Forest trees and shrubs play vital ecological roles, reducing the carbon load from the atmosphere by using carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and by the storage of carbon in biomass and wood as a source of energy. Autoecology deals with all aspects of woody plants; the dynamism of populations, physiological traits of trees, light requirements, life history patterns, and physiological and morphological characters. Ecophysiology is defined by various plant growth parameters such as leaf traits, xylem water potential, plant height, basal diameter, and crown architecture which are, in turn, influenced by physiological traits and environmental conditions in the forest ecosystem. In short, this book details research advances in various aspects of woody plants to help forest scientists and foresters manage and protect forest trees and plan their future research. Autoecology and Ecophysiology of Woody Shrubs and Trees is intended to be a guide for students of woody plant autoecology and ecophysiology, as well as for researchers in this field. It is also an invaluable resource for foresters to assist in effective management of forest resources.

Forest trees and shrubs play vital ecological roles, reducing the carbon load from the atmosphere by using carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and by the storage of carbon in biomass and wood as a source of energy. Autoecology deals with all aspects of woody plants; the dynamism of populations, physiological traits of trees, light requirements, life history patterns, and physiological and morphological characters. Ecophysiology is defined by various plant growth parameters such as leaf traits, xylem water potential, plant height, basal diameter, and crown architecture which are, in turn, influenced by physiological traits and environmental conditions in the forest ecosystem. In short, this book details research advances in various aspects of woody plants to help forest scientists and foresters manage and protect forest trees and plan their future research.Autoecology and Ecophysiology of Woody Shrubs and Trees is intended to be a guide for students of woody plant autoecology and ecophysiology, as well as for researchers in this field. It is also an invaluable resource for foresters to assist in effective management of forest resources.

Preface, viiList of contributors, ix1 Background, 1Part I:2 Autoecology, 153 Vegetation and biodiversity, 254 Case study: A trip to regions of biodiversity and rainforest in Riviera Maya, 315 Plant traits, 426 Leaf traits, 747 Wood characteristics, 838 Phenology, 1119 Phenology, morphology and variability in pollen viability of four woody species (Cordia boissieri, Parkinsonia texana, P. aculeata and Leucophyllum frutescens) exposed to environmental temperature, north-eastern Mexico, 12410 Pollen biology and plant productivity: A review, 13311 Seed characteristics, 15812 Tree mortality, 16213 Plant traits related to the productivity of trees, 168Part II:14 Ecophysiology, 18115 Research advances in plant ecophysiology, 19016 Carbon capture, carbon sequestration and carbon fixation, 19917 Plant nutrients, 22018 Litterfall and forest productivity, 23819 Nutrient cycling, 24420 Plant water relations and forest productivity, 24821 Cold tolerance of trees, 26122 Heat stress tolerance of trees, 26623 Seed characteristics, seed dormancy, germination and plant propagation, 27024 Root growth, 27825 Features of boreal forest in Russia: A special study, 28526 Case study: Autoecology, biodiversity and adaptive characteristics of Prosopis in the Arizona region, 312Appendix 1: Leaf Morphology, 325Index, 333