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Rainfall drives variation in rates of change in intrinsic water use efficiency of tropical forests

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Listed:
  • Mark A. Adams

    (Swinburne University of Technology
    University of Sydney)

  • Thomas N. Buckley

    (University of California)

  • Tarryn L. Turnbull

    (Swinburne University of Technology
    University of Sydney)

Abstract

Rates of change in intrinsic water use efficiency (W) of trees relative to those in atmospheric [CO2] (ca) have been mostly assessed via short-term studies (e.g., leaf analysis, flux analysis) and/or step increases in ca (e.g., FACE studies). Here we use compiled data for abundances of carbon isotopes in tree stems to show that on decadal scales, rates of change (dW/dca) vary with location and rainfall within the global tropics. For the period 1915–1995, and including corrections for mesophyll conductance and photorespiration, dW/dca for drier tropical forests (receiving ~ 1000 mm rainfall) were at least twice that of the wettest (receiving ~ 4000 mm). The data also empirically confirm theorized roles of tropical forests in changes in atmospheric 13C/12C ratios (the 13C Suess Effect). Further formal analysis of geographic variation in decade-to-century scale dW/dca will be needed to refine current models that predict increases in carbon uptake by forests without hydrological cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark A. Adams & Thomas N. Buckley & Tarryn L. Turnbull, 2019. "Rainfall drives variation in rates of change in intrinsic water use efficiency of tropical forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11679-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11679-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Zhongdian & Huang, Mingbin, 2021. "Effect of root-zone vertical soil moisture heterogeneity on water transport safety in soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in Robinia pseudoacacia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).

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