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Green Foliage (green + foliage)
Selected AbstractsComparison of the nutrient ecology of coastal Banksia grandis elfinwood (windswept shrub-like form) and low trees, Cape Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Western AustraliaAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2003KENNETH A. BARRICK Abstract Trees growing along windy coasts often have canopies that are greatly reduced in size by the sculpting effects of wind and salt spray. Trees with environmentally reduced stature are called elfinwood (windswept shrub-form or krummholz) and are ecologically important because they represent outposts growing at the limit of tree success. The purpose of this study was to assess if Banksia grandis elfinwood growing at Cape Leeuwin had a different nutrient status than normal low-form (LF) trees growing nearby, and if nutrient deficiencies, toxicities and/or imbalances were among the limiting factors imposed on elfinwood. The concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl,, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo and B were analysed for mature green foliage, immature foliage, foliage litter, flowers and soil. When the elfinwood and LF trees were compared, the foliar nutrient status was generally similar, except that elfinwood foliage had significantly higher mean concentrations of N, Zn and Cu, while LF trees had higher Fe and Mn contents. Many nutrients were conserved before leaves were shed in both elfinwood and LF trees, including N, P, K, Na, Cl,, Mn and Cu (LF trees also conserved Ca and Mg). However, elfinwood and LF tree-litter contained significantly higher Fe concentrations than green foliage (elfinwood litter also had higher levels of Mg and B). It is tempting to suggest that the translocation of Fe into leaves before they were shed is a regulation mechanism to prevent Fe toxicity, or imbalance in the Fe : Mn ratio. Proteoid roots strongly acidify the soil to mobilize P, which also chemically reduces Fe+3 to plant-available Fe+2. The increased supply of Fe+2 in the rhizosphere, caused by the action of proteoid roots, might tend to defeat self-regulation of Fe uptake. It is possible that excess Fe accumulation in the plant might be regulated, in part, by exporting Fe into the leaves before they are shed. The nutrient status of B. grandis elfinwood is compared with mountain elfinwood of North America. The extreme habitat of coastal elfinwood provides many theoretical pathways for nutrient limitation, but B. grandis elfinwood at Cape Leeuwin does not appear to be nutrient deficient. [source] Importance of olfactory and visual signals of autumn leaves in the coevolution of aphids and treesBIOESSAYS, Issue 9 2008Jarmo K. Holopainen Deciduous trees remobilize the nitrogen in senescing leaves during the process of autumn colouration, which in many species is associated with increased concentrations of anthocyanins. Archetti1 and Hamilton and Brown2 observed that autumn colouration is stronger in tree species facing a high diversity of specialist aphids. They proposed a coevolution theory that the bright colours in autumn might provide an honest signal of defence commitment, thus deterring migrant aphids from settling on the leaves. So far, there have been very few experimental results to support the hypothesis, and tree commitment to phenolics-based defences has not shown direct protection against aphids. Predators and parasitoids have been found to be the major controllers of arboreal aphids. Indirect defences involve the emission of attractive volatile compounds that enhance the effectiveness of carnivorous enemies. The indirect defence hypothesis is presented to explain low aphid diversity on tree species that are green during autumn. The hypothesis suggests that green foliage can continue to produce herbivore-inducible plant volatiles and maintain volatile-based indirect plant defences against aphids until leaf abscission. BioEssays 30:889,896, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Abnormal colour vision is a handicap to playing cricket but not an insurmountable oneCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 6 2007Ross W Harris BAppSc LOSc FVCO Background:, Two studies have reported that abnormal colour vision is under-represented among cricketers, presumably because cricketers with abnormal colour vision have difficulty seeing the red ball against the green grass of the cricket field and the green foliage around it. We have previously reported on the difficulties of five cricketers with abnormal colour vision but we have also reported that one of Australia's finest cricketers was a protanope. This survey was undertaken to confirm the under-representation of abnormal colour vision among cricketers and to ascertain whether those playing tend to be (1) those with a mild colour vision deficiency, (2) bowlers rather than batsman and (3) prefer to field close to the batsman rather than in the outfield. Methods:, The colour vision of 293 members of seven Melbourne Premier cricket clubs was tested using the Ishihara test. Those who failed were examined further to confirm their abnormal colour vision, to assess its severity with the Farnsworth D15 test and to classify it as either protan or deutan using the Medmont C100 test. A questionnaire about cricketing ability and problems playing cricket was administered. Results:, Twenty-six (8.9 per cent) of the cricketers had abnormal colour vision, of whom six played in the First Grade (6.7 per cent of First Grade players). The proportion of cricketers with a severe deficiency was significantly less than expected for the First Grade players. There were only two protans. Bowlers were not over-represented among the colour vision defective cricketers but those preferring to field close to the batsman were significantly over-represented. Conclusion:, Abnormal colour vision is a modest handicap to playing cricket, especially at the higher levels of the game. It may impede batting and the ability to field in the outfield. [source] | ||||||||||