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Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manzoni, S; Vico, G; Katul, G; Fay, PA; Polley, W; Palmroth, S; Porporato, A
Published in: Functional Ecology.
June 2011

1. Quantification of stomatal responses to environmental variables, in particular to soil water status, is needed to model carbon and water exchange rates between plants and the atmosphere. 2. Models based on stomatal optimality theory successfully describe leaf gas exchange under different environmental conditions, but the effects of water availability on the key optimization parameter [the marginal water use efficiency (WUE), λ = ∂A/∂E] has resisted complete theoretical treatment. Building on previous optimal leaf gas exchange models, we developed an analytical equation to estimate λ from gas exchange observations along gradients of soil water availability. This expression was then used in a meta-analysis of about 50 species to investigate patterns of variation in λ. 3. Assuming that cuticular water losses are negligible λ increases under mild water stress but decreases when severe water stress limits photosynthesis. When cuticular conductance is considered, however, λ increases monotonically with increasing water stress, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions. Moreover, the shape of these response curves to soil water availability changes with plant functional type and climatic conditions. In general, λ is lower in species grown in dry climates, indicating lower marginal WUE. 4. The proposed parameterization provides a framework to assess the responses of leaf gas exchange to changes in water availability. Moreover, the model can be extended to scale leaf-level fluxes to the canopy and ecosystem level.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Functional Ecology.

DOI

ISSN

0269-8463

Publication Date

June 2011

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

456 / 467

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

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Manzoni, S., Vico, G., Katul, G., Fay, P. A., Polley, W., Palmroth, S., & Porporato, A. (2011). Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates. Functional Ecology., 25(3), 456–467. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01822.x
Manzoni, Stefano, Giulia Vico, Gabriel Katul, Philip A. Fay, Wayne Polley, Sari Palmroth, and Amilcare Porporato. “Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates.” Functional Ecology. 25, no. 3 (June 2011): 456–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01822.x.
Manzoni S, Vico G, Katul G, Fay PA, Polley W, Palmroth S, et al. Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates. Functional Ecology. 2011 Jun;25(3):456–67.
Manzoni, Stefano, et al. “Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates.” Functional Ecology., vol. 25, no. 3, June 2011, pp. 456–67. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01822.x.
Manzoni S, Vico G, Katul G, Fay PA, Polley W, Palmroth S, Porporato A. Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates. Functional Ecology. 2011 Jun;25(3):456–467.
Journal cover image

Published In

Functional Ecology.

DOI

ISSN

0269-8463

Publication Date

June 2011

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

456 / 467

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences