Dynamic changes of transpiration water age and water utilization strategies for trees at different altitudes in Lushan area

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2024.0022

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims To explore the water age of dominant vegetation at different altitudes in Lushan area in the humid climate region and the strategy of water utilization for different aged sources, so as to provide scientific basis for ecological protection and resource utilization in this region.

Methods Four species of Pinus (P. massoniana at low altitude, P. taiwanensisat high altitude) and Quercus (Q. variabilisat low altitude, Q. serrataat high altitude) from Lushan Mountain were studied, using stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes technology and linear mixing water age model in order to analyze the transpiration water age of dominant vegetation at different altitudes from July 2020 to August 2021. After then, water age results and the MixSIAR source mixture model were combined to analyze the strategy of water utilization and seasonal changes. Simultaneously monitored included the air temperature and humidity, soil water content, root distribution and others. In the end, the seasonal changes of the transpiration water age and the water sources was analyzed with all the available data.

Important findings (1) Plants in Lushan area mainly use the seasonal precipitation, and the age of transpiration water is between 8.67 and 16.68 d. For the same genus of species, the transpiration water age of high altitude tree species is smaller than that of low altitude. Moreover, during the observation period, the water age of P. massoniana was “single valley-shaped” and P. taiwanensiswas “single peak-shaped”. (2) The low-altitude tree species mainly uses shallow soil water in the early rainy season. With the going-on of rainy season, the main water-absorbing layer moves down to the deep layer, and is stabilized in the deep soil in the late rainy season. However, in the late rainy season, the high-altitude tree species mainly use the water in the middle soil level. (3) In comparison, for the low-altitude trees, their water source is less dependent on shallow (0-20 cm) soil and absorbs more of deep (60-100 cm) soil water. High altitude is on the opposite.

Key words: stable water isotopes, time lag in water use, spatial and temporal changes in plant water sources, root distribution

NIU Yun-Ming, JIA Guo-Dong, WANG Xin, LIU Zi-He. Dynamic changes of transpiration water age and water utilization strategies for trees at different altitudes in Lushan area[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(9): 1104-1117.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2024.0022

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I9/1104

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Trees at different altitudes in Lushan area.

Table 1 Summary information of forest plots in Lushan Mountain

样地 Plot	经纬度 Longitude and latitude	海拔 Altitude (m)	林下灌木 Shrub	坡度 Slope (°)	坡向 Aspect	样地规格 Plot standard (m²)
栓皮栎、马尾松混交林 QPMF1	29.50° N, 115.88° E	130	QA, LC	15	半阴坡 Half shady slope	40 × 40
短柄枹栎、黄山松混交林 QPMF2	29.56° N, 115.98° E	1 100	LR, CS	20	阴坡 Shady slope	40 × 40

Fig. 2 Seasonal variation of meteorological factors at different altitudes in Lushan area in 2020-2021. A, Low altitude. B, High altitude.

Fig. 3 Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope composition (δ2H, δ18O) at different altitudes in Lushan area. A, Low altitude. B, High altitude.

Fig. 4 Characteristics of water content changes in different soil layers at low (A) and high altitudes (B) during the research period.

Fig. 5 Distribution of root biomass of Lushan area. A, Pinus massoniana. B, Pinus taiwanensis. C, Quercus variabilis. D, Quercus serrata.

Table 2 Average transpiration water age of dominated trees at different altitudes in Lushan area (d)

树种 Species	日期 Date	平均水龄 Average water age	中位数 Median	标准差 Standard deviation	平均水龄 Average water age	中位数 Median	标准差 Standard deviation
马尾松Pinus massoniana	2020-09-10	16.68^a	16.41	7.09	19.90^a	18.03	7.93
	2021-03-04				10.19^b	9.41	5.07
	2021-05-08				18.56^a	16.52	4.80
黄山松Pinus taiwanensis	2020-09-10	11.79^bc	10.18	4.54	12.85^a	12.85	3.03
	2021-03-04				15.90^a	16.71	5.10
	2021-05-08				9.41^b	8.90	3.36
栓皮栎Quercus variabilis	2020-09-10	13.67^ab	10.03	8.61	14.84^a	11.86	8.12
	2021-03-04				11.39^b	5.23	9.64
	2021-05-08				13.62^a	13.37	8.16
短柄枹栎Quercus serrata	2020-09-10	8.67^c	7.40	6.19	8.86^a	8.69	4.02
	2021-03-04				8.42^b	6.72	6.31
	2021-05-08				9.76^a	6.41	6.30

Fig. 6 Seasonal variation of typical water sources for trees in Lushan area (mean ± SD). A, Pinus massoniana. B, Pinus taiwanensis. C, Quercus variabilis. D, Quercus serrata.

Fig. 7 Seasonal variation of root zone water compensation proportion (β) of typical vegetation in Lushan area.

Fig. 8 Comparison with water source takes time into account (A, C) and without considering time (B, D) (mean ± SD). A, Pinus massoniana. B, Pinus taiwanensis. C, Quercus variabilis. D, Quercus serrata.

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