Influence of photosynthetic active radiation on sap flow dynamics across forest succession stages in Dinghushan subtropical forest ecosystem

Jianqiang Huang; Fasih Ullah Haider; Wanxuan Huang; Shizhong Liu; Brian Njoroge Mwangi; Vincent Suba; Lindsay Sikuku; Xuli Tang; Qianmei Zhang; Guowei Chu; Deqiang Zhang; Juxiu Liu; Ze Meng; Dennis Otieno; Yuelin Li

Heliyon (Sep 2024)

Influence of photosynthetic active radiation on sap flow dynamics across forest succession stages in Dinghushan subtropical forest ecosystem

Jianqiang Huang,
Fasih Ullah Haider,
Wanxuan Huang,
Shizhong Liu,
Brian Njoroge Mwangi,
Vincent Suba,
Lindsay Sikuku,
Xuli Tang,
Qianmei Zhang,
Guowei Chu,
Deqiang Zhang,
Juxiu Liu,
Ze Meng,
Dennis Otieno,
Yuelin Li

Affiliations

Jianqiang Huang: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Fasih Ullah Haider: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Wanxuan Huang: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
Shizhong Liu: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Brian Njoroge Mwangi: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
Vincent Suba: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
Lindsay Sikuku: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
Xuli Tang: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Qianmei Zhang: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Corresponding author. National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.
Guowei Chu: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology, 210-40601, Bondo, Kenya
Deqiang Zhang: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Juxiu Liu: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Ze Meng: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
Dennis Otieno: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology, 210-40601, Bondo, Kenya
Yuelin Li: National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Corresponding author. National Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 18
p. e37530

Abstract

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With the intensification of global change, forests are subjected to varying degrees of drought or high-temperature stress, which has an indelible impact on the growth of trees. However, knowledge on the response of sap flow to environmental changes in different types of forests is still rare, especially in China's subtropical forest ecosystem. Consequently, studying how different tree species regulate their sap flow in response to shifting environmental conditions is essential for understanding forest transpiration, water use efficiency, and drought stress resilience. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sap flow dynamics of seven tree species in five forest plots, i.e., pine forest (PF), two types of mixed conifer-broadleaf forests (MF1+MF2), monsoon evergreen broadleaved forest (MEBF), and montane monsoonal evergreen broad-leaf forest (MOBF) at Dinghushan National Reserve in Southern China, using the heat dissipation probe technique and synchronous environmental factor recordings. Results demonstrated a significant influence of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) on sap flow across all tree species, with mean PAR values ranging from over 1200 to 425 μmol m−2 s−1, establishing it as the principal driving factor. This observation underscores the heightened responsiveness or sensitivity of tree species to variations in PAR as the forest undergoes development and maturation. The correlation between vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and tree sap flow decreased as succession progressed. Moreover, the influence of soil water content (SWC) on sap flow stability against environmental changes increased. Similar patterns were also found between the two MF, with MF-2 displaying ecological characteristics and environmental conditions more closely aligned with those of the late-successional MEBF. The study reveals the intricate relationship between environmental factors and sap flow regulation in tree species within a subtropical forest ecosystem. Addressing a comparative gap in sap flow correlation among dominant tree species at Dinghushan, it establishes a hydro-physiological foundation for understanding tree species substitution during forest succession. The results provide key insights for forest management and climate-related research. Future studies should delve into the long-term implications of observed sap flow dynamics, exploring their impact on tree species adaptability amid ongoing environmental changes.

Published in Heliyon

ISSN: 2405-8440 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General); Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/home

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