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Relating water use to morphology and environment of Nothofagus from the world’s most southern forests

Trees volume 28, pages 125–136 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Key message

This study is the first to quantify tree water use below 50°S. Tree morphology differs markedly among the two investigated species, reflecting adjustment to different environmental cues.

Abstract

A pronounced environmental gradient dictates the dominance of Nothofagus in the foothills on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains in Patagonia, Argentina. Below 50° southern latitude, open forests of Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) dominate the landscape towards the Patagonian steppe where annual rainfall is low. With increasing rates of annual rainfall, corresponding with an increase in elevation, closed forests of N. pumilio (lenga) replace those of ñire. During a short-term study we assessed differences in stand structure and examined environmental, structural and functional traits related to tree water use of ñire and lenga. Sap velocity reached similar maximum rates (95–100 L m−2 sapwood h−1), but whole-tree water use (Q) was significantly lower in ñire (8–13 L day−1 tree−1) compared to lenga (20–90 L day−1 tree−1) resulting in lower stand transpiration (ñire: 0.51 mm day−1; lenga: 3.42 mm day−1) despite similar tree densities. Related to this, wind speed had a particularly significant impact on Q of ñire, but not lenga. The ratio of leaf area to sapwood area (A L/A S) clearly identified ñire to be more structurally proficient at conserving water. While stem diameter (DBH) and crown area (A C) were well related in both species, only lenga exhibited relationships between variables related to tree allometry and physiology (A C/Q, DBH/Q). Our results provide the first ecophysiological characterization of the two Nothofagus species that define important and widespread ecosystems in southern Patagonia (not only below 50°S), and provide useful data to scale water use of both species from tree to stand.

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Acknowledgments

SP would like to thank the Institute of Foresters of Australia for awarding the Maxwell Ralph Jacobs Grant to support this research project. Additional financial support was received from the Australian Research Council. All authors thank Hector Bahamonde, Lucas Monelos and Juan Ruíz for their committed help in the field.

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  1. Sebastian Pfautsch

    Present address: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, Eveleigh, NSW, Australia

    Sebastian Pfautsch, Floris van Ogtrop & Mark A. Adams

  2. INTA EEA-Santa Cruz, UNPA, CONICET, Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina

    Pablo L. Peri

  3. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Wembley, WA, Australia

    Craig Macfarlane

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  1. Sebastian Pfautsch
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  2. Pablo L. Peri
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  3. Craig Macfarlane
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  4. Floris van Ogtrop
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  5. Mark A. Adams
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Correspondence to Sebastian Pfautsch.

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Communicated by A. Franco.

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Pfautsch, S., Peri, P.L., Macfarlane, C. et al. Relating water use to morphology and environment of Nothofagus from the world’s most southern forests. Trees 28, 125–136 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-013-0935-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-013-0935-4

Keywords

  • Climate
  • Crown area
  • Leaf area
  • Nothofagus antarctica
  • Nothofagus pumilio
  • Sapwood area
  • Stand transpiration