Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydraulic Lift in Cork Oak Trees in a Savannah-Type Mediterranean Ecosystem and its Contribution to the Local Water Balance

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the sources and depth of water uptake by 15-years old Quercus  suber L. trees in southern Portugal under a Mediterranean climate, measuring δ18O and δD in the soil–plant-atmosphere continuum. Evidence for hydraulic lift was substantiated by the daily fluctuations observed in Ψs at 0.4 and 1 m depth and supported by similar δ18O values found in tree xylem sap, soil water in the rhizosphere and groundwater. From 0.25 m down to a depth of 1 m, δD trends differed according to vegetation type, showing a more depleted value in soil water collected under the evergreen trees (−47‰) than under dead grasses (−35‰). The hypothesis of a fractionation process occurring in the soil due to diffusion of water vapour in the dry soil is proposed to explain the more depleted soil δD signature observed under trees. Hydraulically lifted water was estimated to account for 17–81% of the water used during the following day by tree transpiration at the peak of the drought season, i.e., 0.1–14 L tree−1 day−1. Significant relationships found between xylem sap isotopic composition and leaf water potential in early September emphasized the positive impact of the redistribution of groundwater in the rhizosphere on tree water status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

hydraulic lift:

(HL)

leaf water potential:

(ΨL)

soil temperature:

(TS)

soil water content:

(SWC)

soil water potential:

(ΨS)

vapour pressure deficit:

(VPD)

tree transpiration:

(E)

References

  • G M Barrow (1962) Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy MacGraw-Hill New York, USA 89

    Google Scholar 

  • T W Boutton S R Archer A J Midwood (1999) ArticleTitleStable isotopes in ecosystem science: structure, function and dynamics of a subtropical savanna Rapid Commun. Mass. Sp. 13 1263–1277 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXksVKrtL4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1097-0231(19990715)13:13<1263::AID-RCM653>3.0.CO;2-J

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J R Brooks F C Meinzer R Coulomber J Gregg (2002) ArticleTitleHydraulic redistribution of soil water during summer drought in two contrasting pacific Northwest coniferous forests Tree Physiol. 22 1107–1117 Occurrence Handle12414370

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M M Caldwell T E Dawson J H Richards (1998) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift: consequences of water efflux from the roots of plants Oecologia 113 151–161 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J Canadell P H Zedler (1995) Underground structures of woody plants in Mediterranean ecosystems of Australia, California, and Chile M T K Arroyo P H Zedler M D. Fox (Eds) Ecology and Biogeography of Mediterranean Ecosystems in Chile, California, and Australia Springer Berlin 177–210

    Google Scholar 

  • J Canadell R B Jackson J R Ehleringer H A Mooney O E Sala E D Schulze (1996) ArticleTitleMaximum rooting depth of vegetation types at the global scale Oecologia 108 13 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00329030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M M Chaves J P Maroco J S Pereira (2003) ArticleTitleUnderstanding plant response to drought – from genes to the whole plant Funct. Plant Biol. 30 239–264 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjtVKlt7o%3D Occurrence Handle10.1071/FP02076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Craig (1961) ArticleTitleIsotopic variations in meteoric waters Science 133 1702–1703 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF3MXhtVeis7w%3D Occurrence Handle17814749

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dambrinne E, Pollier B and Bishop K 1993 Le delta 18O de la sève xylémique indique la profondeur moyenne à laquelle l’arbre absorbe l’eau. In Utilisation des isotopes stables pour l’étude du fonctionnement des plantes. Eds. P Maillard and R Bonhomme, Les colloques 70. pp. 115–121. Inra Editions, Paris

  • W Dansgard (1964) ArticleTitleStable isotopes in precipitation Tellus 16 436–468 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.2153-3490.1964.tb00181.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David T S 2000 Intercepção da precipitação e transpiração em árvores isoladas de Q. rotundifolia Lam. Doctoral thesis, Universidade Técnia de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa, Portugal. 155 pp

  • T S David M I Ferreira S Cohen J S Pereira J S David (2004) ArticleTitleConstraints on transpiration from an evergreen oak tree in southern Portugal Agric. For. Meteorol. 122 193–205 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.agrformet.2003.09.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T E Dawson (1993a) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift and water use by plants: implications for water balance, performance, and plant–plant interactions Oecologia 95 565–574

    Google Scholar 

  • T E Dawson (1993b) Water sources of plants as determined from xylem–water isotopic composition: perspectives on plant competition, distribution, and water relations J R Ehleringer A E Hall G D Farquhar (Eds) Stable Isotopes and Plant Carbon–Water Relations Academic Press, Inc New York 555

    Google Scholar 

  • T E Dawson (1998) ArticleTitleFog in the California redwood forest: ecosystem inputs and use by plants Oecologia 117 476–485 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T E Dawson J R Ehleringer (1993) ArticleTitleIsotopic enrichment of water in the ‘woody’ tissues of plants: implications for plant water source, water uptake, and other studies, which use the stable isotopic composition of cellulose Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 57 3487–3492 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmtVOnsLg%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(93)90554-A

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D R DeWalle P J Edwards B R Swistock R Aravena R J Drimmie (1997) ArticleTitleSeasonal isotope hydrology of three Appalachian forest catchments Hydrol. Process. 11 1895–1906 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199712)11:15<1895::AID-HYP538>3.0.CO;2-#

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L A Donovan J R Ehleringer (1994) ArticleTitleWater stress and use of summer precipitation in a Great Basin shrub community Funct. Ecol. 8 289–297 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2389821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J R Ehleringer T E Dawson (1992) ArticleTitleWater uptake by plants: perspectives from stable isotope composition Plant Cell Environ. 15 1073–1082 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhvVOktL8%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-3040.1992.tb01657.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J R Ehleringer S L Phillips W F S Schuster D R Sandquist (1991) ArticleTitleDifferential utilization of summer rains by desert plants: implications for competition and climate change Oecologia 88 430–434 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S H Emerman T E Dawson (1996) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift and its influence on the water content of the rhizosphere, an example from sugar maple, Acer  saccharum Oecologia 108 273–278

    Google Scholar 

  • J F Espeleta J B West L A Donovan (2004) ArticleTitleSpecies-specific patterns of hydraulic lift in co-occuring adult trees and grasses in a sandhill community Oecologia 138 341–349 Occurrence Handle14689298 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2c%2FksV2jtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00442-003-1460-8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • I Filella J Peñuelas (2003) ArticleTitlePartitioning of water and nitrogen in co-occurring Mediterranean woody shrub species of different evolutionary history Oecologia 137 51–61 Occurrence Handle12856202 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00442-003-1333-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • L B Flanagan J R Ehleringer J D Marshall (1992) ArticleTitleDifferential uptake of summer precipitation among co-occuring trees and shrubs in pinyon-juniper woodland Plant Cell Environ. 15 831–836 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-3040.1992.tb02150.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Granier (1985) ArticleTitleUne nouvelle méthode pour la mesure du flux de sève brute dans le tronc des arbres Ann. Sci. For. 42 193–200

    Google Scholar 

  • A Granier (1987) ArticleTitleMesure du flux de sève brute dans le tronc du Douglas par une nouvelle méthode thermique Ann. Sci. For. 44 1–14 Occurrence Handle10.1080/00033798700200101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P Grieu D W Lucero R Ardiani J R Ehleringer (2001) ArticleTitleThe mean depth of soil water uptake by two temperate grassland species over time subjected to mild soil water deficit and competitive association Plant and Soil. 203 197–209 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010363532118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J L Horton S C Hart (1998) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift: a potentially important ecosystem process Trends Ecol. Evol. 13 232–235 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-5347(98)01328-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P C Jackson J Cavelier G Goldstein F C Meinzer N M Holbrook (1995) ArticleTitlePartitioning of water resources among plants of a lowland tropical forest Oecologia 101 197–203 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R B Jackson L A Moore W A Hoffmann W T Pockman C R Linder (1999) ArticleTitleEcosystem rooting depth determined with caves and DNA Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., Ecology 96 11,387–11,392 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXmvVCmsbo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R B Jackson J S Sperry T E Dawson (2000) ArticleTitleRoot water uptake and transport: using physiological processes in global predictions Trends Plant Sci. 5 482–488 Occurrence Handle11077257 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FmtFSmtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1360-1385(00)01766-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Joffre S Rambal J P Ratte (1999) ArticleTitleThe dehesa system of southern Spain and Portugal as a natural ecosystem mimic Agrofor. Syst. 45 57–79 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006259402496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B Klepper (2001) ArticleTitleCrop root system response to irrigation Irrigation Sci. 12 105–108

    Google Scholar 

  • T E Kolb S C Hart R Amundson (1997) ArticleTitleBoxelder water source and physiology at perennial and ephemeral stream sites in Arizona Tree Physiol. 17 151–160 Occurrence Handle14759869

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G Lin S L Sternberg (1993) Hydrogen isotopic fractionation by plant roots during water uptake in coastal wetland plants J R Ehleringer A E Hall G D Farquhar (Eds) Stable Isotopes and Plant Carbon–Water Relations Academic Press, Inc New York 555

    Google Scholar 

  • G Lin S L Phillips J R Ehleringer (1996) ArticleTitleMonsoonal precipitation responses of shrubs in a cold desert community on the Colorado Plateau Oecologia 106 8–17

    Google Scholar 

  • F Ludwig T E Dawson H Kroon F Berendse H H Prins (2003) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift in Acacia tortilis trees on an East African savanna Oecologia 134 293–300 Occurrence Handle12647135 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7jt1OhsA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes A C 1998 Tendências de evolução da economia do sector da cortiça em Portugal. In Cork oak and oak, sobreiro e cortiça. European conference on cork oak and oak (5–7 May 1997). Ed. Helena Pereira. Centro de Estudos Florestais. pp. 469–492. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa

  • A J Midwood T W Boutton S R Archer S E Watts (1998) ArticleTitleWater use by woody plants on contrasting soils in a savanna parkland: assessment with δ2H and δ18O Plant and Soil. 205 13–24 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXhtlGjs74%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004355423241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Millikin Ishikawa C S Bledsoe (2000) ArticleTitleSeasonal and diurnal patterns of soil water potential in the rhizosphere of blue oaks: evidence for hydraulic lift Oecologia 125 459–465 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420000470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P Miranda F E S Coelho A R Tomé M A Valente (2002) Twentieth century portuguese climate and climate scenarios F D Santos K Forbes R Moita (Eds) Climate Change in Portugal. Scenarios, Impacts, and Adaptation Measures – SIAM Project Gradiva Lisboa 25–83

    Google Scholar 

  • H A Mooney S L Gulmon P W Rundel J R Ehleringer (1980) ArticleTitleFurther observations on the water relations of Prosopis  tamarugo of the Northern Atacama desert Oecologia 44 177–180 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00572676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otieno D O, Kurz-Besson C, Liu J, Schmidt M W T, Lobo do Vale R, David T S, Siegwolf R, Pereira J S and Tenhunen J D Seasonal variations in soil and plant water status in a Quercus  suber L. stand: roots as determinants of tree productivity and survival in the Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Plant and Soil (In press)

  • J Peñuelas I Filella (2003) ArticleTitleDeuterium labelling of roots provides evidence of deep water access and hydraulic lift by Pinus nigra in a Mediterranean forest of NE Spain Environ. Exp. Bot. 49 201–208 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0098-8472(02)00070-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J S Pereira J S David T S David M C Caldeira M M Chaves (2004) Carbon and water fluxes in mediterranean-type ecosystems – constraints and adaptations K Esser U Lüttge W Beyschlag J Murata (Eds) Progress in Botany Springer-Verlag Berlin 467–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira P M and Fonseca M P 2003 Nature vs. nurture: the making of the montado ecosystem. Conserv. Ecol. 7: http://www.consecol.org/vol7/iss3/art7

  • J I Querejeta L M Egerton-Warburton M F Allen (2003) ArticleTitleDirect nocturnal water transfer from oaks to their mycorrhizal symbionts during severe soil drying Oecologia 134 55–64 Occurrence Handle12647179 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00442-002-1078-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R M M Reis M Z Gonçalves (1987) Caracterização climática da região agrícola do Alentejo. O clima de Portugal, Fascículo XXXIV INMG Lisboa 226

    Google Scholar 

  • J M Richards M M Caldwell (1987) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift: substantial nocturnal water transport between layers by Artemisia tridentada roots Oecologia 73 486–489 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00379405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J Roberts (2000) ArticleTitleThe influence of physical and physiological characteristics of vegetation on their hydrological response Hydrol. Process. 14 2885–2901 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1099-1085(200011/12)14:16/17<2885::AID-HYP125>3.0.CO;2-Z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R J Ryel M M Caldwell A J Leffler C K Yoder (2003) ArticleTitleRapid soil moisture recharge to depth by roots in a stand of Artemisia tridentata Ecology 84 757–764

    Google Scholar 

  • R J Ryel M M Caldwell C K Yoder D Or A J Leffler (2002) ArticleTitleHydraulic redistribution in a stand of Artemisia tridentada: evaluation of benefits to transpiration assessed with a simulation model Oecologia 130 173–184

    Google Scholar 

  • M Sankaran J Ratnam N P Hanan (2004) ArticleTitleTree-grass coexistence in savannas revisited – insights from an examination of assumptions and mechanisms invoked in existing models Ecol. Lett. 7 480–490 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00596.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Saurer I Robertson R Siegwolf M Leuenberger (1998) ArticleTitleOxygen isotope analysis of cellulose: an interlaboratory comparison Anal. Chem. 70 2074–2080 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXisFehsbw%3D Occurrence Handle10.1021/ac971022f

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P F Scholander H T Hammel E D Bradstreet E A Hemmingsen (1965) ArticleTitleSap pressure in vascular plants Science 148 339–346 Occurrence Handle17832103

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • N Sekiya K Yano (2004) ArticleTitleDo pigeon pea and Sesbania supply groundwater to intercropped maize through hydraulic lift? Hydrogen stable isotope investigation of xylem waters Field Crop. Res. 86 167–173 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.fcr.2003.08.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Tanigushi T Nakayama N Tase J Shimada (2001) ArticleTitleStable isotope studies of precipitation and river water in the Lake Biwa basin, Japan Hydrol. Process. 14 539–556 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(20000228)14:3<539::AID-HYP953>3.0.CO;2-L

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P J Thornburn L J Mensforth G R Walker (1994) ArticleTitleReliance of creek-side river red gums on creek water Aust. J. Mar. Fresh Res. 45 1439–1443 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF9941439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Valentini G E Scarascia Mugnozza J R Ehleringer (1992) ArticleTitleHydrogen and carbon isotope ratios of selected species of a Mediterranean macchia ecosystem Funct. Ecol. 6 627–631 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2389955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H Walter (1973) Vegetation of the Earth and Ecological Systems of the Geo-Biosphere Springer-Verlag New York. 274

    Google Scholar 

  • E W Washburn E R Smith (1934) ArticleTitleThe isotopic fractionation of water by physiological processes Science 79 188–189 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaA2cXhvFyhuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle17829462

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J W C White E R Cook J R Lawrence W S Broecker (1985) ArticleTitleThe D/H ratios of sap in trees: implication for water sources and tree ring D/H ratios Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 49 237–246 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXot1Wjtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(85)90207-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D G Williams J R Ehleringer (2000) ArticleTitleIntra- and interspecific variation for summer precipitation use in pinyon-juniper woodlands Ecol. Monogr. 70 517–537 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2657185

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada da Ajuda, 1394-017, Lisboa, Portugal

    Cathy Kurz-Besson, Raquel Lobo do Vale, Alastair Herd, Carla Nogueira, Jorge Soares David, João Santos Pereira & Manuela Chaves

  2. Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland

    Rolf Siegwolf

  3. Department of Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Dennis Otieno, Markus Schmidt & John Tenhunen

  4. Estação Florestal Nacional, INIAP, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-159, Oeiras, Portugal

    Teresa Soares David

  5. Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-159, Oeiras, Portugal

    Manuela Chaves

Authors
  1. Cathy Kurz-Besson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dennis Otieno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Raquel Lobo do Vale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rolf Siegwolf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Markus Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alastair Herd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Carla Nogueira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Teresa Soares David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jorge Soares David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. John Tenhunen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. João Santos Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Manuela Chaves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cathy Kurz-Besson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kurz-Besson, C., Otieno, D., Lobo do Vale, R. et al. Hydraulic Lift in Cork Oak Trees in a Savannah-Type Mediterranean Ecosystem and its Contribution to the Local Water Balance. Plant Soil 282, 361–378 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-0005-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-0005-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation