RT Journal Article
T1 Resource utilization strategies and longevity of Thuja occidentalis across contrasting substrates: Insights from morphological and physiological traits
A1 Boche, Manon
A1 Lemay, Marc-André
A1 Bouchut, Samuel
A1 Bergeron, Yves
A1 Pappas, Christoforos
A1 Montoro Girona, Miguel
A1 Buttò, Valentina
A1 Gennaretti, Fabio
AB 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.
PB Elsevier
SN 1125-7865
SN 1612-0051 (electrónico)
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28155
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28155
LA eng
NO Boche, M., Lemay, M.-A., Bouchut, S., Bergeron, Y., Pappas, C., Girona, M. M., Buttò, V., & Gennaretti, F. (2026). Resource utilization strategies and longevity of Thuja occidentalis across contrasting substrates: Insights from morphological and physiological traits. Dendrochronologia, 96, 126484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2026.126484
NO The research was funded by a Mitacs Accelerate program (#IT27693) obtained in partnership with CREAT (Conseil r´egional de l′environnement de l′Abitibi-T´emiscamingue) and Chantiers Chibougamau Lt´ee. The work was also supported by the Discovery Grants program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (#RGPIN-2021–03553 to F.G.), the Canadian Research Chair in den droecology and dendroclimatology (#CRC-2021–00368 to F.G.), and the Alliance Grants program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (#ALLRP-597420–24, obtained in nership with the MRC Abitibi Ouest). Funding sources were not involved at any stage of the study.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 31 may 2026