Contrasting ecophysiology of two widespread arid zone tree species with differing access to water resources

Nolan, RH; Tarin, T; Rumman, R; Cleverly, J; Fairweather, KA; Zolfaghar, S; Santini, NS; O'Grady, AP; Eamus, D

Contrasting ecophysiology of two widespread arid zone tree species with differing access to water resources

Nolan, RH

Tarin, T Rumman, R Cleverly, J

Fairweather, KA Zolfaghar, S Santini, NS

O'Grady, AP Eamus, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Arid Environments, 2018, 153 pp. 1 - 10
Issue Date:: 2018-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Nolan, RH https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9277-5142	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Tarin, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rumman, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cleverly, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2731-7150	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fairweather, KA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zolfaghar, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Santini, NS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8319-8862	en_US
dc.contributor.author	O'Grady, AP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Eamus, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2765-8040	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Arid Environments, 2018, 153 pp. 1 - 10	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0140-1963	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/128487
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Arid environments can support the seemingly unlikely coexistence of species tolerant of, or sensitive to, dry soil moisture. Here, we examine water-use and carbon-gain traits in two widespread tree species in central Australia: Acacia aptaneura and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The former has a shallow root distribution and relies on soil moisture, while the latter is groundwater dependent. We hypothesised that A. aptaneura would exhibit a suite of characteristics that confer tolerance to low soil moisture, in contrast to E. camaldulensis. Consistent with our hypotheses A. aptaneura was relatively more anisohydric than E. camaldulensis (seasonal leaf water potential of −7.2 to −0.8 MPa cf. −1.4 to −0.3 MPa). Additionally, compared to E. camaldulensis, A. aptaneura had lower water potential at turgor loss (−2.5 cf. −1.1 MPa); a larger Huber value; smaller, narrower and thicker phyllodes/leaves; and larger photosynthetic capacity (Jmax); and larger water-use efficiency. Further, water-use efficiency for E. camaldulensis was similar to species receiving annual rainfall of 1500 mm, despite annual rainfall of 348 mm. We conclude that mean annual rainfall is the dominant determinant of water and carbon relations for A. aptaneura, but not E. camaldulensis. This has important implications for ecosystem-scale transpiration and primary productivity across this arid zone.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140101150
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Arid Environments	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.01.003	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Ecology	en_US
dc.title	Contrasting ecophysiology of two widespread arid zone tree species with differing access to water resources	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	153	en_US
utslib.for	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
utslib.for	0606 Physiology	en_US
utslib.for	04 Earth Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	153	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Arid environments can support the seemingly unlikely coexistence of species tolerant of, or sensitive to, dry soil moisture. Here, we examine water-use and carbon-gain traits in two widespread tree species in central Australia: Acacia aptaneura and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The former has a shallow root distribution and relies on soil moisture, while the latter is groundwater dependent. We hypothesised that A. aptaneura would exhibit a suite of characteristics that confer tolerance to low soil moisture, in contrast to E. camaldulensis. Consistent with our hypotheses A. aptaneura was relatively more anisohydric than E. camaldulensis (seasonal leaf water potential of −7.2 to −0.8 MPa cf. −1.4 to −0.3 MPa). Additionally, compared to E. camaldulensis, A. aptaneura had lower water potential at turgor loss (−2.5 cf. −1.1 MPa); a larger Huber value; smaller, narrower and thicker phyllodes/leaves; and larger photosynthetic capacity (Jmax); and larger water-use efficiency. Further, water-use efficiency for E. camaldulensis was similar to species receiving annual rainfall of 1500 mm, despite annual rainfall of 348 mm. We conclude that mean annual rainfall is the dominant determinant of water and carbon relations for A. aptaneura, but not E. camaldulensis. This has important implications for ecosystem-scale transpiration and primary productivity across this arid zone.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/128487