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Hydraulic failure and tree dieback are associated with high wood density in a temperate forest under extreme drought

2011; Wiley; Volume: 17; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02401.x

1365-2486

William A. Hoffmann, Renée M. Marchin, Pamela Po Abit, On Lee Lau,

Plant responses to water stress

Global Change BiologyVolume 17, Issue 8 p. 2731-2742 Hydraulic failure and tree dieback are associated with high wood density in a temperate forest under extreme drought WILLIAM A. HOFFMANN, WILLIAM A. HOFFMANN Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this authorRENÉE M. MARCHIN, RENÉE M. MARCHIN Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this authorPAMELA ABIT, PAMELA ABIT Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USA 1Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte 6521-A, Philippines.Search for more papers by this authorON LEE LAU, ON LEE LAU Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this author WILLIAM A. HOFFMANN, WILLIAM A. HOFFMANN Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this authorRENÉE M. MARCHIN, RENÉE M. MARCHIN Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this authorPAMELA ABIT, PAMELA ABIT Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USA 1Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte 6521-A, Philippines.Search for more papers by this authorON LEE LAU, ON LEE LAU Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-7612 NC, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 21 January 2011 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02401.xCitations: 210 William A. Hoffmann, e-mail: [email protected] Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Catastrophic hydraulic failure will likely be an important mechanism contributing to large-scale tree dieback caused by increased frequency and intensity of droughts under global climate change. To compare the susceptibility of 22 temperate deciduous tree and shrub species to hydraulic failure during a record drought in the southeastern USA, we quantified leaf desiccation, native embolism, wood density, stomatal conductance and predawn and midday leaf water potential at four sites with varying drought intensities. At the two driest sites, there was widespread leaf wilting and desiccation, and most species exhibited predawn leaf water potentials of ≤3 MPa and >60% loss of xylem conductivity in branches. Although species with high wood density were more resistant to cavitation, they had higher levels of native embolism and greater canopy dieback than species with low wood density. This unexpected result can be explained by the failure of species with dense wood to avert a decline in water potential to dangerous levels during the drought. Leaf water potential was negatively correlated with wood density, and the relationship was strongest under conditions of severe water deficit. Species with low wood density avoided catastrophic embolism by relying on an avoidance strategy that involves partial drought deciduousness, higher sensitivity of stomata to leaf water potential and perhaps greater rooting depth. These species therefore maintained water potential at levels that ensured a greater margin of safety against embolism. These differences among species may mediate rapid shifts in species composition of temperate forests if droughts intensify due to climate change. Supporting Information Figure S1. Relationship between P50 and percent loss of conductance for diffuse-porous species. The relationship was strenghtened when tested with PICs (12=0.54, P=0.035). Figure S2. Relationship between wood density and leaf water potential for four sites exhibiting a range in drought stress (a, b); water potentials were measured during the most intense drought period studied. Relationship between wood density and leaf water potential at the driest site, for three dates over a period of lessening drought conditions in 2007. Figure S3. (a) Relationship between P50 and midday leaf water potential for the four sites. Water potentials were measured during the most intense drought period studied, prior to any rain. P50 is the xylem water potential at which 50% loss of conductivity is observed. (b) The midday safety margin against excessive embolism (ψmd-P50), calculated for diffuse-porous species. Site codes, in order of increasing water deficit are LRW, Lake Raleigh Woods; SCB, Swift Creek Bluffs; HB, Hemlock Bluffs; BP, Bond Park. Figure S4. Vulnerability curves used to determine P50, the water potential at which conductivity is reduced to 50% of maximum. Data for the remaining species were obtained from the literature. We also determined maximum vessel length of each of these species. To do this, five branches of approximately 60 cm were flushed with distilled water for 10 min at 100 kPa. One end of the branch was then attached to a source of compressed air at 100 kPa while the other end was progressively shortened by removing sections of 1–2 cm until air was observed to exit the cut end. Only for Oxydendrum arboreum did mean maximum vessel length (32.6 cm) exceed the length of the branches used to determine vulnerability (25 cm). For the remaining species, vessel lengths ranged from 11.8 cm (Viburnum nudum) to 19.8 cm (Prunus serotina). Table S1. Data summary of the study species. Xylem is categorized as diffuse porous (DP) and ring porous (RP). Phenology is categorized as partial drought deciduous (D) and not drought deciduous (N). Two species, F. americana and P. serotina, exhibited very limited amounts of leaf senescence during the drought, and are classified here as not drought deciduous. WD is wood density. PLC08 and PLC07 are percent loss of conductivity in the non-drought year (2008) and the drought year (2007). Slope is the slope of the relationship between ln(gs) and leaf WP. Midday water potential are mean values at each site for the period of most intense drought. Mortality, PLC, and desiccation are mean values from the two driest sites (HB and BP). Table S2. Percent loss of conductivity (%) of three species at three dates of lessening drought intensity. There was no evidence of recovery of conductivity by the end of the season despite substantial amelioration of drought conditions. The first sampling date was in the peak of drought conditions, the second date followed a 39 mm rainfall event, and the last date followed several days of rainfall totaling 142 mm. Please note: Wiley-Blackwell is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting materials supplied by the authors. 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