土壤干旱胁迫对樟树（Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl）苗木水力结构特征的影响

植物水力结构特征通常用导水率(Kh)、比导率(Ks)、叶比导率(LSC)、胡伯尔值(Hv)等参数来表征.设置了3种土壤干旱胁迫强度和对照共4种处理,每一处理5个重复,采用"冲洗法"对喀斯特地区造林树种两年生樟树(Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl)苗木的水力结构相关参数进行测定.结果表明:樟树苗木在正常水分和不同强度土壤干旱胁迫条件下,其茎段导水率、比导率、叶比导率、胡伯尔值均与茎段直径呈正相关关系,并可以用不同类型函数进行拟合.随着干旱胁迫强度的加剧,不同处理的导水率、比导率、叶比导率降低,胡伯尔值在不同处理间的差异不显著.这说明较粗的茎段,其单位横截面积的导管投入与使用效率明显高于较细茎段,且供给末端叶片水分所需要的压力梯度小于较细茎段.结果为进一步探讨土壤干旱对樟树苗木水力结构作用机理及在石漠化山地造林的适应性提供理论依据.     

内蒙古高原西部荒漠区锦鸡儿属植物水力结构的变化

采用改良的冲洗法,比较了内蒙古高原西部荒漠区锦鸡儿属(Caragana)4种优势植物——柠条锦鸡儿(C.korshinskii)、狭叶锦鸡儿(C.stenophylla)、垫状锦鸡儿(C.tibetica)和荒漠锦鸡儿(C.roborovoskyi)的水力结构日变化和季节变化,目的是了解4种锦鸡儿属植物对荒漠区环境的适应性及其差异。研究发现:4种锦鸡儿属植物的比导率、叶比导率均为早晚高、中午低的单谷日变化曲线;3个季节相比较,夏季的比导率、叶比导率最大;胡伯尔值春季夏季秋季。3个季节比导水率日平均值、夏季和秋季的叶比导率、3个季节的胡伯尔值都表现为:柠条锦鸡儿荒漠锦鸡儿狭叶锦鸡儿垫状锦鸡儿;3个季节比导水率日变幅和春季叶比导率表现为:柠条锦鸡儿荒漠锦鸡儿垫状锦鸡儿狭叶锦鸡儿。4个种比导水率日平均值的季节变幅相似。这些结果表明:(1)荒漠区锦鸡儿属植物的水力结构限制了水分运输,使其避免了中午的高蒸腾。(2)荒漠区锦鸡儿属植物通过较高的水分运输效率及较好的叶供水效率适应夏季的高温和强辐射,维持水分平衡;锦鸡儿属植物胡伯尔值的季节变化保证了其在春、夏季快速生长期有较好的水分供应。(3)较高的比导率、叶比导率和胡伯尔值导致了柠条锦鸡儿良好的水分供应和高蒸腾速率,进而导致了柠条锦鸡儿较快的生长速度,这说明柠条锦鸡儿对荒漠环境的适应性好于其它3个种;柠条锦鸡儿的输水效率高,但易发生严重的空穴和栓塞。     

内蒙古高原西部荒漠区四种锦鸡儿属植物水力结构变化的比较研究

本文采用改良的冲洗法,比较了内蒙古高原西部荒漠区锦鸡儿属(Caragana) 4 种优势植物—柠条锦鸡儿（C. korshinsk）、狭叶锦鸡儿（C. stenophylla）、垫状锦鸡儿（C. tibetica）和荒漠锦鸡儿（C. roborovoskyi）的水力结构日变化和季节变化,目的是了解4种锦鸡儿属植物对荒漠区环境的适应性及其差异。研究发现：4种锦鸡儿属植物的比导率、叶比导率均为早晚高、中午低的单谷日变化曲线;三个季节相比较,夏季的比导率、叶比导率最大;胡伯尔值春季>夏季>秋季。三个季节比导水率日平均值、夏季和秋季的叶比导率、三个季节的胡伯尔值都表现为：柠条锦鸡儿>荒漠锦鸡儿>狭叶锦鸡儿>垫状锦鸡儿;三个季节比导水率日变幅和春季叶比导率表现为：柠条锦鸡儿>荒漠锦鸡儿>垫状锦鸡儿>狭叶锦鸡儿。4个种比导水率日平均值的季节变幅相似。这些结果表明：（1）荒漠区锦鸡儿属植物的水力结构限制了水分运输,使其避免了中午的高蒸腾。（2）荒漠区锦鸡儿属植物通过较高的水分运输效率及较好的叶供水效率适应夏季的高温和强辐射,维持水分平衡;锦鸡儿属植物胡伯尔值的季节变化保证了其在春、夏季快速生长期有较好的水分供应。（3）较高的比导率、叶比导率和胡伯尔值导致了柠条锦鸡儿良好的水分供应和高蒸腾速率,进而导致了柠条锦鸡儿较快的生长速度,这说明柠条锦鸡儿对荒漠环境的适应性好于其它三个种;柠条锦鸡儿的输水效率高,但易发生严重的空穴和栓塞。     

红砂根系分叉数和分支角度权衡关系的坡向差异

根系构型是决定根系分布及其对土体搜索效率的重要因素, 是植物与资源环境异质性相互适应的结果。利用ArcGIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型(digital elevation model), 采用全根系挖掘法, 研究了祁连山北坡荒漠草原不同坡向红砂(Reaumuria songarica)根系分叉数和分支角度的关系。结果表明: 不同坡向梯度草地群落的盖度、密度、高度和土壤含水量呈不同的变化趋势(p < 0.05), 红砂种群的密度、高度和根冠比等生物学特征的变化规律存在差异(p < 0.05); 不同坡向红砂根系分叉数和分支角度的相关性存在差异(p < 0.05), 在南坡和北坡红砂根系分叉数和分支角度之间存在极显著的负相关关系(p < 0.01), 在东坡和西坡根系分叉数和分支角度之间存在显著的负相关关系(p < 0.05), 红砂根系分配给根系分叉数和分支角度的资源存在着“此消彼长”的权衡关系; 随着坡向由南坡向西坡、东坡、北坡转变, 红砂根系分叉数和分支角度回归方程的标准化主轴斜率逐渐减小(p < 0.05), 红砂根系构型模式由扩散型转向聚集型。不同坡向红砂根系合理权衡连接长度和分支角度的资源配置模式, 反映了异质生境中植物种群应对资源多重竞争的环境生态适应机制。     

高寒森林倒木在不同分解阶段的质量变化

倒木是高寒森林生态系统重要的碳(C)库和养分库, 其不同分解阶段的质量变化, 是认识倒木分解过程中C和养分释放的重要基础。以一个分解序列的岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)倒木为研究对象, 研究了心材、边材和树皮在5个分解阶段的C:N:P化学计量特征, 以及木质素和纤维素含量动态。结果显示: I至III分解阶段, 随着分解程度加深, 树皮C含量升高, 而心材和边材C含量降低, 从IV分解阶段开始倒木各组分C含量均开始显著降低。除III分解阶段的心材外, 倒木各组分N含量总体表现为随着分解程度加深而增加的趋势, 除边材N含量在V分解阶段时显著升高外, 其余组分均未达到显著性水平。心材和树皮P含量表现为先降后升的变化趋势, 最小值分别出现在III和II分解阶段; 边材P含量表现为随着分解程度加深而增加。在同一分解阶段, 树皮相对于边材和心材均具有最低的C:N:P化学计量比, 易分解比例F_m也表明树皮更易于分解。边材在I和II分解阶段的C:N:P化学计量比最高, 心材在III到V分解阶段C:N:P化学计量比最高。心材C:P、树皮和边材的C:N和C:P临界值与N和P的初始值成反比。纤维素含量随着倒木分解而降低, 不同分解阶段的纤维素含量表现为: 心材>边材>树皮; 但木质素含量随着分解程度加深而增加, 表现为: 树皮>边材>心材; 倒木3个组分纤维素含量下降均快于木质素, 此外, IV和V分解阶段的树皮木质素与纤维素比值显著增高, 且一直处于较高水平。统计分析结果表明: 倒木N含量显著影响不同分解阶段木质素和纤维素分解。由生态化学计量学理论推测: 树皮分解前期易受N限制, 整个分解阶段均易受P限制, 心材和边材在整个分解阶段均易受N和P限制。     

哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林两种优势幼苗C、N、P化学计量特征及其对N沉降增加的响应

N沉降对不同森林生态系统的影响是当今全球变化生态学研究的一个热点问题。山地湿性常绿阔叶林是我国西部高海拔地区重要的森林植被类型之一。该文以云南哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林为对象, 研究了其林下优势树种多花山矾(Symplocos ramosissima)和黄心树(Machilus gamblei)幼苗不同器官中C、N、P含量和生态化学计量特征及其对N沉降增加的响应。结果表明: 两种幼苗C、N、P含量的差异均达到了显著性水平(p < 0.05), 多花山矾的C含量较低, N和P含量较高。N处理对植物幼苗元素含量及其比值影响极显著(p < 0.01), 且与物种和器官之间存在显著的交互作用。N处理提高了幼苗体内N含量, 导致不同器官N:P值有不同程度的增加。随N处理水平的升高, 多花山矾幼苗P含量下降, 黄心树幼苗P含量整体升高, 幼苗间P含量差异减小。在一定范围内, 植物幼苗N含量与土壤无机N含量之间存在极显著的相关性(p < 0.01)。不同器官之间相比, 植物幼苗根和茎的N内稳性比叶片更高, 即植物叶片对N沉降的响应更为敏感。     

浙江天童木本植物水力结构与树高的关联性

垂直分层是森林群落的基本结构,但有关群落不同垂直层次植物水力结构策略的研究仍然比较缺乏。以浙江天童木荷林内25株高度不同的9种木本植物为对象,通过测量其枝条直径、边材面积、干材密度、导管直径、内腔面积以及枝条水分比导率,旨在检验植物水力结构与树高的关联性。结果显示：除干材密度外,枝条直径、导管直径、枝条和导管内腔面积、边材面积、水分比导率均随树高增加而显著增大。作为重要的水力结构特征,比导率与导管直径和内腔面积、枝直径和内腔面积、边材面积显著正关联。该结果强调了局域群落内不同垂直层次植物水力结构特征的显著差异,以及植物水分生态位在不同垂直层次的分化过程。     

高寒草地甘肃臭草根系分形结构的坡向差异性

根系分形结构是植物根系构型应对环境异质性的表型可塑性结果, 可反映植物对生长环境的适应策略。利用ArcGIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型, 并提取坡向数据, 采用全根挖掘和Win-RHIZO根系分析仪相结合的方法, 研究了祁连山北坡高寒退化草地不同坡向甘肃臭草(Melica przewalskyi)的根系分形结构。结果表明: 随着坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡、南坡转变, 草地群落的密度、高度和土壤含水量逐渐减小, 甘肃臭草种群的密度、高度以及根系分形丰度呈逐渐增大的趋势、分形维数逐渐减小; 不同坡向甘肃臭草根系分形维数和分形丰度间的相关性存在差异(p < 0.05), 南坡和北坡甘肃臭草根系分形维数分形丰度之间存在极显著负相关关系(p < 0.01), 东坡和西坡之间存在显著负相关关系(p < 0.05), 甘肃臭草根系分形维数和分形丰度存在着“此消彼长”的权衡关系; 随着坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡、南坡转变, 甘肃臭草根系分形维数和分形丰度回归方程的标准化主轴(SMA)斜率逐渐增大(p < 0.05), 说明在干旱的南坡, 根系所开发利用的相同体积的土壤内, 根系分支更少、更稀疏。不同坡向甘肃臭草合理权衡根系分形维数和分形丰度的资源配置模式, 体现了植物根系构型构建的资源投资权衡机制。     

九种不同材性的温带树种叶水力性状及其权衡关系

不同材性树种的解剖、叶脉分布等结构性状差异会影响树木的水分运输效率和水分利用策略, 进而限制树木的生存、生长和分布。然而, 材性对叶导水率、水力脆弱性及其潜在的权衡关系的影响尚不清楚。该研究选择东北温带森林中不同材性的9种树种(散孔材: 山杨(Populus davidiana)、紫椴(Tilia amurensis)、白桦(Betula platyphylla); 环孔材: 蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)、水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)、胡桃楸(Juglans mandshurica); 无孔材: 红皮云杉(Picea koraiensis)、樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)、红松(Pinus koraiensis), 测量其基于叶面积和叶质量的叶导水率(K_area和K_mass)、水力脆弱性(P₅₀)、膨压丧失点水势(TLP)及叶结构性状, 以比较不同材性树种叶水力性状的差异, 并探索叶水力效率与安全的权衡关系。结果表明: 3种材性树种的K_area、K_mass和P₅₀均差异显著(p < 0.05)。无孔材树种的K_area和K_mass最低, 而散孔材和环孔材树种差异不显著; 环孔材树种P₅₀最高, 而散孔材和无孔材树种差异不显著。K_area和K_mass均与P₅₀显著负相关(p < 0.05), 但散孔材、环孔材和无孔材树种的相关关系分别呈线性、幂函数和指数函数关系。这表明叶水力效率与安全之间存在一定的权衡关系, 但该关系受树木材性的影响。K_mass与TLP显著负相关(p < 0.01), 其中散孔材和环孔材树种呈线性负相关, 无孔材树种呈负指数函数关系; P₅₀随TLP的增加而增加, 这表明树木在面临水分胁迫时, 其质外体和共质体抗旱阻力共同协调保护叶片活细胞, 防止其水分状况到达临界阈值。K_mass与叶干物质含量、叶密度、比叶重均显著负相关, 而P₅₀与之显著正相关(p < 0.01, P₅₀与比叶重的关系除外), 表明树木叶水力特性的变化受相同叶结构特性驱动, 树木增加对水力失调的容忍需要在叶水力系统构建上增加碳投资。     

刈割、围封、放牧三种利用方式下草原生态系统的多功能性与植物物种多样性之间的关系

随着全球变化对生物多样性的影响不断加剧, 生物多样性与生态系统功能之间相互关系(BEF)的研究显得极为重要。过去的20多年, BEF的研究大多集中在对物种多样性与单一或少数生态系统功能之间关系的探讨, 但生态系统最为重要的价值是同时维持多种服务和功能的能力, 基于此, 该文首次在国内引入近年来不断完善的生态系统多功能性(multifunctionality)的概念, 并对目前主流的评价方法进行了改进, 从而对内蒙古三种利用方式(刈割、围封、放牧)下的草地群落进行了多功能性评价, 并探讨了多功能性与物种多样性之间的关系。结果显示本研究改进的方法和目前主流方法评价得出的多功能性指数在样方和样地尺度上都有很高的相关性(R² = 0.6956, p < 0.0001; R² = 0.9231, p < 0.0001), 表明该文作者改进后的方法是可靠的。重度放牧的草地群落物种多样性水平最低, 绝大多数土壤功能指标较差, 表现出退化特征; 7年的围封和刈割群落均有较高的物种多样性水平和改善的土壤功能指标; 三者的多功能性指数为刈割(0.2178) >围封(0.0704) >放牧(-0.8031)。植被样方主要沿水肥梯度分布; 多样性指数中, 均匀度指数(Pielou index)和丰富度指数(Margelf index)对多功能性的影响作用最大, 均为样方尺度(R² = 0.1871, p < 0.0001; R² = 0.1601, p < 0.0001)小于样地尺度(R² = 0.5921, p = 0.0093; R² = 0.7499, p = 0.0007), 有尺度依赖性; 多功能性在样方和样地尺度上均与物种均匀度呈线性正相关关系, 而与物种丰富度呈单峰曲线关系。该文研究结果表明, 相对于重度放牧和围封, 刈割更有利于维持该地区生态系统的多功能性; 物种丰富度适中且物种分布均匀的生态系统可能有更好的多功能性。     

Hydraulic architecture of evergreen broad-leaved woody plants at different successional stages in Tiantong National Forest Park,Zhejiang Province,China

Aims Hydraulic architecture is a morphological strategy in plants to transport water in coping with environmental conditions. Change of hydraulic architecture for plants occupying different canopy layers within community and for the same plant at different successional stages reflect existence and adaptation in plant's water transportation strategies. The objective of this study was to examine how hydraulic architecture varies with canopy layers within a community and with forest succession.Methods The study site is located in Tiantong National Forest Park, Zhejiang Province, China. Hydraulic architectural traits studied include sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity, leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity, Huber value, sapwood channel area of twigs, total leaf area per terminal twig, and water potential of twigs. We measured those traits for species that occur in multiple successional stages (we called it "overlapping species") and for species that occur only in one successional stage (we called it "turnover species") along a successional series of evergreen broadleaved forests. For a given species, we sampled both overstory and understory trees. Hydraulic architectural traits between overstory and understory trees in the same community and at successional stages were compared. Pearson correlation was used to exam the relationship between hydraulic architectural traits and the twig/leaf traits.Important findings Sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivities and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivities were significantly higher in overstory trees than those in understory trees, but did not significantly differ from successional stages. Huber value decreased significantly for understory trees, but did not change for overstory trees through forest successional stages. For overstory trees, a trend of decreasing sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity was observed for overlapping species but not for turnover species with successional stages. In contrast, for understory trees, a trend of decreasing Huber values was observed for turner species but not for overlapping species with successional stages. Across tree species, sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity was positively correlated with sapwood channel area and total leaf area per terminal twig size. Huber value was negatively correlated to water potential of twigs and total leaf area per terminal twig size. These results suggest that water transportation capacity and efficiency are higher in overstory trees than in understory trees across successional stages in evergreen broadleaved forests in Tiantong region. The contrasting trends of sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity between overlapping species and turnover species indicate that shift of microenvironment conditions might lead to changes of hydraulic architecture in overstory trees, whereas species replacement might result in changes of hydraulic architecture in understory trees.     

元宝枫苗木的水力结构特征

在温室条件下,控制不同干旱梯度,用改良的冲洗法测定了4年生元宝枫苗木的水力结构参数．研究表明,随着小枝水势的降低,水力结构各参数随茎段功能木质部直径的变化可以用不同的方程来模拟;导水率的大小受茎段所在区域的影响,限速区的导水率明显低于非限速区,限速区的存在对苗木个体的生存竞争有利．导水率、比导率和叶比导率都和功能木质部直径和小枝水势呈明显的正相关．较粗茎段的叶比导率远高于多次分枝的未端细小分枝,有利于苗木在干旱时保存那些光合积累较大的器官．在落叶之前,相同直径枝条的胡伯尔值随小枝水势的变化很小,说明苗木水分胁迫主要源于木质部空穴和栓塞．     

浙江天童常绿阔叶林演替阶段共有种的树木构型

树木构型是木本植物为响应光照变化在其空间建造结构上的配置模式和形态体现。研究演替不同阶段共有种构型的变化可以剔除植物谱系的影响, 反映植物构型特征与光资源供给性的关系。该研究在浙江宁波天童、南山和北仑3个次生演替序列上选择了5个演替共有种, 分4个群落高度层级, 对照分析了树高、冠幅深度和面积、枝条伸展方向、基径、叶片盖度和聚集度构型性状随演替的变化, 并分析了与冠幅曝光指数的线性关系。结果表明: 1)随着演替进行, 冠幅厚度和面积、叶片盖度、叶片聚集度和基径逐步增加, 但在个别相邻演替阶段增加不显著; 2)随着演替进行, 植物的垂直枝比例降低, 水平枝比例增加; 3)演替过程中植物冠幅曝光指数在各层级内都呈现出减小趋势; 4)构型性状和植物冠幅曝光指数间存在显著的线性回归关系(p < 0.001)。总之, 随着常绿阔叶林演替进行, 演替共有种构型的变化反映了物种功能类群由阳性先锋植物向耐阴植物的转化, 其中, 植物对光资源的适应是导致构型变化的主要原因。     

Xylem traits mediate a trade-off between resistance to freeze-thaw-induced embolism and photosynthetic capacity in overwintering evergreens

Hydraulic traits were studied in temperate, woody evergreens in a high-elevation heath community to test for trade-offs between the delivery of water to canopies at rates sufficient to sustain photosynthesis and protection against disruption to vascular transport caused by freeze-thaw-induced embolism. Freeze-thaw-induced loss in hydraulic conductivity was studied in relation to xylem anatomy, leaf- and sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity and gas exchange characteristics of leaves. We found evidence that a trade-off between xylem transport capacity and safety from freeze-thaw-induced embolism affects photosynthetic activity in overwintering evergreens. The mean hydraulically weighted xylem vessel diameter and sapwood-specific conductivity correlated with susceptibility to freeze-thaw-induced embolism. There was also a strong correlation of hydraulic supply and demand across species; interspecific differences in stomatal conductance and CO(2) assimilation rates were correlated linearly with sapwood- and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity. Xylem vessel anatomy mediated an apparent trade-off between resistance to freeze-thaw-induced embolism and hydraulic and photosynthetic capacity during the winter. These results point to a new role for xylem functional traits in determining the degree to which species can maintain photosynthetic carbon gain despite freezing events and cold winter temperatures.     

Evolution of hydraulic traits in closely related species pairs from Mediterranean and nonMediterranean environments of North America

Chaparral shrubs in California experience cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers characteristic of mediterranean-type climates; by contrast, morphologically similar close relatives in central Mexico experience summer rainfall. A comparison of closely related species pairs was conducted to examine whether evolutionary divergences in plant hydraulic conductivity were associated with contrasting seasonality of precipitation. Six species pairs in Santa Barbara, California and Tehuacan, Mexico were chosen to test for repeated directional divergences across the habitat contrast. Additionally, evolutionary correlations were examined using phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs) among a suite of hydraulic traits, including stem- and leaf-specific conductivity, resistance to embolism, wood density, inverse Huber value, and minimum seasonal water potential. Leaf-specific conductivity was generally higher in California, but for most hydraulic traits the species pairs exhibited varied evolutionary trajectories across the climate contrast. A significant correlation was found between divergences in xylem resistance to embolism and minimum seasonal water potential, but no evolutionary trade-off was found between resistance and stem conductivity. Higher leaf-specific conductivity may be adaptive in California, where soil and atmospheric droughts coincide during summer months. This response is consistent with a hydraulic strategy of high leaf water supply under high evaporative demand to prevent excessive drops in water potential.     

Water Relations and Hydraulic Architecture of a Tropical Tree (Schefflera morototoni) : Data, Models, and a Comparison with Two Temperate Species (Acer saccharum and Thuja occidentalis)

The water relations and hydraulic architecture of a tropical tree (Schefflera morototoni) and of two temperate species (Acer saccharum and Thuja occidentalis) are reported. Among the water relations parameters measured were leaf and stem water storage capacity, leaf water potential, transpiration, and vulnerability of stems to cavitation and loss of hydraulic conductivity by embolisms. Among the hydraulic architecture parameters measured were hydraulic conductivity per unit pressure gradient, specific conductivity, leaf-specific conductivity, and Huber value. In terms of vulnerability of stems to cavitation, stem and leaf capacitances, and leaf-specific conductivity, all three species followed the same sequence: Schefflera > Acer > Thuja. It is argued here that the high stem capacitance and high leaf-specific conductivity of Schefflera are necessary to compensate for its high vulnerability to cavitation. Extractable water storage per unit leaf area in Schefflera stems is >100 times that of Acer and may permit the species to survive unusually long, dry seasons in Panama. Although Schefflera frequently grows >20 meters, the biggest resistance to water flow in the shoots resides in the leaves.     

Water stress vulnerability of four Banksia species in contrasting ecohydrological habitats on the Gnangara Mound, Western Australia

This study investigated the interspecific differences in vulnerability to xylem embolism of four phreatophytes – two facultative phreatophytes ( Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii ) and two obligate phreatophytes ( B. ilicifolia and B. littoralis ). Species differences at the same position along an ecohydrological gradient on the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, Western Australia were determined in addition to intraspecific differences to water stress between populations in contrasting ecohydrological habitats. Stem- and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity, as well as Huber values (ratio of stem to leaf area), were also determined to support these findings. We found that where water is readily accessible, there were no interspecific differences in vulnerability to water stress. In contrast both facultative phreatophyte species were more resistant to xylem embolism at the more xeric dune crest site than at the wetter bottom slope site. B. ilicifolia did not differ in vulnerability to embolism, supporting its classification as an obligate phreatophyte. Other measured hydraulic traits ( K _S, K _L and Huber value) showed no adaptive responses, although there was a tendency for plants at the wetter site to have higher K _S and K _L. This study highlights the influence site hydrological attributes can have on plant hydraulic architecture across species and environmental gradients.     

Hydraulic characteristics and leaf water use efficiency in trees from tropical montane habitats

This study was carried out in pioneer and successional forest tree species in a lower montane tropical forest with seasonal rains. We tested whether pioneer species feature high hydraulic conductance allowing them to use water profusely at leaf level. Conversely, forest species may have relatively low hydraulic conductance accompanied with better control over water use. This may lead in turn to pioneer species being at a relatively higher risk of shoot water potential falling below the threshold value at which cavitations occur compared to forest. Specific hydraulic conductance ( K _s) measured during the wet season was comparable between pioneers and forest species. During drought, K _s was significantly reduced, and species of both plant groups responded to this by modifying the relationship between conducting area and leaf area (Huver value), such that leaf specific conductivity ( K _l) was unaffected. Thus, leaf area seemed to be adjusted to maintain constant hydraulic sufficiency during drought. Pioneer species were more efficient in conducting water to their leaves but had low control over water use compared to forest species. A trade-off between water transport and leaf water use efficiency was suggested. These ecophysiological differences may have an impact on the performance of the species occupying contrasting habitats. Nonetheless, drought-induced embolisms occurred in trees growing in both open and forest habitats. Overall, during drought, adjustment of leaf area occurred in order to maintain a homeostasis of some physiological traits (leaf-specific conductivity and carbon assimilation).     

Transgenic poplars with reduced lignin show impaired xylem conductivity, growth efficiency and survival

We studied xylem anatomy and hydraulic architecture in 14 transgenic insertion events and a control line of hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) that varied in lignin content. Transgenic events had different levels of down-regulation of two genes encoding 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL). Two-year-old trees were characterized after growing either as free-standing trees in the field or as supported by stakes in a greenhouse. In free-standing trees, a 20 to 40% reduction in lignin content was associated with increased xylem vulnerability to embolism, shoot dieback and mortality. In staked trees, the decreased biomechanical demands on the xylem was associated with increases in the leaf area to sapwood area ratio and wood specific conductivity (k(s)), and with decreased leaf-specific conductivity (k(l)). These shifts in hydraulic architecture suggest that the bending stresses perceived during growth can affect traits important for xylem water transport. Severe 4CL-downregulation resulted in the patchy formation of discoloured, brown wood with irregular vessels in which water transport was strongly impeded. These severely 4CL-downregulated trees had significantly lower growth efficiency (biomass/leaf area). These results underscore the necessity of adequate lignification for mechanical support of the stem, water transport, tree growth and survival.