation in three species through canopy strata in a semi-evergreen Neotropical forest.-Can. J. Bot. 81: 398–404, 2003.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yáñez-Espinosa, L., Terrazas, T., López-Mata, L. et al. Geophytoelectrical current in trees of a subtropical rainforest in Mexico. Biol Plant 51, 153–156 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-007-0029-5
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-007-0029-5