Abstract

In the boreal forests of northern Sweden, the clonal dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum dominates the ground layer vegetation in post-fire successions by exerting strong inhibitory effects on other plant species. These inhibitory effects have been attributed to the high production of phenolic compounds and in particular the dihydrostilbene, batatasin-III. In this study, we further explore the potential chemical interference of E hermaphroditum through the release of batatasin-III. In so doing, we first quantified batatasin-III in snowmelt, throughfall, and in E. hermaphroditum litter. Batatasin-III was also quantified in soil solution from underneath E. hermaphroditum vegetation on three different occasions during one growing season. The concentrations were generally found to be highest in the soil solution from the litter layer, where it reached a maximum concentration of 353 +/- 26 ng batatasin-III/ml in August. Furthermore, the concentrations of batatasin-III were found to decline with depth in the soil profile. There were important temporal variations, with the highest concentrations of batatasin-III found in May and August. The lowest concentrations occurred in June. Our results suggest that E. hermaphroditum releases batatasin-III from leaves and litter in sufficient amounts to account for accumulation of batatasin-III in soil.

Keywords

Empetrum heath; chemical interference; batatasin-III; temporal variation; soil solution

Published in

Journal of Chemical Ecology
2000, Volume: 26, number: 6, pages: 1311-1323
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Zackrisson, Olle

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005467221161

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/115261