Poster: Ecophysiology

Abs # 5: Determining the acclimation potential of black and white oak seedlings.

Presenter:	Kalim, Kamran S, kalimks@wilkes.edu
Authors	Terzaghi, William B (A)   Kalim, Kamran S (A)   Hsiao, Yueh-Ju  (A)   Brown, Michael S (A)   Lucent, Del  (A)   Luther, Eric  (A)   McEuen, Amy  (A)   Pray, Christopher  (A)   Smallwood, Peter D (B)   Steele, Michael  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Wilkes University (B): University of Richmond

We predicted that black oak (Quercus velutina) seedlings would acclimate to different light regimes more readily than white oaks (Quercus alba), based on evidence that grey squirrels move black oak acorns greater distances than white oaks, presumably exposing them to a wider array of forest canopy conditions. To test this hypothesis we grew black and white oak seedlings under two different light regimes and compared their photosynthetic characteristics. We found that compensation points for both species were higher in plants grown at 150 µmoles/m2/sec than those grown at 15 µmoles/m2/sec. However, we did not detect any difference between light regimes in the maximal assimilation rate or the light intensity at which they were half saturated. Black oaks were capable of higher assimilation rates than white oaks. These data did not support our hypothesis. We are currently trying to reconcile these results with field observations, and are examining the acclimation potential for other members of the red oak and white oak subgenera (Quercus rubra, Quercus prinus).