Regional differentiation of cooperative relationships between Ulmus pumila branches and leaves along precipitation gradients

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2024.0050

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Changes in precipitation characteristics, such as drought, prolonged dry season, and increased dry-wet alternation, lead to variations in plant functional traits. These changes trigger adjustments in the cooperative relationship of plant functional traits within a single organ or between multiple organs. Consequently, plant behavior and adaptation strategies change accordingly. However, the quantitative relationships and mechanisms behind this process are still unclear. This study aims to measure the specific responses of common species to climate across regions along a precipitation gradient, quantify the trait-environment relationship, elucidate the regulatory mechanism, and reveal the regional differentiation of functional traits and adaptation strategies of common species. This study will provide data support and solid scientific basis for climate management.

Methods The study focused on Ulmus pumila as the experimental subject. Ten sites were selected along a precipitation gradient from southeast to northwest China, where 28 functional traits of branches and leaves were measured. We analyzed the regional differentiation of branch and leaf traits, as well as their trade-offs. Furthermore, we quantified the regional differentiation of collaborative relationships among functional traits of branches and leaves along the precipitation gradient, revealing the adaptation strategies of U. pumila to varying moisture environments.

Important findings The results showed that: (1) In humid regions, U. pumila branches exhibited the highest hydraulic conductivity (K_s) and the lowest cavitation resistance (P₅₀); as precipitation decreased, leaf thickness and leaf tissue structure tightness increased, enhancing U. pumila’s drought resistance. (2) Across the entire precipitation gradient, there was an efficiency-safety trade-off within branches and between branches and leaves of U. pumila; however, at the regional scale, this trade-off relationship decoupled with decreasing precipitation. (3) Correlation analyses of branch and leaf functional traits revealed that, across the entire precipitation gradient, maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and leaf mass per unit area were negatively correlated with K_s and positively correlated with P₅₀. Ulmus pumila regulated photosynthesis through coordinated adjustments of branch water transport capacity and leaf functional traits. The coordination and adjustment of branch and leaf functional traits are crucial mechanisms for U. pumila to adapt to varying moisture environments.

Key words: functional traits, hydraulic efficiency, cavitation resistance, trade-off, adaptive strategy

LI Shu-Wen, TANG Lu-Yao, ZHANG Bo-Na, YE Lin-Feng, TONG Jin-Lian, XIE Jiang-Bo, LI Yan, WANG Zhong-Yuan. Regional differentiation of cooperative relationships between Ulmus pumila branches and leaves along precipitation gradients[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(2): 282-294.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2024.0050

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2025/V49/I2/282

Figures/Tables 7

References 51

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样点 Site	缩写 Abbreviation	经度 Longitude (° E)	纬度 Latitude (°N)	海拔 Altitude (m)	年平均气温 Mean annual air temperature (℃)	平均年降水量 Mean annual precipitation (mm)
浙江天目山 Tianmushan, Zhejiang	TMS	119.44	30.34	1 142.00	15.30	1 390.00
河南鸡公山 Jigongshan, Henan	JGS	114.09	31.87	260.00	15.20	1 118.00
河南宝天曼 Baotianman, Henan	BTM	111.93	33.52	1 426.50	14.00	823.30
河南济源 Jiyuan, Henan	JY	112.50	35.05	384.75	9.60	614.50
陕西安塞 Ansai, Shaanxi	AS	109.32	36.86	1 218.00	7.90	534.00
宁夏固原 Guyuan, Ningxia	GY	106.40	35.97	1 831.00	6.80	495.70
宁夏沙坡头 Shapotou, Ningxia	SPT	104.99	37.46	1 247.00	6.60	186.00
甘肃民勤 Minqin, Gansu	MQ	103.14	38.66	1 376.00	7.90	113.20
甘肃瓜州 Guazhou, Gansu	GZ	95.78	40.50	1 139.00	7.60	54.40
新疆阜康 Fukang, Xinjiang	FK	87.93	44.29	465.00	6.00	158.80

样点 Site	缩写 Abbreviation	经度 Longitude (° E)	纬度 Latitude (°N)	海拔 Altitude (m)	年平均气温 Mean annual air temperature (℃)	平均年降水量 Mean annual precipitation (mm)
浙江天目山 Tianmushan, Zhejiang	TMS	119.44	30.34	1 142.00	15.30	1 390.00
河南鸡公山 Jigongshan, Henan	JGS	114.09	31.87	260.00	15.20	1 118.00
河南宝天曼 Baotianman, Henan	BTM	111.93	33.52	1 426.50	14.00	823.30
河南济源 Jiyuan, Henan	JY	112.50	35.05	384.75	9.60	614.50
陕西安塞 Ansai, Shaanxi	AS	109.32	36.86	1 218.00	7.90	534.00
宁夏固原 Guyuan, Ningxia	GY	106.40	35.97	1 831.00	6.80	495.70
宁夏沙坡头 Shapotou, Ningxia	SPT	104.99	37.46	1 247.00	6.60	186.00
甘肃民勤 Minqin, Gansu	MQ	103.14	38.66	1 376.00	7.90	113.20
甘肃瓜州 Guazhou, Gansu	GZ	95.78	40.50	1 139.00	7.60	54.40
新疆阜康 Fukang, Xinjiang	FK	87.93	44.29	465.00	6.00	158.80

性状 Trait		缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit
叶性状 Leaf trait	最大净光合速率 Maximum net photosynthetic rate	P_n¹⁾	µmol·m^-2·s^-1
	单位质量最大净光合速率 Maximum net photosynthetic rate per unit leaf mass	A_mass¹⁾	µmol·g^-1·s^-1
	可操作气孔导度 Maximized operational stomatal conductance	G_op¹⁾	mol·m^-2·s^-1
	解剖学最大气孔导度 Anatomical maximum stomatal conductanc	G_smax¹⁾	mol·m^-2·s^-1
	气孔打开比率 Stomatal opening ratio during gas exchange at light saturated conditions	G_ratio¹⁾	%
	水分利用效率 Water use efficiency	WUE ¹⁾	%
	膨压损失点叶水势 Turgor pressure loss point leaf water potential	Ψ_tlp¹⁾	MPa
	气孔大小 Stomatal size	S_s¹⁾	µm²
	气孔密度 Stomatal density	S_d¹⁾	pore·mm^-2
	气孔面积分数 Stomatal area fraction	S_f¹⁾	%
	比叶质量 Leaf mass per area	LMA ¹⁾	g·m^-2
	叶脉密度 Vein density	D_v¹⁾	mm·mm^-2
	叶片厚度 Leaf thickness	LT	µm
	上表皮厚度 Upper tissue thickness	UET	µm
	下表皮厚度 Lower tissue thickness	LET	µm
	栅栏组织厚度 Palisade tissue thickness	PMT	µm
	海绵组织厚度 Sponge tissue thickness	SMT	µm
	栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度 Ratio of palisade tissue thickness to sponge tissue thickness	PMT/SMT
	组织紧密度 Leaf tissue structure tightness	CTR
	组织疏松度 Looseness of leaf tissue structure	SR
枝性状 Branch trait	胡伯尔值 Huber value	H_v¹⁾	10³ mm²·cm^-2
	导管直径 Vessel diameter	D	µm
	导管密度 Vessel density	N_v	pore·µm^-2
	导管壁厚 Double thickness of vessel wall	T_w	µm
	导管厚度跨度比 Thickness-to-span ratio	T_tob	10³
	木质部密度 Wood density	WD	g·cm^-3
	比导率 Specific hydraulic conductivity	K_s	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1
	导水损失率为50%时水势 Water potential causing 50% loss of conductivity	P₅₀	MPa

性状 Trait		缩写 Abbreviation	单位 Unit
叶性状 Leaf trait	最大净光合速率 Maximum net photosynthetic rate	P_n¹⁾	µmol·m^-2·s^-1
	单位质量最大净光合速率 Maximum net photosynthetic rate per unit leaf mass	A_mass¹⁾	µmol·g^-1·s^-1
	可操作气孔导度 Maximized operational stomatal conductance	G_op¹⁾	mol·m^-2·s^-1
	解剖学最大气孔导度 Anatomical maximum stomatal conductanc	G_smax¹⁾	mol·m^-2·s^-1
	气孔打开比率 Stomatal opening ratio during gas exchange at light saturated conditions	G_ratio¹⁾	%
	水分利用效率 Water use efficiency	WUE ¹⁾	%
	膨压损失点叶水势 Turgor pressure loss point leaf water potential	Ψ_tlp¹⁾	MPa
	气孔大小 Stomatal size	S_s¹⁾	µm²
	气孔密度 Stomatal density	S_d¹⁾	pore·mm^-2
	气孔面积分数 Stomatal area fraction	S_f¹⁾	%
	比叶质量 Leaf mass per area	LMA ¹⁾	g·m^-2
	叶脉密度 Vein density	D_v¹⁾	mm·mm^-2
	叶片厚度 Leaf thickness	LT	µm
	上表皮厚度 Upper tissue thickness	UET	µm
	下表皮厚度 Lower tissue thickness	LET	µm
	栅栏组织厚度 Palisade tissue thickness	PMT	µm
	海绵组织厚度 Sponge tissue thickness	SMT	µm
	栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度 Ratio of palisade tissue thickness to sponge tissue thickness	PMT/SMT
	组织紧密度 Leaf tissue structure tightness	CTR
	组织疏松度 Looseness of leaf tissue structure	SR
枝性状 Branch trait	胡伯尔值 Huber value	H_v¹⁾	10³ mm²·cm^-2
	导管直径 Vessel diameter	D	µm
	导管密度 Vessel density	N_v	pore·µm^-2
	导管壁厚 Double thickness of vessel wall	T_w	µm
	导管厚度跨度比 Thickness-to-span ratio	T_tob	10³
	木质部密度 Wood density	WD	g·cm^-3
	比导率 Specific hydraulic conductivity	K_s	kg·m^-1·s^-1·MPa^-1
	导水损失率为50%时水势 Water potential causing 50% loss of conductivity	P₅₀	MPa