Data from: Reduced soil moisture drives leaf anatomical shifts more than chronically elevated temperatures in European temperate trees
Data files
Feb 17, 2025 version files 47.12 KB
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Dryard_Data_PlantBio_MargauxDidionGency.xlsx
34.30 KB
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Dryard_README_PlantBio_MargauxDidionGency.xlsx
11.65 KB
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README.md
1.17 KB
Abstract
Chronic reductions in soil moisture combined with high air temperatures can modify tree carbon and water relations. However, little is known about how trees acclimate their foliar structure to the individual and combined effects of these two climatic drivers. We used open-top chambers to determine the multi-year effects of chronic air warming (+5 °C) and soil moisture reduction (-50 %) alone and in combination on the foliar anatomy of two European tree species. We further investigated how these climatic drivers affected the relationship between foliar anatomy and physiology/chemistry in young downy oak and European beech trees. After four years, reduced soil moisture led to the development of thinner leaves with narrower epidermis and lower gas exchange for oak and beech but to a lesser extent for the latter. In contrast, prolonged warming did not affect the anatomical and physiological/chemical traits in either species. Warming also did not exacerbate the impacts of dry soils, highlighting soil moisture as the key driver in leaf anatomical shifts. While soil moisture altered oak foliar anatomy, and physiology and chemistry of both species, our work revealed a limited acclimation potential towards more drought- and heat-tolerant leaves as conditions get drier and warmer, suggesting potentially high vulnerability of both species to future climate.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbz6
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
The dataset consists of two files namely: Dryard_Data_PlantBio_MargauxDidionGency and Dryard_README_PlantBio_MargauxDidionGency (contains description of variables with their corresponding units)
We used open-top chambers to assess the effects of chronic air warming (+5 °C) and soil moisture reduction (-50%) on the foliar anatomy of two European tree species over multiple years. After four years, reduced soil moisture resulted in thinner leaves with narrower epidermis and lower gas exchange in both oak and beech, though the effect was less pronounced in beech. Warming did not affect leaf anatomy or physiology/chemistry, nor did it amplify the impact of reduced soil moisture, emphasizing soil moisture as the primary driver of leaf changes. Our findings show limited acclimation potential for both species, suggesting they may be highly vulnerable to future climate changes.
