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Leaf characteristics, wood anatomy and hydraulic properties in tree species from contrasting habitats within upper Rio Negro forests in the Amazon region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2010

M. A. Sobrado
M. A. Sobrado*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Biología Ambiental de Plantas, Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apartado 89.000, Caracas 1080 A, Venezuela
*
1Email: msobrado@usb.ve
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Abstract:

Leaf blade physical and chemical characteristics, wood composition and anatomy, as well as long-term water-use efficiency and hydraulic characteristics of leaf-bearing terminal branches were assessed in tree species growing in contrasting forests of the Venezuelan Amazonas: mixed forest on oxisol soil and caatinga on podzol soil. Two upper-canopy tree species were selected in each forest, and three individuals per species were tagged for sampling. Leaf nitrogen isotopic signatures (δ15N) were negative and species-specific, which suggests that in species of both forest the N-cycle is closed, and that tree species can withdraw N from a variety of N-pools. Leaf construction costs, dry mass to leaf area ratio, thickness and sclerophylly index tended to increase in microhabitats with lower fertility and large water table fluctuations. The hydraulic characteristics and long-term water use are species-specific and related to the particular conditions of the habitat at the local scale. Ocotea aciphylla (mixed forest) with a combination of low δ13C and high hydraulic sufficiency may maintain high water loss without risk of xylem embolisms. By contrast, Micranda sprucei (slopes of the caatinga forest), had a combination of relatively high hydraulic sufficiency and the highest long-term water-use efficiency, which suggest that embolism risk would be avoided by water loss restriction. Assuming a warmer and drier climate in the future, the species with more conservative water transport and/or better stomatal control would be at lower risk of mortality.

Keywords

Amazon caatingaEperua leucanthacarbon isotopic compositionCaryocar glabrumhydraulic sufficiencyMicranda spruceinitrogen isotopic compositionOcotea aciphyllasclerophylly indexwood anatomy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , March 2010 , pp. 215 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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References

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