Disentangling water sources in a gypsum plant community. Gypsum crystallization water is a key source of water for shallow-rooted plants.
Laura de la PuenteJuan Pedro FerrioSara PalacioPublished in: Annals of botany (2021)
Plants coexisting in gypsum communities segregate their hydrological niches according to their rooting depth. Crystallization water of gypsum represents an unaccounted, vital source for most of the shallow-rooted species growing on gypsum drylands. Thus, crystallization water helps shallow rooted species to endure arid conditions, which eventually accounts for the maintenance of high biodiversity in these specialized ecosystems.
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