Stable isotope composition of water in desert plants |
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Authors: | J R Gat D Yakir G Goodfriend P Fritz P Trimborn J Lipp I Gev E Adar Y Waisel |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel;(2) GSF-Neuherberg, Munich, Germany;(3) Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University, Sede Boker Campus, Israel;(4) Department of Plant Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel;(5) Present address: Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04813 Leipzig, Germany;(6) Present address: Water Commission, 14 Hamasger st., Tel Aviv, Israel |
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Abstract: | A survey of the stable isotope content of tissue waters of plants from the Negev desert was conducted. Large differences were
observed in the extent of enrichment of the heavy isotopes in leaf water relative to local precipitation among different plants.
This is apparently caused by the species-dependent stratagems adopted by the plants to cope with water stress, primarily by
differences in the depth of water uptake in the soil and through the timing of stomatal openings during the daily cycle. Salt
stressed plants showed extreme variability in the isotopic composition of leaf–water. The results show that plants with adaptation
to arid conditions can avoid the transpiration regime, which would lead to the strong isotopic enrichment in their leaf water
expected under arid conditions. This has implications for the use of stable isotopes in plants as indicators of either plant
ecophysiology or paleoclimate.
Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.
G. Goodfriend is deceased. |
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Keywords: | Stable isotopes 18O 2H Desert plants Water stress Leaf water |
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