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Does water transport scale universally with tree size?

  1. F. C. MEINZER1,*,
  2. B. J. BOND2,
  3. J. M. WARREN1,
  4. D. R. WOODRUFF1

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01017.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 19, Issue 4, pages 558–565, August 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

MEINZER, F. C., BOND, B. J., WARREN, J. M. and WOODRUFF, D. R. (2005), Does water transport scale universally with tree size?. Functional Ecology, 19: 558–565. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01017.x

Author Information

  1. 1

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

  2. 2

    Forest Science Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fmeinzer@fs.fed.us

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 13 September 2004; revised 7 January 2005; accepted 26 April 2005

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Keywords:

  • allometric scaling;
  • hydraulic architecture;
  • sap flow;
  • sapwood;
  • xylem anatomy

Summary

  • 1
    We employed standardized measurement techniques and protocols to describe the size dependence of whole-tree water use and cross-sectional area of conducting xylem (sapwood) among several species of angiosperms and conifers.
  • 2
    The results were not inconsistent with previously proposed 3/4-power scaling of water transport with estimated above-ground biomass. However, for a given size, angiosperms transported considerably greater quantities of water than conifers.
  • 3
    In the angiosperms studied, the scaling of water transport with sapwood area, stem diameter and above-ground biomass was best described by sigmoid functions rather than a power function, consistent with the previously reported size dependence of other processes such as growth.
  • 4
    At least three distinct species groupings for relationships between sapwood area and stem basal area were observed. Scaling of sapwood area with stem radius was well described by a power function of the form Y = Y0Xb. However, exponents obtained for two of the three species groups differed significantly from a recently proposed theoretical value of 2·33.
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