林冠环境对润楠幼苗构型和生物量分配的影响

植物幼苗早期适应对策对种群的更新具有决定性的作用。润楠(Machilus nanmu)是国家Ⅱ级保护植物,是重庆缙云山常绿阔叶林优势乔木树种之一。研究润楠幼苗的适应对策对于维持种群更新和保护常绿阔叶林生物多样性具有重要意义。本研究采集了重庆缙云山常绿阔叶林中不同林冠环境(林窗/林下)下不同年龄阶段(阶段1: 1～3年;阶段2: 4～6年;阶段3: 7～9年)的润楠幼苗,从构型和生物量分配角度研究其早期适应对策的时间动态及其对异质生境的响应。结果表明: 林窗中润楠幼苗的茎构型各指标(除枝倾角)和叶倾角在阶段2和阶段3显著大于林下,根构型各指标(除根直径)和叶面积在阶段1和阶段2显著大于林下;而林窗中润楠幼苗的比叶面积在3个阶段均显著小于林下。不同林冠环境和年龄阶段的生物量分配均以叶为主,但林窗中润楠幼苗从阶段2开始增加了茎的生物量分配,减少了根的生物量分配,林下润楠幼苗根的生物量分配则无显著变化。润楠幼苗各器官的协调性随生境条件不同产生适应性进化,即林窗中润楠幼苗的根与叶之间显著相关,且此相关关系随年龄增大由正到负;林下润楠幼苗的根和茎呈显著正相关,根和叶之间无显著相关。不同林冠环境下润楠幼苗枝干重与枝长的标准化主轴回归(SMA)方程斜率仅在阶段3差异显著,而叶、根生物量与构型间的SMA方程斜率的差异均不显著;大部分生物量与构型间的SMA方程截距在阶段2差异显著。     

沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗生长发育的影响

在沙地环境中,沙埋是影响植物幼苗存活的一个重要因素。中间锦鸡儿(C arag ana interm ed ia)是浑善达克沙地和毛乌素沙地固定和半固定沙丘上常见的一种沙生灌木。为了研究沙埋对其幼苗存活以及生长的影响,对出土后生长了1个月的中间锦鸡儿实生苗进行沙埋实验,实验处理:TC为对照,T1为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/3,T2为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/2,T3为沙埋到幼苗的近顶端。实验持续4周,每周收获1次。结果表明:TC、T1和T2没有幼苗死亡,T3有20%的幼苗死亡;沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生物量、根冠比、根生物量比和茎生物量比有显著影响,叶片生物量比各处理没有显著差异,沙埋对幼苗的叶面积没有显著影响,在第1周T2和T3的小叶片面积显著大于TC,在其余3周,TC与T1、T2的小叶片面积没有显著差异,与全埋则有显著差异;沙埋对幼苗的相对生长速率(RGR)和净同化速率(N AR)产生显著影响,实验结束时,T3处理幼苗的RGR和N AR显著地小于其它3个处理。上述结果表明,部分沙埋(T1、T2)对沙生灌木中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生长发育没有显著的影响,而全部沙埋(T3)对其幼苗的生长发育产生显著的抑制,中间锦鸡儿是一个比较耐沙埋的物种。     

南亚热带森林24种乔木的种子萌发和幼苗生长

以膨胀珍珠岩为基质,在光和暗的条件下,对２４种南亚热带森林乔木的种子萌发和幼苗生长进行了研究。种子的形态和重量与种的演替阶段有关,种子的重量也与不同的种有关。不同种的萌发率差异较大,种子较大的种,萌发率较高。肉质果实的种子,开始萌发的时间较长。光和暗条件对萌发率和萌发速度无明显影响。幼苗高度和种子重量呈正相关,这一相关在光条件下比暗条件下更明显。暗条件明显地引起群落演替早期的树种的茎徒长,限制根的生长,而对演替后期种无显著的影响。幼苗地上部分和根系生物量的分配与种的演替阶段有关,也与不同的科有关。幼苗地上部分和根系生物量的分配也受光暗条件的影响,而不受种子重量的影响。根和叶的生物量分配和种在其群落演替阶段有关。幼苗的生物量与种子重量有显著的正相关。幼苗的相对生长率相差较大,在没有营养供应的生长基质中,以演替中间阶段的种的相对生长率较大。幼苗从种子的物质利用效率与种子重量呈负相关,而与种的演替阶段无明显的相关。     

杉木种子萌发及幼苗生长对光强的响应

设置不同光强梯度(透光率分别为100%、40%、20%、10%和5%,光照强度PPFD分别为201.3、77.0、37.5、19.2、9.8 μmol·m^-2·s^-1),研究光对杉木种子萌发和幼苗早期生长的影响,分析杉木种子萌发、幼苗存活、生长、形态响应、生物量积累及其分配格局对不同光环境的响应策略.结果表明: 杉木种子的萌发率、存活率、建植率和萌发指数在不同光强梯度下均有显著差异,且40%的透光率是种子最适萌发条件,萌发率最高,而全光照下存活率和建植率最高;随光照强度的减弱,杉木幼苗茎长增大,根长、子叶长、子叶厚、真叶数呈降低趋势,而基径在各光照强度间无显著差异;总生物量、根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量均表现为全光照下最大.随着光照强度的减弱,光合组织与非光合组织生物量比、叶生物量比呈降低趋势,茎生物量比呈增加趋势,根冠比和根生物量比无显著差异.弱光环境促进杉木种子萌发,不利于杉木幼苗存活和生长.在弱光环境下,杉木幼苗通过增大茎生物量来提高对弱光环境的耐受力.     

三种高寒植物幼苗生物量分配及性状特征对光照和养分的响应

为了解高寒植物幼苗对生境资源异质性的适应策略,以高寒草甸中常见的3种草本植物大耳叶风毛菊(Saussurea macrota)、甘西鼠尾草(Salvia przewalskii)和千里光(Senecio scandens)为材料,比较研究了这3种植物幼苗对不同光照和养分资源的响应。结果表明:光照和养分异质性显著影响了3种植物幼苗的性状特征和生物量分配,并存在一定的交互影响。随着光照的降低,3个物种的幼苗的生物量和根分配呈现降低趋势,但是其株高、比叶面积、叶分配、茎分配却逐渐升高。在低养分条件下,3个物种幼苗的总生物量、株高、比叶面积和叶分配均降低,而根分配均却显著增加。对于光照和养分资源异质性而言,光照异质性对高寒植物生物量分配和性状特征的改变具有更大的影响。喜阴物种大耳叶风毛菊和喜光物种甘西鼠尾草比中性生境物种千里光表现出了较大的性状特征和生物量分配的可塑性指数。     

光照强度和氮水平对白三叶幼苗生长与光合生理特性的影响

采用植物生长箱溶液培养方式,对白三叶幼苗进行了不同光强(2个水平)和氮浓度(5个水平)处理,探讨其生长、生物量和光合生理特征对生境变化的响应.结果表明:两种光强下白三叶幼苗茎和叶生物量随氮素浓度呈先升高后降低,而根系生物量和根冠比则随氮素浓度增高而降低.光照强度降低使白三叶幼苗根、茎、叶和整株生物量分别降低67.8%、29.9%、42.5%和45.2%;低光处理使幼苗的根冠比显著下降,而比叶面积(SLA)明显提高.幼苗根系体积随氮素浓度增高而降低,高生长光强根系体积显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.幼苗根系表面积、根系长度和根系直径随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,两种不同生长光强下幼苗根系长度和根系直径差异显著,而根系表面积差异不明显.白三叶叶片光合速率(Pn)随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,高生长光强白三叶Pn显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.两种生长光强间叶片气孔导度(Gs),胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和蒸腾速率(Tr)无显著差异,但氮素浓度对叶片Gs、Ci和Tr均有显著影响.光、氮及其交互作用对白三叶幼苗生长发育产生了显著影响,光照不足和氮缺乏都将导致白三叶幼苗生长减弱,但幼苗对这些不利环境具有较强的调节和适应能力.     

杉木和木荷种子萌发及幼苗生长对光梯度的响应

光是影响种子萌发和幼苗生长的关键因素.为理解不同树种种子萌发及幼苗生长对光梯度变化的响应机制,本文研究了不同光照强度(分别为自然光强的100%、60%、40%、15%和5%)对杉木和木荷种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,探讨了两树种种子萌发和幼苗生长对光照响应的差异性.结果表明: 光照强度对两树种的种子萌发和幼苗生长均具有显著影响. 随着光照强度的减弱, 杉木种子萌发率增大,萌发指数增大,木荷种子萌发率和萌发指数则先增大后减小,在40%光照强度下达到最大值.两树种幼苗存活率在全光照(100%光照)下均为0,在5%～60%光照处理下则随着光照强度的减弱而显著降低.两树种幼苗根长、地径和株高对光梯度变化的响应趋势一致,随着光照强度的减弱,根长显著减小,地径和株高则先增大后减小,在5%光照强度下达到最小.随着光照强度的减弱,杉木幼苗根、茎、叶及总生物量降低,木荷幼苗生物量积累在15%～60%光照强度下较高, 5%光照强度下最小,且相同光照强度下,木荷幼苗各部分生物量均大于杉木.两树种幼苗应对低光环境时,表现出较大的茎和叶的生物量分配比,而根生物量比和根冠比降低.表明杉木苗期生长不耐阴,需要相对较强的光照,而木荷苗期具有较强的耐阴性,对弱光环境的适应性更强,能够在郁闭的林冠下定植和正常生长.     

光照对鄂东南2种落叶阔叶树种幼苗生长、光合特性和生物量分配的影响

通过设置4个光照梯度(25%、12%、6%和3%自然光)模拟鄂东南低山丘陵地区落叶阔叶林林下的光环境,研究了2种耐荫性不同的树种幼苗--麻栎(Quercus acutissima)和化香(Platycarya strobilacea)不同光强下的存活率、光合特性、生长和生物量分配,探讨了低光环境中耐荫性不同的树种幼苗维持自身碳平衡的机制和权衡"存活-生长"选择的生活史策略。结果表明:(1)低光下的2个树种幼苗的生长、光合特性和生物量分配具有显著性差异。(2)各个光照梯度下麻栎幼苗都生长良好,存活率保持在35%以上,而化香幼苗遭遇高的死亡率,80d后3%和6%自然光下的幼苗全部死亡;低光环境中麻栎幼苗比化香幼苗具有更大的表观光量子(AQY)和最大净光合效率(Pmax),更低的光补偿点(LCP)和暗呼吸效率(Rd),即耐荫性较强的麻栎幼苗比耐荫性较弱的化香幼苗具有更高的低光碳同化率和碳捕获能力。(3)2个树种幼苗的成活率与RGR呈负相关关系,各个光照梯度下耐荫性较弱的化香幼苗的相对生长率(RGR)显著高于耐荫性较强的麻栎幼苗,而两个树种幼苗的净同化率(NAR)无明显差异。相对于麻栎幼苗较高的根生物量比(RMR),化香幼苗将更多的生物量分配给叶部,因而具有较高的叶生物量比(LMR)、叶面积比(LAR)和比叶面积(SLA)。不同耐荫性的幼苗生长及生物量分配方式的差异是植物"存活-生长"权衡后的结果,耐荫性弱的化香幼苗具有较高的生长潜力和较弱的自我保护能力,而耐荫性强的麻栎幼苗具有更高的低光碳储量,能够维持更好的低光碳平衡,具有竞争优势。     

林下引入耐阴树种功能性状特征及其与生长的关系

植物功能性状之间的协调性揭示了其适应特定生境的主要策略,而植物早期生长与功能性状可能具有很大关联性。为探讨林下引入耐阴树种的根、茎、叶功能性状协调性及其与生长的关系,研究了杉木人工林林下引入5种常绿阔叶树种（洒金叶珊瑚、杨桐、蚊母树、栀子和海桐）的生长率（树高和地径相对增长率）以及27个根茎叶形态、生理性状指标。结果表明：（1）由主成分分析（Principal component analysis,PCA）可知耐阴树种种间根茎功能性状关联更紧密。此外,种间根、茎性状的变异系数均小于叶面积;（2）耐阴树种种间和种内关键性状与生长率网络关联性差异较大。在种间水平上,生长率与大部分叶性状显著正相关,与根茎性状多为显著负相关;在种内水平上,关键性状与生长率关系网更加复杂;（3）树高相对增长率是种间和种内关系网中心性最高的生长率指标。种间中心性最高的性状指标是叶面积;叶、茎生物量占比和根干物质含量是种内中心性最高的性状指标。但只有叶面积与树高相对增长率在种间和种内均显著正相关,因此,叶面积更适合作为指示林下耐阴树种生长率变化的性状。总体上,耐阴树种叶性状对生长率的调控要强于根茎性状,其中引入较大叶面积的常绿阔叶树种可能更有利于杉木纯林的人促更新和高效复层林的构建。     

小兴安岭不同功能型阔叶植物的柄叶权衡

在叶水平上, 叶柄(支撑结构)与叶片(同化结构)的权衡关系受多种因素的影响, 研究不同功能型植物柄叶性状之间的权衡关系有助于更好地理解植物的生长特性与生活史策略。该研究选定小兴安岭地区典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林林内乔木、灌木、草本植物, 采用最小显著差异法比较植物叶片性状与叶柄性状在不同生活型间的变异, 并用标准化主轴法从生活型、叶型、耐阴性3个方面研究叶片与叶柄性状之间的权衡关系。结果表明: (1)不同生活型、叶型植物以及不同耐阴性乔木叶片性状与叶柄干质量之间具有显著的异速生长关系, 且斜率均小于1; (2)随着叶柄干质量增加, 乔木叶片鲜质量、叶片干质量增长速度比灌木、草本更快, 但相同叶柄干质量, 乔木叶柄所能支撑的叶片面积最小; (3)单叶植物叶片面积-叶柄干质量的回归斜率显著大于复叶植物, 叶片鲜质量-叶柄干质量的回归斜率小于复叶植物, 并且相同叶柄干质量下, 单叶植物的叶片干质量总是大于复叶植物; (4)比起喜光树种, 相同叶柄干质量, 耐阴树种的叶柄能够支撑的叶片面积与叶片鲜质量更大, 并且叶柄生物量分配比例(叶柄干质量/叶干质量)与叶片性状的回归斜率均表现为喜光树种>0, 耐阴树种<0。该研究结果表明叶片大小(叶片面积、叶片鲜质量、叶片干质量)与叶柄性状之间存在典型的权衡关系, 其在不同生活型、叶型植物及不同耐阴性乔木内的差异有助于揭示不同功能型植物的生长特性与生活史策略。     

Phenotypic plasticity of lianas in response to altered light environment

The growth, morphology and biomass allocation of 11 liana species (six light-demanding and five shade-tolerant) were investigated by growing plants in three contrasting light environments (i.e., field, forest edge and forest interior). Our objectives were to determine: (1) changes in plant traits at the species level; and (2) differences in light-demanding and shade-tolerant species in response to altered light environment. We found that all seedlings of liana species increased in total biomass, total leaf area, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), height, basal diameter, root length, leaf number, root mass/total plant mass (RMR) and root-to-shoot dry biomass (R/S ratio), and decreased in leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf size, stem mass-to-total plant mass ratio (SMR) and leaf mass-to-total plant mass ratio (LMR) with increasing light availability. Under the three light environments, the two types of species differed significantly in total biomass, total leaf area, RGR, NAR, LAR, SLA and leaf number, and not in leaf area. Only light-demanding species differed significantly in height, root length, basal diameter, RMR, SMR, LMR and R/S ratio. The mean plasticity index of growth and biomass allocation were relatively higher than the morphological variables, with significant differences between the two groups. Our results showed that liana species respond differently to changing light environments and that light-demanding species exhibit higher plasticity. Such differences may affect the relative success of liana species in forest dynamics.     

Seedling growth strategies in Bauhinia species: comparing lianas and trees

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lianas are expected to differ from trees in their growth strategies. As a result these two groups of woody species will have different spatial distributions: lianas are more common in high light environments. This study determines the differences in growth patterns, biomass allocation and leaf traits in five closely related liana and tree species of the genus Bauhinia. METHODS: Seedlings of two light-demanding lianas (Bauhinia tenuiflora and B. claviflora), one shade-tolerant liana (B. aurea), and two light-demanding trees (B. purpurea and B. monandra) were grown in a shadehouse at 25% of full sunlight. A range of physiological, morphological and biomass parameters at the leaf and whole plant level were compared among these five species. KEY RESULTS: The two light-demanding liana species had higher relative growth rate (RGR), allocated more biomass to leaf production [higher leaf mass fraction (LMF) and higher leaf area ratio (LAR)] and stem mass fraction (SMF), and less biomass to the roots [root mass fraction (RMF)] than the two tree species. The shade-tolerant liana had the lowest RGR of all five species, and had a higher RMF, lower SMF and similar LMF than the two light-demanding liana species. The two light-demanding lianas had lower photosynthetic rates per unit area (A(area)) and similar photosynthetic rates per unit mass (A(mass)) than the trees. Across species, RGR was positively related to SLA, but not to LAR and A(area). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the faster growth of light-demanding lianas compared with light-demanding trees is based on morphological parameters (SLA, LMF and LAR), and cannot be attributed to higher photosynthetic rates at the leaf level. The shade-tolerant liana exhibited a slow-growth strategy, compared with the light-demanding species.     

四种热带雨林树种光合和形态解剖特征对不同生长光强的适应

研究了西双版纳热带雨林2种喜光树种中平树(Macaranga denticulata)、倒樱木(Pnravallaris macrophylla)和2种耐荫树种云南肉豆蔻(Myristica yunnanensis)、金丝李(Garcinia paucinervis)幼苗叶片光合和形态解剖特征对3种不同生长光强(5％、25%和50％相对光强)的适应。研究结果表明,与强光下相比,弱光下生长的4种植物最大净光合速率、光饱和点、光补偿点、暗呼吸速率、叶绿素a／b、叶片和栅栏组织厚度、气孔密度和比叶重都降低,而海绵组织／栅栏组织和叶绿素含量升高。在相同光强下,与2种耐荫树种相比,2种喜光树种有较大的最大净光合速率、暗呼吸速率、气孔密度和较低的叶绿素含量。在不同光强下,4种植物均表现出了对光适应有利的生理和形态解剖可塑性,而喜光树种比耐荫树种有较大的生理和形态可塑性,表明喜光树种具有比耐荫树种对强光有更强的适应能力。4种植物的生理指标的可塑性均大于叶片解剖结构的可塑性。     

光对热带雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼种子萌发及其幼苗早期建立的影响

绒毛番龙眼(Pometia tomentosa)为西双版纳热带季节雨林标志树种,被列为中国珍稀濒危植物。对其开展种子及幼苗生态学研究可为珍稀濒危树种的保护及当地森林恢复提供科学依据。试验采用遮荫试验和野外试验相结合的方法,研究光对绒毛番龙眼种子萌发及幼苗早期建立的影响。结果表明:在遮荫试验30%(林窗中心光)、10%(林窗边缘光)和3.5%(林下光)3个光处理及森林3种生境(林窗中心、林窗边缘和林下)条件下,种子萌发率差异无显著性差异,均达到95%以上,且平均萌发周期小于6 d。3个光处理下的幼苗生长、生物量分配模式及气体交换参数差异显著。30%光下绒毛番龙眼幼苗的根重比(RMR)和茎重比(SMR)最高,10%和3.5%光下幼苗的叶重比(LMR)最高,3.5%光下的叶面积比(LAR)显著高于30%光下。30%光下绒毛番龙眼幼苗的最大净光合速率(P_nmax)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)和光饱和点(I_sat)在3个光处理中均最大,光补偿点(I_comp)则无显著性差异。绒毛番龙眼幼苗具耐荫性,能够在低光环境下长期存活且能缓慢生长;同时具有适应林窗光环境生长的能力,如高的质量相对生长速率(RGR_M)和高度相对生长速率(RGR_H)。林窗的出现是绒毛番龙眼进行成功更新的必要条件,水分可能是限制其幼苗生境选择的另一环境因子。     

林隙对香樟和枫香幼苗早期生长阶段功能性状的影响

探究林隙对不同需光性树种早期生长特征和功能性状的影响,对揭示林隙微生境影响次生林内幼苗更新机制具有重要意义。以亚热带次生林中耐荫常绿树种香樟和阳性落叶树种枫香幼苗为试验对象,研究大林隙(D/H介于1.5—2.0)、中林隙(D/H介于1.0—1.5)和小林隙(D/H介于0.5—1.0)对不同需光树种幼苗早期(1—3年生)生长特征和功能性状的影响。结果表明：(1)林隙大小对两种幼苗的生长均有显著影响。其中,中林隙可显著促进香樟2—3年生幼苗的生长,大林隙对枫香1—3年生幼苗的生长均具有显著促进作用。(2)对林隙环境因子与幼苗功能性状的关系进行冗余分析表明,香樟幼苗功能性状的变化与林隙土壤有机质含量、水解性氮含量、酸碱度和有效磷含量密切相关,而枫香幼苗功能性状则主要受林隙土壤酸碱度、有机质含量、水解性氮含量、土壤含水率、冠层透光率和土壤有效磷含量的影响。(3)维持较高的根重比、细根比根长、叶碳氮比和叶碳磷比是幼苗应对林隙环境影响的重要生理生态调节机制。     

The role of the soil seed and seedling bank in the regeneration of diverse plant communities in the subtropical Ailao Mountains,Southwest China

We compared species composition and diversity of the soil seed and seedling banks in three secondary vegetation types (shrubland, Populus bonatii forest, Lithocarpus regrowth forest) and a primary old-growth forest in the subtropical Ailao Mountains of southwestern China to clarify the importance of seed and seedling banks for forest dynamics. The average species richness was the highest in soil samples from the shrubland (26.80 ± 1.98), and the lowest from the primary forest (9.93 ± 0.50). The density of germinable tree seeds increased from the secondary vegetation to the primary forest, and the density of shrub, forb, and graminoid seeds decreased significantly. The most abundant seedlings recorded in soil samples were light-demanding species in the shrubland and Populus bonatii forest. For ground flora, the number of shrub seedlings strongly decreased with the increase in stand age, and shade-tolerant tree seedlings tended to increase. The species similarity between the seed bank and the aboveground vegetation in all sites was low (Sørensen’s index = 0.11–0.33), however, the shrubland had higher similarity compared with the other three plant communities. In the primary forest, light-demanding woody species dominated in soil seed banks, while shade-tolerant species dominated in the overstory and the forest floor. In the primary forest, seedlings of dominant tree species were rare in the understory, and no seeds of the dominant species were found in the soil. Results indicated that the early stages of vegetation recovery should take into account the possibility of recovering soil seed bank processes. However, colonization and establishment of tree seedlings will be difficult once a primary forest is destroyed.     

Effects of seed mass on seedling success in Artocarpus heterophyllus L., a tropical tree species of north-east India

I examined the effects of seed mass on performance of seedlings of Artocarpus heterophyllus L. (Moraceae), a large evergreen late successional shade-tolerant tree species in three contrasting light conditions. Seed mass varied many fold from 1.5 to 14 g in A. heterophyllus. Germination and germination time showed a significant correlation with seed mass. Germination differed significantly among three light regimes (50%, 25% and 3%). Seed mass and light level significantly affected seedling survival. The seedlings that emerged from large seeds survived better than those from small seeds under all light regimes. Survival of seedlings was maximum in 25% light regime for all seed mass classes but did not differ significantly from that at 50% light regime. Survival was significantly lower in 3% light as compared to 50% and 25% light regimes. Seedling vigor (expressed in terms of seedling height, leaf area and dry weight) was also significantly affected by seed mass and light regimes. Seedlings that emerged from larger seeds and grew under 50% light regime produced the heaviest seedlings, while those resulting from smaller seeds and grown under 3% light regime produced the lightest seedlings. Resprouting capacity of seedlings after clipping was significantly affected by seed mass and light regime. Seedlings emerging from larger seeds were capable of resprouting several times successively. Resprouting was more pronounced under 50% and 25% light regimes as compared to 3% light. Success of A. heterophyllus regeneration appears to be regulated by an interactive effect of seed mass and light regime.     

Development and plasticity of endangered shrub Lindera melissifolia (Lauraceae) seedlings under contrasting light regimes

Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume seedlings were raised in a growth chamber to determine the effects of light availability on shoot growth pattern, and basic leaf and stem growth. Lindera melissifolia seedlings exhibited a sympodial shoot growth pattern for 3 months following emergence from the soil medium, but this pattern was characterized by a reduction in leaf blade area approximately 30 days after emergence, followed by increases in leaf blade area. Seedlings receiving low light were 76% taller than seedlings receiving high light. Seedlings receiving low light also had larger leaf blade dimensions, blade area, seedling leaf area, and greater mass. Seedlings raised in high light had a greater proportional distribution of biomass in the roots, suggesting possible water stress from greater vapor pressure deficits. Furthermore, these seedlings displayed sharp angles of blade inclination and blade folding – acclimation that reduces exposure to light and subsequent higher leaf temperatures in open environments. These differences in morphological response to light resulted in high phenotypic variability in L. melissifolia seedlings. Lindera melissifolia seedling development showed a brief period of phenotypic plasticity, followed by ontogenetic plasticity. The short period of phenotypic plasticity may, however, have profound ecological implications for the conservation and recovery of this federally endangered shrub. Further experimentation should take into account the development of ontogenetic standards for comparisons of plant traits in addition to temporal standards.