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Wang J, Li Y, Rahman MM, Li B, Yan Z, Song G, Zhao Y, Wu J, Chu C. Unraveling the drivers and impacts of leaf phenological diversity in a subtropical forest: A fine-scale analysis using PlanetScope CubeSats. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:607-619. [PMID: 38764134 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Leaf phenology variations within plant communities shape community assemblages and influence ecosystem properties and services. However, questions remain regarding quantification, drivers, and productivity impacts of intra-site leaf phenological diversity. With a 50-ha subtropical forest plot in China's Heishiding Provincial Nature Reserve (part of the global ForestGEO network) as a testbed, we gathered a unique dataset combining ground-derived abiotic (topography, soil) and biotic (taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, functional traits) factors. We investigated drivers underlying leaf phenological diversity extracted from high-resolution PlanetScope data, and its influence on aboveground biomass (AGB) using structural equation modeling (SEM). Our results reveal considerable fine-scale leaf phenological diversity across the subtropical forest landscape. This diversity is directly and indirectly influenced by abiotic and biotic factors (e.g. slope, soil, traits, taxonomic diversity; r2 = 0.43). While a notable bivariate relationship between AGB and leaf phenological diversity was identified (r = -0.24, P < 0.05), this relationship did not hold in SEM analysis after considering interactions with other biotic and abiotic factors (P > 0.05). These findings unveil the underlying mechanism regulating intra-site leaf phenological diversity. While leaf phenology is known to be associated with ecosystem properties, our findings confirm that AGB is primarily influenced by functional trait composition and taxonomic diversity rather than leaf phenological diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Yuanzhi Li
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Md Mizanur Rahman
- Jiangmen Laboratory of Carbon Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 529100, China
- Research Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School for Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations, Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Buhang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
| | - Zhengbing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Guangqin Song
- Research Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School for Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yingyi Zhao
- Research Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School for Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Jin Wu
- Research Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School for Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Chengjin Chu
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
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Joshi RK, Gupta R, Mishra A, Garkoti SC. Seasonal variations of leaf ecophysiological traits and strategies of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous trees in white oak forest in the central Himalaya. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:634. [PMID: 38900402 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12771-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The present study investigates the seasonal variations in leaf ecophysiological traits and strategies employed by co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species within a white oak forest (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) ecosystem in the central Himalaya. Seasonal variations in physiological, morphological, and chemical traits were observed from leaf initiation until senescence in co-occurring deciduous and evergreen tree species. We compared various parameters, including net photosynthetic capacity (Aarea and Amass), leaf stomatal conductance (gswarea and gswmass), transpiration rate (Earea and Emass), specific leaf area (SLA), mid-day water potential (Ψmd), leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentration, leaf total chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiency (PNUE and PPUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) across four evergreen and four deciduous tree species. Our findings reveal that evergreen and deciduous trees exhibit divergent strategies in coping with seasonal changes, which are crucial for their survival and growth. Deciduous trees consistently exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, mass-based N and P concentrations (Nmass and Pmass), mass-based chlorophyll concentration (Chlmass), SLA, and leaf Ψmd, while maintaining lower leaf structural investments throughout the year compared to evergreen trees. These findings indicate that deciduous trees achieve greater assimilation rates per unit mass and higher nutrient-use efficiency. Physiological, morphological, and leaf N and P concentrations were higher in the summer (fully expanded leaf) than in the fall (senesced leaf). These insights provide valuable contributions to our understanding of tree species coexistence and their ecological roles in temperate forest ecosystems, with implications for forest management and conservation in the Himalayan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Kr Joshi
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Rajman Gupta
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Ambuj Mishra
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Satish Chandra Garkoti
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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Guo Z, Xu Z, Li L, Xu KW. Species-Specific miRNAs Contribute to the Divergence between Deciduous and Evergreen Species in Ilex. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1429. [PMID: 38891238 PMCID: PMC11174832 DOI: 10.3390/plants13111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators of gene expression, playing crucial roles in plant developmental processes and environmental responses. However, the function of miRNAs in influencing deciduous traits has been little explored. Here, we utilized sRNA-seq on two deciduous species, Ilex polyneura (Hand.-Mazz.) S. Y. Hu and Ilex asprella Champ. ex Benth., along with an evergreen species, Ilex latifolia Thunb., to identify and annotate miRNAs within these species. Our analysis revealed 162 species-specific miRNAs (termed SS-miRNAs) from 120 families, underscoring the fundamental roles and potential influence of SS-miRNAs on plant phenotypic diversity and adaptation. Notably, three SS-miRNAs in I. latifolia were found to target crucial genes within the abscission signaling pathway. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested a novel regulatory relationship that may contribute to the evergreen phenotype of I. latifolia by modulating the abscission process in a light-independent manner. These findings propose a potential mechanism by which SS-miRNAs can influence the conserved abscission pathway, contributing to the phenotypic divergence between deciduous and evergreen species within the genus Ilex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglong Guo
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (Z.G.); (Z.X.)
| | - Zhenxiu Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (Z.G.); (Z.X.)
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ke-Wang Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (Z.G.); (Z.X.)
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Gauthey A, Bachofen C, Chin A, Cochard H, Gisler J, Mas E, Meusburger K, Peters RL, Schaub M, Tunas A, Zweifel R, Grossiord C. Twenty years of irrigation acclimation is driven by denser canopies and not by plasticity in twig- and needle-level hydraulics in a Pinus sylvestris forest. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:3141-3152. [PMID: 38375924 PMCID: PMC11103111 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is predicted to increase atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, exacerbating soil drought, and thus enhancing tree evaporative demand and mortality. Yet, few studies have addressed the longer-term drought acclimation strategy of trees, particularly the importance of morphological versus hydraulic plasticity. Using a long-term (20 years) irrigation experiment in a natural forest, we investigated the acclimation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) morpho-anatomical traits (stomatal anatomy and crown density) and hydraulic traits (leaf water potential, vulnerability to cavitation (Ψ50), specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and tree water deficit) to prolonged changes in soil moisture. We found that low water availability reduced twig water potential and increased tree water deficit during the growing season. Still, the trees showed limited adjustments in most branch-level hydraulic traits (Ψ50 and Ks) and needle anatomy. In contrast, trees acclimated to prolonged irrigation by increasing their crown density and hence the canopy water demand. This study demonstrates that despite substantial canopy adjustments, P. sylvestris may be vulnerable to extreme droughts because of limited adjustment potential in its hydraulic system. While sparser canopies reduce water demand, such shifts take decades to occur under chronic water deficits and might not mitigate short-term extreme drought events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Gauthey
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Bachofen
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Alana Chin
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH-Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hervé Cochard
- INRAE, PIAF, Université Clermont-Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jonas Gisler
- Forest Dynamics Research Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Eugénie Mas
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Meusburger
- Forest Soils and Biochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Richard L Peters
- Physiological Plant Ecology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Schaub
- Forest Dynamics Research Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Alex Tunas
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roman Zweifel
- Forest Dynamics Research Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Grossiord
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Liu YY, Chao L, Li ZG, Ma L, Hu BQ, Zhu SD, Cao KF. Water storage capacity is inversely associated with xylem embolism resistance in tropical karst tree species. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 44:tpae017. [PMID: 38281245 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Tropical karst habitats are characterized by limited and patchy soil, large rocky outcrops and porous substrates, resulting in high habitat heterogeneity and soil moisture fluctuations. Xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety can determine the drought adaptation and spatial distribution of woody plants growing in karst environments. In this study, we measured sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), vulnerability to embolism, wood density, saturated water content, and vessel and pit anatomical characteristics in the branch stems of 12 evergreen tree species in a tropical karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China. We aimed to characterize the effects of structural characteristics on hydraulic efficiency and safety. Our results showed that there was no significant correlation between Ks and hydraulic safety across the tropical karst woody species. Ks was correlated with hydraulic vessel diameter (r = 0.80, P < 0.05) and vessel density (r = -0.60, P < 0.05), while the stem water potential at 50 and 88% loss of hydraulic conductivity (P50 and P88) were both significantly correlated with wood density (P < 0.05) and saturated water content (P = 0.052 and P < 0.05, respectively). High stem water storage capacity was associated with low cavitation resistance possibly because of its buffering the moisture fluctuations in karst environments. However, both Ks and P50/P88 were decoupled from the anatomical traits of pit and pit membranes. This may explain the lack of tradeoff between hydraulic safety and efficiency in tropical karst evergreen tree species. Our results suggest that diverse hydraulic trait combination may facilitate species coexistence in karst environments with high spatial heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Lin Chao
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Zhong-Guo Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
- Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang 532600, Guangxi, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Bao-Qing Hu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Shi-Dan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
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Waite PA, Leuschner C, Delzon S, Triadiati T, Saad A, Schuldt B. Plasticity of wood and leaf traits related to hydraulic efficiency and safety is linked to evaporative demand and not soil moisture in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:2131-2149. [PMID: 37707940 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The predicted increase of drought intensity in South-East Asia has raised concern about the sustainability of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) cultivation. In order to quantify the degree of phenotypic plasticity in this important tree crop species, we analysed a set of wood and leaf traits related to the hydraulic safety and efficiency in PB260 clones from eight small-holder plantations in Jambi province, Indonesia, representing a gradient in local microclimatic and edaphic conditions. Across plots, branch embolism resistance (P50) ranged from -2.14 to -2.58 MPa. The P50 and P88 values declined, and the hydraulic safety margin increased, with an increase in the mean annual vapour pressure deficit (VPD). Among leaf traits, only the changes in specific leaf area were related to the differences in evaporative demand. These variations of hydraulic trait values were not related to soil moisture levels. We did not find a trade-off between hydraulic safety and efficiency, but vessel density (VD) emerged as a major trait associated with both safety and efficiency. The VD, and not vessel diameter, was closely related to P50 and P88 as well as to specific hydraulic conductivity, the lumen-to-sapwood area ratio and the vessel grouping index. In conclusion, our results demonstrate some degree of phenotypic plasticity in wood traits related to hydraulic safety in this tropical tree species, but this is only in response to the local changes in evaporative demand and not soil moisture. Given that VPD may increasingly limit plant growth in a warmer world, our results provide evidence of hydraulic trait changes in response to a rising evaporative demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Waite
- Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Pienner Straße 7, Tharandt 01737, Germany
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Goettingen 37073, Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Goettingen 37073, Germany
| | - Sylvain Delzon
- Department of Biodiversity, Genes, and Communities (BIOGECO), Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Université Bordeaux, Bat. 2 Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Pessac 33615, France
| | - Triadiati Triadiati
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bogor IPB University, Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Asmadi Saad
- Department of Soil Science, University of Jambi, Jalan Raya Jambi Muara Bulian KM 15 Mandalo Indah, Jambi, Sumatra 36361, Indonesia
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Pienner Straße 7, Tharandt 01737, Germany
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Goettingen 37073, Germany
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Alvarado MV, Terrazas T. Tree species differ in plant economic spectrum traits in the tropical dry forest of Mexico. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293430. [PMID: 37943793 PMCID: PMC10635469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In tropical dry forests, studies on wood anatomical traits have concentrated mainly on variations in vessel diameter and frequency. Recent research suggests that parenchyma and fibers also play an important role in water conduction and in xylem hydraulic safety. However, these relationships are not fully understood, and wood trait variation among different functional profiles as well as their variation under different water availability scenarios have been little studied. In this work, we aim to (1) characterize a set of wood anatomical traits among six selected tree species that represent the economic spectrum of tropical dry forests, (2) assess the variation in these traits under three different rainfall regimes, and (3) determine the relationships between wood anatomical traits and possible functional trade-offs. Differences among species and sites in wood traits were explored. Linear mixed models were fitted, and model comparison was performed. Most variation occurred among species along the economic spectrum. Obligate deciduous, low wood density species were characterized by wood with wide vessels and low frequency, suggesting high water transport capacity but sensitivity to drought. Moreover, high cell fractions of carbon and water storage were also found in these tree species related to the occurrence of abundant parenchyma or septate fibers. Contrary to what most studies show, Cochlospermum vitifolium, a succulent tree species, presented the greatest variation in wood traits. Facultative deciduous, high wood density species were characterized by a sturdy vascular system that may favor resistance to cavitation and low reserve storage. Contrary to our expectations, variation among the rainfall regimes was generally low in all species and was mostly related to vessel traits, while fiber and parenchyma traits presented little variation among species. Strong functional associations between wood anatomical traits and functional trade-offs were found for the six tree species studied along the economic spectrum of tropical dry forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco V. Alvarado
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Teresa Terrazas
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
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Zhao W, Fu P, Mao Q, Liu G, Li Y, Xia J, Zhao P. Effect of leaf phenology and morphology on the coordination between stomatal and minor vein densities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1051692. [PMID: 37564389 PMCID: PMC10411352 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1051692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaf phenology (evergreen vs. deciduous) and morphology (simple vs. compound) are known to be related to water use strategies in tree species and critical adaptation to certain climatic conditions. However, the effect of these two traits and their interactions on the coordination between minor vein density (MVD) and stomatal density (SD) remains unclear. In this study, we examined the leaves of 108 tree species from plots in a primary subtropical forest in southern China, including tree species with different leaf morphologies and phenologies. We assessed nine leaf water-related functional traits for all species, including MVD, SD, leaf area (LA), minor vein thickness (MVT), and stomatal length (SL). The results showed no significant differences in mean LA and SD between either functional group (simple vs. compound and evergreen vs. deciduous). However, deciduous trees displayed a significantly higher mean MVD compared to evergreen trees. Similarly, compound-leaved trees have a higher (marginally significant) MVD than simple-leaved trees. Furthermore, we found that leaf morphology and phenology have significantly interactive effects on SL, and the compound-leafed deciduous trees exhibited the largest average SL among the four groups. There were significant correlations between the MVD and SD in all different tree groups; however, the slopes and interceptions differed within both morphology and phenology. Our results indicate that MVD, rather than SD, may be the more flexible structure for supporting the coordination between leaf water supply and demand in different leaf morphologies and phenologies. The results of the present study provide mechanistic understandings of the functional advantages of different leaf types, which may involve species fitness in community assembly and divergent responses to climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanli Zhao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Peili Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jinghong, Yunnan, China
- Ailaoshan Station of Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, China
| | - Qinggong Mao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guolan Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanqiu Li
- Guangdong Shimentai National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Forestry Administration, Qingyuan, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiangbao Xia
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Schönauer M, Hietz P, Schuldt B, Rewald B. Root and branch hydraulic functioning and trait coordination across organs in drought-deciduous and evergreen tree species of a subtropical highland forest. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1127292. [PMID: 37377798 PMCID: PMC10291250 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1127292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Vessel traits are key in understanding trees' hydraulic efficiency, and related characteristics like growth performance and drought tolerance. While most plant hydraulic studies have focused on aboveground organs, our understanding of root hydraulic functioning and trait coordination across organs remains limited. Furthermore, studies from seasonally dry (sub-)tropical ecosystems and mountain forests are virtually lacking and uncertainties remain regarding potentially different hydraulic strategies of plants differing in leaf habit. Here, we compared wood anatomical traits and specific hydraulic conductivities between coarse roots and small branches of five drought-deciduous and eight evergreen angiosperm tree species in a seasonally dry subtropical Afromontane forest in Ethiopia. We hypothesized that largest vessels and highest hydraulic conductivities are found in roots, with greater vessel tapering between roots and equally-sized branches in evergreen angiosperms due to their drought-tolerating strategy. We further hypothesized that the hydraulic efficiencies of root and branches cannot be predicted from wood density, but that wood densities across organs are generally related. Root-to-branch ratios of conduit diameters varied between 0.8 and 2.8, indicating considerable differences in tapering from coarse roots to small branches. While deciduous trees showed larger branch xylem vessels compared to evergreen angiosperms, root-to-branch ratios were highly variable within both leaf habit types, and evergreen species did not show a more pronounced degree of tapering. Empirically determined hydraulic conductivity and corresponding root-to-branch ratios were similar between both leaf habit types. Wood density of angiosperm roots was negatively related to hydraulic efficiency and vessel dimensions; weaker relationships were found in branches. Wood density of small branches was neither related to stem nor coarse root wood densities. We conclude that in seasonally dry subtropical forests, similar-sized coarse roots hold larger xylem vessels than small branches, but the degree of tapering from roots to branches is highly variable. Our results indicate that leaf habit does not necessarily influence the relationship between coarse root and branch hydraulic traits. However, larger conduits in branches and a low carbon investment in less dense wood may be a prerequisite for high growth rates of drought-deciduous trees during their shortened growing season. The correlation of stem and root wood densities with root hydraulic traits but not branch wood points toward large trade-offs in branch xylem towards mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Schönauer
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Forest Work Science and Engineering, Department of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Hietz
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Chair of Forest Botany, Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Nadal M, Clemente-Moreno MJ, Perera-Castro AV, Roig-Oliver M, Onoda Y, Gulías J, Flexas J. Incorporating pressure-volume traits into the leaf economics spectrum. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:549-562. [PMID: 36750322 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, attempts have been made in linking pressure-volume parameters and the leaf economics spectrum to expand our knowledge of the interrelationships among leaf traits. We provide theoretical and empirical evidence for the coordination of the turgor loss point and associated traits with net CO2 assimilation (An ) and leaf mass per area (LMA). We measured gas exchange, pressure-volume curves and leaf structure in 45 ferns and angiosperms, and explored the anatomical and chemical basis of the key traits. We propose that the coordination observed between mass-based An , capacitance and the turgor loss point (πtlp ) emerges from their shared link with leaf density (one of the components of LMA) and, specially, leaf saturated water content (LSWC), which in turn relates to cell size and nitrogen and carbon content. Thus, considering the components of LMA and LSWC in ecophysiological studies can provide a broader perspective on leaf structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Nadal
- Departamento de Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - María J Clemente-Moreno
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain
| | - Margalida Roig-Oliver
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Yusuke Onoda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Javier Gulías
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Institut d'Investigacions Agroambientals i d'Economia de l'Aigua (INAGEA) - Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
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11
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Isasa E, Link RM, Jansen S, Tezeh FR, Kaack L, Sarmento Cabral J, Schuldt B. Addressing controversies in the xylem embolism resistance-vessel diameter relationship. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:283-296. [PMID: 36636783 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although xylem embolism is a key process during drought-induced tree mortality, its relationship to wood anatomy remains debated. While the functional link between bordered pits and embolism resistance is known, there is no direct, mechanistic explanation for the traditional assumption that wider vessels are more vulnerable than narrow ones. We used data from 20 temperate broad-leaved tree species to study the inter- and intraspecific relationship of water potential at 50% loss of conductivity (P50 ) with hydraulically weighted vessel diameter (Dh ) and tested its link to pit membrane thickness (TPM ) and specific conductivity (Ks ) on species level. Embolism-resistant species had thick pit membranes and narrow vessels. While Dh was weakly associated with TPM , the P50 -Dh relationship remained highly significant after accounting for TPM . The interspecific pattern between P50 and Dh was mirrored by a link between P50 and Ks , but there was no evidence for an intraspecific relationship. Our results provide robust evidence for an interspecific P50 -Dh relationship across our species. As a potential cause for the inconsistencies in published P50 -Dh relationships, our analysis suggests differences in the range of trait values covered, and the level of data aggregation (species, tree or sample level) studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Isasa
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Roman Mathias Link
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
- Chair of Forest Botany, Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Pienner Str. 7, 01737, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Steven Jansen
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Fon Robinson Tezeh
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lucian Kaack
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Juliano Sarmento Cabral
- Ecosystem Modeling Group, Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Klara-Oppenheimer-Weg 32, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Biodiversity Modelling and Environmental Change, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
- Chair of Forest Botany, Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Pienner Str. 7, 01737, Tharandt, Germany
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12
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Wei S, Zhang Q, Tang S, Liao W. Genetic and ecophysiological evidence that hybridization facilitated lineage diversification in yellow Camellia (Theaceae) species: a case study of natural hybridization between C. micrantha and C. flavida. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:154. [PMID: 36944951 PMCID: PMC10031943 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04164-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hybridization is generally considered an important creative evolutionary force, yet this evolutionary process is still poorly characterized in karst plants. In this study, we focus on natural hybridization in yellow Camellia species, a group of habitat specialists confined to karst/non-karst habitats in southwestern China. RESULTS Based on population genome data obtain from double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing, we found evidence for natural hybridization and introgression between C. micrantha and C. flavida, and specifically confirmed their hybrid population, C. "ptilosperma". Ecophysiological results suggested that extreme hydraulic traits were fixed in C. "ptilosperma", these being consistent with its distinct ecological niche, which lies outside its parental ranges. CONCLUSION The identified hybridization event is expected to have played a role in generating novel variation during, in which the hybrid population displays different phenological characteristics and novel ecophysiological traits associated with the colonization of a new niche in limestone karst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Qiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Shaoqing Tang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.
| | - Wenbo Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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13
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González-Rebeles G, Méndez-Alonzo R, Paz H, Terrazas T, Tinoco-Ojanguren C. Leaf habit determines the hydraulic and resource-use strategies in tree saplings from the Sonoran Desert. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:221-233. [PMID: 36209448 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The drought susceptibility of woody saplings may explain their low survival in arid environments. Therefore, it is critical to determine which morphological and physiological traits are more responsive to drought among young plants. This study tested whether plant responses to experimental drought differ between two plant functional groups: the deciduous and evergreen species. We predicted that deciduous species would present a tighter stomatal control under drought, coupled with fast carbon fixation under no stress, tending toward isohydry and faster growth rates than the evergreen species. Using 1-year-old saplings from three evergreen and four deciduous Sonoran Desert tree species, we evaluated their hydraulic and gas exchange traits under three experimental irrigation conditions: high, intermediate and low water availability. We measured CO2 assimilation rates (A), stomatal conductance (gs), the level of iso-anisohydry (as the plant's ability to maintain constant their water potential) and seven morphological and growth-related traits throughout 2 months. Under high water availability, saplings reached their maximum values of A and gs, which were significantly higher for deciduous than evergreen species. Correlations among hydroscape area (HA) and leaf traits positioned species along the iso/anisohydric continuum. Deciduous species presented isohydric characteristics, including low HA, high gs, A and Huber values (HVs), and traits indicative of a faster use of resources, such as low stem-specific density (SSD) and low leaf mass per area (LMA). By contrast, evergreen species showed traits that indicate slow resource use and anisohydric behavior, such as high HA, SSD and LMA, and low gs, A and HVs. Deciduous species drastically reduced gas exchange rates in response to drought, while evergreen maintained low rates independently of drought intensity. Overall, desert saplings showed strategies concordant with the iso-anisohydric continuum and the fast-slow use of resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina González-Rebeles
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Hermosillo, Hermosillo 83250, Sonora, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1o Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Rodrigo Méndez-Alonzo
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada 22860, Baja California, México
| | - Horacio Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia 58190, Michoacán, México
| | - Teresa Terrazas
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 3004, México
| | - Clara Tinoco-Ojanguren
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Hermosillo, Hermosillo 83250, Sonora, México
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14
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Guan X, Wen Y, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Cao KF. Stem hydraulic conductivity and embolism resistance of Quercus species are associated with their climatic niche. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:234-247. [PMID: 36209451 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The hydraulic traits of a plant species may reflect its climate adaptations. Southwest China is considered as a biodiversity hotpot of the genus Quercus (oak). However, the hydraulic adaptations of Asian oaks to their climate niches remain unclear. Ten common garden-grown oak species with distinct natural distributions in eastern Asia were used to determine their stem xylem embolism resistance (water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity, P50), stem hydraulic efficiency (vessel anatomy and sapwood specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks)) and leaf anatomical traits. We also compiled four key functional traits: wood density, hydraulic-weighted vessel diameter, Ks and P50 data for 31 oak species from previous literature. We analyzed the relationship between hydraulic traits and climatic factors over the native ranges of 41 oak species. Our results revealed that the 10 Asian oak species, which are mainly distributed in humid subtropical habitats, possessed a stem xylem with low embolism resistance and moderate hydraulic efficiency. The deciduous and evergreen species of the 10 Asian oaks differed in the stem and leaf traits related to hydraulic efficiency. Ks differed significantly between the two phenological groups (deciduous and evergreens) in the 41-oak dataset. No significant difference in P50 between the two groups was found for the 10 Asian oaks or the 41-oak dataset. The oak species that can distribute in arid habitats possessed a stem xylem with high embolism resistance. Ks negatively related to the humidity of the native range of the 10 Asian oaks, but showed no trend when assessing the entire global oak dataset. Our study suggests that stem hydraulic conductivity and embolism resistance in Quercus species are shaped by their climate niche. Our findings assist predictions of oak drought resistance with future climate changes for oak forest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Guan
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Yin Wen
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
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15
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Zhu LW, Zhao P. Climate-driven sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity and the Huber value but not leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity on a global scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159334. [PMID: 36220474 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Efficient water transport is crucial for plant growth and survival. Plant hydraulic conductivity varies between functional groups and biomes and is strongly influenced by changing environmental conditions. However, correlations of conductivity-related hydraulic traits with climatic variables are not fully understood, preventing clarification of plant form and function under climate change scenarios. By compiling leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (KL), sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and Huber values (Hv, sapwood area to leaf area ratio) along with climatic variables including mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and aridity index (AI) for 428 species across a wide range of plant functional types (PFTs) and biomes at a global scale, we found greater variability of KL within PFTs and biomes than across PFTs and biomes. Interaction effects between PFTs and biomes on KL and Ks were found. The interaction between MAT and MAP played a significant role in Ks and Hv (t = 3.89, P < 0.001 for Ks and t = -5.77, P < 0.001 for Hv). With increasing AI, Ks increased and Hv decreased. KL was not influenced by the investigated climatic variables. Our study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of hydraulic structure and function across functional groups and biomes and of the abiotic drivers of their large-scale variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Wei Zhu
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
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16
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Zhang C, Khan A, Duan CY, Cao Y, Wu DD, Hao GY. Xylem hydraulics strongly influence the niche differentiation of tree species along the slope of a river valley in a water-limited area. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:106-118. [PMID: 36253806 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Xylem hydraulic characteristics govern plant water transport, affecting both drought resistance and photosynthetic gas exchange. Therefore, they play critical roles in determining the adaptation of different species to environments with various water regimes. Here, we tested the hypothesis that variation in xylem traits associated with a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety against drought-induced embolism contributes to niche differentiation of tree species along a sharp water availability gradient on the slope of a unique river valley located in a semi-humid area. We found that tree species showed clear niche differentiation with decreasing water availability from the bottom towards the top of the valley. Tree species occupying different positions, in terms of vertical distribution distance from the bottom of the valley, showed a strong trade-off between xylem water transport efficiency and safety, as evidenced by variations in xylem structural traits at both the tissue and pit levels. This optimized their xylem hydraulics in their respective water regimes. Thus, the trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety contributes to clear niche differentiation and, thereby, to the coexistence of tree species in the valley with heterogeneous water availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Daqinggou Ecological Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Attaullah Khan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Daqinggou Ecological Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Chun-Yang Duan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Daqinggou Ecological Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Institute of Sand Land Control and Utilization, Liaoning Province, Fuxin, China
| | - De-Dong Wu
- Institute of Sand Land Control and Utilization, Liaoning Province, Fuxin, China
| | - Guang-You Hao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Daqinggou Ecological Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
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17
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Ávila-Lovera E, Winter K, Goldsmith GR. Evidence for phylogenetic signal and correlated evolution in plant-water relation traits. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:392-407. [PMID: 36271615 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary relationships are likely to play a significant role in shaping plant physiological and structural traits observed in contemporary taxa. We review research on phylogenetic signal and correlated evolution in plant-water relation traits, which play important roles in allowing plants to acquire, use, and conserve water. We found more evidence for a phylogenetic signal in structural traits (e.g. stomatal length and stomatal density) than in physiological traits (e.g. stomatal conductance and water potential at turgor loss). Although water potential at turgor loss is the most-studied plant-water relation trait in an evolutionary context, it is the only trait consistently found to not have a phylogenetic signal. Correlated evolution was common among traits related to water movement efficiency and hydraulic safety in both leaves and stems. We conclude that evidence for phylogenetic signal varies depending on: the methodology used for its determination, that is, model-based approaches to determine phylogenetic signal such as Blomberg's K or Pagel's λ vs statistical approaches such as ANOVAs with taxonomic classification as a factor; on the number of taxa studied (size of the phylogeny); and the setting in which plants grow (field vs common garden). More explicitly and consistently considering the role of evolutionary relationships in shaping plant ecophysiology could improve our understanding of how traits compare among species, how traits are coordinated with one another, and how traits vary with the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleinis Ávila-Lovera
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, 92866, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | - Klaus Winter
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | - Gregory R Goldsmith
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, 92866, USA
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18
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Fu PL, Zhang Y, Zhang YJ, Finnegan PM, Yang SJ, Fan ZX. Leaf gas exchange and water relations of the woody desiccation-tolerant Paraboea rufescens during dehydration and rehydration. AOB PLANTS 2022; 14:plac033. [PMID: 36035511 PMCID: PMC9403483 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation-tolerant (DT) plants can withstand dehydration to less than 0.1 g H2O g-1 dry weight. The mechanism for whole-plant recovery from severe dehydration is still not clear, especially for woody DT plants. In the present study, we evaluated the desiccation tolerance and mechanism of recovery for a potentially new woody resurrection plant Paraboea rufescens (Gesneriaceae). We monitored the leaf water status, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and root pressure of potted P. rufescens during dehydration and rehydration, and we investigated the water content and chlorophyll fluorescence of P. rufescens leaves in the field during the dry season. After re-watering from a severely dehydrated state, leaf maximum quantum yield of photosystem II of P. rufescens quickly recovered to well-watered levels. Leaf water status and leaf hydraulic conductance quickly recovered to well-watered levels after re-watering, while leaf gas exchange traits also trended to recovery, but at a slower rate. The maximum root pressure in rehydrated P. rufescens was more than twice in well-watered plants. Our study identified P. rufescens as a new DT woody plant. The whole-plant recovery of P. rufescens from extreme dehydration is potentially associated with an increase of root pressure after rehydration. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms of recovery of DT plants from dehydration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Li Fu
- Corresponding authors’ e-mail addresses: ;
| | | | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Patrick M Finnegan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Shi-Jian Yang
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Ze-Xin Fan
- Corresponding authors’ e-mail addresses: ;
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19
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Zhang SB, Wen GJ, Qu YY, Yang LY, Song Y. Trade-offs between xylem hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength in Chinese evergreen and deciduous savanna species. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:1337-1349. [PMID: 35157087 PMCID: PMC9272745 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Evergreen and deciduous species coexist in tropical dry forests and savannas, but differ in physiological mechanisms and life-history strategies. Hydraulic conductivity and mechanical support are two major functions of the xylems of woody plant species related to plant growth and survival. In this study, we measured sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (KL), modulus of rupture (MOR) and elasticity (MOE), xylem anatomical traits and fiber contents in the xylems of 20 woody species with contrasting leaf phenology (evergreen vs deciduous) in a Chinese savanna. Our results showed that deciduous species had significantly higher Ks and KL but lower MOR and MOE than evergreen species. Evergreen species experienced more negative seasonal minimum water potential (Pmin) than deciduous species during the dry season. Furthermore, we found trade-offs between xylem hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength across species and within the evergreen and deciduous groups, and these trade-offs were modulated by structural and chemical traits. Both Ks and KL were significantly related to hydraulic weighted vessel diameter (Dh) across all species and within the deciduous group. Both MOR and MOE were significantly related to wood density, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber across species and within evergreen and deciduous groups. Our findings demonstrated that Chinese evergreen and deciduous savanna species diverged in xylem hydraulic and mechanical functions, reflecting conservative and acquisitive life-history strategies for evergreen and deciduous species, respectively. This study provides new information with which to understand the hydraulic and biomechanical properties and ecological strategies of savanna species in long-term dry-hot environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guo-Jing Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Yuanjiang Savanna Ecosystem Research Station, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanjiang, Yunnan 653300, China
| | - Ya-Ya Qu
- School of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, No. 300, Bailongshi, Panlong District, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China
| | - Lin-Yi Yang
- School of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, No. 300, Bailongshi, Panlong District, Kunming, Yunnan 650224, China
| | - Yu Song
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
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20
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Zhang YB, Yang D, Zhang KY, Bai XL, Wang YSD, Wu HD, Ding LZ, Zhang YJ, Zhang JL. Higher water and nutrient use efficiencies in savanna than in rainforest lianas result in no difference in photosynthesis. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:145-159. [PMID: 34312678 PMCID: PMC8755031 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Differences in traits between lianas and trees in tropical forests have been studied extensively; however, few have compared the ecological strategies of lianas from different habitats. Here, we measured 25 leaf and stem traits concerning leaf anatomy, morphology, physiology and stem hydraulics for 17 liana species from a tropical seasonal rainforest and for 19 liana species from a valley savanna in south-west China. We found that savanna lianas had higher vessel density, wood density and lower hydraulically weighted vessel diameter and theoretical hydraulic conductivity than tropical seasonal rainforest lianas. Compared with tropical seasonal rainforest lianas, savanna lianas also showed higher leaf dry matter content, carbon isotope composition (δ13C), photosynthetic water use efficiency, ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency and lower leaf size, stomatal conductance and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations. Interestingly, no differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate were found between savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest lianas either on mass or area basis. This is probably due to the higher water and nutrient use efficiencies of savanna lianas. A principal component analysis revealed that savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest lianas were significantly separated along the first axis, which was strongly associated with acquisitive or conservative resource use strategy. Leaf and stem functional traits were coordinated across lianas, but the coordination or trade-off was stronger in the savanna than in the tropical seasonal rainforest. In conclusion, a relatively conservative (slow) strategy concerning water and nutrient use may benefit the savanna lianas, while higher nutrient and water use efficiencies allow them to maintain similar photosynthesis as tropical seasonal rainforest species. Our results clearly showed divergences in functional traits between lianas from savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest, suggesting that enhanced water and nutrient use efficiencies might contribute to the distribution of lianas in savanna ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Bing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Da Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Ke-Yan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Long Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang-Si-Ding Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Huai-Dong Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Ling-Zi Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Jiao-Lin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Yuanjiang Savanna Ecosystem Research Station, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanjiang, Yunnan 653300, China
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21
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Lübbe T, Lamarque LJ, Delzon S, Torres Ruiz JM, Burlett R, Leuschner C, Schuldt B. High variation in hydraulic efficiency but not xylem safety between roots and branches in four temperate broad‐leaved tree species. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Torben Lübbe
- Plant Ecology Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany
| | - Laurent J. Lamarque
- Département des Sciences de l'environnement Université du Québec à Trois‐Rivières Trois‐Rivières QC Canada
- University of Bordeaux INRAE BIOGECO Pessac France
| | | | | | | | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Plant Ecology Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany
- Julius‐von‐Sachs‐Institute of Biological Sciences, Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
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22
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Arenas-Navarro M, Oyama K, García-Oliva F, Torres-Miranda A, de la Riva EG, Terrazas T. The role of wood anatomical traits in the coexistence of oak species along an environmental gradient. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab066. [PMID: 34858567 PMCID: PMC8633429 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Oaks (Quercus) are a dominant woody plant genus in the northern hemisphere, which occupy a wide range of habitats and are ecologically diverse. We analysed the wood anatomical traits, the variables derived and the relative hydraulic conductivity of 21 oak species to identify their performance according to abiotic factors, leaf phenological patterns and phylogenetic restrictions by analysing the interspecific variation along an environmental gradient. First, we determine the causes of anatomical trait variation in the oaks, analysing the functional trade-offs related to distribution along the environmental gradient. We measure the phenotypic plasticity of the anatomical traits to determine the role of environment and geographic distance in the range of phenotypic plasticity. Second, we examined if oaks co-occurred along the environmental gradient. Then we analysed if wood anatomical traits reflect differences among their phylogenetic section, leaf habit and a phylogenetic section/leaf habit category. Last, we tested the phylogenetic signal. Our results showed that vessel diameter, vessel frequency, wood density and relative hydraulic conductivity are the main axes of trait variation in the species analysed among leaf habit categories. The aridity index and seasonal precipitation drive the variation in the analysed traits. Higher environmental distance resulted in a higher relative distance plasticity index among traits. Co-occurrence of oak species with different leaf habits and phylogenetic trajectories may promote complementary resource acquisition. The phylogenetic signal in the oak species studied was low, which implies labile wood traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maribel Arenas-Navarro
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán CDMX CP 04510, México
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán CP 58190, México
| | - Ken Oyama
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán CP 58190, México
| | - Felipe García-Oliva
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán CP 58190, México
| | - Andrés Torres-Miranda
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán CP 58190, México
| | - Enrique G de la Riva
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology, 03046 Cottbus, Germany
| | - Teresa Terrazas
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán CDMX CP 04510, México
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23
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Wu G, Chen D, Zhou Z. Contrasting Hydraulic Efficiency and Photosynthesis Strategy in Differential Successional Stages of a Subtropical Forest in a Karst Region. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10122604. [PMID: 34961075 PMCID: PMC8705339 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the successional process from a disturbed forest to a mature forest is essential for species recovery and conservation initiatives. The resource acquisition and drought tolerance of plants can be instructive to predictions of species abundance and distribution for different forests. However, they have not been adequately tested at different successional stages in karst regions. Here, we selected seven dominant species in an early-succession forest and 17 species in a late-succession forest in a karst region of southwestern China. Resource acquisition-related traits such as hydraulic conductivity and photosynthetic rate, and drought tolerance-related traits, including turgor loss point and wood density, were measured. We found that species in the early-succession forest had a higher hydraulic conductance and photosynthetic rate than those in the late-succession forest, while leaf water potential at turgor loss point and wood density showed nonsignificant differences between the two forests. In addition, we observed a significant negative relationship between photosynthetic rate and drought tolerance in the early-succession forest, which was not identified in late-succession forests. Our study indicates that resource acquisition rather than drought tolerance was the key factor explaining plant distributions in forests at different successional stages in karst regions. We also suggest that the resource acquisition and drought tolerance trade-off hypothesis is not always supported for karst region species. Our study could inform about the design of species replacements in successional forests and provide forest management and restoration guidelines for karst regions.
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24
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Zhang KY, Yang D, Zhang YB, Ellsworth DS, Xu K, Zhang YP, Chen YJ, He F, Zhang JL. Differentiation in stem and leaf traits among sympatric lianas, scandent shrubs and trees in a subalpine cold temperate forest. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 41:1992-2003. [PMID: 33823048 PMCID: PMC8597974 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The scandent shrub plant form is a variant of liana that has upright and self-supporting stems when young but later becomes a climber. We aimed to explore the associations of stem and leaf traits among sympatric lianas, scandent shrubs and trees, and the effects of growth form and leaf habit on variation in stem or leaf traits. We measured 16 functional traits related to stem xylem anatomy, leaf morphology and nutrient stoichiometry in eight liana, eight scandent shrub and 21 tree species co-occurring in a subalpine cold temperate forest at an elevation of 2600-3200 m in Southwest China. Overall, lianas, scandent shrubs and trees were ordered along a fast-slow continuum of stem and leaf functional traits, with some traits overlapping. We found a consistent pattern of lianas > scandent shrubs > trees for hydraulically weighted vessel diameter, maximum vessel diameter and theoretical hydraulic conductivity. Vessel density and sapwood density showed a pattern of lianas = scandent shrubs < trees, and lianas < scandent shrubs = trees, respectively. Lianas had significantly higher specific leaf area and lower carbon concentration than co-occurring trees, with scandent shrubs showing intermediate values that overlapped with lianas and trees. The differentiation among lianas, scandent shrubs and trees was mainly explained by variation in stem traits. Additionally, deciduous lianas were positioned at the fast end of the trait spectrum, and evergreen trees at the slow end of the spectrum. Our results showed for the first time clear differentiation in stem and leaf traits among sympatric liana, scandent shrub and tree species in a subalpine cold temperate forest. This work will contribute to understanding the mechanisms responsible for variation in ecological strategies of different growth forms of woody plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David S Ellsworth
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Kun Xu
- Lijiang Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang 674100, Yunnan, China
| | - Yi-Ping Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Ya-Jun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Fangliang He
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada
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25
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Vargas G G, Brodribb TJ, Dupuy JM, González-M R, Hulshof CM, Medvigy D, Allerton TAP, Pizano C, Salgado-Negret B, Schwartz NB, Van Bloem SJ, Waring BG, Powers JS. Beyond leaf habit: generalities in plant function across 97 tropical dry forest tree species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:148-161. [PMID: 34171131 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaf habit has been hypothesized to define a linkage between the slow-fast plant economic spectrum and the drought resistance-avoidance trade-off in tropical forests ('slow-safe vs fast-risky'). However, variation in hydraulic traits as a function of leaf habit has rarely been explored for a large number of species. We sampled leaf and branch functional traits of 97 tropical dry forest tree species from four sites to investigate whether patterns of trait variation varied consistently in relation to leaf habit along the 'slow-safe vs fast-risky' trade-off. Leaf habit explained from 0% to 43.69% of individual trait variation. We found that evergreen and semi-deciduous species differed in their location along the multivariate trait ordination when compared to deciduous species. While deciduous species showed consistent trait values, evergreen species trait values varied as a function of the site. Last, trait values varied in relation to the proportion of deciduous species in the plant community. We found that leaf habit describes the strategies that define drought avoidance and plant economics in tropical trees. However, leaf habit alone does not explain patterns of trait variation, which suggests quantifying site-specific or species-specific uncertainty in trait variation as the way forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Vargas G
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Tim J Brodribb
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Juan M Dupuy
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Calle 43 # 130 entre 32 y 34, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, CP 97205, México
| | - Roy González-M
- Programa Ciencias de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Carrera #1 16-20, Bogotá, 111311, Colombia
| | - Catherine M Hulshof
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
| | - David Medvigy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Tristan A P Allerton
- Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, PO Box 596, Georgetown, SC, 29442, USA
| | - Camila Pizano
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad ICESI, Calle 18 # 122-135, Cali, 760031, Colombia
| | - Beatriz Salgado-Negret
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 Calle 45, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
| | - Naomi B Schwartz
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Skip J Van Bloem
- Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, PO Box 596, Georgetown, SC, 29442, USA
| | - Bonnie G Waring
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Jennifer S Powers
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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26
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González-Rebeles G, Terrazas T, Méndez-Alonzo R, Paz H, Brodribb TJ, Tinoco-Ojanguren C. Leaf water relations reflect canopy phenology rather than leaf life span in Sonoran Desert trees. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 41:1627-1640. [PMID: 33611521 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plants from arid environments display covarying traits to survive or resist drought. Plant drought resistance and ability to survive long periods of low soil water availability should involve leaf phenology coordination with leaf and stem functional traits related to water status. This study tested correlations between phenology and functional traits involved in plant water status regulation in 10 Sonoran Desert tree species with contrasting phenology. Species seasonal variation in plant water status was defined by calculating their relative positions along the iso/anisohydric regulation continuum based on their hydroscape areas (HA)-a metric derived from the relationship between predawn and midday water potentials-and stomatal and hydraulic traits. Additionally, functional traits associated with plant water status regulation, including lamina vessel hydraulic diameter (DHL), stem-specific density (SSD) and leaf mass per area (LMA) were quantified per species. To characterize leaf phenology, leaf longevity (LL) and canopy foliage duration (FD) were determined. Hydroscape area was strongly correlated with FD but not with leaf longevity (LL); HA was significantly associated with SSD and leaf hydraulic traits (DHL, LMA) but not with stem hydraulic traits (vulnerability index, relative conductivity); and FD was strongly correlated with LMA and SSD. Leaf physiological characteristics affected leaf phenology when it was described as canopy FD better than when described as LL. Stem and leaf structure and hydraulic functions were not only relevant for categorizing species along the iso/anisohydric continuum but also allowed identifying different strategies of desert trees within the 'fast-slow' plant economics spectrum. The results in this study pinpoint the set of evolutionary pressures that shape the Sonoran Desert Scrub physiognomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina González-Rebeles
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Hermosillo, Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, 83250 Los Arcos, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Teresa Terrazas
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Zona Deportiva S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Rodrigo Méndez-Alonzo
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, 22860 Zona Playitas, Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Horacio Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, 58190 Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Tim J Brodribb
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tasmania, 7005 Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Clara Tinoco-Ojanguren
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Hermosillo, Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, 83250 Los Arcos, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
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27
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Chen YJ, Choat B, Sterck F, Maenpuen P, Katabuchi M, Zhang SB, Tomlinson KW, Oliveira RS, Zhang YJ, Shen JX, Cao KF, Jansen S. Hydraulic prediction of drought-induced plant dieback and top-kill depends on leaf habit and growth form. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2350-2363. [PMID: 34409716 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic failure caused by severe drought contributes to aboveground dieback and whole-plant death. The extent to which dieback or whole-plant death can be predicted by plant hydraulic traits has rarely been tested among species with different leaf habits and/or growth forms. We investigated 19 hydraulic traits in 40 woody species in a tropical savanna and their potential correlations with drought response during an extreme drought event during the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in 2015. Plant hydraulic trait variation was partitioned substantially by leaf habit but not growth form along a trade-off axis between traits that support drought tolerance versus avoidance. Semi-deciduous species and shrubs had the highest branch dieback and top-kill (complete aboveground death) among the leaf habits or growth forms. Dieback and top-kill were well explained by combining hydraulic traits with leaf habit and growth form, suggesting integrating life history traits with hydraulic traits will yield better predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China.,Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, China.,Yuanjiang Savanna Ecosystem Research Station, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanjiang, Yunnan, China.,Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Brendan Choat
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frank Sterck
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Phisamai Maenpuen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Masatoshi Katabuchi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China
| | - Shu-Bin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China.,Yuanjiang Savanna Ecosystem Research Station, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanjiang, Yunnan, China
| | - Kyle W Tomlinson
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China
| | - Rafael S Oliveira
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, CP6109, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Jing-Xian Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China.,Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Steven Jansen
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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28
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Zhang FP, Huang JL, Fu XW, Huang W, Zhang SB. Peduncle vulnerability to embolism is related to conduit dimensions of the critically endangered slipper orchids in Southwest China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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29
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Májeková M, Hájek T, Albert ÁJ, Bello F, Doležal J, Götzenberger L, Janeček Š, Lepš J, Liancourt P, Mudrák O. Weak coordination between leaf drought tolerance and proxy traits in herbaceous plants. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Májeková
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
- Department of Soil Science Comenius University Bratislava Slovak Republic
| | - Tomáš Hájek
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
| | - Ágnes J. Albert
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
| | - Francesco Bello
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- CIDE‐CSIC Valencia Spain
| | - Jiří Doležal
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
| | - Lars Götzenberger
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Jan Lepš
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Pierre Liancourt
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mudrák
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic
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Ding Y, Nie Y, Chen H, Wang K, Querejeta JI. Water uptake depth is coordinated with leaf water potential, water-use efficiency and drought vulnerability in karst vegetation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1339-1353. [PMID: 32989748 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Root access to bedrock water storage or groundwater is an important trait allowing plant survival in seasonally dry environments. However, the degree of coordination between water uptake depth, leaf-level water-use efficiency (WUEi) and water potential in drought-prone plant communities is not well understood. We conducted a 135-d rainfall exclusion experiment in a subtropical karst ecosystem with thin skeletal soils to evaluate the responses of 11 co-occurring woody species of contrasting life forms and leaf habits to a severe drought during the wet growing season. Marked differences in xylem water isotopic composition during drought revealed distinct ecohydrological niche separation among species. The contrasting behaviour of leaf water potential in coexisting species during drought was largely explained by differences in root access to deeper, temporally stable water sources. Smaller-diameter species with shallower water uptake, more negative water potentials and lower WUEi showed extensive drought-induced canopy defoliation and/or mortality. By contrast, larger-diameter species with deeper water uptake, higher leaf-level WUEi and more isohydric behaviour survived drought with only moderate canopy defoliation. Severe water limitation imposes strong environmental filtering and/or selective pressures resulting in tight coordination between tree diameter, water uptake depth, iso/anisohydric behaviour, WUEi and drought vulnerability in karst plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Ding
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, Guangxi, 547100, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yunpeng Nie
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, Guangxi, 547100, China
| | - Hongsong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, Guangxi, 547100, China
| | - Kelin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, Guangxi, 547100, China
| | - José I Querejeta
- Soil and Water Conservation Department, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, E30100, Spain
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31
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Qi JH, Fan ZX, Fu PL, Zhang YJ, Sterck F. Differential determinants of growth rates in subtropical evergreen and deciduous juvenile trees: carbon gain, hydraulics and nutrient-use efficiencies. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 41:12-23. [PMID: 33080622 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpaa131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Growth rate varies across plant species and represents an important ecological strategy for competition, resource-use and fitness. However, empirical studies often show a low predictability of functional traits to tree growth. We measured stem diameter and height growth rates (DGRs and HGRs) of 96 juvenile trees (2-5 m tall) of eight evergreen and eight deciduous broadleaf tree species over three consecutive years in a subtropical forest in south-western China. We examined the relationships between tree growth rates and 20 leaf/stem traits that are associated with carbon gain, stem hydraulics and nutrient-use efficiency, as well as the difference between evergreen and deciduous trees. We found that cross-species variations of stem DGR/HGR can be predicted by leaf photosynthetic capacity, leaf mass per area, xylem-theoretical-specific hydraulic conductivity, wood density (WD) and photosynthetic-nutrient-use efficiencies. Higher leaf carbon assimilation and lower leaf/stem constructing costs facilitate deciduous species to be more resource acquisitive and consequently faster growth within a relatively shorter growing season, whereas evergreen species exhibit more conservative strategies and thus slower growth. Furthermore, stem growth rates of evergreen species showed were more dependence on leaf carbon gains, whereas stem hydraulic efficiency was more important for deciduous tree growth. Our results suggest that physiological traits (photosynthesis, hydraulics and nutrient-use efficiency) can predict tree diameter and height growth of subtropical tree species. The differential resource acquisition and use strategies and their associations with tree growth between evergreen and deciduous trees provide insights into explaining the coexistence of evergreen and deciduous tree species in subtropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hua Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303, China
- Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan 676209, China
| | - Ze-Xin Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Center for Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303, China
- Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan 676209, China
| | - Pei-Li Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan 676209, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, ME 04469, USA
| | - Frank Sterck
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700AA, The Netherlands
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Chen YJ, Maenpuen P, Zhang YJ, Barai K, Katabuchi M, Gao H, Kaewkamol S, Tao LB, Zhang JL. Quantifying vulnerability to embolism in tropical trees and lianas using five methods: can discrepancies be explained by xylem structural traits? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:805-819. [PMID: 32929748 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Vulnerability curves (VCs) describe the loss of hydraulic conductance against increasing xylem tension, providing valuable insights about the response of plant water transport to water stress. Techniques to construct VCs have been developed and modified continuously, but controversies continue. We compared VCs constructed using the bench-top dehydration (BD), air-injection-flow (AI), pneumatic-air-discharge (PAD), optical (OP) and X-ray-computed microtomography (MicroCT) methods for tropical trees and lianas with contrasting vessel lengths. The PAD method generated highly vulnerable VCs, the AI method intermediate VCs, whereas the BD, OP and MicroCT methods produced comparable and more resistant VCs. Vessel-length and diameter accounted for the overestimation ratio of vulnerability estimated using the AI but not the PAD method. Compared with directly measured midday embolism levels, the PAD and AI methods substantially overestimated embolism, whereas the BD, MicroCT and OP methods provided more reasonable estimations. Cut-open vessels, uncertainties in maximum air volume estimations, sample-length effects, tissue cracks and shrinkage together may impede the reliability of the PAD method. In conclusion, we validate the BD, OP and MicroCT methods for tropical plants, whereas the PAD and AI need further mechanistic testing. Therefore, applications of VCs in estimating plant responses to drought need to be cautious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- Yuanjiang Savanna Ecosystem Research Station, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanjiang, Yunnan, 653300, China
| | - Phisamai Maenpuen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Zhang
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Kallol Barai
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Masatoshi Katabuchi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Hui Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sasiwimol Kaewkamol
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lian-Bin Tao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Jiao-Lin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
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de Souza BC, Carvalho ECD, Oliveira RS, de Araujo FS, de Lima ALA, Rodal MJN. Drought response strategies of deciduous and evergreen woody species in a seasonally dry neotropical forest. Oecologia 2020; 194:221-236. [PMID: 32965523 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04760-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Deciduous and evergreen trees are usually considered the main coexisting functional groups in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF). We compared leaf and stem traits of 22 woody species in the Brazilian Caatinga to investigate whether deciduous (DC) and evergreen (EV) species have divergent water-use strategies. Our hypothesis was that DC trees compensate for their short leaf longevity by being less conservative in water use and showing higher variation in the seasonal water potential after leaf shedding. Evergreen species should exhibit a highly conservative water use strategy, which reduces variations in seasonal water potential and the negative effects of desiccation. Our leaf dynamics results indicate that the crown area of DC trees is more sensitive to air and soil drought, whereas EV trees are only sensitive to soil drought. Deciduous species exhibit differences in a set of leaf traits confirming their acquisitive strategy, which contrasts with evergreen species. However, when stomatal traits are considered, we found that DC and EV have similar stomatal regulation strategies (partially isohydric). We also found divergent physiological strategies within DC. For high wood density DC, the xylem water potential (Ψxylem) continued to drop during the dry season. We also found a negative linear relationship between leaf life span (LL) and the transpiration rate per unit of hydraulic conductivity (Λ), indicating that species with high LL are less vulnerable to hydraulic conductivity loss than early-deciduous species. Collectively, our results indicate divergence in the physiology of deciduous species, which suggests that categorizing species based solely on their leaf phenology may be an oversimplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cruz de Souza
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Natural Resources, Science Center, Department of Biology, Federal University of Ceará - UFC, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Brazil.
| | - Ellen Cristina Dantas Carvalho
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Natural Resources, Science Center, Department of Biology, Federal University of Ceará - UFC, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael S Oliveira
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil.
| | | | - André Luiz Alves de Lima
- Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Campus of Serra Talhada, Serra Talhada, 56909-535, Brazil
| | - Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal
- Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Botany Sector, Recife, 52171-900, Brazil.
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Jiang P, Meinzer FC, Wang H, Kou L, Dai X, Fu X. Below-ground determinants and ecological implications of shrub species' degree of isohydry in subtropical pine plantations. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 226:1656-1666. [PMID: 32096212 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The degree of plant iso/anisohydry is a popular framework for characterising species-specific drought responses. However, we know little about associations between below-ground and above-ground hydraulic traits as well as the broader ecological implications of this framework. For 24 understory shrub species in seasonally dry subtropical coniferous plantations, we investigated contributions of the degree of isohydry to species' resource economy strategies, abundance, and importance value, and quantified the hydraulic conductance (Kh ) of above-ground and below-ground organs, magnitude of deep water acquisition (WAdeep ), shallow absorptive root traits (diameter, specific root length, tissue density), and resource-use efficiencies (Amax , maximum photosynthesis rate; PNUE, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency). The extreme isohydric understory species had lower wood density (a proxy for higher growth rates) because their higher WAdeep and whole-plant Kh allowed higher Amax and PNUE, and thus did not necessarily show lower abundance and importance values. Although species' Kh was coordinated with their water foraging capacity in shallow soil, the more acquisitive deep roots were more crucial than shallow roots in shaping species' extreme isohydric behaviour. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms through which below-ground hydraulic traits, especially those of deep roots, determine species' degree of isohydry and economic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Jiang
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Frederick C Meinzer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Huimin Wang
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Liang Kou
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiaoqin Dai
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiaoli Fu
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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35
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Variation in Stem Xylem Traits is Related to Differentiation of Upper Limits of Tree Species along an Elevational Gradient. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11030349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The distribution limits of many plants are dictated by environmental conditions and species’ functional traits. While many studies have evaluated how plant distribution is driven by environmental conditions, there are not many studies investigating xylem vessel properties with altitude, and whether these traits correlate with altitudinal distribution of tree. Here, we investigated the upper limits of distribution for ten deciduous broadleaf tree species from three temperate montane forest communities along a large elevational gradient on the north-facing slope of Changbai Mountain in Northeast China. We measured stem xylem traits associated with a species’ ability to transport water and resist freezing-induced cavitation that theoretically represent important adaptations to changes in climatic conditions along the elevational gradient. Hydraulically weighted vessel diameter (Dh) was negatively correlated with with the upper limit across the ten studied tree species; however, the correlation seems to be driven by the large differences between ring- and diffuse-porous tree species groups. The ring-porous tree species (e.g., Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr., Maackia amurensis Rupr. et Maxim., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) had considerably wider vessels than the diffuse-porous species and were all limited to low-elevation communities. The coefficient of variation (CV) for Dh was 0.53 among the 10 studied species, while the intraspecific analysis showed that the highest CV was only 0.22 among the 10 species. We found no evidence of a relationship between Dh and the upper limits across the seven diffuse-porous species. In contrast to elevation, hydraulic-related xylem traits had no clear patterns of change with precipitation, indicating that hydraulic functionality was largely decoupled from the influences of precipitation in the study area. This finding suggests that xylem traits are associated with altitudinal limits of species distribution, which is mostly evidenced by the contrasts between ring- and diffuse-porous species in xylem anatomy and their altitudinal distributions.
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Creek D, Lamarque LJ, Torres-Ruiz JM, Parise C, Burlett R, Tissue DT, Delzon S. Xylem embolism in leaves does not occur with open stomata: evidence from direct observations using the optical visualization technique. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:1151-1159. [PMID: 31641746 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Drought represents a major abiotic constraint to plant growth and survival. On the one hand, plants keep stomata open for efficient carbon assimilation while, on the other hand, they close them to prevent permanent hydraulic impairment from xylem embolism. The order of occurrence of these two processes (stomatal closure and the onset of leaf embolism) during plant dehydration has remained controversial, largely due to methodological limitations. However, the newly developed optical visualization method now allows concurrent monitoring of stomatal behaviour and leaf embolism formation in intact plants. We used this new approach directly by dehydrating intact saplings of three contrasting tree species and indirectly by conducting a literature survey across a greater range of plant taxa. Our results indicate that increasing water stress generates the onset of leaf embolism consistently after stomatal closure, and that the lag time between these processes (i.e. the safety margin) rises with increasing embolism resistance. This suggests that during water stress, embolism-mediated declines in leaf hydraulic conductivity are unlikely to act as a signal for stomatal down-regulation. Instead, these species converge towards a strategy of closing stomata early to prevent water loss and delay catastrophic xylem dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Creek
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRA, PIAF, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Regis Burlett
- BIOGECO, INRA, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - David T Tissue
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
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Identification of suites of traits that explains drought resistance and phenological patterns of plants in a semi-arid grassland community. Oecologia 2020; 192:55-66. [PMID: 31932921 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04567-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems are comprised of plants that occupy a wide array of phenological niches and vary considerably in their ability to resist the stress of seasonal soil-water deficits. Yet, the link between plant drought resistance and phenology remains unclear in perennial grassland ecosystems. To evaluate the role of soil water availability and plant drought tolerance in driving phenology, we measured leaf hydraulic conductance (Ksat), resistance to hydraulic failure (P50), leaf gas exchange, plant and soil water stable isotope ratios (δ18O), and several phenology metrics on ten perennial herbaceous species in mixed-grass prairie. The interaction between P50 and δ18O of xylem water explained 67% of differences in phenology, with lower P50 values associated with later season activity, but only among shallow-rooted species. In addition, stomatal control and high water-use efficiency also contributed to the late flowering and late senescence strategies of plants that had low P50 values and relied upon shallow soil water. Alternatively, plants with deeper roots did not possess drought-tolerant leaves, but had high hydraulic efficiency, contributing to their ability to efficiently move water longer distances while maintaining leaf water potential at relatively high values. The suites of traits that characterize these contrasting strategies provide a mechanistic link between phenology and plant-water relations; thus, these traits could help predict grassland community responses to changes in water availability, both temporally and vertically within the soil profile.
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Leaf Physiological Responses to Drought Stress and Community Assembly in an Asian Savanna. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10121119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Deciduous dipterocarp forest (DDF) is the most extensive forest type in continental Southeast Asia, but across much of its range is functionally more similar to tropical savannas than tropical forests. We investigated water relations and drought responses of the four dominant tree species (two Shorea and two Dipterocarpus species) of the DDF in central Vietnam to determine how they responded to prolonged periods of drought stress. We quantified leaf water relations in nursery- and field-grown seedlings of the four species and conducted a dry-down experiment on 258 seedlings to study leaf water potential and morphological responses of the seedlings following the drought stress. The two Shorea and two Dipterocarpus species differed significantly in leaf water potential at turgor loss point and osmotic potential at full turgor, but they showed similar responses to drought stress. All species shed leaves and suffered from stem loss when exposed to water potentials lower than their turgor loss point (approximately −1.7 MPa for Dipterocarpus and −2.6 MPa for Shorea species). Upon rewatering, all species resprouted vigorously regardless of the degree of leaf or stem loss, resulting in only 2% whole-plant mortality rate. Our results suggest that none of the four deciduous dipterocarp species is drought tolerant in terms of their water relations; instead, they employ drought-adaptive strategies such as leaf shedding and vigorous resprouting. Given that all species showed similar drought avoidance and drought-adaptive strategies, it is unlikely that seasonal drought directly influences the patterns of species assembly in the DDF of Southeast Asia.
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Fu PL, Zhu SD, Zhang JL, Finnegan PM, Jiang YJ, Lin H, Fan ZX, Cao KF. The contrasting leaf functional traits between a karst forest and a nearby non-karst forest in south-west China. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2019; 46:907-915. [PMID: 31239029 DOI: 10.1071/fp19103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Karst and non-karst forests occur in the same region in south-west China, but the soil water and mineral nutrients availability are different between the forests. Our hypothesis was that the leaves of karst trees would be better adapted to dry, nutrient-poor conditions than those of trees in a nearby non-karst forest. We compared the gas exchange, anatomical characteristics and mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves from 21 tree species in a tropical karst forest and 19 species in a nearby non-karst forest in south-west China. We found that the leaves of karst trees had higher P concentrations, photosynthetic capacity and water use efficiency, and greater adaxial and abaxial epidermis thickness than leaves of non-karst forest trees. Evergreen and deciduous trees differed more significantly in leaf functional traits in the karst forest than in the non-karst forest. The leaf palisade:spongy mesophyll thickness ratio was positively correlated with stomatal conductance and negatively correlated with photosynthetic water use efficiency in the karst forest but not in the non-karst forest. Our findings indicate that karst forest trees are more conservative in water use, whereas soil P deficiency could be a major limiting factor for the growth of non-karst forest trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Li Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China; and Ailaoshan Station of Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, 676209, China; and Corresponding author.
| | - Shi-Dan Zhu
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-bioresources and College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530004, China
| | - Jiao-Lin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Patrick M Finnegan
- School of Biological Sciences (M084), Faculty of Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yan-Juan Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Hua Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China; and Ailaoshan Station of Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, 676209, China
| | - Ze-Xin Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China; and Ailaoshan Station of Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, 676209, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilisation of Subtropical Agro-bioresources and College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530004, China
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40
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Geekiyanage N, Goodale UM, Cao K, Kitajima K. Plant ecology of tropical and subtropical karst ecosystems. Biotropica 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nalaka Geekiyanage
- Division of Forest and Biomaterial Science Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University Kitashirakawa OiwakeKyoto Japan
- Department of Plant Sciences Faculty of Agriculture Rajarata University Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
- Plant Ecophysiology & Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University NanningGuangxi China
| | - Uromi Manage Goodale
- Plant Ecophysiology & Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University NanningGuangxi China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - Kunfang Cao
- Plant Ecophysiology & Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University NanningGuangxi China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - Kaoru Kitajima
- Division of Forest and Biomaterial Science Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University Kitashirakawa OiwakeKyoto Japan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Panama
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Zhang FP, Carins Murphy MR, Cardoso AA, Jordan GJ, Brodribb TJ. Similar geometric rules govern the distribution of veins and stomata in petals, sepals and leaves. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 219:1224-1234. [PMID: 29761509 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Investment in leaf veins (supplying xylem water) is balanced by stomatal abundance, such that sufficient water transport is provided for stomata to remain open when soil water is abundant. This coordination is mediated by a common dependence of vein and stomatal densities on cell size. Flowers may not conform to this same developmental pattern if they depend on water supplied by the phloem or have high rates of nonstomatal transpiration. We examined the relationships between veins, stomata and epidermal cells in leaves, sepals and petals of 27 angiosperms to determine whether common spacing rules applied to all tissues. Regression analysis found no evidence for different relationships within organ types. Both vein and stomatal densities were strongly associated with epidermal cell size within organs, but, for a given epidermal cell size, petals had fewer veins and stomata than sepals, which had fewer than leaves. Although our data support the concept of common scaling between veins and stomata in leaves and flowers, the large diversity in petal vein density suggests that, in some species, petal veins may be engaged in additional functions, such as the supply of water for high cuticular transpiration or for phloem delivery of water or carbohydrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Madeline R Carins Murphy
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Amanda A Cardoso
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-000, Brazil
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Gregory J Jordan
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
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42
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Plant Hydraulic Trait Covariation: A Global Meta-Analysis to Reduce Degrees of Freedom in Trait-Based Hydrologic Models. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9080446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Current vegetation modeling strategies use broad categorizations of plants to estimate transpiration and biomass functions. A significant source of model error stems from vegetation categorizations that are mostly taxonomical with no basis in plant hydraulic strategy and response to changing environmental conditions. Here, we compile hydraulic traits from 355 species around the world to determine trait covariations in order to represent hydraulic strategies. Simple and stepwise regression analyses demonstrate the interconnectedness of multiple vegetative hydraulic traits, specifically, traits defining hydraulic conductivity and vulnerability to embolism with wood density and isohydricity. Drought sensitivity is strongly (Adjusted R2 = 0.52, p < 0.02) predicted by a stepwise linear model combining rooting depth, wood density, and isohydricity. Drought tolerance increased with increasing wood density and anisohydric response, but with decreasing rooting depth. The unexpected response to rooting depth may be due to other tradeoffs within the hydraulic system. Rooting depth was able to be predicted from sapwood specific conductivity and the water potential at 50% loss of conductivity. Interestingly, the influences of biome or growth form do not increase the accuracy of the drought tolerance model and were able to be omitted. Multiple regression analysis revealed 3D trait spaces and tradeoff axes along which species’ hydraulic strategies can be analyzed. These numerical trait spaces can reduce the necessary input to and parameterization of plant hydraulics modules, while increasing the physical representativeness of such simulations.
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43
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Zhu SD, Chen YJ, Ye Q, He PC, Liu H, Li RH, Fu PL, Jiang GF, Cao KF. Leaf turgor loss point is correlated with drought tolerance and leaf carbon economics traits. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 38:658-663. [PMID: 29474684 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpy013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Leaf turgor loss point (πtlp) indicates the capacity of a plant to maintain cell turgor pressure during dehydration, which has been proven to be strongly predictive of the plant response to drought. In this study, we compiled a data set of πtlp for 1752 woody plant individuals belonging to 389 species from nine major woody biomes in China, along with reduced sample size of hydraulic and leaf carbon economics data. We aimed to investigate the variation of πtlp across biomes varying in water availability. We also tested two hypotheses: (i) πtlp predicts leaf hydraulic safety margins and (ii) it is correlated with leaf carbon economics traits. Our results showed that there was a positive relationship between πtlp and aridity index: biomes from humid regions had less negative values than those from arid regions. This supports the idea that πtlp may reflect drought tolerance at the scale of woody biomes. As expected, πtlp was significantly positively correlated with leaf hydraulic safety margins that varied significantly across biomes, indicating that this trait may be useful in modelling changes of forest components in response to increasing drought. Moreover, πtlp was correlated with a suite of coordinated hydraulic and economics traits; therefore, it can be used to predict the position of a given species along the 'fast-slow' whole-plant economics spectrum. This study expands our understanding of the biological significance of πtlp not only in drought tolerance, but also in the plant economics spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Dan Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ya-Jun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Qing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Peng-Cheng He
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Rong-Hua Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Pei-Li Fu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Guo-Feng Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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44
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Werden LK, Waring BG, Smith-Martin CM, Powers JS. Tropical dry forest trees and lianas differ in leaf economic spectrum traits but have overlapping water-use strategies. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 38:517-530. [PMID: 29087514 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpx135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Tree species in tropical dry forests employ a wide range of strategies to cope with seasonal drought, including regulation of hydraulic function. However, it is uncertain if co-occurring lianas also possess a diversity of strategies. For a taxonomically diverse group of 14 tree and 7 liana species, we measured morphological and hydraulic functional traits during an unusual drought and under non-drought conditions to determine (i) if trees have different water-use strategies than lianas and (ii) if relationships among these traits can be used to better understand how tree and liana species regulate diurnal leaf water potential (Ψdiurnal). In this Costa Rican tropical dry forest, lianas and trees had overlapping water-use strategies, but differed in many leaf economic spectrum traits. Specifically, we found that both lianas and trees employed a diversity of Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, which did not differ statistically. However, lianas and trees did significantly differ in terms of certain traits including leaf area, specific leaf area, petiole length, wood vessel diameter and xylem vessel density. All liana and tree species we measured fell along a continuum of isohydric (partial) to anisohydric (strict or extreme) Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, and leaf area, petiole length, stomatal conductance and wood vessel diameter correlated with these strategies. These findings contribute to a trait-based understanding of how plants regulate Ψdiurnal under both drought stress and sufficient water availability, and underscore that lianas and trees employ a similarly wide range of Ψdiurnal regulation strategies, despite having vastly different growth forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leland K Werden
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1445 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Bonnie G Waring
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Christina M Smith-Martin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1445 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Jennifer S Powers
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1445 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
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45
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Silva JLA, Souza AF, Caliman A, Voigt EL, Lichston JE. Weak whole-plant trait coordination in a seasonally dry South American stressful environment. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4-12. [PMID: 29321846 PMCID: PMC5756860 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A core question involving both plant physiology and community ecology is whether traits from different organs are coordinated across species, beyond pairwise trait correlations. The strength of within-community trait coordination has been hypothesized to increase along gradients of environmental harshness, due to the cost of adopting ecological strategies out of the viable niche space supported by the abiotic conditions. We evaluated the strength of trait relationship and coordination in a stressful environment using 21 leaf and stem traits of 21 deciduous and evergreen woody species from a heath vegetation growing on coastal sandy plain in northeastern South America. The study region faces marked dry season, high soil salinity and acidity, and poor nutritional conditions. Results from multiple factor analyses supported two weak and independent axes of trait coordination, which accounted for 25%-29% of the trait variance using phylogenetically independent contrasts. Trait correlations on the multiple factor analyses main axis fit well with the global plant economic spectrum, with species investing in small leaves and dense stems as opposed to species with softer stems and large leaves. The species' positions on the main functional axis corresponded to the competitor-stress-tolerant side of Grime's CSR triangle of plant strategies. The weak degree of trait coordination displayed by the heath vegetation species contradicted our expectation of high trait coordination in stressful environmental habitats. The distinct biogeographic origins of the species occurring in the study region and the prevalence of a regional environmental filter coupled with local homogeneous conditions could account for prevalence of trait independence we observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L. A. Silva
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em EcologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)NatalBrazil
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46
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Geekiyanage N, Goodale UM, Cao K, Kitajima K. Leaf trait variations associated with habitat affinity of tropical karst tree species. Ecol Evol 2017; 8:286-295. [PMID: 29321871 PMCID: PMC5756878 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Karst hills, that is, jagged topography created by dissolution of limestone and other soluble rocks, are distributed extensively in tropical forest regions, including southern parts of China. They are characterized by a sharp mosaic of water and nutrient availability, from exposed hilltops with poor soil development to valleys with occasional flooding, to which trees show species‐specific distributions. Here we report the relationship of leaf functional traits to habitat preference of tropical karst trees. We described leaf traits of 19 tropical tree species in a seasonal karst rainforest in Guangxi Province, China, 12 species in situ and 13 ex situ in a non‐karst arboretum, which served as a common garden, with six species sampled in both. We examined how the measured leaf traits differed in relation to species’ habitat affinity and evaluated trait consistency between natural habitats vs. the arboretum. Leaf mass per area (LMA) and optical traits (light absorption and reflectance characteristics between 400 and 1,050 nm) showed significant associations with each other and habitats, with hilltop species showing high values of LMA and low values of photochemical reflectance index (PRI). For the six species sampled in both the karst forest and the arboretum, LMA, leaf dry matter content, stomatal density, and vein length per area showed inconsistent within‐species variations, whereas some traits (stomatal pore index and lamina thickness) were similar between the two sites. In conclusion, trees specialized in exposed karst hilltops with little soils are characterized by thick leaves with high tissue density indicative of conservative resources use, and this trait syndrome could potentially be sensed remotely with PRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalaka Geekiyanage
- Division of Forest and Biomaterial Science Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University Kyoto Japan.,Department of Plant Science Faculty of Agriculture Rajarata University Anuradhapura Sri Lanka.,Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - Uromi Manage Goodale
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China.,State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - Kunfang Cao
- Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China.,State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - Kaoru Kitajima
- Division of Forest and Biomaterial Science Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University Kyoto Japan.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Republic of Panama
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47
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Zhu SD, Chen YJ, Fu PL, Cao KF. Different hydraulic traits of woody plants from tropical forests with contrasting soil water availability. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 37:1469-1477. [PMID: 28985366 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpx094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In southwestern China, tropical karst forests (KF) and non-karst rain forests (NKF) have different species composition and forest structure owing to contrasting soil water availability, but with a few species that occur in both forests. Plant hydraulic traits are important for understanding the species' distribution patterns in these two forest types, but related studies are rare. In this study, we investigated hydraulic conductivity, vulnerability to drought-induced cavitation and wood anatomy of 23 abundant and typical woody species from a KF and a neighboring NKF, as well as two Bauhinia liana species common to both forests. We found that the KF species tended to have higher sapwood density, smaller vessel diameter, lower specific hydraulic conductivity (ks) and leaf to sapwood area ratio, and were more resistant to cavitation than NKF species. Across the 23 species distinctly occurring in either KF or NKF, there was a significant tradeoff between hydraulic efficiency and safety, which might be an underlying mechanism for distributions of these species across the two forests. Interestingly, by possessing rather large and long vessels, the two Bauhinia liana species had extremely high ks but were also high resistance to cavitation (escaping hydraulic tradeoff). This might be partially due to their distinctly dimorphic vessels, but contribute to their wide occurrence in both forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Dan Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Ya-Jun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Pei-Li Fu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
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48
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Yin
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell Univ.; Ithaca NY USA
| | - Taryn L. Bauerle
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell Univ.; Ithaca NY USA
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49
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Ghate T, Deshpande S, Bhargava S. Accumulation of stem sugar and its remobilisation in response to drought stress in a sweet sorghum genotype and its near-isogenic lines carrying different stay-green loci. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2017; 19:396-405. [PMID: 28032438 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Near isogenic lines (NILs) of sweet sorghum genotype S35 into which individual stay green loci were introgressed, were used to understand the contribution of Stay green loci to stem sugar accumulation and its remobilization under drought stress exposure. Sugar and starch content, activities of sugar metabolism enzymes and levels of their expression were studied in the 3rd (source) leaf from panicle and the 5th (sugar storing) internode of the three lines, in irrigated plants and in plants exposed to a brief drought exposure at the panicle emergence stage. Annotation of genes in the respective Stay green loci introgressed in the NILs was carried out using bioinformatics tools. The leaves of NILs accumulated more photoassimilates and the internodes accumulated more sugar, as compared to the parent S35 line. Drought stress exposure led to a decrease in the starch and sugar levels in leaves of all three lines, while an increase in sugar levels was observed in internodes of the NILs. Sugar fluxes were accompanied by alterations in the activities of sugar metabolizing enzymes as well as the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism and transport. Remobilization of sugars from the stem internodes was apparent in the NILs when subjected to drought stress, since the peduncle, which supports the panicle, showed an increase in the sugar content, even when photoassimation in source leaves was reduced. Several genes related to carbohydrate metabolism were located in the Stay green loci, which probably contributed to variation in the parameters studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ghate
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - S Deshpande
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India
| | - S Bhargava
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
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50
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Trueba S, Pouteau R, Lens F, Feild TS, Isnard S, Olson ME, Delzon S. Vulnerability to xylem embolism as a major correlate of the environmental distribution of rain forest species on a tropical island. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2017; 40:277-289. [PMID: 27862015 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Increases in drought-induced tree mortality are being observed in tropical rain forests worldwide and are also likely to affect the geographical distribution of tropical vegetation. However, the mechanisms underlying the drought vulnerability and environmental distribution of tropical species have been little studied. We measured vulnerability to xylem embolism (P50 ) of 13 woody species endemic to New Caledonia and with different xylem conduit morphologies. We examined the relation between P50 , along with other leaf and xylem functional traits, and a range of habitat variables. Selected species had P50 values ranging between -4.03 and -2.00 MPa with most species falling in a narrow range of resistance to embolism above -2.7 MPa. Embolism vulnerability was significantly correlated with elevation, mean annual temperature and percentage of species occurrences located in rain forest habitats. Xylem conduit type did not explain variation in P50 . Commonly used functional traits such as wood density and leaf traits were not related to embolism vulnerability. Xylem embolism vulnerability stands out among other commonly used functional traits as a major driver of species environmental distribution. Drought-induced xylem embolism vulnerability behaves as a physiological trait closely associated with the habitat occupation of rain forest woody species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robin Pouteau
- Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien (IAC), Diversité biologique et fonctionnelle des écosystèmes terrestes, 98848, Noumea, New Caledonia
| | - Frederic Lens
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, PO Box 9517, 2300RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Taylor S Feild
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | | | - Mark E Olson
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito s/n de Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, Mexico
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