The contributions of rainfall and fog to leaf water of tree and epiphyte communities in a tropical cloud forest.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tropical cloud forest ecosystems are expected to face reduced water inputs due to climatic changes.

Methods

Here, we study the ecophysiological responses of trees and epiphytes within in an Asian cloud forest to investigate the contributions of rainfall, fog, and soil to leaf water in 60 tree and 30 vascular epiphyte species. We measured multiple functional traits, and δ²H, and δ¹⁸O isotope ratios for leaf water, soil water, rainfall, and fog in the wettest (July) and driest (February) months. Using a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model, we quantified the relative contributions of soil water, fog, and rainfall to leaf water.

Results and discussion

Rainfall contributes almost all the leaf water of the epiphytes in July, whereas fog i

SUBMITTER: Yang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11524870 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature