Abstract
Subalpine forests are one of the regions where the adjustment of fine-root water uptake becomes important for tree adaptation; however, this process has not been adequately investigated. Here, we aimed to detect species-specific elevational variation in fine-root water uptake and its relationship with the variation in fine-root functional traits in subalpine forests. Fine-root water flux (WFsoil-root) was evaluated from direct measurement of the water potential difference between the soil and fine roots, and the hydraulic conductivity of fine roots of Abies mariesii Mast. and Betula ermanii Cham. Additionally, we measured the average diameter, specific root length and root tissue density (RTD) as morphological traits, and nitrogen content (N) as a chemical trait. These traits were compared at different elevations (2000, 2300 and 2500 m), and the relationships between WFsoil-root and root morphological and chemical traits were evaluated. The WFsoil-root of A. mariesii was highest at 2500 m compared with the WFsoil-root value of B. ermanii at 2300 m. These results suggest that the limiting factors of fine-root water uptake differ between A. mariesii and B. ermanii in subalpine forests. Additionally, WFsoil-root covaried with the RTD-N axis along the elevational gradient, and trees increased WFsoil-root with increasing RTD. This result brings the new insight that higher RTD of fine root could function as the acquisitive traits for water uptake in subalpine forests. However, covariation of WFsoil-root with RTD-N axis was less obvious in A. mariesii than B. ermanii indicating different driving mechanisms of WFsoil-root between the species. Trees must cope with several factors limiting their growth in subalpine forests. Adjustment of WFsoil-root may contribute to the species-specific strategy, which compensates for their physiological processes and growth, and coordination with the RTD-N axis would be important for effective water uptake in cold and carbon-limited environments.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Fine-root water flux (WFsoil-root) of A. mariesii was highest at 2500 m, higher than that of B. ermanii at 2300 m.
- Taxon
- A. mariesii
Abies mariesiie1 - Outcome
- WFsoil-roote1
- Direction
- higheste1
- Comparator
- B. ermanii at 2300 me1
- Setting
- 2500 me1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“The WFsoil-root of A. mariesii was highest at 2500 m compared with the WFsoil-root value of B. ermanii at 2300 m”
Claim · model-written summary
The limiting factors of fine-root water uptake differ between A. mariesii and B. ermanii in subalpine forests.
- Taxon
- A. mariesiiAbies mariesiie2
- Outcome
- limiting factors of fine-root water uptakee2
- Qualifier
- differ between A. mariesii and B. ermaniie2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“These results suggest that the limiting factors of fine-root water uptake differ between A. mariesii and B. ermanii in subalpine forests”
Claim · model-written summary
WFsoil-root increased with increasing fine-root RTD along the elevational gradient in both tree species.
- Taxon
- Abies mariesii Mast. and Betula ermanii Cham.Abies mariesii
.jpg?width=60)
Betula ermaniie0 - Outcome
- WFsoil-roote3
- Direction
- increasede3
- Qualifier
- with increasing RTDe3
- Setting
- elevational gradiente3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“the hydraulic conductivity of fine roots of Abies mariesii Mast. and Betula ermanii Cham.”
e3“WFsoil-root covaried with the RTD-N axis along the elevational gradient, and trees increased WFsoil-root with increasing RTD”
Claim · model-written summary
Covariation of WFsoil-root with the RTD-N axis was less obvious in A. mariesii than in B. ermanii.
- Taxon
- A. mariesiiAbies mariesiie5
- Outcome
- covariation of WFsoil-root with RTD-N axise5
- Direction
- less obviouse5
- Comparator
- B. ermaniie5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“However, covariation of WFsoil-root with RTD-N axis was less obvious in A. mariesii than B. ermanii indicating different driving mechanisms of WFsoil-root between the species”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher fine-root RTD could function as an acquisitive trait for water uptake in subalpine forests.
- Taxon
- Abies mariesii Mast. and Betula ermanii Cham.Abies mariesiiBetula ermaniie0
- Outcome
- water uptakee4
- Qualifier
- acquisitive traitse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the hydraulic conductivity of fine roots of Abies mariesii Mast. and Betula ermanii Cham.”
e4“higher RTD of fine root could function as the acquisitive traits for water uptake in subalpine forests”