Lack of acclimation of leaf area:sapwood area ratios in piñon pine and juniper in response to precipitation reduction and warming

Tree Physiol. 2019 Jan 1;39(1):135-142. doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpy066.

Abstract

The leaf area to sapwood area ratios of trees (Al:AS) can shift to maintain homeostatic gas exchange per unit leaf area in response to climate variability. We tested the hypothesis that trees alter their Al:AS ratios in response to long-term warming and reduced precipitation in order to maintain leaf-specific gas exchange rates under more stressful conditions. Whole-tree Al:AS was measured on mature piñon pine (Pinus edulis Engelm.) and one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sarg.) trees after 5 years (2012-16) of chronic exposure to increased temperature (+4.8 °C), precipitation reduction (-45%), or both simultaneously. No difference was found in Al:As among treatments for either species. Associated with this lack of shift in Al:As were large changes in pre-dawn leaf water potential and stomatal conductance, consistent with theoretical expectations of interactions between leaf and whole-tree hydraulic supply. Our results suggest that a lack of whole-tree acclimation in Al:As results in the reductions in plant gas exchange and water status associated with long-term warming and reduced precipitation in semi-arid woodlands.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization*
  • Droughts
  • Global Warming*
  • Juniperus / anatomy & histology
  • Juniperus / physiology*
  • Pinus / anatomy & histology
  • Pinus / physiology*
  • Plant Leaves / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Leaves / physiology*
  • Trees / anatomy & histology
  • Trees / physiology*
  • Water

Substances

  • Water