Coupling Relationship of Leaf Economic and Hydraulic Traits of Alhagisparsifolia Shap. in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem.

Hui Yin,Mauro Santos,Corina Graciano,Bo Zhang,Guanghui Lv,Shuyong Mu,Zhihao Zhang,Akash Tariq,Peng Wang,Fanjiang Zeng

doi:10.3390/plants10091867

Abstract

In this study, Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. was used to test the hypothesis that leaf economic and hydraulic traits are coupled in plants in a hyper-arid region. Five economic traits and six hydraulic traits were examined to explore the relationship. Results showed that the stomatal density (SD) on both surfaces was coupled with maximum stomatal conductance to water vapor (gwmax) and leaf tissue density (TD). SD on adaxial surface (SDaba) was significantly positively related to vein density (VD) but negatively related to leaf thickness (LT) and stomatal length on adaxial surface (SLada). Nitrogen concentration based on mass (Nmass) was significantly negatively correlated with leaf mass per area (LMA), LT, and VD, whereas nitrogen concentration based on area (Narea) was significantly positively related to LMA and TD. Mean annual precipitation (MAP) contributed the most to the changes in LT and stomatal length (SL). Soil salt contributed the most to TD, SD, and gwmax. Soli nutrients influenced the most of LMA and VD. Mean annual temperature contributed the most to Nmass and Narea. In conclusion, the economics of leaves coupled with their hydraulic traits provides an economical and efficient strategy to adapt to the harsh environment in hyper-arid regions.

Highlights

Leaf functional traits are highly profiled in ecology because of their closely related to plants’ growth and adaptation to environmental stress [1,2,3]
Leaf functional traits, such as leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen concentration based on mass (Nmass ) and area (Narea ), leaf tissue density (TD), and leaf thickness (LT), are highly associated with photosynthesis capacity
We confirmed the coupling relationship between leaf economic and hydraulic traits in a species that is widely distributed in hyper-arid regions

Summary

Introduction

Leaf functional traits are highly profiled in ecology because of their closely related to plants’ growth and adaptation to environmental stress [1,2,3]. The “fast slow” economic spectrum widely exists in plant communities, that is, slow-growing species have a high tissue density, a low resource acquisition rate, and a high construction cost In resourcepoor environments, these slow species often form the dominant species in resource-poor environments [1,2]. These slow species often form the dominant species in resource-poor environments [1,2] Leaf functional traits, such as leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen concentration based on mass (Nmass ) and area (Narea ), leaf tissue density (TD), and leaf thickness (LT), are highly associated with photosynthesis capacity. Other traits, such as vein density (VD), stomatal density (SD), stomatal length (SL), and maximum stomatal conductance to water vapor (gwmax ), reflect water demand and supply balance and are defined as “leaf hydraulic traits” [3,5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion