Limousin J. M. auteur aut IRD Rambal S. auteur aut IRD Ourcival J. M. auteur aut IRD Rocheteau Alain auteur aut IRD Joffre R. auteur aut IRD Rodriguez-Cortina R. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access In the Mediterranean basin, precipitation is expected to decline as a consequence of climate change. The response of a Quercus ilex forest in southern France to such a decline in water availability was studied using a 4-year throughfall exclusion experiment. Seasonal courses of sap flow and leaf water potential were obtained from 2004 to 2007 and used to characterize tree water relations in a control and a dry treatment. The experiment reduced the average precipitation input to the soil by 29%, and resulted in a 23% reduction in annual transpiration. Soil water potential was significantly lower in the dry treatment only during summer drought, but transpiration was reduced all year round even during well-watered periods. Despite a tight stomatal control over transpiration, whole-tree hydraulic conductance was found to be lower in the trees growing in the driest conditions. This reduction in water transport capacity was observed jointly with a reduction in leaf transpiring area. Canopy leaf area decreased by 18% in the dry treatment as a consequence of the throughfall exclusion, which was found to validate the ecohydrological equilibrium theory. specialized drought ecohydrology hydraulic conductance leaf area index leaf water potential Mediterranean evergreen forest Quercus ilex throughfall exclusion transpiration 072 15 9 2163-2175 2009 1354-1013 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046254 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.01852.x 1354-1013 [F B010046254] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046254 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2009/08/010046254.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2009-09-01 2017-08-23 fdi:010046254 fre