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Comparison of measured and modeled variations in piñon pine leaf water isotopic enrichment across a summer moisture gradient

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Abstract

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of bulk leaf water (δDlw and δ18Olw) in piñon pine (Pinus edulis and P. monophylla) and gas exchange parameters were measured under field conditions to examine the effects of seasonal moisture stress on leaf water isotopic enrichment. Study sites were located near the lower elevation limit for piñon in the southwestern USA. Leaf-level transpiration measurements were made four times daily in spring, summer and early autumn; simultaneously, leaf samples were collected for water extraction and stable isotope analysis. Diurnal variations in δDlw and δ18Olw values were small, especially when leaf water residence times (molar leaf water content divided by transpiration rate) were high. Stomatal conductance explained most of the variance (60%) in leaf water enrichment across the dataset. Observed leaf water enrichment was compared with predictions of steady-state and nonsteady-state models. Nonsteady-state predictions fit observations the best, although D enrichment was often lower than predicted by any model. Hydrogen isotope ratios of leaf water and cellulose nitrate were strongly correlated, demonstrating preservation of a leaf water signal in wood and leaf cellulose.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate suggestions from M. Barbour, L. Cernusak, G. Farquhar, and B. Helliker regarding modeling of leaf water enrichment. Brent E. Ewers and anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. G. Bolton, S. Borges, M. Dreier, M. Lenart, N. Ricketts, and A. Rosewater assisted in laboratory and field work. We thank J. White and the stable isotope laboratory staff at University of Colorado-Boulder for assistance in running some of the leaf water samples, and D. Yakir for encouragement. Precipitation samples were provided by D. Moore and J. Craig at the Sevilleta, C. Bowman at Grand Canyon, and K. Pfaff and other National Park personnel at Great Basin. Funding was provided by the NOAA Paleoclimatology Program (no. NA56GP0180 to S.W. Leavitt and E. Pendall).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deptartment of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

    Elise Pendall

  2. Deptartment of Renewable Resources and Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

    David G. Williams

  3. Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Steven W. Leavitt

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  1. Elise Pendall
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  2. David G. Williams
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Correspondence to Elise Pendall.

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Communicated by Jim Ehleringer

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Pendall, E., Williams, D.G. & Leavitt, S.W. Comparison of measured and modeled variations in piñon pine leaf water isotopic enrichment across a summer moisture gradient. Oecologia 145, 605–618 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-005-0164-7

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