Article

 

Contrasting Hydraulic Strategies in Two Tropical Lianas and Their Host Trees Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/k930c273b

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • • Premise of the Study: Tropical liana abundance has been increasing over the past 40 yr, which has been associated with reduced rainfall. The proposed mechanism allowing lianas to thrive in dry conditions is deeper root systems than co-occurring trees, although we know very little about the fundamental hydraulic physiology of lianas. • Methods: To test the hypothesis that two abundant liana species would physiologically outperform their host tree under reduced water availability, we measured rooting depth, hydraulic properties, plant water status, and leaf gas exchange during the dry season in a seasonally dry tropical forest. We also used a model to compare water use by one of the liana species and the host tree during drought. • Key Results: All species measured were shallowly rooted. The liana species were more vulnerable to embolism than host trees and experienced water potentials that were predicted to result in substantial hydraulic losses in both leaves and stems. Water potentials measured in host trees were not negative enough to result in signifi cant hydraulic losses. Model results predicted the liana to have greater gas exchange than its host tree during drought and nondrought conditions. • Conclusions: The host tree species had a more conservative strategy for maintenance of the soil-to-leaf hydraulic pathway than the lianas it supported. The two liana species experienced embolism in stems and leaves, based on vulnerability curves and water potentials. These emboli were presumably repaired before the next morning. However, in the host tree species, reduced stomatal conductance prevented leaf or stem embolism.
  • Keywords: Anacardium excelsum, Prionostemma aspera, Transpiration, Gas exchange, Embolism, Water relations, Drought stress, Trichostigma octandrum
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Johnson, D. M., Domec, J., Woodruff, D. R., McCulloh, K. A., & Meinzer, F. C. (2013). Contrasting hydraulic strategies in two tropical lianas and their host trees. American Journal of Botany, 100(2), 374-383. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1200590
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 100
Journal Issue/Number
  • 2
Academic Affiliation
Rights Statement
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • This research was supported by National Science Foundation grant IOB-0919871.
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Items