Seasonal variation of leaf wax n-alkane δ2H values: Differences between Quercus aquifolioides (an evergreen tree) and Stipa bungeana (a perennial grass) from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

To understand the cause of known isotopic differences between grasses and trees, their seasonal variability and environmental drivers, we present a parallel study of a perennial grass, Stipa bungeana, and an evergreen tree, Quercus aquifolioides, in the monsoon-dominated southeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP), by conducting fortnightly paired delta H-2 analyses of precipitation (delta H-2(p)), leaf water, and n-alkanes (delta H-2(wax)) over a period of 2 y. Similar to previous investigations, we show that (delta H-2(wax) in both species are correlated to delta H-2(p) throughout two growing seasons. However, for the first time, we identified a time lag of 2 months in variation of delta H-2(wax) relative to delta H-2(p) in new Q. aquifolioides leaves, whereas nearly no lagged phenomena were observed in S. bungeana and old mature Q. aquifolioides leaves. The delta H-2(wax) in new Q. aquifolioides leaves correlated significantly with the total amount of n-alkanes. These findings suggest that the turnover rate of n-alkanes in new Q. aquifolioides leaves is possibly changing with their synthesis, and that is a possible mechanism of the observed delayed phenomenon. A paired ttest showed that the difference of delta(2)H(wax)between trees and grasses becomes insignificant after time-lag correction. Moreover, the apparent fractionation in Q. aquifolioides was significantly correlated with weekly or fortnightly precipitation amount, temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity, while in S. bungeana only weekly or fortnightly precipitation amount. Our high temporal resolution observations hence confirm that climate variables are important drivers of plant delta H-2(wax) and, give significant implications for delta H-2(wax)-base paleoclimate reconstructions in global monsoonal regions.

Automated summary

By conducting isotopic analyses of two plant species in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, it was found that the isotopic variations in plants are related to precipitation, with potential time lags in different plant species. Climate variables play a significant role in driving plant isotopic variations, providing important implications for paleoclimate reconstructions in global monsoonal regions.