Hydraulic-physiological coordination predicts drought recovery: evidence from ten dry-hot valley species.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Escalating drought in the Lancang River dry-hot valley demands trait-based rules for selecting planting material that can both persist through prolonged water deficits and rebound after rainfall.

Methods

We conducted a controlled drought-rewatering experiment on ten native species (seven shrubs; three herbs) across a graded soil-water regime and quantified twenty-five functional traits spanning morphology, photosynthesis and photochemistry, biochemistry, hydraulics, and nutrient use.

Results

Shrubs generally adopted a conservative strategy, exhibiting more negative xylem pressure at 50% loss of conductivity (P50), wider hydraulic safety margins, and faster recovery of PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm) after rewatering; herbs were more acquisitive, with higher speci

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745455 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature