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Night-time stomatal conductance (g(night)) occurs in many ecosystems, but the g(night) response to environmental drivers is relatively unknown, especially in deserts.

Here, we conducted a Bayesian analysis of stomatal conductance (g) (N = 5013) from 16 species in the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Mojave and Great Basin Deserts (North America). We partitioned daytime g (g(day)) and g(night) responses by describing g as a mixture of two extreme (dark vs high light) behaviors.

Significant g(night) was observed across 15 species, and the g(night) and g(day) behavior differed according to species, functional type and desert. The transition between extreme behaviors was determined by light environment, with the transition behavior differing between functional types and deserts. Sonoran and Chihuahuan C-4 grasses were more sensitive to vapor pressure difference (D) at night and soil water potential (Psi(soil)) during the day, Great Basin C-3 shrubs were highly sensitive to D and Psi(soil) during the day, and Mojave C-3 shrubs were equally sensitive to D and Psi(soil) during the day and night.

Species were split between the exhibition of isohydric or anisohydric behavior during the day. Three species switched from anisohydric to isohydric behavior at night. Such behavior, combined with differential D, Psi(soil) and light responses, suggests that different mechanisms underlie g(day) and g(night) regulation.