Journal ArticleDOI
Hydraulic properties of European elms: xylem safety-efficiency tradeoff and species distribution in the Iberian Peninsula
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TLDR
Although all three elms were highly vulnerable to cavitation, U. minor was significantly more resistant to water stress cavitation and its hydraulic configuration was better adapted to overcome drought episodes.Abstract:
Ulmus minor
and
U. glabra
show a trade-off between safety and efficiency in water transport, and
U. laevis
shows adaptations to waterlogged environments.
Three native elm species grow in Europe: Ulmus minor Mill., U. glabra Huds. and U. laevis Pall., and within the Iberian Peninsula their habitats mainly differ in water availability. We evaluated firstly whether vulnerability to xylem embolism caused by water-stress has been a determinant factor affecting their distribution; secondly, if their xylem anatomy differs due to water availability dissimilarities; and thirdly, if these species present a trade-off between water transport safety and efficiency. Plants of the three species were grown in a common-garden in Madrid, Central Spain. The centrifuge method was used for constructing the vulnerability curves, and anatomical measurements were carried out with an optical microscope. We found clear differences in conductivity and cavitation vulnerability between the three species. Although all three elms were highly vulnerable to cavitation, U. minor was significantly more resistant to water stress cavitation. This species reached 50 % loss in conductivity at −1.1 MPa, compared to U. glabra that did so at −0.5 MPa, and U. laevis at −0.4 MPa. Maximum xylem specific conductivity and maximum leaf specific conductivity were two to three times higher in U. glabra when compared to U. minor. A clear trade-off between safety against losses of conductivity and water transport efficiency was observed considering both U. minor and U. glabra samples. Ulmus minor’s hydraulic configuration was better adapted to overcome drought episodes. The expected aridification of the Iberian Peninsula could compromise Ulmus populations due to their high vulnerability to drought stress.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Drought-induced shoot dieback starts with massive root xylem embolism and variable depletion of nonstructural carbohydrates in seedlings of two tree species
Jesús Rodríguez-Calcerrada,Meng Li,Rosana López,Francisco Javier Cano,Jacek Oleksyn,Owen K. Atkin,Pilar Pita,Ismael Aranda,Luis Gil +8 more
TL;DR: The role that plant respiration (R) plays in determining carbon budgets under drought is investigated and differences in drought resistance relied on the ability to maintain hydraulic conductivity during drought, rather than tolerating conductivity loss.
Journal ArticleDOI
Understanding and predicting forest mortality in the western United States using long-term forest inventory data and modeled hydraulic damage
TL;DR: HM outputs, including hydraulic damage and carbon assimilation diagnostics, moderately improve mortality prediction across the western US compared to models using stand and climate predictors alone.
Journal ArticleDOI
Greater resistance to flooding of seedlings of Ulmus laevis than Ulmus minor is related to the maintenance of a more positive carbon balance
Meng Li,Rosana López,Martin Venturas,Martin Venturas,Pilar Pita,Guillermo G. Gordaliza,Luis Gil,Jesús Rodríguez-Calcerrada +7 more
TL;DR: The data suggest that the inability to maintain a positive carbon balance somehow compromises seedling survival under flooding, earlier in U. minor than U. laevis, partly explaining their differential habitats.
Journal ArticleDOI
Root iron uptake efficiency of Ulmus laevis and U. minor and their distribution in soils of the Iberian Peninsula.
TL;DR: The two elm species were found to have different Fe acquisition efficiencies which may be related to their natural distribution in calcareous and siliceous soils of the Iberian Peninsula.
Journal ArticleDOI
Biological flora of the British isles: Ulmus glabra
TL;DR: Thomas as discussed by the authors presented information on all aspects of the biology of Wych elm that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour, including distribution, habitat, communities, response to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.
References
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Book
Xylem Structure and the Ascent of Sap
TL;DR: Xylem Dysfunction: When Cohesion Breaks Down, the Cohesion-Tension Theory of Sap Ascent and other Functional Adaptations.
Journal ArticleDOI
Trends in wood density and structure are linked to prevention of xylem implosion by negative pressure
TL;DR: The more drought-tolerant the plant, the more negative the xylem pressure can become without cavitation, and the greater the internal load on thexylem conduit walls, and Dt was correlated with cavitation resistance.
Journal ArticleDOI
A method for measuring hydraulic conductivity and embolism in xylem
TL;DR: In this article, the authors measured the hydraulic conductivity of the xylem and found that certain perfusing solutions including dilute fixatives (e.g. 0.05% formaldehyde) and acids with pH below 3 prevent long-term decline in conductivity.
Journal ArticleDOI
Do Woody Plants Operate Near the Point of Catastrophic Xylem Dysfunction Caused by Dynamic Water Stress? : Answers from a Model
Melvin T. Tyree,John S. Sperry +1 more
TL;DR: The model supported Zimmermann's plant segmentation hypothesis, whereby it was suggested that plants are designed hydraulically to sacrifice highly vulnerable minor branches and thus improve the water balance of remaining parts.