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Hydraulic lift in a neotropical savanna

  1. M. Z. Moreira1,
  2. F. G. Scholz2,
  3. S. J. Bucci3,
  4. L. S. Sternberg3,*,
  5. G. Goldstein3,
  6. F. C. Meinzer4,
  7. A. C. Franco5

Article first published online: 29 SEP 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2003.00770.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 17, Issue 5, pages 573–581, October 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Moreira, M. Z., Scholz, F. G., Bucci, S. J., Sternberg, L. S., Goldstein, G., Meinzer, F. C. and Franco, A. C. (2003), Hydraulic lift in a neotropical savanna. Functional Ecology, 17: 573–581. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2003.00770.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13416-903, Brazil,

  2. 2

    Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional (FCEyN) Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina,

  3. 3

    Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA,

  4. 4

    USDA Forest Service, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA, and

  5. 5

    Department of Botany, University of Brazilia, CP 04457, 70919-970, Brazilia, Brazil

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: l.sternberg@miami.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 SEP 2003
  2. Article first published online: 29 SEP 2003
  3. Received 9 November 2002; accepted 1 December 2002

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Keywords:

  • Deuterium labelling;
  • heat pulse;
  • hydraulic lift;
  • neotropical savanna;
  • soil water redistribution

Summary

  • 1
    We report hydraulic lift in the savanna vegetation of central Brazil (Cerrado). Both heat-pulse measurements and isotopic (deuterium) labelling were used to determine whether hydraulic lift occurred in two common species, and whether neighbouring small shrubs and trees were utilizing this water.
  • 2
    Both techniques showed water uptake by tap-roots and reverse flow of water in lateral roots. Roots transferred hydraulically lifted water to the soil, and small shrubs and trees neighbouring the labelled individuals were labelled by deuterated water.
  • 3
    Isotopic mass-balance equations and sap-flow measurements showed that water taken up by the central tap-root in each individual constituted only a small percentage of total flux of water through the treated plants. Mass-balance equations also indicated that small shrubs and trees neighbouring the treated plants utilized only a few thousandths of a per cent of the label.
  • 4
    The small proportion of water uptake by the tap-root of these two species may be limiting hydraulic lift in this system, unless sinker roots descending from lateral roots contribute to hydraulic lift.
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