BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
Water source partitioning among plant functional types in a semi-arid dune ecosystem

Participants in the publication
Cristina Antunes (Author)
Mari Cruz Díaz-Barradas (Author)
Maria Zunzunegui (Author)
Simone Vieira (Author)
Cristina Máguas (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c

Summary
Abstract\nQuestion(s)\nThe aim of this work was to characterize the main water sources used by the woody plant community of a semi?arid coastal dune ecosystem. We ask: Do the seasonal water sources used by plants differ between functional types? Does the seasonal drought promote shifts towards deeper soil layers in all plants? Does greater use of deep soil water enables the maintenance of a more favorable plant water status? Do water?sources?use strategies mirror overall drought strategies?\n\nLocation\nSemi?arid coastal dune system in Doñana Biological Reserve, southwest Spain.\n\nMethods\nWe analyzed the oxygen isotope composition of xylem water of fourteen coexisting woody species and compared it to water sources (soil water at different depths, rain and groundwater), both in spring and dry summer. Bayesian isotope mixing models were used to estimate the proportion of each water source used by plants. We tested the influence of different (categorical) traits on plants’ water?source?use. We evaluated the relationships between the use of deep soil water and ecophysiological parameters related to water economy (leaf δ13C and reflectance water?index).\n\nResults\nA greater similarity between species was found in periods of higher water availability (spring). Contrastingly, during the dry period the traits considered showed a significant effect on the water sources used and a high inter?specific differentiation was observed. Accordingly, species clustered in five water?use functional groups, exploring water from shallower to deeper soil layers. Greater use of deep soil layers in the dry season was linked to a better seasonal maintenance of plant water status.\n\nConclusions\nCoexisting plant functional types segregated along a spectrum of water?source?use under extremely dry conditions, evidencing great soil water partitioning. Relevant seasonal water?use shifts towards deeper soil layers were observed, but not in all species. Furthermore, we confirmed that the water?source?use behavior accompanied broader strategies of drought resistance.


Where published
Journal of Vegetation Science

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 1100-9233

Publisher
Wiley



Document Identifiers
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12647
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12647

Rankings
Web Of Science Q1 (2018) - 2.944 - PLANT SCIENCES - SCIE
SCIMAGO Q1 (2018) - 1.411 - Ecology
SCIMAGO Q1 (2018) - 1.411 - Plant Science

Keywords
coexistence drought dry conditions functional groups Mediterranean groundwater use sandy coastal ecosystem soil water partitioning stable isotope mixing model water sources segregation water?use shifts