The functional mechanism behind the latitudinal pattern of liana diversity: Freeze-thaw embolism reduces the ecological performance of liana species.

ABSTRACT: There is a strong decrease in liana diversity along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients at a global scale, and there is a marked difference in liana diversity between tropical and temperate ecosystems. From these observations, it has been proposed that cold temperatures would restrict the ecological patterns of liana because of their vascular system's vulnerability to freeze-thaw embolism. Our objective was to establish the functional mechanism that drives the loss of liana diversity along a latitudinal temperature gradient. We evaluate the ecological performance of liana in 10 different species based on the apical growth rate, as well as functional traits associated with efficiency (maximum hydraulic conductivity and percentage conductivity lost) and safety of water transport (vessel di

SUBMITTER: Lobos-Catalan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10509155 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature