Some tree species - especially those with small seeds - cannot germinate on leaf litter and need high-porosity seedbeds. This is the case of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), a species that requires mineral soil or deadwood to germinate. However, very little is known about how seedbed affects plant performance along light gradients, and even more, about how the characteristics of the deadwood (species, decay class) can affect its germination.
A study recently published, in which FiDBosc participates, tries to answer these questions. The leading author, Jean-Bastien Lambert (UQAM, Canada) sampled more than 1,000 yellow birch juveniles in hardwood forests of southern Quebec, recorded the substrate in which they were growing, and measured their height, growth, morphology, light availability and several other physiological variables.
A study recently published, in which FiDBosc participates, tries to answer these questions. The leading author, Jean-Bastien Lambert (UQAM, Canada) sampled more than 1,000 yellow birch juveniles in hardwood forests of southern Quebec, recorded the substrate in which they were growing, and measured their height, growth, morphology, light availability and several other physiological variables.