A global analysis of xylem vessel length in woody plants

Jacobsen, Anna L.; Pratt, R. Brandon; Tobin, Michael F.; Hacke, Uwe G.; Ewers, Frank W.

doi:10.3732/ajb.1200140

Cited by 124 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 65 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Another group of ecophysiological traits that could have been studied to seek phylogenetic and evolutionary differences between trees and lianas is that of hydraulic characters. Regarding hydraulic traits, lianas have wider and longer vessels compared to trees, features that enable them to supply a large leaf area with a relatively small allocation to xylem tissue [33], [66], [67]. However, xylem vessel length did not show significant phylogenetic signal in a recent global analysis including lianas, shrubs and trees [33].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Species Divergence and Phylogenetic Variation of Ecophysiological Traits in Lianas and Trees

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The climbing habit is an evolutionary key innovation in plants because it is associated with enhanced clade diversification. We tested whether patterns of species divergence and variation of three ecophysiological traits that are fundamental for plant adaptation to light environments (maximum photosynthetic rate [Amax], dark respiration rate [Rd], and specific leaf area [SLA]) are consistent with this key innovation. Using data reported from four tropical forests and three temperate forests, we compared phylogenetic distance among species as well as the evolutionary rate, phylogenetic distance and phylogenetic signal of those traits in lianas and trees. Estimates of evolutionary rates showed that Rd evolved faster in lianas, while SLA evolved faster in trees. The mean phylogenetic distance was 1.2 times greater among liana species than among tree species. Likewise, estimates of phylogenetic distance indicated that lianas were less related than by chance alone (phylogenetic evenness across 63 species), and trees were more related than expected by chance (phylogenetic clustering across 71 species). Lianas showed evenness for Rd, while trees showed phylogenetic clustering for this trait. In contrast, for SLA, lianas exhibited phylogenetic clustering and trees showed phylogenetic evenness. Lianas and trees showed patterns of ecophysiological trait variation among species that were independent of phylogenetic relatedness. We found support for the expected pattern of greater species divergence in lianas, but did not find consistent patterns regarding ecophysiological trait evolution and divergence. Rd followed the species-level pattern, i.e., greater divergence/evolution in lianas compared to trees, while the opposite occurred for SLA and no pattern was detected for Amax. Rd may have driven lianas' divergence across forest environments, and might contribute to diversification in climber clades.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Species Divergence and Phylogenetic Variation of Ecophysiological Traits in Lianas and Trees

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…19.2,19.3A,19.3E,19.4A-C) and longest vessels in the plant kingdom (Klotz 1978;Ewers 1985;Ewers et al 1990;Jacobsen et al 2012). The widest vessel was found in the eudicot Dioclea, Leguminosae, with vessels up to 500 μm wide (measured in this study) and the longest vessel, i.e., a series of vessel elements, was found in Amphilophium (= Pithecoctenium) crucigerum, Bignoniaceae, at 7.73 m long (Ewers et al 1990).…”

Section: Vessel Dimensions and Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Liana anatomy: a broad perspective on structural evolution of the vascular system

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Several anatomical and morphological characteristics of the xylem can be used to infer about the hydraulic safety and efficiency of plants (Choat et al 2005;Poorter et al 2010;Jacobsen et al 2012). Wood density (WD) has been shown to influence hydraulic conductivity (Bucci et al 2004) as well as the resistance to drought-induced embolism and water storage capacity in the xylem (Pratt et al 2007;Jacobsen et al 2008;Chave et al 2009;Zanne et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic architecture of lianas in a semiarid climate: efficiency or safety?

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Xylem anatomical traits can provide insights regarding the mechanisms affecting the distribution of vascular plants across environmental gradients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that lianas occurring in semiarid environments have characteristics that maximize the xylem resistance to tension-induced cavitation along the root--stem-branch continuum. To gather information regarding the hydraulic architecture of the lianas, we analyzed several anatomical traits of wood: cross-sectional area occupied by the parenchyma (A P ), fibers (A F ), and vessels (A V ); average vessel diameter (d); wood density (WD); pit diameter in the vessel wall (d pit ); pit density (N pit ), and potential hydraulic conductivity (Kp) in branches, stems, and roots of three congeneric species of lianas that occur in two vegetation types of the semiarid regions of Brazil. We found that lianas in these semiarid environments possess a number of the following xylem traits that may allow resistance to tension-induced cavitation:1) lower vessel diameter, lower Kp, and higher hydraulic safety in roots and branches; 2) Dimorphic vessels, ensuring both hydraulic efficiency and safety; and 3) small diameter of pits (potentially associated with a decrease in the membrane area of the vessel pits). This suite of traits may provide insight into mechanisms allowing lianas to occur in semiarid environments.

show abstract

A global analysis of xylem vessel length in woody plants

Cited by 124 publications

References 65 publications

Species Divergence and Phylogenetic Variation of Ecophysiological Traits in Lianas and Trees

Species Divergence and Phylogenetic Variation of Ecophysiological Traits in Lianas and Trees

Liana anatomy: a broad perspective on structural evolution of the vascular system

Hydraulic architecture of lianas in a semiarid climate: efficiency or safety?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About