Convergence of tree water use within an arid-zone woodland

O'Grady, AP; Cook, PG; Eamus, D; Duguid, A; Wischusen, JDH; Fass, T; Worldege, D

Convergence of tree water use within an arid-zone woodland

O'Grady, AP Cook, PG Eamus, D

Duguid, A Wischusen, JDH Fass, T Worldege, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Oecologia, 2009, 160 (4), pp. 643 - 655
Issue Date:: 2009-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	O'Grady, AP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cook, PG	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Eamus, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2765-8040	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Duguid, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wischusen, JDH	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fass, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Worldege, D	en_US
dc.date.available	2009-03-11	en_US
dc.date.issued	2009-07-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Oecologia, 2009, 160 (4), pp. 643 - 655	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0029-8549	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9322
dc.description.abstract	We examined spatial and temporal patterns of tree water use and aspects of hydraulic architecture in four common tree species of central Australia-Corymbia opaca, Eucalyptus victrix, E. camaldulensis and Acacia aneura-to better understand processes that constrain water use in these environments. These four widely distributed species occupy contrasting niches within arid environments including woodlands, floodplains and riparian environments. Measurements of tree water use and leaf water potential were made at two sites with contrasting water table depths during a period of high soil water availability following summer rainfall and during a period of low soil water availability following 7 months of very little rainfall during 2007. There were significant differences in specific leaf area (SLA), sapwood area to leaf area ratios and sapwood density between species. Sapwood to leaf area ratio increased in all species from April to November indicating a decline in leaf area per unit sapwood area. Despite very little rainfall in the intervening period three species, C. opaca, E. victrix and E. camaldulensis maintained high leaf water potentials and tree water use during both periods. In contrast, leaf water potential and water use in the A. aneura were significantly reduced in November compared to April. Despite contrasting morphology and water use strategies, we observed considerable convergence in water use among the four species. Wood density in particular was strongly related to SLA, sapwood area to leaf area ratios and soil to leaf conductance, with all four species converging on a common relationship. Identifying convergence in hydraulic traits can potentially provide powerful tools for scaling physiological processes in natural ecosystems. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Oecologia	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s00442-009-1332-y	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Ecology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Plant Leaves	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Trees	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Water	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Soil	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Analysis of Variance	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environment	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Seasons	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Species Specificity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Plant Transpiration	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Northern Territory	en_US
dc.title	Convergence of tree water use within an arid-zone woodland	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	160	en_US
utslib.for	0607 Plant Biology	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
dc.location.activity	ISI:000267165500003	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
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	160	en_US

Abstract:

We examined spatial and temporal patterns of tree water use and aspects of hydraulic architecture in four common tree species of central Australia-Corymbia opaca, Eucalyptus victrix, E. camaldulensis and Acacia aneura-to better understand processes that constrain water use in these environments. These four widely distributed species occupy contrasting niches within arid environments including woodlands, floodplains and riparian environments. Measurements of tree water use and leaf water potential were made at two sites with contrasting water table depths during a period of high soil water availability following summer rainfall and during a period of low soil water availability following 7 months of very little rainfall during 2007. There were significant differences in specific leaf area (SLA), sapwood area to leaf area ratios and sapwood density between species. Sapwood to leaf area ratio increased in all species from April to November indicating a decline in leaf area per unit sapwood area. Despite very little rainfall in the intervening period three species, C. opaca, E. victrix and E. camaldulensis maintained high leaf water potentials and tree water use during both periods. In contrast, leaf water potential and water use in the A. aneura were significantly reduced in November compared to April. Despite contrasting morphology and water use strategies, we observed considerable convergence in water use among the four species. Wood density in particular was strongly related to SLA, sapwood area to leaf area ratios and soil to leaf conductance, with all four species converging on a common relationship. Identifying convergence in hydraulic traits can potentially provide powerful tools for scaling physiological processes in natural ecosystems. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9322