Balancing the costs of carbon gain and water transport: testing a new theoretical framework for plant functional ecology. (11th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prentice, I. Colin; Dong, Ning; Gleason, Sean M.; Maire, Vincent; Wright, Ian J.; Penuelas, Josep
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 17:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 82
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2013-11-11
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.12211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ele12211-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A novel framework is presented for the analysis of ecophysiological field measurements and modelling. The hypothesis '<italic>leaves minimise the summed unit costs of transpiration and carboxylation</italic>' predicts leaf‐internal/ambient CO<sub>2</sub> ratios (<italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub>) and slopes of maximum carboxylation rate (<italic>V</italic><sub>cmax</sub>) or leaf nitrogen (<italic>N</italic><sub>area</sub>) <italic>vs</italic>. stomatal conductance. Analysis of data on woody species from contrasting climates (cold‐hot, dry‐wet) yielded steeper slopes and lower mean <italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub> ratios at the dry or cold sites than at the wet or hot sites. High atmospheric vapour pressure deficit implies low <italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub> in dry climates. High water viscosity (more costly transport) and low photorespiration (less costly photosynthesis) imply low <italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub> in cold climates. Observed site‐mean <italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub> shifts are predicted quantitatively for temperature contrasts (by photorespiration plus viscosity effects) and approximately for aridity contrasts. The theory explains the dependency of <italic>c</italic><sub><italic>i</italic></sub><italic>/c</italic><sub><italic>a</italic></sub> ratios on temperature and vapour pressure deficit, and observed relationships of leaf δ<sup>13</sup>C and <italic>N</italic><sub>area</sub> to aridity.</p> </abstract>