Water supply and demand remain balanced during leaf acclimation of Nothofagus cunninghamii trees

Higher leaf vein density (D(vein)) enables higher rates of photosynthesis because enhanced water transport allows higher leaf conductances to CO(2) and water. If the total cost of leaf venation rises in proportion to the density of minor veins, the most efficient investment in leaf xylem relative to photosynthetic gain should occur when the water transport capacity of the leaf (determined by D(vein)) matches potential transpirational demand (determined by stomatal size and density). We tested whether environmental plasticity in stomatal density (D(stomata)) and D(vein) were linked in the evergreen tree Nothofagus cunninghamii to achieve a balance between liquid and gas phase water conductances. Two sources of variation were examined; within-tree light acclimation, and differences in sun leaves among plants from ecologically diverse populations. Strong, linear correlations between D(vein) and D(stomata) were found at all levels of comparison. The correlations between liquid-and vapour-phase conductances implied by these patterns of leaf anatomy were confirmed by direct measurement of leaf conductance in sun and shade foliage of an individual tree. Our results provide strong evidence that the development of veins and stomata are coordinated so that photosynthetic yield is optimized relative to carbon investment in leaf venation.