Boche, Manon, Lemay, Marc-André, Bouchut, Samuel, Bergeron, Yves, Pappas, Christoforos, Montoro Girona, Miguel 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6916-3639, Buttò, Valentina et Gennaretti, Fabio
(2026).
Resource utilization strategies and longevity of Thuja occidentalis across contrasting substrates: Insights from morphological and physiological traits.
Dendrochronologia
, 96
.
Article 126484.
doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2026.126484
Repéré dans Depositum à
https://depositum.uqat.ca/id/eprint/1823
Résumé
Understanding the interplay between environmental conditions and physiological traits is essential to explain tree longevity in resource-limited environments. We studied old (up to 466 years) Thuja occidentalis trees growing on contrasting rock and gravel substrates to assess how substrate type and age influence hydraulic function, resource use, and survival strategies. Using dendroanatomical and physiological measurements, we compared key functional traits across 25 trees of varying ages and site conditions in Duparquet, Quebec, Canada. Our results show that trees on drier rock substrates exhibit smaller xylem tracheids, reduced theoretical hydraulic conductivity, and lower foliage density, enabling them to resist drought stress at the cost of limited growth. These conservative traits become more pronounced as the trees age and are associated with greater longevity, with the age of trees growing on rock substrates exceeding 300 years, whereas those on gravel substrates reaching up to 200 years. In contrast, trees on gravel demonstrate greater hydraulic efficiency and radial growth potential as a result of fewer resource constraints. These findings align with the hydraulic limitation hypothesis and provide valuable insights into how substrate conditions and age-related functional acclimation shape survival strategies in long-lived trees. Moreover, they highlight the importance of local site conditions in tree resilience and underscore the need for further research into the effects of environmental variability on tree physiology and morphology to better predict tree responses to future environmental changes.
| Type de document: | Article |
|---|---|
| Informations complémentaires: | La version officielle de cet article a été publiée dans la revue Dendrochronologia en 2026. Le texte intégral de l’article est disponible en libre accès sur le site de la revue : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2026.126484 |
| Mots-clés libres: | Eastern white cedar; Foliage density; Hydraulic carbon use efficiency; Old trees; Quantitative wood anatomy; Stem water potential |
| Divisions: | Forêts |
| Date de dépôt: | 26 mai 2026 18:01 |
| Dernière modification: | 26 mai 2026 18:01 |
| URI: | https://depositum.uqat.ca/id/eprint/1823 |
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