@article{fdi:010068321,
  title = {{A}re inter- and intraspecific variations of sapling crown traits consistent with a strategy promoting light capture in tropical moist forest ?},
  author = {{L}aurans, {M}. and {V}incent, {G}r{\'e}goire},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground and {A}ims {M}orphological variation in light-foraging strategies potentially plays important roles in efficient light utilization and carbon assimilation in spatially and temporally heterogeneous environments such as tropical moist forest understorey. {B}y considering a suite of morphological traits at various hierarchical scales, we examined the functional significance of crown shape diversity and plasticity in response to canopy openness. {M}ethods {W}e conducted a field comparative study in {F}rench {G}uiana among tree saplings of 14 co-occurring species differing in light-niche optimum and breadth. {E}ach leaf, axis or crown functional trait was characterized by a median value and a degree of plasticity expressed under contrasting light regimes. {K}ey {R}esults {W}e found divergent patterns between shade-tolerant and heliophilic species on the one hand and between shade and sun plants on the other. {A}cross species, multiple regression analysis showed that relative crown depth was positively correlated with leaf lifespan and not correlated with crown vertical growth rate. {W}ithin species displaying a reduction in crown depth in the shade, we observed that crown depth was limited by reduced crown vertical growth rate and not by accelerated leaf or branch shedding. {I}n addition, the study provides contrasting examples of morphological multilevel plastic responses, which allow the maintenance of efficient foliage and enable effective whole-plant light capture in shaded conditions under a moderate vertical light gradient. {C}onclusions {T}his result suggests that plastic adjustment of relative crown depth does not reflect a strategy maximizing light capture efficiency. {I}ntegrating and scaling-up leaf-level dynamics to shoot-and crown-level helps to interpret in functional and adaptive terms inter-and intraspecific patterns of crown traits and to better understand the mechanism of shade tolerance.},
  keywords = {{F}rench {G}uiana ; tropical forest ; leaf lifespan ; crown depth ; shade tolerance ; self-shading ; morphological plasticity ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}nnals of {B}otany},
  volume = {118},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {983--996},
  ISSN = {0305-7364},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1093/aob/mcw140},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068321},
}