Search Results (1,320)

Interplanting Paeonia lactiflora Pall. under Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houzeau (moso bamboo) forests forms an innovative agroforestry intercropping system. This practice has great potential to improve economic benefits and maintain ecosystem stability of moso bamboo forests. Nevertheless, the physiological and growth adaptation mechanisms of P. lactiflora in the understory microenvironment of moso bamboo are still poorly understood. In this study, a two-factor field experiment was conducted to examine how moso bamboo stand density (0, 1200, 1800, 2400 plants·ha⁻¹) and cultivation pattern (bag cultivation, field cultivation) shape the growth, root traits, and resource allocation of P. lactiflora. The results showed that under bag cultivation, the low bamboo stand density (1200 plants·ha⁻¹) promoted biomass accumulation in P. lactiflora leaves, stems, and roots, and facilitated root elongation and radial thickening. Under this condition, P. lactiflora adopted a root-prioritized growth strategy and preferentially allocated nitrogen and phosphorus to leaves and roots. For field cultivation, P. lactiflora growth was inhibited by dual stresses of aboveground shading and underground interspecific root competition. To cope with such stress, P. lactiflora prioritized leaf growth, allocated more nitrogen and phosphorus to leaves, and developed thinner roots. This study reveals the differential growth, root plasticity, and resource allocation strategies of P. lactiflora in response to dual stresses of aboveground shading and underground root competition from moso bamboo, filling the research gaps regarding multi-factor adaptation mechanisms of understory herbaceous plants in moso bamboo forests. The optimal undercropping regime combining low moso bamboo stand density with bag cultivation pattern is identified. These findings offer practical references for the efficient and sustainable management of bamboo–peony agroforestry systems and are critical for balancing the economic benefits of moso bamboo stands and maintaining the stability of understory ecosystems. Full article

Pinus densata is an endemic and dominant conifer in subalpine forests along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, where it plays important ecological roles and provides high-resolution tree-ring records for assessing climate–growth relationships. However, the extent to which climatic controls on growth vary among sites with contrasting habitat conditions within the same region remains insufficiently resolved. In this study, we investigated P. densata at three sites in northwestern Yunnan, southwestern China: Yulong Snow Mountain (YL), Haba Snow Mountain (HB), and Shika Snow Mountain (SK). Residual tree-ring width chronologies were developed and analyzed by using response function analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and moving-window correlation analysis to identify key climatic factors and evaluate site-specific and temporal variation in growth–climate relationships. The results showed that radial growth responses differed markedly among sites. At YL and HB, ring width was negatively associated with mean temperature in May and positively associated with May precipitation, suggesting that early-growing-season moisture availability may play an important role under warm conditions before full monsoon onset. Warmer conditions in August generally favored growth at both sites. In contrast, radial growth at SK was positively associated with September mean temperature, suggesting a stronger association with late-growing-season thermal conditions at the higher-elevation site. RDA further retained current May mean temperature, current August mean temperature, and previous December precipitation as significant explanatory variables, indicating that radial-growth variation was linked to both current-year thermal conditions and antecedent winter moisture. Moving-window analysis showed that growth–climate relationships varied in strength and direction over time, with distinct site-specific patterns. Overall, these findings indicate that climatic responses of P. densata radial growth in northwestern Yunnan showed spatial heterogeneity and temporal non-stability. This study provides dendroecological evidence that site-level differences and temporal non-stability should be considered when assessing the potential responses of monsoon-influenced subalpine forests to ongoing regional warming. Full article

Sustainable development in wood technology demands eco-friendly alternatives to conventional preservatives, positioning nanotechnology as a promising frontier for green wood protection. The antifungal potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against the brown-rot agent Fomitopsis pinicola was investigated in vitro, alongside an assessment of their protective performance on Scots pine wood. AgNPs were tested at 5, 25, 50, and 100 ppm in vitro, with an additional 200 ppm concentration included in the wood-decay test. In the in vitro assays, lower concentrations (5 and 25 ppm) stimulated radial mycelial growth, 50 ppm showed no effect, and 100 ppm caused growth inhibition. In contrast, all tested concentrations enhanced the decay resistance of pine wood. Average wood mass loss ranged from 4.9% to 8.1% after 2 months and from 10.9% to 18.6% after 4 months, with the maximum protective effect observed at 50 ppm. While AgNPs did not entirely prevent F. pinicola-induced decay, they significantly mitigated mass loss. These findings highlight the potential of AgNPs for the short-term preservation of freshly harvested timber, particularly storm- or disaster-damaged wood stored in forests or log yards prior to processing. Full article

This study provides an exploratory predictive analysis to examine how different dimensions of digital infrastructure—capital market development, digital payment adoption, e-commerce penetration, and market volatility—predict the financial performance metrics of fintech ventures in Egypt. Using panel data from ten fintech ventures listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange over the period 2017–2023, the research employs Random Forest machine learning algorithms alongside Logistic Regression as a baseline comparator. Feature importance analysis identifies the most significant predictors of profitability across four performance metrics: gross revenue, sales growth, gross margin, and net profit margin. This study employs Random Forest with five-fold cross-validation. Hyperparameters were optimized via grid search, and feature importance scores are reported with cross-validation standard deviations. To address panel structure concerns, we additionally employ leave-one-firm-out cross-validation. All findings reflect predictive associations only; no causal claims are made due to potential reverse causality. Findings show that capital market development emerges as the most important predictor across all profitability metrics, accounting for 45% of feature importance for net profit margin and 42% for gross revenue (mean importance across five folds; SD = 0.07–0.08). Digital payment adoption exhibits a paradoxical dual association—positively associated with revenue and margins through operational efficiency (38% importance for gross margin; SD = 0.08) while negatively associated with sales growth (22% importance; SD = 0.10). Gross online sales show limited predictive efficacy, affecting only gross margin. Market volatility correlates solely with sales growth. Random Forest consistently outperforms Logistic Regression across all models, with accuracy rates ranging from 68% to 76% (compared to a chance level of 50% and a majority-class baseline of 52–58%). Due to the limited sample of 70 firm-year observations, these findings must be interpreted as strictly exploratory and hypothesis-generating; they apply uniquely to publicly listed fintech firms on the Egyptian Stock Exchange and cannot be generalized to private, early-stage, or unlisted fintech startups without further empirical validation. Full article

Clarifying the dynamic changes in vegetation cover and the driving mechanisms under the combined influence of the natural environment and human activities is a crucial foundation for understanding the evolutionary processes of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions and for improving the effectiveness of ecological restoration. Taking the Kuye River Basin, a typical resource exploitation zone in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, as the research area, this study retrieved 30 m resolution annual maximum NDVI datasets from 1986 to 2020 to calculate the Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC). Utilizing methods such as Theil–Sen slope analysis, Mann–Kendall significance test, Hurst exponent, stability analysis, geographical detector, and sensitivity index, this study systematically revealed the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change, future evolution trends, and the response mechanisms of FVC dynamics to multiple factors including climate, topography, and land use. The results indicated that from 1986 to 2020, FVC in the study area exhibited an overall increasing trend (0.0105 a⁻¹), with the average FVC rising from 0.21 to 0.61. Regions with very low and low vegetation coverage continued to decrease, while areas with high and very high vegetation coverage showed significant increases, particularly in the very high vegetation coverage category, which experienced the largest growth (CV = 179.32%). The regions with moderate vegetation coverage demonstrated the highest stability (CV = 48.42%). Analysis of the driving mechanisms revealed that precipitation and land use types were the primary factors influencing changes in FVC, with land use demonstrating a more stable explanatory power (CV = 3.63%). Furthermore, the interaction between these two factors significantly enhanced the explanatory power related to vegetation changes. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the increase in forest and grassland effectively mitigated the negative impact of cropland on moderate to high coverage areas; industrial and mining land had a notable impact on very low coverage areas. It can be inferred that the Grain for Green program and the expansion of industrial and mining lands might generate differentiated impacts across diverse vegetation coverage classes. Future projections indicate that 91.19% of the region exhibits potential for FVC improvement in the future. However, a risk of sustained vegetation degradation exists in densely populated areas and regions with concentrated industrial and mining land. The study demonstrates that under the combined influences of climate change and land use adjustments, optimizing land use structures and coordinating ecological restoration with resource development are critical approaches to enhancing the stability of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions, as well as promoting sustainable regional ecological development. Full article

Drought severely constrains the growth of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, but the role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in forest drought responses remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated whether Pseudomonas marginalis A39 alleviates drought stress through plant physiological regulation, soil functional improvement, and rhizosphere bacterial community shifts. Strain A39 was first assessed for drought tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits in vitro. A greenhouse pot experiment was then conducted under graded drought levels with or without A39 inoculation, followed by analyses of plant growth, physiological traits, soil nutrients, enzyme activities, rhizosphere bacterial communities, whole-genome features, and drought-responsive gene expression. A39 tolerated low water potential and showed multiple growth-promoting traits. Under severe drought, A39 inoculation increased seedling height, ground diameter, aboveground dry weight, and underground dry weight by 83.58%, 47.69%, 37.14%, and 41.67%, respectively. It also increased total chlorophyll content and CAT activity by 30.38% and 40.20%, while reducing MDA and proline accumulation by 33.71% and 35.40%, respectively. A39 improved soil nutrient availability, with available nutrients increasing by more than 35%, and altered rhizosphere bacterial communities, with enrichment of taxa such as Pseudarthrobacter and Pseudomonas. Soil sucrase, available potassium, and total potassium were key factors associated with bacterial community variation. Genome annotation and qRT-PCR analysis identified candidate genes potentially related to nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, oxidative stress defense, and osmotic adaptation. These results indicate that A39 inoculation is associated with improved drought performance of P. sylvestris var. mongolica, supporting its further evaluation as a candidate microbial inoculant for forest drought management. Full article

The present study investigated the effects of different soil substrates (mixtures, based on a mica schist-derived soil), on the plant growth, soil chemical properties, nutritional status and photosynthetic parameters of chestnut (Castanea sativa) seedlings. The aim was to produce robust seedlings, suitable for plantations or reforestation of forest ecosystems, while also provide the necessary nutrient input during the early stages of development. A pot experiment was conducted comprising four treatments: (i) CONTROL, consisting of soil derived from mica schist weathering (MS), (ii) MS with inorganic fertilization (MS-FER), (iii) MS amended with forest floor, derived from evergreen broad-leaved trees (MS-EFF); and (iv) MS amended with forest floor, derived from chestnut trees (MS-CFF). Regarding seedlings’ growth, both types of forest floor exerted a positive effect similar to that observed after inorganic fertilization (MS-FER), while all treatments maintained a satisfactory and stable photosynthetic performance; however, an enhancement in leaf chlorophyll content (CCI) was specifically observed under inorganic fertilization. Except Olsen P and exchangeable Mg, which were significantly higher in the MS-FER treatment, all the other soil nutrients were higher either in the MS-EFF, or in the MS-CFF treatments. Overall, both types of forest floor proved effective as organic amendments, suggesting that they could serve as an alternative or complement to inorganic fertilization, potentially reducing fertilizer inputs in chestnut seedling production. Full article

The reconstruction of vegetation in opencast mining areas constitutes an intricate process of ecological restoration within human-altered systems. A systematic characterization of the multi-dimensional synergistic successional pathways—encompassing morphology, structure, and function—and the corresponding delineation of key recovery phases holds significant potential to inform and refine land reclamation strategies. This study took the southern dump of the Antaibao Coal Mine within the Pingshuo mining area on the Loess Plateau as the study area. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, time series Landsat remote sensing images from 1990 to 2023 were processed to derive three indicators representing vegetation coverage morphology, landscape pattern structure, and ecosystem service function: Vegetation Fractional Coverage (VFC), Mining Landscape Restoration Index (MLRI), and Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI). A Reconstructed vegetation Restoration Comprehensive Index (RRCI) was established through the multi-dimensional collaborative analysis of morphology–structure–function. Based on the long-term evolutionary sequence of RRCI, the S-logistic growth curve model was employed for nonlinear fitting, and critical restoration stages of reconstructed vegetation were quantitatively delineated using preset threshold rules. The results demonstrate that time series RRCI data of the screened sample plots effectively characterize the spatiotemporal restoration dynamics of reconstructed vegetation, with a high model goodness of fit (R² > 0.7). In accordance with the criteria for delineating critical stages of reconstructed vegetation restoration, the average durations of the accelerated development period, consolidation development period, and overall recovery development period of reconstructed vegetation in the study area are 5.09 years, 4.64 years, and 9.73 years, respectively. Significant differences exist in the accelerated development period and overall recovery development period between arbor forest lands and arbor shrub forest lands (p < 0.05), and the time required for vegetation restoration at each stage is longer in arbor forest lands than in arbor shrub forest lands. This study constructs a multi-dimensionally collaborative RRCI and quantifies critical stages of reconstructed vegetation evolution, which is of great significance for promoting the sustainable evolution and dynamic management of reconstructed vegetation in opencast mining areas. Full article

Tropical forests host a remarkable diversity of tree species with contrasting functional strategies. Typologies based on easily measurable morphological traits (soft traits) are widely used to group species along the plant economics spectrum, yet their capacity to reflect drought tolerance remains heavily debated. This study evaluates whether a typological framework based on five soft traits (specific leaf area, leaf area, wood density, stomatal density, and leaf trichome density) can capture both carbon acquisition and drought response strategies. We examined 14 dominant canopy species from contrasting tropical ecosystems (cloud and dry forests) of the Lesser Antilles. A typology comprising three groups was proposed, which differed significantly along the acquisitive–conservative spectrum, demonstrating the utility of soft traits for characterizing carbon management and growth potential at the regional scale. However, critical hard traits such as xylem vulnerability (P50) and turgor loss point (ψtlp) were decoupled from this classification. Our findings confirm the value of soft-trait typologies for modeling local carbon dynamics but highlight their limitations in predicting complex physiological drought vulnerability. Integrating phenological and hydraulic proxies into functional classifications is essential to accurately represent species drought tolerance in an increasingly water-limited Caribbean archipelago. Full article

Highway corridors are increasingly being discussed not only as zones of ecological disturbance but also as components of regional green infrastructure with potential carbon sequestration functions, yet their long-term evolutionary characteristics and multi-scale associated factors remain insufficiently understood. Using multi-source time-series data from 2000 to 2023, we developed an analytical framework integrating the CASA model, Random Forest, and geographically weighted regression (GWR). To ensure methodological rigor, we implemented a Spatial K-fold Cross-Validation strategy and incorporated Partial Dependence Analysis (PDA) to identify non-linear thresholds. The results indicate that: (1) Vegetation carbon sequestration within Shandong’s highway corridors increased significantly, with total sequestration rising from 5.54 × 10⁶ t in 2000 to 1.55 × 10⁷ t in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of approximately 5.0%. This growth transitioned from a relatively stable phase to a more rapid growth phase. (2) A clear distance-related ecological pattern was observed. Statistical tests (Kruskal–Wallis H test) confirmed that vegetation carbon sequestration exhibited a significant non-monotonic gradient ($p<0.05$), with a stable peak zone observed 50–100 m from the roadbed. This peak zone is associated with a spatial “trade-off” pattern between the attenuation of traffic-related stressors and roadside ecological management. (3) The observed spatial pattern was associated with a nonlinear coupling of natural background conditions and human disturbance. Precipitation and temperature were the dominant associated factors, while PDA further identified a critical precipitation threshold (~750 mm) and localized tipping points for human interference, with a distinct road-disturbance-sensitive zone evident within 200–500 m. The results suggest that high-standard ecological design and active restoration measures are associated with lower ecological disturbance and higher vegetation carbon sequestration performance in some highway corridors. However, these relationships should be interpreted cautiously, as they may also be influenced by differences in climate background, topography, land-use context, and road construction history. These findings provide empirical evidence to inform differentiated ecological restoration and low-carbon management of traffic corridors. Full article

Coal-dominated resource-based cities face a structurally embedded carbon-neutrality gap, shaped by the simultaneous pressures of industrial carbon lock-in and ecological fragility. China’s dual-carbon targets impose severe transition pressure on such regions, where carbon-intensive industries, strong path dependence, and limited decarbonization flexibility compound the challenge. Forest carbon sinks offer a cost-effective approach for offsetting residual emissions. However, water scarcity and restricted land-carrying capacity impose hard ecological ceilings on sink expansion in semi-arid areas such as the Loess Plateau. Existing studies have largely focused on national or provincial scales, with few addressing the coupled dynamics of industrial emissions and water-limited sink capacity at the county level. This study examines Shenmu, China’s largest coal-producing county-level city and a national energy-chemical industrial base. Using time-series data spanning 2010–2025, we project multi-scenario carbon emissions via an extended STIRPAT model with ridge regression, estimate forest carbon sink potential through a growing-stock (GS) gradient model cross-validated against GM(1,1), and systematically quantify the resulting carbon-neutrality gap. The results show that energy activities dominate total emissions throughout, consistently exceeding 90% of the aggregate. Under the baseline scenario, emissions reach 407.96 MtCO₂eq in 2060 without peaking; under moderate mitigation, emissions peak at 269.39 MtCO₂eq in 2050; under strengthened mitigation, emissions peak at 225.80 MtCO₂eq before 2040 and subsequently decline. Forest carbon sinks are projected to offset 2.1–11.2% of emissions by 2060 under all scenarios, constrained by climatic aridity, finite afforestation potential, and water–soil carrying capacity thresholds. The carbon-neutrality gap remains structurally positive across every scenario, reflecting a fundamental asymmetry between rigid emission growth and ecologically bounded sink capacity. These findings indicate that only an integrated pathway combining industrial restructuring, energy decarbonization, diversified ecological sinks, and CCUS deployment can substantially narrow the gap; carbon neutrality by 2060 is unattainable through natural sinks alone. Full article

Pinus pinaster Ait. forests have potential for resin tapping, a forestry activity that complements timber production and may increase the profitability of maritime pine stands. However, the viability of this co-production remains uncertain due to the potential effects of resin tapping on wood characteristics. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of resin tapping on the wood characteristics of maritime pine, in order to infer possible changes in wood quality, its utilisation, and, consequently, its value. The study was based on samples collected in Tresminas from resin-tapped trees (37.2 ± 6.0 years old and mean height of 15.8 ± 1.4 m) subjected to the traditional Portuguese resin tapping method for four consecutive years, and from non-resin-tapped trees (37.5 ± 8.9 years old and mean height of 14.1 ± 2.2 m). Samples were collected from different positions along the stem of resin-tapped trees (incision side, opposite side, and 50 cm above the last tapping incision) and compared with samples obtained from non-resin-tapped trees. Wood density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), extractives content, growth ring width and the number and area of resin ducts were evaluated. The effects of resin tapping on wood properties were assessed by comparing resin-tapped and non-resin-tapped trees, as well as different sampling positions within resin-tapped trees, using linear mixed-effects models. Mean comparisons were performed using Tukey’s test at a 95% significance level. No significant effects of resin tapping were observed on MOE or MOR between resin-tapped and non-resin-tapped trees. Wood from the incision side showed higher density (0.596 g·cm⁻³) and higher extractives content (7.49%). Resin-tapped trees produced a greater number of resin ducts after tapping; however, their area did not change. No significant differences were found in growth ring width between resin-tapped (1.75 mm) and non-resin-tapped trees (1.80 mm), although resin-tapped trees presented slightly narrower rings on average. Resin tapping in P. pinaster did not promote relevant changes in wood properties that would compromise its mechanical and physical performance. Although some alterations were detected, these were predominantly localised and restricted to the region adjacent to the tapping incision. Full article

The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) is a non-timber forest product of great ecological and economic importance in the southwestern Amazonian countries. The study aimed to analyze the effects of habitat (natural tree-fall gaps, logged gaps, and field crops) on the survival and early growth of Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut) seedlings in the Peruvian Amazon. Seedlings were monitored every 2 months for 1 year to record survival and seedling growth. We used linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of habitat type, time, and their interaction on diameter and height growth. The non-parametric Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival probability. This study showed that the survival of B. excelsa seedlings was significantly higher in canopy gaps than in crop fields. We also revealed the negative effect of canopy cover on the early height growth. Height growth of surviving B. excelsa seedlings was significantly higher in logging gaps than in all other habitats, and in natural tree-fall gaps it was significantly higher than in crop fields, whereas seedlings in logging gaps and crop fields had significantly higher diameter growth than those in natural tree-fall gaps. Our results illuminate the potential of enrichment planting using B. excelsa in logged tropical rainforest in the southeast Peruvian Amazon. Full article

Beneficial and pathogenic fungal inoculation can substantially influence plant growth by reshaping rhizosphere microbial communities. However, how different fungal inoculants differentially affect microbial community assembly processes, co-occurrence network stability, keystone taxa distribution, and their potential associations with plant growth remains poorly understood. Cucumber was used as the model plant, and Fusarium oxysporum (pathogenic, Foc) and Trichoderma guizhouense (beneficial, Tri) were selected as inoculants. 16S rRNA and ITS2 amplicon sequencing were used to investigate the diversity, composition, assembly processes, and co-occurrence network structure of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. In addition, we used Zi–Pi topological role analysis, functional prediction, Mantel tests and random forest to characterize keystone taxa and link microbial assembly, network stability to plant nutrient and biomass traits. Foc decreased bacterial diversity while Tri increased it. Tri was associated with greater microbial network connectivity and complexity, as well as network characteristics consistent with higher inferred stability, with more connector keystone taxa enriched in glycan and terpenoid metabolic functions; by contrast, Foc simplified network structure and enriched saprotrophic fungal keystones. Bacterial assembly shifted toward deterministic processes under Foc, whereas stochastic processes remained predominant in Tri and control treatments. Random forest further confirmed divergent drivers: bacterial assembly depended mostly on community composition, while fungal assembly was regulated by plant nutrients and fungal diversity. All microbial properties were tightly linked to plant biomass and nutrient accumulation. Collectively, beneficial and pathogenic fungi exert opposing influences on rhizosphere microbial organization: Tri was associated with more connected microbial communities and a greater diversity of predicted functional traits, whereas Foc strengthened environmental filtering and simplified community structure, with plant–microbe–nutrient feedbacks likely contributing to rhizosphere assembly and ecosystem functionality. Full article

Coccocypselum lanceolatum is a tropical, perennial, creeping, herbaceous C3 plant species that is found in deeply shaded humid forests. This species has potential for medicinal and culinary uses. Knowledge about this species and other herbaceous Rubiaceae is confined to phytocoenological and morpho-anatomical studies. Here, it was hypothesized that (1) leaf gas exchange dynamics over a one-year period in C. lanceolatum are related to light conditions, phenology and environmental seasonal changes; (2) photosynthetic performance is focused on enhanced carbon gains through a high leaf net assimilation rate (A_net) relative to light availability, a low dark respiration rate (R_d) and a light compensation point (LCP); and (3) these parameters will vary over leaf age. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), characterizing the growth and development of C. lanceolatum, was reduced to 4–11% of incoming light in the open area, while the red-to-far-red light ratio (R:FR) was reduced from 1.15 to mean diurnal values of 0.45–0.81, depending on forest canopy dynamics. Leaf gas exchange parameters [A_net, stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf transpiration (E), and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE)] were observed over a one-year period. A_net, g_s, and E were correlated with energy factors (PPFD and air temperature) during vegetative growth, while only iWUE showed a correlation with leaf gas exchange parameters during blooming and fruiting, indicating that seasonality and phenology were additional drivers of leaf gas exchange. As a deep-shade forest species, C. lanceolatum displayed low iWUE (3–21 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and was adapted to maximize carbon gain and prioritize high g_s rather than water economy. The extremely low LCP (4.2 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), low R_d (0.2 to 0.43 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), maximum net photosynthesis (A_max, 5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and apparent quantum efficiency of CO₂ assimilation (Φ of 0.04 µmol µmol⁻¹) were adaptational traits of this species for low light. Finally, the A_net, g_s, E, iWUE, gross photosynthesis under light saturation, R_d, LCP, and light saturation point values were different when comparing young and adult leaves. The ecophysiological responses over a one-year period shown here could assist in the success of C. lanceolatum as a sustainable soil-cover plant in shaded areas. Full article