Articles | Volume 17, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Oct 2020
Research article |
| 13 Oct 2020
| 13 Oct 2020
Causes and consequences of pronounced variation in the isotope composition of plant xylem water
Hannes P. T. De Deurwaerder
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
CAVElab – Computational & Applied Vegetation Ecology, Faculty of
Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton
University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Marco D. Visser
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton
University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Matteo Detto
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton
University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Pascal Boeckx
ISOFYS – Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Bioscience
Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Félicien Meunier
CAVElab – Computational & Applied Vegetation Ecology, Faculty of
Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Ecological Forecasting Lab, Department of Earth and Environment,
Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Kathrin Kuehnhammer
IGOE, Umweltgeochemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig,
Braunschweig, Germany
Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Ruth-Kristina Magh
Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Tree Physiology, University
of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
John D. Marshall
Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
Lixin Wang
Department of Earth Sciences, Indiana University–Purdue University
Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Liangju Zhao
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental
Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest
University, Xi'an 710127, China
Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology and Integrated River Basin Science,
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Hans Verbeeck
CAVElab – Computational & Applied Vegetation Ecology, Faculty of
Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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- On the use of leaf water to determine plant water source: A proof of concept P. Benettin et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14073
- Demystifying stable hydrogen isotope offsets between plants and source waters Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03230-7
- Flushing or mixing? Stable water isotopes reveal differences in arctic forest and peatland soil water seasonality F. Muhic et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14811
- Altitude-specific differences in tree-ring δ2H records of wood lignin methoxy in the Qinling mountains, central China Q. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107895
- A global dataset of tree hydraulic and structural traits imputed from phylogenetic relationships J. Knighton et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-04254-4
- Deep roots mitigate drought impacts on tropical trees despite limited quantitative contribution to transpiration K. Kühnhammer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164763
- A preliminary isotope‐based evapotranspiration partitioning approach for tropical Costa Rica A. Iraheta et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2297
- Bark water affects the isotopic composition of xylem water in tropical rainforest trees A. Vega Grau et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1457522
- Towards a liana plant functional type for vegetation models H. Verbeeck et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2024.110901
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- Little vertical and circumferential variations in stem xylem water δ2H and δ18O in three tree species S. Younger et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02431-3
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- Deep soil water acquisition at low water potentials sustains photosynthesis but compromises water-use efficiency in apple trees on the Loess Plateau H. Wei et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111317
- The natural stable isotope index for de novo structural elucidation of phytomolecules with geographical and biological tracing X. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2025.344422
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- Environmental drivers and correction methods optimization of isotope offsets in water source analysis of desert riparian Populus euphratica Q. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134482
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- A modified isotope-based method for potential high-frequency evapotranspiration partitioning Y. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2021.104103
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- Assessing the impact of drought on water cycling in urban trees via in-situ isotopic monitoring of plant xylem water A. Ring et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131020
- Dye-tracer-aided investigation of xylem water transport velocity distributions S. Seeger & M. Weiler https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023
- Internal Water Movement and Residence Time Differ in Two Tree Species in a Temperate Deciduous Forest: Evidence From an In Situ D2O Isotope Tracer Study K. Minick et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.70047
- Xylem water in riparian willow trees (Salix alba) reveals shallow sources of root water uptake by in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes J. Landgraf et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022
- Characterizing the heterogeneity of eastern hemlock xylem water isotopic compositions: Implications for the design of plant water uptake studies K. Li & J. Knighton https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2571
- Plant water uptake modelling: added value of cross‐disciplinary approaches M. Dubbert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13478
- Isotopic fractionation from deep roots to tall shoots: A forensic analysis of xylem water isotope composition in mature tropical savanna trees A. Vega-Grau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148675
- Isotopic fractionation from stem and branch water significantly affects source water determination in Abies georgei var. smithii trees in Tibetan Plateau, China X. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-08153-4
- Robust Estimation of Absorbing Root Surface Distributions From Xylem Water Isotope Compositions With an Inverse Plant Hydraulic Model H. De Deurwaerder et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.689335
- Root water uptake model shows age-related water uptake patterns of apple trees on the Chinese Loess Plateau Z. Tao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101594
49 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Toward a common methodological framework for the sampling, extraction, and isotopic analysis of water in the Critical Zone to study vegetation water use N. Ceperley et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1727
- Technical note: Conservative storage of water vapour – practical in situ sampling of stable isotopes in tree stems R. Magh et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3573-2022
- Challenges in studying water fluxes within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: A tracer-based perspective on pathways to progress N. Orlowski et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163510
- Evapotranspiration partitioning through water stable isotopic measurements in a subtropical coniferous forest W. Xing et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2653
- Stable isotopes of water reveal differences in plant – soil water relationships across northern environments D. Tetzlaff et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14023
- Technical note: Water vapor sampling for stable isotope analysis: systematic testing of sampling conditions and development of a robust protocol A. Iraheta et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5005-2026
- Trait coordination and trade-offs constrain the diversity of water use strategies in Mediterranean woody plants F. Muñoz-Gálvez et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59348-3
- Tree‐ and stand‐scale variability of xylem water stable isotope signatures in mature beech, oak and spruce F. Bernhard et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2614
- Modelling temporal variability of in situ soil water and vegetation isotopes reveals ecohydrological couplings in a riparian willow plot A. Smith et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2465-2022
- On the use of leaf water to determine plant water source: A proof of concept P. Benettin et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14073
- Demystifying stable hydrogen isotope offsets between plants and source waters Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03230-7
- Flushing or mixing? Stable water isotopes reveal differences in arctic forest and peatland soil water seasonality F. Muhic et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14811
- Altitude-specific differences in tree-ring δ2H records of wood lignin methoxy in the Qinling mountains, central China Q. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107895
- A global dataset of tree hydraulic and structural traits imputed from phylogenetic relationships J. Knighton et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-04254-4
- Deep roots mitigate drought impacts on tropical trees despite limited quantitative contribution to transpiration K. Kühnhammer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164763
- A preliminary isotope‐based evapotranspiration partitioning approach for tropical Costa Rica A. Iraheta et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2297
- Bark water affects the isotopic composition of xylem water in tropical rainforest trees A. Vega Grau et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1457522
- Towards a liana plant functional type for vegetation models H. Verbeeck et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2024.110901
- Quantifying irrigation uptake in olive trees: a proof-of-concept approach combining isotope tracing and Hydrus-1D P. Nasta et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2023.2218552
- Technical note: On uncertainties in plant water isotopic composition following extraction by cryogenic vacuum distillation H. Diao et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5835-2022
- Little vertical and circumferential variations in stem xylem water δ2H and δ18O in three tree species S. Younger et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02431-3
- Online xylem water isotope monitoring and soil water content profiling reveal spatial root water uptake dynamics in sunflower Y. Rothfuss et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6095-2026
- Inter-comparison of extraction methods for plant water isotope analysis and its indicative significance M. Wen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130015
- Isotopic signaling and environmental significance of cave waters in a heavily rocky desertification area J. Ni et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106468
- Field methods to study the spatial root density distribution of individual plants C. Cabal et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04841-z
- Deep soil water acquisition at low water potentials sustains photosynthesis but compromises water-use efficiency in apple trees on the Loess Plateau H. Wei et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111317
- The natural stable isotope index for de novo structural elucidation of phytomolecules with geographical and biological tracing X. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2025.344422
- Sub-daily stable water isotope dynamics of urban tree xylem water and ambient vapor A. Ring et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6663-2025
- Tropical forest water source patterns revealed by stable isotopes: A preliminary analysis of 46 neighboring species M. Sohel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119355
- Evidence for variations in cryogenic extraction deuterium biases of plant xylem water across foundational northeastern US trees M. Sobota et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15079
- Comparative cryogenic extraction rehydration experiments reveal isotope fractionation during root water uptake in Gramineae H. Jiang et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18423
- Tracing plant source water dynamics during drought by continuous transpiration measurements: An in‐situ stable isotope approach A. Kübert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14475
- Environmental drivers and correction methods optimization of isotope offsets in water source analysis of desert riparian Populus euphratica Q. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134482
- Temporal dynamics of tree xylem water isotopes: in situ monitoring and modeling S. Seeger & M. Weiler https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4603-2021
- A modified isotope-based method for potential high-frequency evapotranspiration partitioning Y. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2021.104103
- CO2 and H2O isotope exchange and flux partitioning in Amazonia R. Moonen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5163-2026
- Radial and axial water movement in adult trees recorded by stable isotope tracing K. Treydte et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpab080
- Amazon rainforest ecosystem exchange of CO2 and H2O through turbulent understory ejections R. Moonen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12197-2025
- Foliar water uptake as a source of hydrogen and oxygen in plant biomass A. Kagawa & M. Mencuccini https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpac055
- Assessing the impact of drought on water cycling in urban trees via in-situ isotopic monitoring of plant xylem water A. Ring et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131020
- Dye-tracer-aided investigation of xylem water transport velocity distributions S. Seeger & M. Weiler https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023
- Internal Water Movement and Residence Time Differ in Two Tree Species in a Temperate Deciduous Forest: Evidence From an In Situ D2O Isotope Tracer Study K. Minick et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.70047
- Xylem water in riparian willow trees (Salix alba) reveals shallow sources of root water uptake by in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes J. Landgraf et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022
- Characterizing the heterogeneity of eastern hemlock xylem water isotopic compositions: Implications for the design of plant water uptake studies K. Li & J. Knighton https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2571
- Plant water uptake modelling: added value of cross‐disciplinary approaches M. Dubbert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13478
- Isotopic fractionation from deep roots to tall shoots: A forensic analysis of xylem water isotope composition in mature tropical savanna trees A. Vega-Grau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148675
- Isotopic fractionation from stem and branch water significantly affects source water determination in Abies georgei var. smithii trees in Tibetan Plateau, China X. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-08153-4
- Robust Estimation of Absorbing Root Surface Distributions From Xylem Water Isotope Compositions With an Inverse Plant Hydraulic Model H. De Deurwaerder et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.689335
- Root water uptake model shows age-related water uptake patterns of apple trees on the Chinese Loess Plateau Z. Tao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101594
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 16 Oct 2026
Short summary
The depths at which plants take up water is challenging to observe directly. To do so, scientists have relied on measuring the isotopic composition of xylem water as this provides information on the water’s source. Our work shows that this isotopic composition changes throughout the day, which complicates the interpretation of the water’s source and has been currently overlooked. We build a model to help understand the origin of these composition changes and their consequences for science.
The depths at which plants take up water is challenging to observe directly. To do so,...
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