Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin
Water-use efficiency (WUE), weighing the balance between plant transpiration and growth, is a key characteristic of ecosystem functioning and a component of tree drought resistance. Seasonal dynamics of tree-level WUE and its connections with drought variability have not been previously explored in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.787297/full |
| _version_ | 1818979142983483392 |
|---|---|
| author | Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Emanuele Ziaco Franco Biondi |
| author_facet | Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Emanuele Ziaco Franco Biondi |
| author_sort | Xinsheng Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water-use efficiency (WUE), weighing the balance between plant transpiration and growth, is a key characteristic of ecosystem functioning and a component of tree drought resistance. Seasonal dynamics of tree-level WUE and its connections with drought variability have not been previously explored in sky-island montane forests. We investigated whole-tree transpiration and stem growth of bristlecone (Pinus longaeva) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) within a high-elevation stand in central-eastern Nevada, United States, using sub-hourly measurements over 5 years (2013–2017). A moderate drought was generally observed early in the growing season, whereas interannual variability of summer rains determined drought levels between years, i.e., reducing drought stress in 2013–2014 while enhancing it in 2015–2017. Transpiration and basal area increment (BAI) of both pines were coupled throughout June–July, resulting in a high but relatively constant early season WUE. In contrast, both pines showed high interannual plasticity in late-season WUE, with a predominant role of stem growth in driving WUE. Overall, bristlecone pine was characterized by a lower WUE compared to limber pine. Dry or wet episodes in the late growing season overrode species differences. Our results suggested thresholds of vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture that would lead to opposite responses of WUE to late-season dry or wet conditions. These findings provide novel insights and clarify potential mechanisms modulating tree-level WUE in sky-island ecosystems of semi-arid regions, thereby helping land managers to design appropriate science-based strategies and reduce uncertainties associated with the impact of future climatic changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:54:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58c0453db4b14d74883d2dec6df20159 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:54:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-58c0453db4b14d74883d2dec6df201592022-12-21T19:32:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2021-12-011210.3389/fpls.2021.787297787297Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great BasinXinsheng Liu0Xinsheng Liu1Xinsheng Liu2Emanuele Ziaco3Franco Biondi4School of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, ChinaDendroLab, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United StatesCollege of Tourism and Geography, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, ChinaDepartment of Ecology and Genetics, Plant Ecology and Evolution, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, SwedenDendroLab, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United StatesWater-use efficiency (WUE), weighing the balance between plant transpiration and growth, is a key characteristic of ecosystem functioning and a component of tree drought resistance. Seasonal dynamics of tree-level WUE and its connections with drought variability have not been previously explored in sky-island montane forests. We investigated whole-tree transpiration and stem growth of bristlecone (Pinus longaeva) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) within a high-elevation stand in central-eastern Nevada, United States, using sub-hourly measurements over 5 years (2013–2017). A moderate drought was generally observed early in the growing season, whereas interannual variability of summer rains determined drought levels between years, i.e., reducing drought stress in 2013–2014 while enhancing it in 2015–2017. Transpiration and basal area increment (BAI) of both pines were coupled throughout June–July, resulting in a high but relatively constant early season WUE. In contrast, both pines showed high interannual plasticity in late-season WUE, with a predominant role of stem growth in driving WUE. Overall, bristlecone pine was characterized by a lower WUE compared to limber pine. Dry or wet episodes in the late growing season overrode species differences. Our results suggested thresholds of vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture that would lead to opposite responses of WUE to late-season dry or wet conditions. These findings provide novel insights and clarify potential mechanisms modulating tree-level WUE in sky-island ecosystems of semi-arid regions, thereby helping land managers to design appropriate science-based strategies and reduce uncertainties associated with the impact of future climatic changes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.787297/fullwhole-tree transpirationbristlecone pinePinus longaevalimber pinePinus flexilissubalpine forests |
| spellingShingle | Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Xinsheng Liu Emanuele Ziaco Franco Biondi Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin Frontiers in Plant Science whole-tree transpiration bristlecone pine Pinus longaeva limber pine Pinus flexilis subalpine forests |
| title | Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin |
| title_full | Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin |
| title_fullStr | Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin |
| title_short | Water-Use Efficiency of Co-occurring Sky-Island Pine Species in the North American Great Basin |
| title_sort | water use efficiency of co occurring sky island pine species in the north american great basin |
| topic | whole-tree transpiration bristlecone pine Pinus longaeva limber pine Pinus flexilis subalpine forests |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.787297/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xinshengliu wateruseefficiencyofcooccurringskyislandpinespeciesinthenorthamericangreatbasin AT xinshengliu wateruseefficiencyofcooccurringskyislandpinespeciesinthenorthamericangreatbasin AT xinshengliu wateruseefficiencyofcooccurringskyislandpinespeciesinthenorthamericangreatbasin AT emanueleziaco wateruseefficiencyofcooccurringskyislandpinespeciesinthenorthamericangreatbasin AT francobiondi wateruseefficiencyofcooccurringskyislandpinespeciesinthenorthamericangreatbasin |