Murray, Michelle and Soh, Wuu Kuang and Yiotis, Charilaos and Batke, Sven and Parnell, Andrew and Spicer, Robert A. and Lawson, Tracy and Caballero, Rodrigo and Wright, Ian J. and Purcell, Conor and McElwain, Jennifer C. (2019) Convergence in Maximum Stomatal Conductance of C3 Woody Angiosperms in Natural Ecosystems Across Bioclimatic Zones. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 (558). ISSN 1664-462X

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Abstract

Stomatal conductance (gs) in terrestrial vegetation regulates the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration, closely linking the biosphere and atmosphere and influencing climate. Yet, the range and pattern of gs in plants from natural ecosystems across broad geographic, climatic, and taxonomic ranges remains poorly quantified. Furthermore, attempts to characterize gs on such scales have predominantly relied upon meta-analyses compiling data from many different studies. This approach may be inherently problematic as it combines data collected using unstandardized protocols, sometimes over decadal time spans, and from different habitat groups. Using a standardized protocol, we measured leaflevel gs using porometry in 218 C3 woody angiosperm species in natural ecosystems representing seven bioclimatic zones. The resulting dataset of 4273 gs measurements, which we call STraits (Stomatal Traits), was used to determine patterns in maximum gs (gsmax) across bioclimatic zones and whether there was similarity in the mean gsmax of C3 woody angiosperms across ecosystem types. We also tested for differential gsmax in two broadly defined habitat groups – open-canopy and understory-subcanopy – within and across bioclimatic zones. We found strong convergence in mean gsmax of C3 woody angiosperms in the understory-subcanopy habitats across six bioclimatic zones, but not in open-canopy habitats. Mean gsmax in open-canopy habitats (266 ± 100 mmol m−2 s −1 ) was significantly higher than in understory-subcanopy habitats (233 ± 86 mmol m−2 s −1 ). There was also a central tendency in the overall dataset to operate toward a gsmax of ∼250 mmol m−2 s −1 . We suggest that the observed convergence in mean gsmax of C3 woody angiosperms in the understory-subcanopy is due to a buffering of gsmax against macroclimate effects which will lead to differential response of C3 woody angiosperm vegetation in these two habitats to future global change. Therefore, it will be important for future studies of gsmax to categorize vegetation according to habitat group.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright © 2019 Murray, Soh, Yiotis, Batke, Parnell, Spicer, Lawson, Caballero, Wright, Purcell and McElwain. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) https://creativecommons.org/about/cclicenses/. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Cite as: Murray M, Soh WK, Yiotis C, Batke S, Parnell AC, Spicer RA, Lawson T, Caballero R, Wright IJ, Purcell C and McElwain JC (2019) Convergence in Maximum Stomatal Conductance of C3 Woody Angiosperms in Natural Ecosystems Across Bioclimatic Zones. Front. Plant Sci. 10:558. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00558
Keywords:	biomes; convergence; habitat; maximum stomatal conductance; natural ecosystems; understory; variance; woody angiosperms;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Mathematics and Statistics Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Hamilton Institute
Item ID:	14027
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00558
Depositing User:	Andrew Parnell
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2021 16:47
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers in Plant Science
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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