Temporal patterns of water flux in trees and lianas in a Panamanian moist forest

Abstract

Using constant heat sap flow sensors, xylem water fluxes in ten tree species and two liana species were monitored for 5–10 days during the beginning of the wet season in May, 1993. For a subset of the trees, a branch was also monitored at the top of the crown for 5 days. Xylem flux (JS) was related diurnally in all plants to vapor pressure deficit (D) measured within the upper-third of the canopy, and to incoming shortwave radiation RS above the canopy. Cross-correlation analysis was used to estimate time lags between diurnal patterns of JS and D or RS, and between JS in stems and branches. The maximum correlation coefficient from cross-correlation of JS with RS (range=0.57–0.92) was often higher than the maximum of JS with D (range=0.43–0.89), indicating that diurnal JS was more dependent on RS than D. Time lags (lag corresponding to maximum correlation) of JS at stem-base with D was shorter (0–45 min) than with radiation (5–115 min), highly variable within a species, and uncorrelated to the height or exposure of tree crowns or liana in the canopy. On a stand level, not accounting for the diel lag between stem sap flux and canopy flux resulted in errors in estimated canopy transpiration of up to 30%.