Hydraulic regulation strategies of karst forest species exhibit variation across different successional stages in the mid-subtropical zone

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2024.0004

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The karst region encounters challenges such as low resistance to drought and delayed succession due to extensively exposed rocks and shallow soil layers, rendering the surface susceptible to dehydration. The study aims to investigate changes in hydraulic regulation strategies during different successional stages of species of subtropical karst forests. This exploration seeks to understand the mechanisms for adapting to drought following succession, and to establish a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration and reconstruction.

Methods The study centered on dominant species in forest communities along the early, middle, and late stages of succession in karst areas. Various hydraulic traits including the vulnerability of embolism in stems and leaves (P_50S and P_50L), the vulnerability segmentation (P_50L-S), the specific conductivity of stems and leaves (K_S and K_L), the hydraulic safety margin of leaf (HSM_L), density of sapwood, the Huber value, and the specific leaf area (SLA) were investigated.

Important findings (1) No trade-off was found between hydraulic safety and efficiency at either species or community level; P_50S, K_S, and K_L all decreased along the succession. (2) All species exhibited positive vulnerability segmentation, ranging from 0.53 to 6.59 MPa, and the vulnerability segmentation during early succession significantly exceeded those in the middle and late stages of succession. Furthermore, P_50S was identified as the primary determinant of the vulnerability segmentation. (3) The plants at early successional stage exhibited higher resistance to embolism, K_S, and K_L, which enhance the abilities of water transport and drought resistance. Conversely, in the later stage, plants showed larger SLA to improve competition for light resources. Our study reveals the patterns of adjustment of hydraulic regulation strategies, shifting from strategies aimed at improving hydraulic efficiency and safety to strategies aimed at increasing investment in photosynthetic carbon during the succession process of karst forest plants. This provides a theoretical basis to elucidate the mechanisms of adaptation to drought of plants in the succession process of karst forest communities.

Key words: vulnerability segmentation, hydraulic traits, trade-off, community succession, karst forest

LIAO Su-Hui, NI Long-Kang, QIN Jia-Shuang, TAN Yu, GU Da-Xing. Hydraulic regulation strategies of karst forest species exhibit variation across different successional stages in the mid-subtropical zone[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(9): 1223-1231.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2024.0004

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I9/1223

Figures/Tables 6

References 41

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物种 Species	科 Family	代码 Code	生活型 Life form
演替早期 Early-successional stage
圆叶乌桕 Triadica rotundifolia	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	E-Tr	落叶灌木 Deciduous shrub
龙须藤 Phanera championii	豆科 Fabaceae	Phc	常绿木质藤本 Evergreen woody vine
雀梅藤 Sageretia thea	鼠李科 Rhamnaceae	St	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
火棘 Pyracantha fortuneana	蔷薇科 Rosaceae	Pf	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
朴树 Celtis sinensis	大麻科 Cannabaceae	E-Cs	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
演替中期 Mid-successional stage
长叶女贞 Ligustrum compactum	木犀科 Oleaceae	Lc	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
石山巴豆 Croton euryphyllus	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	Ce	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
黄连木 Pistacia chinensis	漆树科 Anacardiaceae	Pic	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
光皮梾木 Cornus wilsoniana	山茱萸科 Cornaceae	M-Cw	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
朴树 Celtis sinensis	大麻科 Cannabaceae	M-Cs	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
南酸枣 Choerospondias axillaris	漆树科 Anacardiaceae	Ca	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
鸡仔木 Sinoadina racemosa	茜草科 Rubiaceae	M-Sr	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
演替后期 Late-successional stage
黄梨木 Boniodendron minus	无患子科 Sapindaceae	Bm	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
青冈 Quercus glauca	壳斗科 Fagaceae	Qg	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
光腺合欢 Albizia calcarea	豆科 Fabaceae	Ac	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
光皮梾木 Cornus wilsoniana	山茱萸科 Cornaceae	L-Cw	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
灰岩润楠 Machilus calcicola	樟科 Lauraceae	Mc	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
圆叶乌桕 Triadica rotundifolia	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	L-Tr	落叶灌木 Deciduous shrub
粗糠柴 Mallotus philippensis	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	Mp	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
鸡仔木 Sinoadina racemosa	茜草科 Rubiaceae	L-Sr	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree

物种 Species	科 Family	代码 Code	生活型 Life form
演替早期 Early-successional stage
圆叶乌桕 Triadica rotundifolia	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	E-Tr	落叶灌木 Deciduous shrub
龙须藤 Phanera championii	豆科 Fabaceae	Phc	常绿木质藤本 Evergreen woody vine
雀梅藤 Sageretia thea	鼠李科 Rhamnaceae	St	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
火棘 Pyracantha fortuneana	蔷薇科 Rosaceae	Pf	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
朴树 Celtis sinensis	大麻科 Cannabaceae	E-Cs	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
演替中期 Mid-successional stage
长叶女贞 Ligustrum compactum	木犀科 Oleaceae	Lc	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
石山巴豆 Croton euryphyllus	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	Ce	常绿灌木 Evergreen shrub
黄连木 Pistacia chinensis	漆树科 Anacardiaceae	Pic	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
光皮梾木 Cornus wilsoniana	山茱萸科 Cornaceae	M-Cw	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
朴树 Celtis sinensis	大麻科 Cannabaceae	M-Cs	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
南酸枣 Choerospondias axillaris	漆树科 Anacardiaceae	Ca	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
鸡仔木 Sinoadina racemosa	茜草科 Rubiaceae	M-Sr	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
演替后期 Late-successional stage
黄梨木 Boniodendron minus	无患子科 Sapindaceae	Bm	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
青冈 Quercus glauca	壳斗科 Fagaceae	Qg	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
光腺合欢 Albizia calcarea	豆科 Fabaceae	Ac	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
光皮梾木 Cornus wilsoniana	山茱萸科 Cornaceae	L-Cw	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree
灰岩润楠 Machilus calcicola	樟科 Lauraceae	Mc	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
圆叶乌桕 Triadica rotundifolia	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	L-Tr	落叶灌木 Deciduous shrub
粗糠柴 Mallotus philippensis	大戟科 Euphorbiaceae	Mp	常绿乔木 Evergreen tree
鸡仔木 Sinoadina racemosa	茜草科 Rubiaceae	L-Sr	落叶乔木 Deciduous tree

性状 Trait	缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit	范围 Range
茎栓塞脆弱性 Vulnerability of stem to embolism	P_50S	MPa	-7.09- -0.83
叶栓塞脆弱性 Vulnerability of leaf to embolism	P_50L	MPa	-1.69- -0.30
脆弱性分割 Vulnerability segmentation	P_50L-S	MPa	0.53-6.59
边材密度 Sapwood density	WD	g·cm^-3	0.43-0.72
茎比导率 Stem specific hydraulic conductivity	K_S	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1	0.69-4.36
胡伯尔值 Huber value	H_V	cm²·g^-1	(0.8-3.0) × 10^-4
叶比导率 Leaf specific hydraulic conductivity	K_L	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1	(0.6-9.0) × 10^-4
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	SLA	m²·kg^-1	6.08-15.03
年最低水势 Lowest water potential at annual	ψ_min	MPa	-6.15- -0.75
叶水力安全边界 Hydraulic safety margin of leaf	HSM_L	MPa	-6.27- -0.25

性状 Trait	缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit	范围 Range
茎栓塞脆弱性 Vulnerability of stem to embolism	P_50S	MPa	-7.09- -0.83
叶栓塞脆弱性 Vulnerability of leaf to embolism	P_50L	MPa	-1.69- -0.30
脆弱性分割 Vulnerability segmentation	P_50L-S	MPa	0.53-6.59
边材密度 Sapwood density	WD	g·cm^-3	0.43-0.72
茎比导率 Stem specific hydraulic conductivity	K_S	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1	0.69-4.36
胡伯尔值 Huber value	H_V	cm²·g^-1	(0.8-3.0) × 10^-4
叶比导率 Leaf specific hydraulic conductivity	K_L	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1	(0.6-9.0) × 10^-4
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	SLA	m²·kg^-1	6.08-15.03
年最低水势 Lowest water potential at annual	ψ_min	MPa	-6.15- -0.75
叶水力安全边界 Hydraulic safety margin of leaf	HSM_L	MPa	-6.27- -0.25

性状 Trait	演替早期 Early-successional stage	演替中期 Mid-successional stage	演替后期 Late-successional stage
P_50S	-3.94 ± 0.85^b	-2.25 ± 0.33^a	-1.98 ± 0.24^a
P_50L	-0.67 ± 0.13^a	-0.82 ± 0.17^a	-0.52 ± 0.04^a
P_50L-S	3.28 ± 0.94^a	1.43 ± 0.24^b	1.46 ± 0.26^b
WD	0.56 ± 0.04^a	0.62 ± 0.02^a	0.553 ± 0.02^a
K_S	2.72 ± 0.52^a	2.43 ± 0.11^ab	1.75 ± 0.20^b
H_v	2.09 × 10^-4 ± 0.00^a	1.44 × 10^-4 ± 0.00^a	1.57 × 10^-4 ± 0.00^a
K_L	4.98 × 10^-4 ± 0.01^a	2.98 × 10^-4 ± 0.00^ab	2.48 × 10^-4 ± 0.00^b
SLA	6.55 ± 0.31^b	11.86 ± 0.84^a	11.83 ± 0.92^a
ψ_min	-4.56 ± 0.78^a	-2.51 ± 0.47^a	-4.21 ± 0.70^a
HSM_L	-3.89 ± 0.74^b	-1.69 ± 0.89^a	-3.04 ± 1.96^b