Abstract
Background and Aims: The relationship between plant carbon economy and drought responses of co-occurring woody species can be assessed by comparing carbohydrate (C) dynamics following drought and rain periods, relating these dynamics to species' functional traits. We studied nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland that experienced severe drought effects followed by rain. Methods: We measured total non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and soluble sugars (SS) in roots and stems during drought and after an autumn rain pulse in plants exhibiting leaf loss and in undefoliated ones. We explored whether their dynamics were related to foliage recovery and functional traits (height [H], specific leaf area [SLA], wood density [WD]). Key Results: During drought, NSC concentrations were overall lower in stems and roots of plants experiencing leaf loss, while SS decreases were smaller. Roots had higher NSC concentrations than stems. After the rain, NSC concentrations continued to decrease, while SS increased. Green foliage recovered after rain, particularly in plants previously experiencing higher leaf loss, independently of NSC concentrations during drought. Species with lower WD tended to have more SS during drought and lower SS increases after rain. In low-WD species, plants with severe leaf loss had lower NSC relative to undefoliated ones. No significant relationship was found between H or SLA and C content or dynamics. Conclusions: Our community-level study reveals that, while responses were species-specific, C stocks overall diminished in plants affected by prolonged drought and did not increase after a pulse of seasonal rain. Dynamics were faster for SS than NSC. We found limited depletion of SS, consistent with their role in basal metabolic, transport and signalling functions. In a scenario of increased drought under climate change, NSC stocks in woody plants are expected to decrease differentially in coexisting species, with potential implications for their adaptive abilities and community dynamics.
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Claims 15
Claim · model-written summary
During drought, NSC concentrations were lower in stems and roots of plants with leaf loss.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“During drought, NSC concentrations were overall lower in stems and roots of plants experiencing leaf loss”
Claim · model-written summary
During drought, SS decreases were smaller than NSC decreases in woody species.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“During drought, NSC concentrations were overall lower in stems and roots of plants experiencing leaf loss”
e2“while SS decreases were smaller”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots had higher NSC concentrations than stems.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e3“Roots had higher NSC concentrations than stems”
Claim · model-written summary
After the rain, NSC concentrations continued to decrease.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e4“After the rain, NSC concentrations continued to decrease”
Claim · model-written summary
After the rain, soluble sugars increased.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e4“After the rain, NSC concentrations continued to decrease”
e5“while SS increased”
Claim · model-written summary
Green foliage recovered after rain, particularly in plants with higher earlier leaf loss, independent of drought NSC concentrations.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e6“Green foliage recovered after rain, particularly in plants previously experiencing higher leaf loss, independently of NSC concentrations during drought”
Claim · model-written summary
Species with lower wood density tended to have more soluble sugars during drought.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e7“Species with lower WD tended to have more SS during drought”
Claim · model-written summary
Species with lower wood density had lower soluble sugar increases after rain.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“Species with lower WD tended to have more SS during drought”
e2“lower SS increases after rain”
Claim · model-written summary
In low-WD species, plants with severe leaf loss had lower NSC than undefoliated plants.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“In low-WD species, plants with severe leaf loss had lower NSC relative to undefoliated ones”
Claim · model-written summary
No significant relationship was found between height or specific leaf area and C content or dynamics.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“No significant relationship was found between H or SLA and C content or dynamics”
Claim · model-written summary
C stocks overall diminished in plants affected by prolonged drought.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“C stocks overall diminished in plants affected by prolonged drought”
Claim · model-written summary
C stocks did not increase after a pulse of seasonal rain.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“C stocks overall diminished in plants affected by prolonged drought”
e2“did not increase after a pulse of seasonal rain”
Claim · model-written summary
Dynamics were faster for soluble sugars than for NSC.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“Dynamics were faster for SS than NSC”
Claim · model-written summary
Soluble sugar depletion during drought was limited.
Verbatim
e0“nine woody species coexisting in a continental Mediterranean shrubland”
e1“We found limited depletion of SS”
Claim · model-written summary
Under increased drought, NSC stocks in woody plants are expected to decrease differentially among coexisting species.
Verbatim
e1“In a scenario of increased drought under climate change, NSC stocks in woody plants are expected to decrease differentially in coexisting species”