Relationships between sap flow and water potential in woody or perennial plants on islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract. This paper describes studies on trees of Pisonia grandis , bushes of Argusia argentea , and the perennial herb Melanthera biflora , growing on One Tree Island, a coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef with 'soil' of coarse coral rubble. Water potential (Ψ_b, measured on small shoots with a pressure chamber), sap flow, stomatal conductance, vapour pressure deficit and photon flux density were monitored over day/night cycles. Sap flow and Ψ_b responded to changes in light and humidity. From these experiments good linear correlations were found between sap flow in a shoot and Ψ_b of similar adjacent shoots. The linearity suggests that the resistance to sap flow is constant as Ψ_b varies. The correlation, however, does not indicate a causal relationship between Ψ_b of an individual shoot on the plant and its sap flow. Ψ_b was only slightly different in shaded shoots from those in sunshine, although sap flow would be expected to differ between them. Enclosing shoots and so reducing their transpiration and sap flow to very low rates resulted in only small changes in Ψ_b of the enclosed shoots; Tb of such enclosed shoots should closely approximate that of the xylem at the point of shoot attachment. From these results it is suggested that the resistance to water flow in shoot and leaf xylem is small compared to the resistance further down the plant, in the root or at the root/soil interface. Shoot xylem water potential would be similar for all parts of the plant, and in such plants the water potential of shoots in the shade would be determined by the overall water use of the plant.     

Correlations of stomatal conductance with hydraulic and chemical factors in several deciduous tree species in a natural habitat

Recent research in whole-plant stomatal physiology, conducted largely with potted plants in controlled environments, suggests that stomatal conductance ( g _s) might be more closely linked to plant chemical variables than to hydraulic variables. To test this in a field situation, seasonal g _s was examined in relation to a number of plant and environmental variables in 11 temperate, deciduous forest tree species. Stomatal conductance was generally better correlated with environmental variables (air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, PPFD) than with plant variables, and slightly better correlated with plant hydraulic variables (shoot water and osmotic potentials) than with plant chemical variables (xylem sap ABA concentration, xylem sap pH). We examined a model, developed previously for maize, which describes regulation of g _s by xylem sap ABA concentration with leaf water status acting to modify stomatal sensitivity to the ABA signal. This model explained slightly more variation in seasonal g _s in the forest trees than did single plant variables but not more variation than most single environmental variables. Response surface models, especially those incorporating environmental variables, were more consistently successful at explaining g _s across species.     

华北落叶松树体储水利用及其对土壤水分和潜在蒸散的响应: 基于模型模拟的分析

 树体储水在树木水分传输中具有重要的作用, 不仅为蒸腾提供水分来源, 还具有缓冲作用, 可防止木质部导管水势过低以至于水分传输的失败。树体储水动态及其利用的研究对于认识树木对水分胁迫的响应机制具有重要意义。该研究构建了包含树体储水释放-补充作用的树干水分传输模型, 可模拟计算林分小时尺度的冠层蒸腾、边材液流、树体储水与木质部导管水流交换过程, 并以六盘山北侧的华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)人工林为例, 在林分水平分析树体储水利用及其 与土壤水分和潜在蒸散之间的关系。检验结果表明, 该模型能够精确地模拟出林分边材液流的日变化特征, 模拟与观测的小时液流速率决定系数R²为0.91 (n = 2 352)。模拟结果表明, 在典型晴朗天气下, 在日出时树体储水利用启动, 至9:00左右达到峰值(0.14 mm?h^–1), 午间降至0, 下午降为负值直至午夜, 即进入树体补水阶段; 树体储水日使用量(DJ_z)为0.04–0.58 mm?d^–1, 与日蒸腾量(DT_r)成正相关(R² = 0.91), 对蒸腾的贡献为25.6%。分析结果表明, 当潜在蒸散(ET_p)低于4.9 mm?d^–1时, ET_p是华北落叶松树体储水利用的主要驱动因子, DJ_z与ETp成正相关(R² = 0.68); 当ET_p高于4.9 mm?d^–1时, DJ_z随着ET_p的增加呈现降低趋势; DJ_z与土壤水势没有显著相关关系(p > 0.05), 但最大树体储水日使用量(DJ_zmax)与土壤水分含量成正相关(R² = 0.79), 说明土壤水分是树体储水利用的限制因子。     

热脉冲技术3种方法组合在测量树干液流中的应用

利用树干液流方法获取树木蒸腾特征对理解树木水分生理、森林生态和森林系统水分交换具有重要意义.利用广泛应用于土壤热参数和土壤蒸发测量的
三针热脉冲探头,基于热比率法(HRM)、最大温度法(T_Max)和单针热脉冲法(SHPP)同时实现了旱柳液流密度的测定,并与热扩散探针(TDP)测量结果进行对比分析.结果表明： 三针热脉冲探头安装约5周后进入稳定测量阶段,3种方法初期测量结果比稳定测量阶段高135%~220%,HRM、T_Max和SHPP法与TDP测量结果具有显著的线性相关性,R2分别为0.93、0.73和0.91,SHPP与HRM法测定结果的R²达到0.94.HRM在低速和逆向液流时测量具有较高的精度;SHPP探头配置简单、测量精度高,但无法甄别液流方向,是测定液流非常有前途的方法;T_Max测量液流误差较大,无法测量<5 cm³·cm^-2·h^-1的液流,不建议单独用于液流测量,但其能够准确测定树干热扩散系数,并可用于其他方法液流计算.建议根据试验目的,选取不同方法或者几种方法组合进行树干液流测量.     

An external heat pulse method for measurement of sap flow through fruit pedicels, leaf petioles and other small-diameter stems

The external heat ratio method is described for measurement of low rates of sap flow in both directions through stems and other plant organs, including fruit pedicels, with diameters up to 5 mm and flows less than 2 g h⁻¹. Calibration was empirical, with heat pulse velocity ( v _h) compared to gravimetric measurements of sap flow. In the four stem types tested ( Actinidia sp. fruit pedicels, Schefflera arboricola petioles, Pittosporum crassifolium stems and Fagus sylvatica stems), v _h was linearly correlated with sap velocity ( v _s) up to a v _s of approximately 0.007 cm s⁻¹, equivalent to a flow of 1.8 g h⁻¹ through a 3-mm-diameter stem. Minimum detectable v _s was approximately 0.0001 cm s⁻¹, equivalent to 0.025 g h⁻¹ through a 3-mm-diameter stem. Sensitivity increased with bark removal. Girdling had no effect on short-term measurements of in vivo sap flow, suggesting that phloem flows were too low to be separated from xylem flows. Fluctuating ambient temperatures increased variability in outdoor sap flow measurements. However, a consistent diurnal time-course of fruit pedicel sap flow was obtained, with flows towards 75-day-old kiwifruit lagging behind evaporative demand and peaking at 0.3 g h⁻¹ in the late afternoon.     

干旱区枸杞树干液流变化特征及其影响因素

树干液流作为植物蒸散作用的水分来源,是植物水分消耗的直观量化监测指标,利用包裹式树干液流监测技术获取干旱区枸杞全生育期树干液流实时数据,分析了不同时间尺度树干液流变化特征及各气象要素对树干液流的影响,为明晰枸杞耗水规律及其影响因素提供了重要的佐证。结果表明:枸杞的树干液流量昼夜差异较大,白天液流量是夜间的10倍左右;晴天液流速率、日累积量及变化幅度均大于阴雨天气,晴天液流速率变化曲线且呈宽峰型,在06:30左右启动较阴天提前30min;夏季树干液流启动时间为6:00比秋季提前1h左右,夏季的峰值123g/h。盛果期液流速率最大10.32g/h,营养生长期最小1.35 g/h;6—8月旺盛生长季,平均日耗水1388.3g/d,5—11月全生育期日均耗水1102.7g/d;树干液流速率与太阳辐射、空气温度均呈极显著正相关关系,与相对湿度呈负相关关系;枸杞树干液流(F)与太阳辐射(S)、温度(T)、相对湿度(H)及饱和水汽压(VPD)符合方程F=41.5+0.167S-0.563H+1.36T-9.67VPD(R~2=0.6547)。     

Abscisic acid signalling when soil moisture is heterogeneous: decreased photoperiod sap flow from drying roots limits abscisic acid export to the shoots

To investigate the contribution of different parts of the root system to total sap flow and leaf xylem abscisic acid (ABA) concentration ([X-ABA]_leaf), individual sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) shoots were grafted onto the root systems of two plants grown in separate pots and sap flow through each hypocotyl measured below the graft union. During deficit irrigation (DI), both pots received the same irrigation volumes, while during partial root zone drying (PRD) one pot ('wet') was watered and another ('dry') was not. During PRD, once soil water content ( θ ) decreased below a threshold, the fraction of sap flow from drying roots declined. As θ declined, root xylem ABA concentration increased in both irrigation treatments, and [X-ABA]_leaf increased in DI plants, but [X-ABA]_leaf of PRD plants actually decreased within a certain θ range. A simple model that weighted ABA contributions of wet and dry root systems to [X-ABA]_leaf according to the sap flow from each, better predicted [X-ABA]_leaf of PRD plants than either [X-ABA]_dry, [X-ABA]_wet or their mean. Model simulations revealed that [X-ABA]_leaf during PRD exceeded that of DI with moderate soil drying, but continued soil drying (such that sap flow from roots in drying soil ceased) resulted in the opposite effect.     

毛白杨根系液流与水力再分配特征

为确定毛白杨(Populus tomentosa)根系是否存在水力再分配现象,并探究其发生特征与影响因子,该研究以四年生毛白杨为研究对象,利用热比率法对3株样树的共计7条侧根(R1–R7)进行长期液流监测,并对土壤水分以及气象因子进行同步测定。结果显示:毛白杨存在两种水力再分配模式,分别为干旱驱动的水力提升和降雨驱动的水力下降,水力再分配的发生模式与特征受侧根分布深度与直径大小的影响。在整个生长季尺度上,毛白杨根系再分配的水量较低;但在极端干旱条件下,部分侧根再分配的水量可达其日总液流量的64.6%,表明水力再分配会为干旱侧根提供大量水分。根系吸水与气象-土壤的耦合因子(太阳辐射(R_s)×土壤含水率(SWC)、水汽压亏缺(VPD)×SWC、参考蒸散发(ET_o)×SWC)间存在显著相关关系,但水力再分配与所选因子基本不相关。此外,毛白杨浅层根中存在特殊的日间逆向液流现象,其液流量最高可占日液流总量的79.2%(R1)到90.7%(R2),该现象可能对浅层根系抗旱起到重要作用。     

出露基岩生境典型植物树干液流对自然降水和连续干旱的响应特征

以西南喀斯特地区常见的出露基岩生境为研究对象,针对该类生境典型乔木类植物菜豆树和圆叶乌桕,应用TDP热扩散探针技术,结合遮雨试验,分析了植物树干液流对自然降水和连续干旱的响应特征.结果表明:在生长季不同时期,降水后2树种液流密度较降水前均有一定程度的升高,但始终呈现落叶乔木圆叶乌桕高于半落叶乔木菜豆树的特征;连续2个月遮雨条件下,2树种液流密度均无明显降低的趋势,表明2树种均不依赖受近期降水主导的水源;通过对降水前后及连续干旱条件下2树种液流密度与环境因子的拟合关系研究发现,气象因素差异对水分环境变化条件下植物蒸腾耗水的影响较小.自然降水和短时期的连续干旱并未显著改变2树种的蒸腾耗水特征,这可能与出露基岩生境特殊的水分蓄持环境和乔木类植物依赖相对稳定的深层水源有关.     

黄土丘陵区油松、沙棘生长旺盛期树干液流密度特征及其影响因素

使用热扩散探针法(TDP)监测黄土丘陵区2015年7—9月人工林中油松和沙棘树干液流密度(J_s)的动态变化,并通过植物的水分利用生理特征判断2个树种的水分利用类型.结果表明: 油松和沙棘的J_s在降水前后均表现为单峰型日变化特征,油松生长旺盛期的J_s(12.62 mL·m^-2·s^-1)显著高于沙棘(2.60 mL·m^-2·s^-1).2个树种J_s与光合有效辐射、水蒸汽压差、土壤体积含水量(SWC)呈显著正相关.8月和9月降水前后,2个树种的J_s都主要受气象因素影响.9月降水导致SWC对沙棘J_s的解释量增加4.2%,而8月和9月的降水导致SWC对油松J_s的解释量均降低了0.3%.油松中午叶片水势显著高于沙棘且变异系数(7.3%)低于沙棘(11.7%),而沙棘具有较高的叶片气孔导度,因此可以判断出油松属于恒水型植物,沙棘属于变水型植物.     

植物夜间液流的发生、生理意义及影响因素研究进展

植物夜间液流是指在夜间通过植物根、茎、叶的液流量。通过对不同物种、生境条件和生态系统的野外观测,发现植物普遍存在夜间液流现象。阐述了夜间液流的大小和组成,并从夜间液流的生理意义、影响因素以及生态水文效应方面对已有的研究进展进行了综述和分析。夜间液流占到全天液流量的比例一般为5%—20%。夜间液流包括夜间的茎干补水和夜间的蒸腾作用两个过程,但是目前没有确切的研究或技术将两个过程区分开来。虽然总体上夜间液流占全天液流量的比例较少,但是夜间液流的储水作用和蒸腾作用对植物生长有重要的生理意义:夜间储水作用提高了夜间茎干水势,减少了木质部栓塞化的形成,加强了植物对干旱环境的适应;而蒸腾作用在营养物质和氧气的运输,以及水力提升等方面有重要的作用。影响夜间液流的因素较多,气象因素是主要的环境驱动因子,而土壤水分对夜间液流的影响与生境有关;夜间液流还受到物种和生境条件的影响。由于夜间液流的发生,对不同尺度的生态水文过程产生了影响。未来的研究可进一步探索在全球气候变化条件下,夜间液流与植物生理过程的关系,定量评估夜间液流对生态水文过程的影响,深入研究夜间液流对环境变化的响应。     

科尔沁沙地黄柳和小叶锦鸡儿茎流及蒸腾特征

利用Dynamax茎流测量系统、Li-6400光合作用仪和自动气象站分别对科尔沁沙地两种灌木树种黄柳和小叶锦鸡儿的液流变化、蒸腾速率及其周围的环境因子进行检测.研究结果表明：（1）黄柳、小叶锦鸡儿茎干液流通量密度日变化趋势基本相同,呈多峰曲线;液流启动时间分别为4：30、5：30,在13：00左右到达各自液流峰值,峰值大小为81.2～91.7mg/h、17.3～27.1mg/h,20：30降为最低,晚间均具有明显的液流活动现象.（2）灌木的茎流日变化曲线与蒸腾速率日变化曲线并不吻合,实验测得的叶片蒸腾速率不能同步反映茎干液流的动态变化特征;黄柳的叶片蒸腾速率和单枝蒸腾耗水量均大于小叶锦鸡儿,耐旱性相对较低.（3）黄柳、小叶锦鸡儿白天液流通量密度变化趋势与环境因子变化趋势相吻合.相关性分析表明,影响灌木液流变化的主要因子依次是太阳有效辐射、相对湿度、大气温度、风速、10cm和20cm土壤温度.     

民勤绿洲二白杨树干液流的径向变化及时滞特征

树木的树干液流是反映树木生理活动动态、估算单株耗水量的重要基础.本文利用热扩散技术,对民勤绿洲二白杨3株(30年生)大树树干边材各4个深度(2、3、5、8 cm)的液流速率(J)进行连续两个生长季(2011、2012)的监测.结果表明: 二白杨边材液流速率最高的位点约在形成层下3 cm深处(J₃),其次依次为2、5和8 cm处(J₂、J₅和J₈),在大气蒸发潜力(ET₀)最强的6月,典型晴天日的J₃可达28.53 g·cm^-2·h-1,分别是J₂、J₅和J₈的1.42、2.74和4.4倍,径向差异明显.在日变化过程中,边材不同深处间液流速率峰值出现的时刻相差在20 min以内,但与太阳总辐射(R_s)、大气水汽压亏缺(VPD)峰值出现的时刻相差较大,在生长旺季(6—8月)的典型晴天,J的峰值滞后R_s峰值的时长(时滞)可达55～88 min,越靠近边材内侧,时滞越长.J峰值提前于VPD峰值的时长达60～96 min,越靠近边材内侧,时滞越短.液流速率的季节变化与ET₀的变化基本一致,随着树木生理活动的逐渐加强,液流传输的主要层次会向边材内部延伸.驱动不同深处液流变化的首要气象因子均为R_s,第二大因子因不同深度有所变化,越靠近内侧,代表水汽状况的因子(VPD)的重要性上升,甚至接近于R_s.
     

大连4种城市绿化乔木树种夜间液流活动特征

夜间液流有助于树木物质运输及其体内水分的补充(water recharge), 它不仅对植物的生长发育具有重要的生理生态学意义, 而且对大尺度植物蒸腾耗水的估算可能产生重要影响。2008年6月1日至8月31日, 以热扩散探针(thermal dissipation probe, TDP)技术对大连市劳动公园内的雪松(Cedrus deodara)、大叶榉(Zelkova schneideriana)、丝棉木(Euonymus bungeanus)和水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides) 4种乔木树种的不同径阶样木树干边材液流进行了测定, 并结合同步土壤水分与小气候观测结果分析了树木夜间(18:00至次日5:00)液流特征。实验结果表明, 树木普遍存在可感夜间液流, 夜间液流总量占观测期液流总量的比例在样木个体间呈现显著差异, 其变化范围为0.44%-75.96%; 观测期雨天夜间液流波动活跃, 显著高于晴天, 其单日夜间液流总量可持平, 甚至高于日间液流。相关分析表明: 水汽压亏缺(vapor pressure deficit, VPD)和风速的变化与夜间蒸腾显著相关, 它们能够较好地解释液流变化(R² > 0.6); 树木夜间液流主要用于夜间蒸腾和自身水分补充, 夜间液流现象主要发生在前半夜, 后半夜液流平稳且极接近0, 夜间液流量与相应的日间流量(R² = 0.356, p = 0.00)及胸径(R²_Spearman > 0.80)显著相关, 说明植物本身的结构和生理特点也是影响树木夜间液流的重要因子。单株样木夜间液流占全天总蒸腾量的比例低于14.4%, 如不考虑夜间液流的影响, 根据日间液流通过尺度扩展推算的森林生态系统年蒸腾量可能偏低。     

环境和冠层结构对华北落叶松林树干液流的影响

准确量化环境和冠层结构变化对树干液流的影响,对于深入理解变化环境下的树木水分利用机制具有重要意义.在六盘山香水河小流域于2019年6-9月利用热扩散式探针监测了华北落叶松林的树干液流,同步观测林外气象、林内根系层土壤含水量和冠层结构动态,分析树干液流速率与潜在蒸散(PET)、土壤相对可利用水分(REW)和林冠层叶面积指...     

Water vapour fluxes and their impact under elevated CO2 in a C4-tallgrass prairie

We measured leaf-level stomatal conductance, xylem pressure potential, and stomate number and size as well as whole plant sap flow and canopy-level water vapour fluxes in a C4-tallgrass prairie in Kansas exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂. Stomatal conductance was reduced by as much as 50% under elevated CO₂ compared to ambient. In addition, there was a reduction in stomate number of the C4 grass, Andropogon gerardii Vitman, and the C3 dicot herb, Salvia pitcheri Torr., under elevated CO₂ compared to ambient. The result was an improved water status for plants exposed to elevated CO₂ which was reflected by a less negative xylem pressure potential compared to plants exposed to ambient CO₂. Sap flow rates were 20 to 30% lower for plants exposed to elevated CO₂ than for those exposed to ambient CO₂. At the canopy level, evapotranspiration was reduced by 22% under elevated CO₂. The reduced water use by the plant canopy under elevated CO₂ extended the photosynthetically-active period when water became limiting in the ecosystem. The result was an increased above- and belowground biomass production in years when water stress was frequent.     

Evaluating different soil and plant hydraulic constraints on tree function using a model and sap flow data from ponderosa pine

Relationships between tree size and physiological processes such as transpiration may have important implications for plant and ecosystem function, but as yet are poorly understood. We used a process‐based model of the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum to investigate patterns of whole‐tree sap flow in ponderosa pine trees of different size and age (36 m and ～250 years versus 13 m and 10–50 years) over a developing summer drought. We examined three different hypothetical controls on hydraulic resistance, and found that size‐related differences in sap flow could be best explained by absolute differences in plant resistance related to path length (hypothesis 1) rather than through different dynamic relationships between plant resistance and leaf water potential (hypothesis 2), or alterations in rates of cumulative inducement and repair of cavitation (hypothesis 3). Reductions in sap flow over time could be best explained by rising soil–root resistance (hypothesis 1), rather than by a combination of rising plant and soil–root resistance (hypothesis 2), or by rising plant resistance alone (hypothesis 3). Comparing hourly predictions with observed sap flow, we found that a direct relationship between plant resistance and leaf water potential (hypothesis 2) led to unrealistic bimodal patterns of sap flow within a day. Explaining seasonal reduction in sap flow purely through rising plant resistance (hypothesis 3) was effective but failed to explain the observed decline in pre‐dawn leaf water potential for small trees. Thus, hypothesis 1 was best corroborated. A sensitivity analysis revealed a significant difference in the response to drought‐relieving rains; precipitation induced a strong recovery in sap flow in the hypothetical case of limiting soil–root resistance (hypothesis 1), and an insignificant response in the case of limiting plant resistance (hypothesis 3). Longer term monitoring and manipulation experiments are thus likely to resolve the uncertainties in hydraulic constraints on plant function.     

Water and Nutrient Dynamics in Surface Roots and Soils are not Modified by Short-term Flooding of Phreatophytic Plants in a Hyperarid Desert

Little is known of the mechanisms employed by woody plants to acquire key resources such as water and nutrients in hyperarid environments. For phreatophytic plants, deep roots are necessary to access the water table, but given that most nutrients in many desert ecosystems are stored in the upper soil layers, viable shallow roots may be equally necessary for nutrient uptake. We sought to better understand the interaction between water and nutrient uptake from soil horizons differing in the relative abundance of these resources. To this end, we monitored plant water and nutrient status before and after applying flood irrigation to four phreatophytic perennial plant species in the remote hyperarid Taklamakan desert in western China. Sap flow in the roots of five plants of the perennial desert species Alhagi sparsifolia Shap., Karelina caspica (Pall.) Less., Calligonum caput medusea Schrenk, and Eleagnus angustifolia Hill. was monitored using the heat ratio method (HRM). Additionally we measured predawn and midday water potential, foliar nitrate reductase activity (NRA), xylem sap nutrient concentration and the concentration of total solutes in the leaves before, 12 and 96 h after flooding to investigate possible short-term physiological effects on water and nutrient status. Rates of sap flow measured during the day and at night in the absence of transpiration did not change after flooding. Moderately high rates of sap flow (HRM heat pulse velocity, 5–25 cm h⁻¹) detected during the day in soils that had a near zero water content at the surface indicated that all species had contact to groundwater. There was no evidence from sap flow data that plants had utilised flood water to increase maximum rates of transpiration under similar climatic conditions, and there was no evidence of a process to improve the efficiency of water or nutrient uptake, such as hydraulic redistribution (i.e. the passive movement of water from moist soil to very dry soil via roots). Measurements of plant water status, xylem sap nutrient status, foliar NRA and the concentration of osmotically active substances were also unaffected by flood irrigation. Our results clearly show that groundwater acts as the major source of water and nutrients for these plants. The inability of plants to utilise abundant surface soil–water or newly available nutrients following irrigation was attributed to the absence of fine roots in the topsoil layer.     

Habitat moisture is an important driver of patterns of sap flow and water balance in tropical montane cloud forest epiphytes

Microclimate in the tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is variable on both spatial and temporal scales and can lead to large fluctuations in both leaf-level transpiration and whole plant water use. While variation in transpiration has been found in TMCFs, the influence of different microclimatic drivers on plant water relations in this ecosystem has been relatively understudied. Within the TMCF, epiphytes may be particularly affected by natural variation in microclimate due to their partial or complete disassociation from soil resources. In this study, we examined the effects of seasonal microclimate on whole plant water balance in epiphytes in both an observational and a manipulative experiment. We also evaluated the effects of different microclimatic drivers using three hierarchical linear (mixed) models. On average, 31 % of total positive sap flow was recovered via foliar water uptake (FWU) over the course of the study. We found that precipitation was the greatest driver of foliar water uptake and nighttime sap flow in our study species and that both VPD and precipitation were important drivers to daytime sap flow. We also found that despite adaptations to withstand seasonal drought, an extended dry period caused severe desiccation in most plants despite a large reduction in leaf-level and whole plant transpiration. Our results indicate that the epiphytes studied rely on FWU to maintain positive water balance in the dry season and that increases in dry periods in the TMCF may be detrimental to these common members of the epiphyte community.     

A comparison of sap flow measurements and potometry in two tropical lowland tree species with contrasting wood properties

We evaluated the performance of the Heat Dissipation Technique (HDT) to measure sap flow in whole trees by comparison with potometric water uptake. Two tropical lowland species, Ochroma lagopus (balsa), a pioneer species with light wood and Hyeronima alchorneoides (pilón), a late-successional species with hard wood were examined. Diurnal courses of sap flow measured with the HDT showed good agreement with potometry. At the low sap flow rates (below 1 Kg h(-1)) occurring during nocturnal recharge HDT consistently underestimated sap flow rates. This resulted in the failure of the current version of the HDT to measure nocturnal water uptake, an important component of the water budget of at least one of the two species examined.