Stable oxygen-hydrogen isotopes reveal water use strategies of Tamarix taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert, China

Tamarix taklamakanensis,a dominant species in the Taklimakan Desert of China,plays a crucial role in stabilizing sand dunes and maintaining regional ecosystem stability.This study aimed to determine the water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert under a falling groundwater depth.Four typical T.taklamakanensis nabkha habitats(sandy desert of Tazhong site,saline desert-alluvial plain of Qiemo site,desert-oasis ecotone of Qira site and desert-oasis ecotone of Aral site)were selected with different climate,soil,groundwater and plant cover conditions.Stable isotope values of hydrogen and oxygen were measured for plant xylem water,soil water(soil depths within 0–500 cm),snowmelt water and groundwater in the different habitats.Four potential water sources for T.taklamakanensis,defined as shallow,middle and deep soil water,as well as groundwater,were investigated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model.It was found that groundwater in the Taklimakan Desert was not completely recharged by precipitation,but through the river runoff from snowmelt water in the nearby mountain ranges.The surface soil water content was quickly depleted by strong evaporation,groundwater depth was relatively shallow and the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively low,thus T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the middle(23%±1%)and deep(31%±5%)soil water and groundwater(36%±2%)within the sandy desert habitat.T.taklamakanensis mainly used the deep soil water(55%±4%)and a small amount of groundwater(25%±2%)within the saline desert-alluvial plain habitat,where the soil water content was relatively high and the groundwater depth was shallow.In contrast,within the desert-oasis ecotone in the Qira and Aral sites,T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the deep soil water(35%±1%and 38%±2%,respectively)and may also use groundwater because the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively high in these habitats and the soil water content was relatively low,which is associated with the reduced groundwater depth due to excessive water resource exploitation and utilization by surrounding cities.Consequently,T.taklamakanensis showed distinct water use strategies among the different habitats and primarily depended on the relatively stable water sources(deep soil water and groundwater),reflecting its adaptations to the different habitats in the arid desert environment.These findings improve our understanding on determining the water sources and water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert.

Water use strategies of the desert riparian forest plant community in the lower reaches of Heihe River Basin, China

The object of this paper is the different plant communities in the Ejina desert riparian forest. Groundwater depth, soil moisture, plant water potential, relative leaf moisture content and water use efficiency was monitored, and the response of soil moisture and plant ecology to the groundwater depth and the water use efficiency of the different plant communities was analyzed. The results showed that：（1） Along with the groundwater depth increasing, predawn and midday water potential of the plants, with the exception of Reaumuria soongorica, did not decrease significantly, indicating that when the groundwater depth is less than 3 m, the plant communities in the range of 4 km from the river way did not suffer or slightly suffer from water stress;（2） The distribution of higher soil moisture content within 0–3 m soil layer is suitable with the plants’ root system, as indicated in the communities of coexisting overripe Populus euphratica or Taramrix chinensis, both of which can release excessive water into soil for shallow rooted shrubs or herbaceous plants when there is water shortage;（3） R. soongorica can absorb deep soil moisture through deep roots for their own survival;（4） The community consisting of Sophora alopecuroides, Karelinia caspica, T. chinensis, and overripe P. euphratica has the best species combination for restoring the damaged eco-environment in the lower reaches of Heihe River;（5） The order of plants’ relative leaf water contents is K. caspica ＆gt; S. alopecuroides ＆gt; young P. euphratica ＆gt; overripe P. euphratica ＆gt; mature P. euphratica = T. chinensis coexisting with other species ＆gt; single R. soongorica ＆gt; single T. chinensis and the order of WUE is single T. chinensis ＆gt; single R. soongorica ＆gt; T. chinensis living in symbiosis with other species ＆gt; S. alopecuroides = young P. euphratica ＆gt; mature P. euphratica ＆gt; overripe P. euphratica ＆gt; K. caspica. Therefore, with ample soil moisture, the plant community helps rapid growth of T. chinensis, young P. euphratica and R. soongorica plants of less moisture content. Despite this they do not have much water storage capability, but have strong drought resistance, and higher moisture contents of S. alopecuroides and K. caspica, thus leaving them with poor drought resistance. Overall, the desert riparian forest plant community in the lower reaches of Heihe River helps the species of higher WUE live on it.

Differential water use strategies among selected rare and endangered species in West Ordos Desert of China

Aims West Ordos Desert(WOD)in Inner Mongolia of China is charac-terized by unique geographical and ecological features to avoid the direct invasion of Quaternary Continental Glaciation,so it hosts many endangered relic species such as Tetraena mongol-ica,Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Potaninia mongolica from Tertiary.However,how these plants utilize available water sources remains unknown.The objective of this study was to investigate the water utilization strategies of selected rare and endangered plant species in WOD by comparing hydrogen isotope ratios between their xylem water and possible water sources following four rainfall events of varying-intensities.Methods We measured the hydrogen isotope ratios of xylem water from T.mongolica,A.mongolicus and P.mongolica and an accom-panying species Sarcozygium xanthoxylum and potential water sources(including precipitation and soil water in different soil layers from 0 to 150 cm)over 9 days following each of four varying-intensity rainfall events during the summer of 2012.And then calculated the percentage utilization of potential water sources by each species after each rainfall events using the linear mixing model.We also made the measurements of soil moisture and root biomass in favor of interpretation of plant water use strategies.Important Findings Tetraena mongolica,A.mongolicus and S.xanthoxylum primarily relied on deep soil water,whereas P.mongolica depended predomi-nantly on rainwater.These rare and endangered desert plants had differential utilizations of available water sources,so some com-petition for limited water existed among some species.Tetraena mongolica had a competitive relationship in absorption of soil moisture with the same family species S.xanthoxylum,suggesting that T.mongolica and S.xanthoxylum should be restored separately at different areas in the WOD.Overall,this study provides a better understanding of water use strategies of these four plants and scien-tific evidence for protecting rare and endangered plants,maintain-ing regional species diversity,and developing effective vegetation restoration plans in the WOD.

Understanding plant drought resistance in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune ecosystem:differences between native and exotic invasive species

Aims Mediterranean coastal dunes are habitats of great conservation interest,with a distinctive and rich flora.In the last century,Acacia spp.,native from Australia,have been introduced in Portugal,with the objective of stabilizing sand dunes,and since have become dominant in numerous sand dune habitats.This invasion process led to the reduction of native plant species richness,changed soil characteristics and modified habitat’s microclimatic char-acteristics.The aim of this research was to typify and compare,in Mediterranean sand dune ecosystems,the ecophysiological responses to drought of Helichrysum italicum and Corema album,two native species,and Acacia longifolia,an exotic invasive spe-cies.We addressed the following specific objectives:(i)to com-pare water relations and water use efficiencies,(ii)to evaluate water stress,(iii)to assess water use strategies and water sources used by plants and(iv)to evaluate the morphological adaptations at leaf and phyllode level.Methods In order to obtain an integrative view of ecophysiological patterns,water relations and performance measuring methods have been applied:predawn(ψPD)and midday(ψMD)water potential,chloro-phyll a fluorescence,oxygen isotopic composition of xylem,rain and groundwater(δ18O)and leaf carbon isotopic discrimination(Δ13C).The leaf characteristics of the three species,as well as the histochemistry of non-glandular trichome cell walls,were also studied to identify morpho-traits related to drought resistance.Important Findings The results support our initial hypothesis:although A.longifolia clearly possesses a degree of resistance to water stress,such ability is provided by a different water strategy,when compared to native species.Natives relied on morphological adaptations to restrict water loss,whereas the invasive species adjusted the water uptake as a way to balance their limited ability of restricting water loss.We corroborate that woody native species(i)have a conservative water-saving strategy and minor seasonal variations relative to invasive species,(ii)use enriched water sources during drought periods,indicating different water sources and root systems com-paring with invasive species and(iii)present drought leaf morpho-functional adaptations related with limiting water loss.Comparing the physiological performance of invasive and native species can offer causal explanations for the relative success of alien plant invasions on sand dunes ecosystems.