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Specialised stomatal humidity responses underpin ecological diversity in C3 bromeliads

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Males, JO 

Abstract

The Neotropical Bromeliaceae display an extraordinary level of ecological variety, with species differing widely in habit, photosynthetic pathway, and growth form. Divergences in stomatal structure and function, hitherto understudied in treatments of bromeliad evolutionary physiology, could have been critical to the generation of variety in ecophysiological strategies among the bromeliads. Since humidity is a key factor in bromeliad niches, we focussed on stomatal responses to vapour pressure deficit (VPD). We measured the sensitivity of stomatal conductance and assimilation rate to VPD in eight C3 bromeliad species of contrasting growth forms and ecophysiological strategies, and parameterised the kinetics of stomatal responses to a step-change in VPD. Notably, three tank-epiphyte species displayed low conductance, high sensitivity and fast kinetics relative to the lithophytes, while three xeromorphic terrestrial species showed high conductance and sensitivity but slow stomatal kinetics. An apparent feedforward response of transpiration to VPD occurred in the tank-epiphytes, while water-use efficiency was differentially impacted by stomatal closure depending on photosynthetic responses. Differences in stomatal responses to VPD between species of different ecophysiological strategies are closely linked to modifications of stomatal morphology, which we argue has been a pivotal component of the evolution of high diversity in this important plant family.

Description

Keywords

Bromeliaceae, VPD, stomata, stomatal kinetics, stomatal sensitivity, transpiration, Bromeliaceae, Ecology, Humidity, Photosynthesis, Plant Leaves, Plant Stomata, Plant Transpiration, Vapor Pressure, Water

Journal Title

Plant, Cell and Environment

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0140-7791
1365-3040

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council