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Aims <p>Understanding plant water-use strategies is essential for predicting the responses of montane forest ecosystems in arid regions to environmental change. It remains unclear how <i>Picea schrenkiana</i> in the Tianshan Mountains adjusts its water use seasonally through ecological trade-offs, as shaped by the interplay of plant traits and environmental factors, especially across pronounced seasonal moisture fluctuations.</p> Methods <p>This study was conducted in a <i>P. schrenkiana</i> forest in the Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China, from April to October. We analyzed hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in xylem water, soil water (from depths of 0–20&#xa0;cm, 20–40&#xa0;cm, and 40–60&#xa0;cm), runoff, and snowmelt. In parallel, we measured key plant traits and environmental factors, encompassing soil factors and meteorological factors.</p> Results <p>Stable isotope analysis revealed distinct seasonal shifts in the water sources utilized by <i>P. schrenkiana</i>. Notably, we observed a decoupling between xylem water and bulk topsoil water isotopes in summer: xylem water exhibited minimal evaporative enrichment (slopes closer to GMWL), contrasting sharply with evaporatively enriched surface soil water. The contribution of each potential water source varied significantly across seasons. Path analysis indicated that meteorological factors directly influenced plant traits and indirectly affected water uptake patterns.</p> Conclusions <p>This study clarifies the seasonal dynamics of water-use strategies in <i>P. schrenkiana</i>, highlighting a critical plant-soil water isotopic paradox in summer that challenges simple source-apportionment models. The framework established here effectively quantifies seasonal water allocation and contributions, providing critical insights for understanding water-use patterns in arid montane forests and informing water resource management under climate change.</p>

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Spatiotemporal patterns and physiological drivers of seasonal water use in Picea schrenkiana: insights from hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月23日

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  • Ruixi Li,
  • Lu Gong,
  • Xue Wu,
  • Xiaofei Wang,
  • Wenjie Guo,
  • Yixue Huang,
  • Han Zhang

摘要

Aims

Understanding plant water-use strategies is essential for predicting the responses of montane forest ecosystems in arid regions to environmental change. It remains unclear how Picea schrenkiana in the Tianshan Mountains adjusts its water use seasonally through ecological trade-offs, as shaped by the interplay of plant traits and environmental factors, especially across pronounced seasonal moisture fluctuations.

Methods

This study was conducted in a P. schrenkiana forest in the Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China, from April to October. We analyzed hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in xylem water, soil water (from depths of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm), runoff, and snowmelt. In parallel, we measured key plant traits and environmental factors, encompassing soil factors and meteorological factors.

Results

Stable isotope analysis revealed distinct seasonal shifts in the water sources utilized by P. schrenkiana. Notably, we observed a decoupling between xylem water and bulk topsoil water isotopes in summer: xylem water exhibited minimal evaporative enrichment (slopes closer to GMWL), contrasting sharply with evaporatively enriched surface soil water. The contribution of each potential water source varied significantly across seasons. Path analysis indicated that meteorological factors directly influenced plant traits and indirectly affected water uptake patterns.

Conclusions

This study clarifies the seasonal dynamics of water-use strategies in P. schrenkiana, highlighting a critical plant-soil water isotopic paradox in summer that challenges simple source-apportionment models. The framework established here effectively quantifies seasonal water allocation and contributions, providing critical insights for understanding water-use patterns in arid montane forests and informing water resource management under climate change.