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Water 'on the rocks': a summer drink for thirsty trees?
Andrea Nardini1, Francesco Petruzzellis1, Daniel Marusig1,2
1Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, Trieste, 34127, Italia.
The New Phytologist
|August 11, 2020
Summary
Bedrock properties significantly influence tree drought response. Porous breccia bedrock offers better water storage, improving tree water status and reducing dieback compared to less porous dolostone bedrock.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Ecology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Drought-induced tree mortality is patchy, with variation in drought tolerance only partly explaining patterns.
- Rock-dominated landscapes present unique hydrological conditions for trees.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of bedrock properties, specifically rock water storage capacity, on tree water status and drought response.
- Determine if bedrock type influences tree survival and health during drought conditions.
Main Methods:
- Measured primary porosity and available water content of breccia (B) and dolostone (D) rocks.
- Grew Fraxinus ornus saplings in pots with soil or soil mixed with B or D rocks, then subjected them to drought.
- Monitored seasonal tree water status in field sites overlying B or D bedrock.
Main Results:
- Breccia rocks exhibited higher porosity and water storage than dolostone rocks.
- Saplings with dolostone rocks showed reduced biomass and increased water stress compared to those with breccia rocks.
- Trees on breccia bedrock maintained better water status and less canopy dieback than trees on dolostone bedrock during drought.
Conclusions:
- Bedrock acts as a crucial water source for trees experiencing drought.
- Variations in bedrock water storage capacity create heterogeneous below-ground water availability.
- This heterogeneity in water availability leads to landscape-level differences in drought impact on tree water status and mortality.
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