Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests

Caroline Signori-Mueller; Rafael S. Oliveira; Fernanda de Vasconcellos Barros; Julia Valentim Tavares; Martin Gilpin; Francisco Carvalho Diniz; Manuel J. Marca Zevallos; Carlos A. Salas Yupayccana; Martin Acosta; Jean Bacca; Rudi S. Cruz Chino; Gina M. Aramayo Cuellar; Edwin R. M. Cumapa; Franklin Martinez; Flor M. Perez Mullisaca; Alex Nina; Jesus M. Banon Sanchez; Leticia Fernandes da Silva; Ligia Tello; Jose Sanchez Tintaya; Maira T. Martinez Ugarteche; Timothy R. Baker; Paulo R. L. Bittencourt; Laura S. Borma; Mauro Brum; Wendeson Castro; Euridice N. Honorio Coronado; Eric G. Cosio; Ted R. Feldpausch; Leticia D'Agosto Miguel Fonseca; Emanuel Gloor; Gerardo Flores Llampazo; Yadvinder Malhi; Abel Monteagudo Mendoza; Victor Chama Moscoso; Alejandro Araujo-Murakami; Oliver L. Phillips; Norma Salinas; Marcos Silveira; Joey Talbot; Rodolfo Vasquez; Maurizio Mencuccini; David Galbraith

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests

Caroline Signori-Mueller^*, Rafael S. Oliveira, Fernanda de Vasconcellos Barros, Julia Valentim Tavares, Martin Gilpin, Francisco Carvalho Diniz, Manuel J. Marca Zevallos, Carlos A. Salas Yupayccana, Martin Acosta, Jean Bacca, Rudi S. Cruz Chino, Gina M. Aramayo Cuellar, Edwin R. M. Cumapa, Franklin Martinez, Flor M. Perez Mullisaca, Alex Nina, Jesus M. Banon Sanchez, Leticia Fernandes da Silva, Ligia Tello, Jose Sanchez TintayaMaira T. Martinez Ugarteche, Timothy R. Baker, Paulo R. L. Bittencourt, Laura S. Borma, Mauro Brum, Wendeson Castro, Euridice N. Honorio Coronado, Eric G. Cosio, Ted R. Feldpausch, Leticia D'Agosto Miguel Fonseca, Emanuel Gloor, Gerardo Flores Llampazo, Yadvinder Malhi, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Victor Chama Moscoso, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Oliver L. Phillips, Norma Salinas, Marcos Silveira, Joey Talbot, Rodolfo Vasquez, Maurizio Mencuccini, David Galbraith

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Geography & Sustainable Development

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.

Original language	English
Article number	2310
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8
Publication status	Published - 19 Apr 2021

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Signori-Mueller, C., Oliveira, R. S., Barros, F. D. V., Tavares, J. V., Gilpin, M., Carvalho Diniz, F., Marca Zevallos, M. J., Salas Yupayccana, C. A., Acosta, M., Bacca, J., Cruz Chino, R. S., Cuellar, G. M. A., Cumapa, E. R. M., Martinez, F., Perez Mullisaca, F. M., Nina, A., Sanchez, J. M. B., da Silva, L. F., Tello, L., ... Galbraith, D. (2021). Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests. Nature Communications, 12, Article 2310. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

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title = "Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests",

abstract = "Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.",

author = "Caroline Signori-Mueller and Oliveira, {Rafael S.} and Barros, {Fernanda de Vasconcellos} and Tavares, {Julia Valentim} and Martin Gilpin and {Carvalho Diniz}, Francisco and {Marca Zevallos}, {Manuel J.} and {Salas Yupayccana}, {Carlos A.} and Martin Acosta and Jean Bacca and {Cruz Chino}, {Rudi S.} and Cuellar, {Gina M. Aramayo} and Cumapa, {Edwin R. M.} and Franklin Martinez and {Perez Mullisaca}, {Flor M.} and Alex Nina and Sanchez, {Jesus M. Banon} and {da Silva}, {Leticia Fernandes} and Ligia Tello and Tintaya, {Jose Sanchez} and {Martinez Ugarteche}, {Maira T.} and Baker, {Timothy R.} and Bittencourt, {Paulo R. L.} and Borma, {Laura S.} and Mauro Brum and Wendeson Castro and {Honorio Coronado}, {Euridice N.} and Cosio, {Eric G.} and Feldpausch, {Ted R.} and {Miguel Fonseca}, {Leticia D'Agosto} and Emanuel Gloor and {Flores Llampazo}, Gerardo and Yadvinder Malhi and {Monteagudo Mendoza}, Abel and {Chama Moscoso}, Victor and Alejandro Araujo-Murakami and Phillips, {Oliver L.} and Norma Salinas and Marcos Silveira and Joey Talbot and Rodolfo Vasquez and Maurizio Mencuccini and David Galbraith",

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Signori-Mueller, C, Oliveira, RS, Barros, FDV, Tavares, JV, Gilpin, M, Carvalho Diniz, F, Marca Zevallos, MJ, Salas Yupayccana, CA, Acosta, M, Bacca, J, Cruz Chino, RS, Cuellar, GMA, Cumapa, ERM, Martinez, F, Perez Mullisaca, FM, Nina, A, Sanchez, JMB, da Silva, LF, Tello, L, Tintaya, JS, Martinez Ugarteche, MT, Baker, TR, Bittencourt, PRL, Borma, LS, Brum, M, Castro, W, Honorio Coronado, EN, Cosio, EG, Feldpausch, TR, Miguel Fonseca, LDA, Gloor, E, Flores Llampazo, G, Malhi, Y, Monteagudo Mendoza, A, Chama Moscoso, V, Araujo-Murakami, A, Phillips, OL, Salinas, N, Silveira, M, Talbot, J, Vasquez, R, Mencuccini, M & Galbraith, D 2021, 'Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests', Nature Communications, vol. 12, 2310. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

TY - JOUR

T1 - Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests

AU - Signori-Mueller, Caroline

AU - Oliveira, Rafael S.

AU - Barros, Fernanda de Vasconcellos

AU - Tavares, Julia Valentim

AU - Gilpin, Martin

AU - Carvalho Diniz, Francisco

AU - Marca Zevallos, Manuel J.

AU - Salas Yupayccana, Carlos A.

AU - Acosta, Martin

AU - Bacca, Jean

AU - Cruz Chino, Rudi S.

AU - Cuellar, Gina M. Aramayo

AU - Cumapa, Edwin R. M.

AU - Martinez, Franklin

AU - Perez Mullisaca, Flor M.

AU - Nina, Alex

AU - Sanchez, Jesus M. Banon

AU - da Silva, Leticia Fernandes

AU - Tello, Ligia

AU - Tintaya, Jose Sanchez

AU - Martinez Ugarteche, Maira T.

AU - Baker, Timothy R.

AU - Bittencourt, Paulo R. L.

AU - Borma, Laura S.

AU - Brum, Mauro

AU - Castro, Wendeson

AU - Honorio Coronado, Euridice N.

AU - Cosio, Eric G.

AU - Feldpausch, Ted R.

AU - Miguel Fonseca, Leticia D'Agosto

AU - Gloor, Emanuel

AU - Flores Llampazo, Gerardo

AU - Malhi, Yadvinder

AU - Monteagudo Mendoza, Abel

AU - Chama Moscoso, Victor

AU - Araujo-Murakami, Alejandro

AU - Phillips, Oliver L.

AU - Salinas, Norma

AU - Silveira, Marcos

AU - Talbot, Joey

AU - Vasquez, Rodolfo

AU - Mencuccini, Maurizio

AU - Galbraith, David

PY - 2021/4/19

Y1 - 2021/4/19

N2 - Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.

AB - Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

DO - 10.1038/s41467-021-22378-8

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 12

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 2310

ER -

Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests

Abstract

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