Diurnal courses of stomatal conductance and leaf functional traits in Sonoran Desert Trees

Twelve tree species from the Sonoran Desert, representing different leaf phenologies—six deciduous and six evergreen species—were measured under field conditions. Stomatal conductance and leaf water potential were measured from 8:00 to 17:00 during the summer wet season (August to September), and only evergreen species were measured during the winter–spring dry season (October to May), in order to observe differences in stomatal responses. Additionally, we measured cell water relation traits and leaf morphological traits to assess stomatal and functional responses to fluctuating environmental conditions and to determine differences between leaf phenologies. The results of this study will be published in AoB Plants in the coming weeks.