title: Contrasting xylem vessel constraints on hydraulic conductivity between native and non-native woody understory species.
abstract: We examined the hydraulic properties of 82 native and non-native woody species common to forests of Eastern North America, including several congeneric groups, representing a range of anatomical wood types. We observed smaller conduit diameters with greater frequency in non-native species, corresponding to lower calculated potential vulnerability to cavitation index. Non-native species exhibited higher vessel-grouping in metaxylem compared with native species, however, solitary vessels were more prevalent in secondary xylem. Higher frequency of solitary vessels in secondary xylem was related to a lower potential vulnerability index. We found no relationship between anatomical characteristics of xylem, origin of species and hydraulic conductivity, indicating that non-native species did not exhibit advantageous hydraulic efficiency over native species. Our results confer anatomical advantages for non-native species under the potential for cavitation due to freezing, perhaps permitting extended growing seasons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Syracuse University Syracuse, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fridley
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Taryn L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bauerle
keywords: efficiency vs. safety; embolism vulnerability; exotic woody plants; hydraulic conductivity; vessel connectivity; xylem anatomy