Asian Journal of Plant Sciences1682-39741812-5697Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajps.2004.353.362ChenXiongwen Guangsheng Zhou Bai-Lian Li 3200433The multi-scale mechanisms of how communities or ecosystems adapt to drought are important for natural resources management and developing mitigation strategies under global climatic change. We studied the adaptive response from different scales of a young mixed broadleaved and coniferous Korean pine forest community (YMBCKPFC) under temporary water limitation or drought in Northeast China. YMBCKPFC acclimated to water limitation, or drought pulse, from community scale to plant species and plant leaves. Leaf water content and water potential were lower for most plant species at water limitation. For all species the leaf evapotranspiration increased and stomatal conductance decreased. Photosynthetic rates of many species decreased first and then increased, but others continue to increase their photosynthetic rates. 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