Exploring the role of plant hydraulics in canopy fuel moisture content: insights from an experimental drought study on Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus ilex L. - Archive ouverte HAL
Article Dans Une Revue Annals of Forest Science Année : 2024

Exploring the role of plant hydraulics in canopy fuel moisture content: insights from an experimental drought study on Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus ilex L.

Jean-Luc Dupuy
François Pimont
Myriam Moreno
Nathan Jean
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 1405709
Régis Burlett
Sylvain Delzon
Santiago Trueba

Résumé

Key Message: Understanding the impact of extreme drought on the canopy fuel moisture content (CFMC) is crucial to anticipate the effects of climate change on wildfires. Our study demonstrates that foliage mortality, caused by leaf embolism, can substantially diminish CFMC during drought on Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus ilex L. It emphasizes the importance of considering plant hydraulics to improve wildfire predictions. Context: Canopy fuel moisture content (CFMC), which represents the water-to-dry mass ratio in leaves and fine twigs within the canopy, is a major factor of fire danger across ecosystems worldwide. CFMC results from the fuel moisture content of living foliage (live fuel moisture content, LFMC) and dead foliage (dead fuel moisture content, DFMC) weighted by the proportion of foliage mortality in the canopy (α Dead). Understanding how LFMC, α Dead, and ultimately CFMC are affected during extreme drought is essential for effective wildfire planning. Aims: We aimed to understand how plant hydraulics affect CFMC for different levels of soil water deficit, examining its influence on both LFMC and α Dead. Methods: We conducted a drought experiment on seedlings of two Mediterranean species: Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) and Holm oak ( Quercus ilex L.). Throughout the drought experiment and after rewatering, we monitored CFMC, LFMC, and α Dead along with other ecophysiological variables. Results: LFMC exhibited a significant decrease during drought, and as leaf water potentials reached low levels, α Dead increased in both species, thereby reducing CFMC . Distinct water use strategies resulted in species-specific variations in dehydration dynamics. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that as drought conditions intensify, foliage mortality might become a critical physiological factor driving the decline in CFMC.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
cakpo_annalsOfForestScience_2024.pdf (4.09 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-04665786 , version 1 (31-07-2024)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Coffi Belmys Cakpo, Julien Ruffault, Jean-Luc Dupuy, François Pimont, Claude Doussan, et al.. Exploring the role of plant hydraulics in canopy fuel moisture content: insights from an experimental drought study on Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus ilex L.. Annals of Forest Science, 2024, 81 (1), pp.26. ⟨10.1186/s13595-024-01244-9⟩. ⟨hal-04665786⟩
132 Consultations
17 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

More