Biologia plantarum 46:257-262, 2003 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1022810913043

Water Relations Only Partly Explain the Distributions of Three Perennial Plant Species in a Semi-arid Environment

F. Domingo1, A.J. Brenner2, L. Gutiérrez1, S.C. Clark3, L.D. Incoll3, C. Aguilera4
1 Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain
2 Pacific Meridian Resources, Michigan Office, Ann Arbor, USA
3 School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
4 Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain

The water relations and stomatal conductances of three perennial plant species, Stipa tenacissima L., Anthyllis cytisoides L., and Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss., dominant on the upper slopes, mid-slopes and floor of a valley, respectively, in semi-arid south-east Spain, were investigated to test the hypothesis that differences in plant-soil water relations could account for the different distributions of each species in the catena. Diurnal measurements of water potential (Ψw), relative water content (RWC) and stomatal conductance (gs) of leaves were made over one year. Leaf temperature, air humidity, wind-speed and incident quantum flux density were measured concurrently. Soil water content was determined gravimetrically at 0 - 5 cm and 15 - 20 cm depths. Measurements of Ψw, RWC and gs were analysed according to meteorological conditions, based on the maxima for daily air temperature and atmospheric saturation water vapour deficit and on soil moisture content. The hypothesis that plant-soil water relations can explain the distribution of the three species along the catena from valley side to valley floor was rejected for Anthyllis and Stipa but confirmed for Retama.

Keywords: Anthyllis cytisoides; relative water content; Retama sphaerocarpa; Stipa tenacissima; stomatal conductance; water potential
Subjects: Anthylis cytisoides; gas exchange, photon flux density, VPD; relative water content; Retama sphaerocarpa; semi-arid environment, distribution of perennial plant species; Stipa tenacissima; stomatal conductance, distribution of perennial plant species; vapour pressure deficit, VPD, distribution of perennial plant species; water potential, distribution of perennial plant species

Prepublished online: March 1, 2003; Published: September 1, 2003Show citation

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Domingo, F., Brenner, A.J., Gutiérrez, L., Clark, S.C., Incoll, L.D., & Aguilera, C. (2003). Water Relations Only Partly Explain the Distributions of Three Perennial Plant Species in a Semi-arid Environment. Biologia plantarum, 46(2), 257-262. doi: 10.1023/A:1022810913043.
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