Linking water use efficiency with water use strategy from leaves to communities

Limitations and utility of three measures of water use characteristics were evaluated: water use efficiency (WUE), intrinsic WUE and marginal water cost of carbon gain ( partial differential E/ partial differential A$$ \partial E/\partial A $$) estimated, respectively, as ratios of assimilation (A) to transpiration (E), of A to stomatal conductance (gs) and of sensitivities of E and A with variation in gs. Only the measure partial differential E/ partial differential A$$ \partial E/\partial A $$ estimates water use strategy in a way that integrates carbon gain relative to water use under varying environmental conditions across scales from leaves to communities. This insight provides updated and simplified ways of estimating partial differential E/ partial differential A$$ \partial E/\partial A $$ and adds depth to understanding ways that plants balance water expenditure against carbon gain, uniquely providing a mechanistic means of predicting water use characteristics under changing environmental scenarios.

Automated summary

The limitations and utility of three measures of water use characteristics were evaluated. The measure partial differential E/ partial differential A$$ \partial E/\partial A $$ was found to provide an integrated representation of carbon gain relative to water use under varying environmental conditions. This mechanistic means of predicting water use characteristics adds depth to understanding how plants balance water expenditure against carbon gain.