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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(8)

Water relations of woody plants on contrasting soils during drought: does edaphic compensation account for dry rainforest distribution?

Timothy J. Curran A B , Peter J. Clarke A and Nigel W. M. Warwick A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Botany, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Current address: The School for Field Studies, PO Box 141, Yungaburra, Qld 4884, Australia. Email: tcurran@fieldstudies.org

Australian Journal of Botany 57(8) 629-639 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT09128
Submitted: 31 July 2009  Accepted: 16 November 2009   Published: 8 February 2010

Abstract

The occurrence of dry rainforest in climates considered drier than the recognised limit for rainforest has been explained by the edaphic compensation hypothesis, which proposed that finer-textured soils facilitate the occurrence of rainforest at climatic extremes. We tested this by examining the effect of soil type on the water relations and plant traits of four dry rainforest species, during a severe drought and subsequent non-drought periods. We predicted plants growing in sandy soils would exhibit higher levels of water stress (lower predawn water potential and stomatal conductance) and possess morphological and physiological traits that more typically reflect drought resistance (late leaf fall in deciduous species, low specific leaf area, vertical leaf angles and stomata that close at low water potential) than those growing in loam soils. During drought, levels of water stress were similar across soil types, while post-drought plants on sandy soils were less stressed. Soil type did not cause shifts in drought tolerance traits, suggesting there has been no ecotypic differentiation of dry rainforest species across soil types for these traits. Hence, we found no support for the edaphic compensation hypothesis in adult plants; future studies should consider other life-cycle stages, such as seedlings.


Acknowledgements

We dedicate this paper to our friend, Flute Cannon, who passed away in 2008. Flute and her husband, Kerry, both of ‘Bondi’ Warialda are thanked for their interest and hospitality and for access to their property. We extend our thanks to Nicholas Curran, Benedict Hennessy, Richard Willis, John Gorham, Ian Simpson and Kristy Munro for their assistance with field work, sometimes under very extreme and trying conditions. The late John Williams provided us with useful and interesting discussions concerning dry rainforest species and Stuart Cairns and Mike Ramsey lent statistical advice. Laurie O’Donnell conducted the soil particle-size analyses. The hospitality of Bill Croker and his family at the UNE Douglas McMaster Field Station was also appreciated. The Northern Slopes Rural Lands Protection Board and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Northern Plains region are thanked for access to land under their control. This project was funded by an Australian Postgraduate Award, an NCW Beadle Scholarship, an NCW Beadle Grant-in-Aid, and an ESA Student Research Travel Award to TJC. This research was carried out under licence to TJC (Threatened Species Certificate no. WD025). Craig Willis and Jo Lello are thanked for comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.


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