Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits in miombo woodlands: implications for water stress management and species habitat preference

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits among nine miombo woodlands canopy tree species differing in habitat preference and phenology. Specifically, we were seeking to answer the question: are branch hydraulic properties coordinated with leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance in seasonally dry tropical forests and what are the implications for species habitat preference? The hydraulic properties investigated in this study were stem area specific hydraulic conductivity (K S), Huber value (H v), and xylem cavitation vulnerability (Ψ50). The leaf functional traits measured were specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and mean leaf area (MLA). Generalists displayed significantly (P < 0.05) higher cavitation resistance (Ψ50) and SLA, but lower sapwood specific hydraulic conductivity (K S), leaf specific conductivity (K L), MLA, and LDMC than mesic specialists. Although MLA was uncorrelated with Ψ50, we found significant (P < 0.05) positive and negative correlations between plant hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance ability, indicating that the interactions between branch hydraulics and leaf functional traits related to plant drought tolerance ability may influence tree species habitat preference in water-limited ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerly DD, Knight CA, Weiss SB, Barton K, Starmer KP (2002) Leaf size, specific leaf area and microhabitat distribution of chaparral woody plants: contrasting patterns in species level and community level analyses. Oecologia 130:449–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodribb T, Hill RS (1999) The importance of xylem constraints in the distribution of conifer species. New Phytol 143:365–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodribb JT, Holbrook NM, Gutierrez MV (2002) Hydraulic and photosynthetic co-ordination in seasonally dry tropical forest trees. Plant Cell Environ 25:35–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canham AC, Froend RH, Stock WD (2009) Water stress vulnerability of four Banksia species in contrasting ecohydrological habitats on the Gnangara Mound, Western Australia. Plant Cell Environ 32:64–72

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chidumayo EN (1987) Species structure in Zambian miombo woodland. J Appl Ecol 3:109–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochard H, Cruiziat P, Tyree MT (1992) Use of positive pressure to establish vulnerability curves. Plant Physiol 100:205–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eamus D, Myers B, Duff G, Williams R (1999) A cost–benefit analysis of leaves of eight Australian savanna tree species of differing leaf lifespan. Photosynthetica 36:575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engelbrecht BMJ, Velez V, Tyree MT (2000) Hydraulic conductance of two co-occuring neotropical understorey shrubs with different habitat preferences. Ann For Sci 57:201–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca CR, Overton JM, Collins B, Westoby M (2000) Shifts in trait-combination along rainfall and phosphorus gradients. J Appl Ecol 88:964–977

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost P. (1996) The ecology of miombo woodlands. In: Campbell B (ed) The miombo in transition: woodlands and welfare in Africa. CIFOR, Bogor, pp 11–57

  • Garnier E, Shipley B, Roumet C, Laurent G (2001) A standardized protocol for the determination of specific leaf area and dry matter content. Funct Ecol 15:688–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groom PK, Lamont BB (1997) Xerophytic implications of increased sclerophylly: interactions with water and light in Hakea psilorrhyncha seedlings. New Phytol 136:231–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann WA, Franco AC (2003) Comparative growth 378 analysis of tropical forest and savanna woody plants using phylogenetically independent contrasts. J Ecol 91:475–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins W, Hüner PAN (2009) Introduction to plant physiology. Wiley, New Jersey, p 503

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard RM, Ryan MG, Stiller V, Sperry JS (2001) Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis vary linearly with plant hydraulic conductance in ponderosa pine. Plant Cell Environ 24:113–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Kikuzawa K (1995) The basis for variation in leaf longevity of plants. Vegetatio 121:89–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb KJ, Sperry JS, Lamont BB (1996) A method for measuring xylem hydraulic conductance and embolism in entire root and shoot systems. J Exp Bot 47:1805–1810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kursar TA, Engelbrecht BMJ, Burke A, Tyree MT, EI Omari B, Giraldo JP (2009) Tolerance to low leaf water status of tropical tree seedlings is related to drought performance and distribution. Funct Ecol 23:93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamont BB, Groom PK, Cowling RM (2002) High leaf mass per area of related species assemblages may reflect low rainfall and carbon isotope discrimination rather than low phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations. Funct Ecol 16:403–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez O, Kursar TA, Cochard H, Tyree MT (2005) Interspecific variation in xylem vulnerability to cavitation among tropical tree and shrub species. Tree Physiol 25:1553–1562

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malaisse F (1978) The Miombo Ecosystem. In: UNESCO (ed) Tropical forest ecosystems: a state-of-knowledge report prepared by UNESCO/UNEP/FAO. UNESCO, Paris, pp 589–606

  • Mencuccini M (2003) The ecological significance of long-distance water transport: short term regulation, long-term acclimation and the hydraulic costs of stature across plant life forms. Plant Cell Environ 26:163–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy PG, Lugo AE (1986) Ecology of tropical dry forest. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 17:67–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets U (2001) Global-scale climatic controls of leaf dry mass per area, density, and thickness in trees and shrubs. Ecology 82:453–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oertli JJ, Lips SH, Agami M (1990) The strength of sclerophyllous cells to resist collapse due to negative turgor pressure. Acta Oecol 11:281–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Pammenter NW, Van der Willigen C (1998) A mathematical and statistical analysis of the curves illustrating vulnerability to xylem to cavitation. Tree Physiol 18:589–593

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst FD, Loucks OL (1972) Optimal leaf size in relation to environment. J Ecol 60:505–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patino S, Tyree MT, Herre EA (1995) Comparison of hydraulic architecture of woody plants of differing phylogeny and growth form with special reference to free standing and hemi-epiphytic Ficus species from Panama. New Phytol 129:125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pockman WT, Sperry JS (2000) Vulnerability to xylem cavitation and the distribution of Sonoran desert vegetation. Am J Bot 87:1287–1299

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS (1997) From tropics to tundra: global convergence in plant functioning. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:13730–13734

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabrado MA (1991) Cost–benefit relationships in deciduous and evergreen leaves of tropical dry forest species. Funct Ecol 5:608–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellin A, Kupper P (2006) Spatial variation in sapwood area ratio and specific leaf area within a crown of silver birch. Trees 20:311–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith P, Allen Q (2004) Field guide to trees and shrubs of the miombo woodlands. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sperry JS, Donnelly JR, Tyree MT (1988) A method for measuring hydraulic conductivity and embolism in xylem. Plant Cell Environ 11:35–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyree MT, Zimmermann MH (2002) Xylem structure and the ascent of sap, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin

  • Van der Willigen C, Sherwin HW, Pammenter NW (2000) Xylem hydraulic characteristics of subtropical trees from contrasting habitats grown under identical environmental conditions. New Phytol 145:51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villar R, Merino J (2001) Comparison of leaf construction costs in woody species with differing leaf life-spans in contrasting ecosystems. New Phytol 151:213–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westoby M (1998) A leaf–height–seed (LHS) plant ecology strategy scheme. Plant Soil 199:213–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westoby M, Wright IJ (2003) The leaf size–twig size spectrum and its relationship to other important spectra of variation among species. Oecologia 135:621–628

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White F (1983) The vegetation of Africa: a descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa. UNESCO, Paris

  • Williams K, Field CB, Mooney HA (1989) Relationships among leaf construction cost, leaf longevity, and light environment in rain forest plants of the genus Piper. Am Nat 133:198–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson PJ, Thompson K, Hodgson JG (1999) Specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content as alternative predictors of plant strategies. New Phytol 143:155–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright IJ, Westoby M, Reich PB (2002) Convergence towards higher leaf mass per area in dry and nutrient-poor habitats has different consequences for leaf life span. J Ecol 90:534–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (2010) Biostatistical analysis, 5th edn. Pearson Education International, London

  • Zimmermann U (1978) Physics of turgor- and osmoregulation. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 29:121–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann MH (1983) Xylem structure and the ascent of sap. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The lead author was funded by a scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Copperbelt University. We wish to thank the late Principal for Zambia Forestry College Saxon, Nyela Siame, who provided laboratory space at the wet miombo site. The District Forestry Officer for Choma District, Jones Mulomba, is greatly appreciated for his logistical support during our stay on the dry site. Laboratory assistants in Zambia, Milimo Miyoba and Metson Kasowe, are also acknowledged. The comments by two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the structure of this manuscript, for which we remain greatly indebted.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Riverside Campus, Jambo Drive, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia

    Royd Vinya

  2. Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK

    Royd Vinya, Yadvinder Malhi & Joshua B. Fisher

  3. Plant Sciences Department, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK

    Nick Brown

Authors
  1. Royd Vinya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yadvinder Malhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nick Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joshua B. Fisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Royd Vinya.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Franklin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vinya, R., Malhi, Y., Brown, N. et al. Functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits in miombo woodlands: implications for water stress management and species habitat preference. Acta Physiol Plant 34, 1701–1710 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-0965-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-0965-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation