Differential hydraulic and carbon economic strategies among four oak species
4 affiliations
- 1Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences, Hainan Medical University
- 2LTD of China Power Engineering Consulting Group, North China Power Engineering Co.
- 3Qingdao Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University
- 4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Hainan University
Abstract
Background: The fluctuations of precipitation will become more erratic and dramatic, threatening the growth and survival of forest species. Plants usually integrate water and carbon management strategies to deal with environmental variations. The hydraulic strategies of woody plants would modify their carbon capture and allocation patterns, thus characterizing divergent strategies in water and carbon use economy could elucidate the differential responses to climate change among closely related species. To decipher possible correlations between functional traits relating to plant hydraulics and carbon economics, we selected four oak species (one native species, Quercus dentata , and three exotic species, Q . rubra , Q . robur , and Q . palustris ) growing in an Oak Nursery to explore trait associations in hydraulic and carbon economics, and to contrast strategy variations among four species.
Results: Our results showed a trade-off between leaf gas exchange rate and water use efficiency, where fast gas exchange related to fluctuating water potential. In carbon allocation patterns, higher Huber values could supply sufficient water in leaves, thereby maintaining water potential stable.
Conclusions: Compared to the exotic oaks, Q . dentata adopted a relatively conservative strategy, embodying high water use efficiency, stable water potential, and leaves with smaller but denser stomata. However, Q . rubra was conservative and rapid-responsive, Q . robur was potentially drought-tolerant, and Q . palustris employed a strategy of less drought-resistant but might be more competitive in the face of abundant resources. Integrating these findings into global conservation efforts will lead to the development of adaptive management practices that foster tree species with better adaptation to environmental variations.
Related
- Hydraulic Activation of Stomata Induced by Hygroscopic Fertilizer Salts Alters Crop Carbon–Water Exchange: Field Evidence From Cereal Crops
- Hydraulic Strategies of Cool‐Temperate Trees and Lianas Against Freeze–Thaw Embolism: Is Cold Winter More Severe on Lianas?
- Spatiotemporal variations of carbon-water-hydraulic risk for Pinus tabuliformis Carrière Plantations on the Loess Plateau under future climate change
- The Role of Diponegoro Park Green Open Space in Semarang City in Providing Oxygen, Carbon Absorption, Reducing Temperature, and Humidity, a Case Study of Economic Valuation
- The economic value of urban soil carbon under competing carbon pricing perspectives in Prague
BibTeX
@article{li2026differential,
title = {{Differential hydraulic and carbon economic strategies among four oak species}},
author = {Qiang Li and Xinke Sun and Jiaqi Jiang and Zixuan Feng and Wenlong Sun and Yao Huang and Ning Du},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1983948},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1983948/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Differential hydraulic and carbon economic strategies among four oak species
AU - Qiang Li
AU - Xinke Sun
AU - Jiaqi Jiang
AU - Zixuan Feng
AU - Wenlong Sun
AU - Yao Huang
AU - Ning Du
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1983948
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1983948/full
AB - Background: The fluctuations of precipitation will become more erratic and dramatic, threatening the growth and survival of forest species. Plants usually integrate water and carbon management strategies to deal with environmental variations. The hydraulic strategies of woody plants would modify their carbon capture and allocation patterns, thus characterizing divergent strategies in water and carbon use economy could elucidate the differential responses to climate change among closely related species. To decipher possible correlations between functional traits relating to plant hydraulics and carbon economics, we selected four oak species (one native species, Quercus dentata , and three exotic species, Q . rubra , Q . robur , and Q . palustris ) growing in an Oak Nursery to explore trait associations in hydraulic and carbon economics, and to contrast strategy variations among four species. Results: Our results showed a trade-off between leaf gas exchange rate and water use efficiency, where fast gas exchange related to fluctuating water potential. In carbon allocation patterns, higher Huber values could supply sufficient water in leaves, thereby maintaining water potential stable. Conclusions: Compared to the exotic oaks, Q . dentata adopted a relatively conservative strategy, embodying high water use efficiency, stable water potential, and leaves with smaller but denser stomata. However, Q . rubra was conservative and rapid-responsive, Q . robur was potentially drought-tolerant, and Q . palustris employed a strategy of less drought-resistant but might be more competitive in the face of abundant resources. Integrating these findings into global conservation efforts will lead to the development of adaptive management practices that foster tree species with better adaptation to environmental variations.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -