Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://localhost:80/jspui/handle/123456789/1182
Title: Seasonal variation in transpiration and stomatal conductance of three savanna tree species in Ruma National Park, Kenya
Authors: Ernest, Kiplangat R.
Nyongesa, John M.
Lawrence, Oyoo
Oronyi, Wycliff
Mwalati, Lindsay S.
Suba, Vincent
Gayo, Leopody
Nkengurutse, Jacques
Otieno, Denis Ochuodho
Li, Yuelin
Keywords: transpiration
stomatal conductance
savanna tree species
Ruma
National Park
Kenya
Issue Date: 2025
Publisher: MDPI
Citation: Ernest , K.R.,Nyongesa, J.M., Oyoo,L., Mwalati, L.S., Suba, V., Gayo, L., Nkengurutse, J., Otieno, D.O., Li, Y. (2025). Seasonal variation in transpiration and stomatal conductance of three savanna tree species in Ruma National Park, Kenya. Forests, 16.
Series/Report no.: 16;
Abstract: Understanding the seasonal regulation of transpiration and stomatal conductance is critical for evaluating plant water-use strategies in response to environmental variability. This study assessed these physiological traits in three dominant savanna tree species (Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh., Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don, and Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile) in Ruma National Park, Kenya. Measurements were taken during wet and dry seasons under varying canopy light conditions (light-exposed vs. shaded leaves) and soil moisture regimes. A randomized design with four treatments and three replicates was employed. Results showed significantly higher transpiration and stomatal conductance during wet seasons, especially in sunlit leaves (p < 0.05). P. thonningii exhibited the highest rates of transpiration (9 mmol m−2 s−1) and stomatal conductance (~2.2 mmol m−2 s−1) in light conditions, while B. aegyptiaca maintained consistently low values, reflecting a drought-tolerant strategy. C. molle demonstrated intermediate responses, suggesting a balance between water conservation and resource use. Despite seasonal trends, low R2 values indicated that internal physiological regulation outweighed the influence of external climatic drivers. These findings reveal species-specific water-use strategies and highlight the ecological significance of leaf-level responses to light and moisture availability in tropical savannas. The study provides valuable insights for forest management and climate-resilient restoration planning in water-limited ecosystems.
Description: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/).
URI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ f16060999
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