Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited

Autores
Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan; Meinzer, Frederick C.; Bucci, Sandra Janet; Scholz, Fabian Gustavo; Franco, Augusto C.; Hoffmann, William A.
Año de publicación
2008
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Biologists have long been puzzled by the striking morphological and anatomical characteristics of Neotropical savanna trees which have large scleromorphic leaves, allocate more than half of their total biomass to belowground structures and produce new leaves during the peak of the dry season. Based on results of ongoing interdisciplinary projects in the savannas of central Brazil (cerrado), we reassessed the validity of six paradigms to account for the water economy of savanna vegetation. (1) All savanna woody species are similar in their ability to take up water from deep soil layers where its availability is relatively constant throughout the year. (2) There is no substantial competition between grasses and trees for water resources during the dry season because grasses exclusively explore upper soil layers, whereas trees access water in deeper soil layers. (3) Tree species have access to abundant groundwater, their stomatal control is weak and they tend to transpire freely. (4) Savanna trees experience increased water deficits during the dry season despite their access to deep soil water. (5) Stomatal conductance of savanna species is low at night to prevent nocturnal transpiration, particularly during the dry season. (6) Savanna tree species can be classified into functional groups according to leaf phenology. We evaluated each paradigm and found differences in the patterns of water uptake between deciduous and evergreen tree species, as well as among evergreen tree species, that have implications for regulation of tree water balance. The absence of resource interactions between herbaceous and woody plants is refuted by our observation that herbaceous plants use water from deep soil layers that is released by deep-rooted trees into the upper soil layer. We obtained evidence of strong stomatal control of transpiration and show that most species exhibit homeostasis in maximum water deficit, with midday water potentials being almost identical in the wet and dry seasons. Although stomatal control is strong during the day, nocturnal transpiration is high during the dry season. Our comparative studies showed that the grouping of species into functional categories is somewhat arbitrary and that ranking species along continuous functional axes better represents the ecological complexity of adaptations of cerrado woody species to their seasonal environment.
Fil: Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan. University of Miami; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Meinzer, Frederick C.. USDA Forest Service; Estados Unidos
Fil: Bucci, Sandra Janet. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Scholz, Fabian Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Franco, Augusto C.. Universidade do Brasília; Brasil
Fil: Hoffmann, William A.. University of North Carolina; Estados Unidos
Materia
CERRADO
NIGHTTIME TRANSPIRATION
TROPICAL SAVANNAS
WATER DEFICIT
WATER UPTAKE
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/96684

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network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisitedGoldstein, Guillermo HernanMeinzer, Frederick C.Bucci, Sandra JanetScholz, Fabian GustavoFranco, Augusto C.Hoffmann, William A.CERRADONIGHTTIME TRANSPIRATIONTROPICAL SAVANNASWATER DEFICITWATER UPTAKEhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Biologists have long been puzzled by the striking morphological and anatomical characteristics of Neotropical savanna trees which have large scleromorphic leaves, allocate more than half of their total biomass to belowground structures and produce new leaves during the peak of the dry season. Based on results of ongoing interdisciplinary projects in the savannas of central Brazil (cerrado), we reassessed the validity of six paradigms to account for the water economy of savanna vegetation. (1) All savanna woody species are similar in their ability to take up water from deep soil layers where its availability is relatively constant throughout the year. (2) There is no substantial competition between grasses and trees for water resources during the dry season because grasses exclusively explore upper soil layers, whereas trees access water in deeper soil layers. (3) Tree species have access to abundant groundwater, their stomatal control is weak and they tend to transpire freely. (4) Savanna trees experience increased water deficits during the dry season despite their access to deep soil water. (5) Stomatal conductance of savanna species is low at night to prevent nocturnal transpiration, particularly during the dry season. (6) Savanna tree species can be classified into functional groups according to leaf phenology. We evaluated each paradigm and found differences in the patterns of water uptake between deciduous and evergreen tree species, as well as among evergreen tree species, that have implications for regulation of tree water balance. The absence of resource interactions between herbaceous and woody plants is refuted by our observation that herbaceous plants use water from deep soil layers that is released by deep-rooted trees into the upper soil layer. We obtained evidence of strong stomatal control of transpiration and show that most species exhibit homeostasis in maximum water deficit, with midday water potentials being almost identical in the wet and dry seasons. Although stomatal control is strong during the day, nocturnal transpiration is high during the dry season. Our comparative studies showed that the grouping of species into functional categories is somewhat arbitrary and that ranking species along continuous functional axes better represents the ecological complexity of adaptations of cerrado woody species to their seasonal environment.Fil: Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan. University of Miami; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Meinzer, Frederick C.. USDA Forest Service; Estados UnidosFil: Bucci, Sandra Janet. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Scholz, Fabian Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Franco, Augusto C.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Hoffmann, William A.. University of North Carolina; Estados UnidosOxford University Press2008-12info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/96684Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan; Meinzer, Frederick C.; Bucci, Sandra Janet; Scholz, Fabian Gustavo; Franco, Augusto C.; et al.; Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited; Oxford University Press; Tree Physiology; 28; 3; 12-2008; 395-4040829-318X1758-4469CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1093/treephys/28.3.395info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://academic.oup.com/treephys/article/28/3/395/1655260info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:35:42Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/96684instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:35:42.636CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
title Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
spellingShingle Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
CERRADO
NIGHTTIME TRANSPIRATION
TROPICAL SAVANNAS
WATER DEFICIT
WATER UPTAKE
title_short Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
title_full Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
title_fullStr Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
title_full_unstemmed Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
title_sort Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
Meinzer, Frederick C.
Bucci, Sandra Janet
Scholz, Fabian Gustavo
Franco, Augusto C.
Hoffmann, William A.
author Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
author_facet Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
Meinzer, Frederick C.
Bucci, Sandra Janet
Scholz, Fabian Gustavo
Franco, Augusto C.
Hoffmann, William A.
author_role author
author2 Meinzer, Frederick C.
Bucci, Sandra Janet
Scholz, Fabian Gustavo
Franco, Augusto C.
Hoffmann, William A.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv CERRADO
NIGHTTIME TRANSPIRATION
TROPICAL SAVANNAS
WATER DEFICIT
WATER UPTAKE
topic CERRADO
NIGHTTIME TRANSPIRATION
TROPICAL SAVANNAS
WATER DEFICIT
WATER UPTAKE
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Biologists have long been puzzled by the striking morphological and anatomical characteristics of Neotropical savanna trees which have large scleromorphic leaves, allocate more than half of their total biomass to belowground structures and produce new leaves during the peak of the dry season. Based on results of ongoing interdisciplinary projects in the savannas of central Brazil (cerrado), we reassessed the validity of six paradigms to account for the water economy of savanna vegetation. (1) All savanna woody species are similar in their ability to take up water from deep soil layers where its availability is relatively constant throughout the year. (2) There is no substantial competition between grasses and trees for water resources during the dry season because grasses exclusively explore upper soil layers, whereas trees access water in deeper soil layers. (3) Tree species have access to abundant groundwater, their stomatal control is weak and they tend to transpire freely. (4) Savanna trees experience increased water deficits during the dry season despite their access to deep soil water. (5) Stomatal conductance of savanna species is low at night to prevent nocturnal transpiration, particularly during the dry season. (6) Savanna tree species can be classified into functional groups according to leaf phenology. We evaluated each paradigm and found differences in the patterns of water uptake between deciduous and evergreen tree species, as well as among evergreen tree species, that have implications for regulation of tree water balance. The absence of resource interactions between herbaceous and woody plants is refuted by our observation that herbaceous plants use water from deep soil layers that is released by deep-rooted trees into the upper soil layer. We obtained evidence of strong stomatal control of transpiration and show that most species exhibit homeostasis in maximum water deficit, with midday water potentials being almost identical in the wet and dry seasons. Although stomatal control is strong during the day, nocturnal transpiration is high during the dry season. Our comparative studies showed that the grouping of species into functional categories is somewhat arbitrary and that ranking species along continuous functional axes better represents the ecological complexity of adaptations of cerrado woody species to their seasonal environment.
Fil: Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan. University of Miami; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Meinzer, Frederick C.. USDA Forest Service; Estados Unidos
Fil: Bucci, Sandra Janet. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Scholz, Fabian Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina
Fil: Franco, Augusto C.. Universidade do Brasília; Brasil
Fil: Hoffmann, William A.. University of North Carolina; Estados Unidos
description Biologists have long been puzzled by the striking morphological and anatomical characteristics of Neotropical savanna trees which have large scleromorphic leaves, allocate more than half of their total biomass to belowground structures and produce new leaves during the peak of the dry season. Based on results of ongoing interdisciplinary projects in the savannas of central Brazil (cerrado), we reassessed the validity of six paradigms to account for the water economy of savanna vegetation. (1) All savanna woody species are similar in their ability to take up water from deep soil layers where its availability is relatively constant throughout the year. (2) There is no substantial competition between grasses and trees for water resources during the dry season because grasses exclusively explore upper soil layers, whereas trees access water in deeper soil layers. (3) Tree species have access to abundant groundwater, their stomatal control is weak and they tend to transpire freely. (4) Savanna trees experience increased water deficits during the dry season despite their access to deep soil water. (5) Stomatal conductance of savanna species is low at night to prevent nocturnal transpiration, particularly during the dry season. (6) Savanna tree species can be classified into functional groups according to leaf phenology. We evaluated each paradigm and found differences in the patterns of water uptake between deciduous and evergreen tree species, as well as among evergreen tree species, that have implications for regulation of tree water balance. The absence of resource interactions between herbaceous and woody plants is refuted by our observation that herbaceous plants use water from deep soil layers that is released by deep-rooted trees into the upper soil layer. We obtained evidence of strong stomatal control of transpiration and show that most species exhibit homeostasis in maximum water deficit, with midday water potentials being almost identical in the wet and dry seasons. Although stomatal control is strong during the day, nocturnal transpiration is high during the dry season. Our comparative studies showed that the grouping of species into functional categories is somewhat arbitrary and that ranking species along continuous functional axes better represents the ecological complexity of adaptations of cerrado woody species to their seasonal environment.
publishDate 2008
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2008-12
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/96684
Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan; Meinzer, Frederick C.; Bucci, Sandra Janet; Scholz, Fabian Gustavo; Franco, Augusto C.; et al.; Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited; Oxford University Press; Tree Physiology; 28; 3; 12-2008; 395-404
0829-318X
1758-4469
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/96684
identifier_str_mv Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan; Meinzer, Frederick C.; Bucci, Sandra Janet; Scholz, Fabian Gustavo; Franco, Augusto C.; et al.; Water economy of Neotropical savanna trees: Six paradigms revisited; Oxford University Press; Tree Physiology; 28; 3; 12-2008; 395-404
0829-318X
1758-4469
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1093/treephys/28.3.395
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://academic.oup.com/treephys/article/28/3/395/1655260
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
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repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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