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Light responses of yew (Taxus baccata L.); does size matter?

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Photosynthetic capacity of yew needles depends primarily on light environment, with little evidence that developmental stage is a determinant photosynthetic performance. However, needle morphology is mostly determined by plant size.

Abstract

Populations of yew Taxus baccata are often characterized by a lack of natural regeneration and stands of this species have been afforded priority conservation status within the European Union. Light availability is known to be a key factor influencing recruitment dynamics in yew. To explore potential size-related responses to light, we investigated the distribution, photosynthetic efficiency and needle morphological traits in yew across a gradient of light availability at Atlantic oak woodland in southwest Ireland. Young plants were more common in shaded areas whereas saplings and juvenile yews were distributed in areas of higher light availability. Photosynthetic capacity of yew needles was found to depend primarily on light environment, with little evidence that the developmental stage is a determinant of photosynthetic performance. Photoinhibition was evident in needles sampled from high light environments across all demographic size classes. However, larger plants also showed particularly strong needle morphological responses (needle length, width, thickness, and specific leaf area) to light levels, which were mostly lacking in seedlings. We conclude that there is a dual control of yew light responses; the efficiency of the photosynthetic light reactions is largely linked to the light environment in which the plants grew, while needle morphology is mostly determined by the size of the plants. The findings of this study highlight the importance of considering all life-history stages and multiple traits when evaluating species response to light availability.

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Author contribution statement

All authors conceived and designed the work presented in this paper, and contributed substantially to analysis and interpretation of data. J.L.D. carried out field sampling, with assistance from P.M.W. Chlorophyll fluorescence and needle morphology work was carried out and analysed by J.L.D., with assistance from M.A.K.J. The manuscript was prepared and edited by J.L.D., P.M.W., and M.A.K.J.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Grace Cott and Alan O’Connor for their assistance in fieldwork. Acknowledgement to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for access to some lands. Particular thanks to Declan O’Donnell and Clare Heardman for facilitating research at the Glengarriff Wood Nature Reserve. This study was funded by a University College Cork departmental postgraduate fellowship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    John L. Devaney, Pádraig M. Whelan & Marcel A. K. Jansen

  2. Environmental Research Institute (ERI), University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland

    Pádraig M. Whelan & Marcel A. K. Jansen

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  1. John L. Devaney
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  2. Pádraig M. Whelan
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  3. Marcel A. K. Jansen
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Correspondence to John L. Devaney.

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Communicated by W. Bilger.

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Devaney, J.L., Whelan, P.M. & Jansen, M.A.K. Light responses of yew (Taxus baccata L.); does size matter?. Trees 29, 109–118 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1095-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1095-x

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