Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots
In alpine regions, elevational gradients in environmental parameters are reflected by structural and functional changes in plant traits. Elevational changes in plant water relations have also been demonstrated, but comparable information on root hydraulics is generally lacking. We analyzed the hydra...
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2016
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2888841 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-015-3513-1 |
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ftunitriestiris:oai:arts.units.it:11368/2888841 2023-05-15T18:40:45+02:00 Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots Losso, Adriano Nolf, Markus Mayr, Stefan NARDINI, Andrea Losso, Adriano Nardini, Andrea Nolf, Marku Mayr, Stefan 2016 STAMPA http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2888841 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-015-3513-1 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/26678990 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000373186100016 volume:180 issue:4 firstpage:1091 lastpage:1102 numberofpages:12 journal:OECOLOGIA http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2888841 doi:10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-84949954987 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-015-3513-1 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Alpine timberline Conifer Hydraulic conductance Root hydraulic Xylem anatomy Acclimatization Pinu Plant Root Plant Stem Plant Transpiration Stress Physiological Temperature Tree Tundra Water Xylem Adaptation Altitude Drought Ecosystem Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2016 ftunitriestiris https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 2023-04-09T06:13:54Z In alpine regions, elevational gradients in environmental parameters are reflected by structural and functional changes in plant traits. Elevational changes in plant water relations have also been demonstrated, but comparable information on root hydraulics is generally lacking. We analyzed the hydraulic efficiency (specific hydraulic conductivity ks, entire root system conductance KR) and vulnerability to drought-induced embolism (water potential at 50 % loss of conductivity Ψ50) of the roots of Pinus cembra trees growing along an elevational transect of 600 m. Hydraulic parameters of the roots were compared with those of the stem and related to anatomical traits {mean conduit diameter (d), wall reinforcement [(t/b)2]}. We hypothesized that temperature-related restrictions in root function would cause a progressive limitation of hydraulic efficiency and safety with increasing elevation. We found that both root ks and KR decreased from low (1600 m a.s.l.: ks 5.6 ± 0.7 kg m−1 s−1 MPa−1, KR 0.049 ± 0.005 kg m−2 s −1 MPa−1) to high elevation (2100 m a.s.l.: ks 4.2 ± 0.6 kg m−1 s−1 MPa−1, KR 0.035 ± 0.006 kg m−2 s−1 MPa−1), with small trees showing higher KR than large trees. ks was higher in roots than in stems (0.5 ± 0.05 kg m−1s−1MPa−1). Ψ50 values were similar across elevations and overall less negative in roots (Ψ50 −3.6 ± 0.1 MPa) than in stems (Ψ50 −3.9 ± 0.1 MPa). In roots, large-diameter tracheids were lacking at high elevation and (t/b)2 increased, while d did not change. The elevational decrease in root hydraulic efficiency reflects a limitation in timberline tree hydraulics. In contrast, hydraulic safety was similar across elevations, indicating that avoidance of hydraulic failure is important for timberline trees. As hydraulic patterns can only partly be explained by the anatomical parameters studied, limitations and/or adaptations at the pit level are likely. Article in Journal/Newspaper Tundra Università degli studi di Trieste: ArTS (Archivio della ricerca di Trieste) Oecologia 180 4 1091 1102 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Università degli studi di Trieste: ArTS (Archivio della ricerca di Trieste) |
op_collection_id |
ftunitriestiris |
language |
English |
topic |
Alpine timberline Conifer Hydraulic conductance Root hydraulic Xylem anatomy Acclimatization Pinu Plant Root Plant Stem Plant Transpiration Stress Physiological Temperature Tree Tundra Water Xylem Adaptation Altitude Drought Ecosystem Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Alpine timberline Conifer Hydraulic conductance Root hydraulic Xylem anatomy Acclimatization Pinu Plant Root Plant Stem Plant Transpiration Stress Physiological Temperature Tree Tundra Water Xylem Adaptation Altitude Drought Ecosystem Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Losso, Adriano Nolf, Markus Mayr, Stefan NARDINI, Andrea Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
topic_facet |
Alpine timberline Conifer Hydraulic conductance Root hydraulic Xylem anatomy Acclimatization Pinu Plant Root Plant Stem Plant Transpiration Stress Physiological Temperature Tree Tundra Water Xylem Adaptation Altitude Drought Ecosystem Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
description |
In alpine regions, elevational gradients in environmental parameters are reflected by structural and functional changes in plant traits. Elevational changes in plant water relations have also been demonstrated, but comparable information on root hydraulics is generally lacking. We analyzed the hydraulic efficiency (specific hydraulic conductivity ks, entire root system conductance KR) and vulnerability to drought-induced embolism (water potential at 50 % loss of conductivity Ψ50) of the roots of Pinus cembra trees growing along an elevational transect of 600 m. Hydraulic parameters of the roots were compared with those of the stem and related to anatomical traits {mean conduit diameter (d), wall reinforcement [(t/b)2]}. We hypothesized that temperature-related restrictions in root function would cause a progressive limitation of hydraulic efficiency and safety with increasing elevation. We found that both root ks and KR decreased from low (1600 m a.s.l.: ks 5.6 ± 0.7 kg m−1 s−1 MPa−1, KR 0.049 ± 0.005 kg m−2 s −1 MPa−1) to high elevation (2100 m a.s.l.: ks 4.2 ± 0.6 kg m−1 s−1 MPa−1, KR 0.035 ± 0.006 kg m−2 s−1 MPa−1), with small trees showing higher KR than large trees. ks was higher in roots than in stems (0.5 ± 0.05 kg m−1s−1MPa−1). Ψ50 values were similar across elevations and overall less negative in roots (Ψ50 −3.6 ± 0.1 MPa) than in stems (Ψ50 −3.9 ± 0.1 MPa). In roots, large-diameter tracheids were lacking at high elevation and (t/b)2 increased, while d did not change. The elevational decrease in root hydraulic efficiency reflects a limitation in timberline tree hydraulics. In contrast, hydraulic safety was similar across elevations, indicating that avoidance of hydraulic failure is important for timberline trees. As hydraulic patterns can only partly be explained by the anatomical parameters studied, limitations and/or adaptations at the pit level are likely. |
author2 |
Losso, Adriano Nardini, Andrea Nolf, Marku Mayr, Stefan |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Losso, Adriano Nolf, Markus Mayr, Stefan NARDINI, Andrea |
author_facet |
Losso, Adriano Nolf, Markus Mayr, Stefan NARDINI, Andrea |
author_sort |
Losso, Adriano |
title |
Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
title_short |
Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
title_full |
Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
title_fullStr |
Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
title_full_unstemmed |
Elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of Pinus cembra roots |
title_sort |
elevational trends in hydraulic efficiency and safety of pinus cembra roots |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2888841 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-015-3513-1 |
genre |
Tundra |
genre_facet |
Tundra |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/26678990 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000373186100016 volume:180 issue:4 firstpage:1091 lastpage:1102 numberofpages:12 journal:OECOLOGIA http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2888841 doi:10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-84949954987 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00442-015-3513-1 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3513-1 |
container_title |
Oecologia |
container_volume |
180 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1091 |
op_container_end_page |
1102 |
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1766230158779351040 |