Functional phenotypic plasticity mediated by water stress and [CO2] explains differences in drought tolerance of two phylogenetically close conifers.

ABSTRACT: Forests are threatened globally by increased recurrence and intensity of hot droughts. Functionally close coexisting species may exhibit differences in drought vulnerability large enough to cause niche differentiation and affect forest dynamics. The effect of rising atmospheric [CO2], which could partly alleviate the negative effects of drought, may also differ between species. We analysed functional plasticity in seedlings of two taxonomically close pine species (Pinus pinaster Ait., Pinus pinea L.) under different [CO2] and water stress levels. The multidimensional functional trait variability was more influenced by water stress (preferentially xylem traits) and [CO2] (mostly leaf traits) than by differences between species. However, we observed differences between species in the strateg

SUBMITTER: Ferriz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10255776 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature