Graduation Date
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Biology
Program
Deparment of Biological Sciences
Committee Chair Name
Alana Chin
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Lucy Kerhoulas
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Rosanna Overholser
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Yoon Kim
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Redwood, Foliar water uptake, Cllimate
Subject Categories
Botany
Abstract
Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens D. Don) depends on foliar water uptake from fog and rain to maintain water balance during the dry summer season. As fog and rain decline across the redwood region, understanding how foliar uptake capacity responds to climate has become increasingly important. This study investigated how three peripheral leaf traits that influence foliar water uptake, visible wax coverage, stomatal density, and guard cell length, vary across climatic gradients and how those traits affect uptake across 14 sites in California. Foliar water uptake was quantified using rain-chamber rehydration experiments, climatic predictors were evaluated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and trait–uptake relationships were tested using linear regression models. All three traits varied with climate, with guard cell length showing the strongest climate association (R² = 0.83), followed by stomatal density (R² = 0.73) and wax coverage (R² = 0.51). Site-level structural traits explained substantial variation in foliar water uptake (R² = 0.72). Uptake was negatively associated with stomatal density and initial water potential, while wax coverage and guard cell length showed weaker positive relationships. These patterns indicate that foliar water uptake in Sequoia is shaped by coordinated, climate-responsive trait variation at broader spatial scales, highlighting a potential mechanism of resilience to increasing drought and reduced fog.
Citation Style
Scientific Journal Format
Recommended Citation
Ferreira, Yvette M., "Exploring the link between foliar water uptake capacity and climate in coast redwood" (2016). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2585.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2585