skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Simulated projections of boreal forest peatland ecosystem productivity are sensitive to observed seasonality in leaf physiology

Journal Article · · Tree Physiology (Online)

We quantified seasonal CO2 assimilation capacities for seven dominant vascular species in a wet boreal forest peatland then applied data to a land surface model parametrized to the site (ELM-SPRUCE) to test if seasonality in photosynthetic parameters results in differences in simulated plant responses to elevated CO2 and temperature. We collected seasonal leaf-level gas exchange, nutrient content and stand allometric data from the field-layer community (i.e., Maianthemum trifolium (L.) Sloboda), understory shrubs (Rhododendron groenlandicum (Oeder) Kron and Judd, Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench., Kalmia polifolia Wangenh. and Vaccinium angustifolium Alton.) and overstory trees (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. and Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch). We found significant interspecific seasonal differences in specific leaf area, nitrogen content (by area; Na) and photosynthetic parameters (i.e., maximum rates of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax25°C), electron transport (Jmax25°C) and dark respiration (Rd25°C)), but minimal correlation between foliar Na and Vcmax25°C, Jmax25°C or Rd25°C, which illustrates that nitrogen alone is not a good correlate for physiological processes such as Rubisco activity that can change seasonally in this system. ELM-SPRUCE was sensitive to the introduction of observed interspecific seasonality in Vcmax25°C, Jmax25°C and Rd25°C, leading to simulated enhancement of net primary production (NPP) using seasonally dynamic parameters as compared with use of static parameters. This pattern was particularly pronounced under simulations with higher temperature and elevated CO2, suggesting a key hypothesis to address with future empirical or observational studies as climate changes. As a result, inclusion of species-specific seasonal photosynthetic parameters should improve estimates of boreal ecosystem-level NPP, especially if impacts of seasonal physiological ontogeny can be separated from seasonal thermal acclimation.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1496009
Journal Information:
Tree Physiology (Online), Vol. 39, Issue 4; ISSN 1758-4469
Publisher:
Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (70)

A model separating leaf structural and physiological effects on carbon gain along light gradients for the shade-tolerant species Acer saccharum journal July 1997
Attaining whole-ecosystem warming using air and deep-soil heating methods with an elevated CO 2 atmosphere journal January 2017
Seasonal variation of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy exchanges of a boreal black spruce forest journal December 1997
Temperature response of photosynthesis in C3, C4, and CAM plants: temperature acclimation and temperature adaptation journal June 2013
Improving canopy processes in the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4) using global flux fields empirically inferred from FLUXNET data journal January 2011
Temporal and Spatial Variation in Peatland Carbon Cycling and Implications for Interpreting Responses of an Ecosystem-Scale Warming Experiment journal January 2017
A new model for relationship between irradiance and the rate of photosynthesis in Oryza sativa journal December 2007
Nitrogen cycling in a forested Minnesota bog journal March 1988
Reliable estimation of biochemical parameters from C3 leaf photosynthesis-intercellular carbon dioxide response curves: Estimating FvCB model parameters journal June 2010
A new seasonal-deciduous spring phenology submodel in the Community Land Model 4.5: impacts on carbon and water cycling under future climate scenarios journal May 2016
Temperature response of parameters of a biochemically based model of photosynthesis. I. Seasonal changes in mature maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) journal September 2002
Digital repeat photography for phenological research in forest ecosystems journal January 2012
Autumn photosynthetic decline and growth cessation in seedlings of white spruce are decoupled under warming and photoperiod manipulations: Day length and warming alter carbon and growth journal March 2017
Photosynthetic Response and Adaptation to Temperature in Higher Plants journal June 1980
Field and controlled environment measurements show strong seasonal acclimation in photosynthesis and respiration potential in boreal Scots pine journal December 2014
Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Stoichiometry in an Ombrotrophic Peatland Reflects Plant Functional Type journal February 2014
The key role of forests in meeting climate targets requires science for credible mitigation journal February 2017
A non-radioactive method for measuring Rubisco activase activity in the presence of variable ATP: ADP ratios, including modifications for measuring the activity and activation state of Rubisco journal January 2014
Biochemical Limitations to Carbon Assimilation in C 3 Plants—A Retrospective Analysis of the A/C i Curves from 109 Species journal January 1993
Gaps in knowledge and data driving uncertainty in models of photosynthesis journal May 2013
Photosynthesis and light-use efficiency by plants in a Canadian boreal forest ecosystem journal August 2001
Leaf development and demography explain photosynthetic seasonality in Amazon evergreen forests journal February 2016
Effects of seasonal variation of photosynthetic capacity on the carbon fluxes of a temperate deciduous forest: SEASONALITY OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC CAPACITY journal December 2013
Effects of nutrient addition on leaf chemistry, morphology, and photosynthetic capacity of three bog shrubs journal May 2011
Warming delays autumn declines in photosynthetic capacity in a boreal conifer, Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) journal November 2015
A review of precipitation and temperature control on seedling emergence and establishment for ponderosa and lodgepole pine forest regeneration journal February 2016
Leaf Structural and Photosynthetic Characteristics, and Biomass Allocation to Foliage in Relation to Foliar Nitrogen Content and Tree Size in Three Betula Species journal February 2002
Soil organisms and global climate change: Soil organisms and global climate change journal January 2011
Northern peatland carbon stocks and dynamics: a review journal January 2012
The use and misuse of V c,max in Earth System Models journal April 2013
Plant respiration and photosynthesis in global-scale models: incorporating acclimation to temperature and CO 2 journal September 2012
Fitting net photosynthetic light-response curves with Microsoft Excel — a critical look at the models journal June 2013
Tamm Review: On the nature of the nitrogen limitation to plant growth in Fennoscandian boreal forests journal November 2017
A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models journal November 2016
Seasonal and interannual variability of photosynthetic capacity in relation to leaf nitrogen in a deciduous forest plantation in northern Italy journal March 2005
Parameterization and testing of a coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance model for boreal trees journal March 1998
Representing northern peatland microtopography and hydrology within the Community Land Model journal January 2015
Effect of climate change on bud phenology of young aspen plants ( Populus tremula . L) journal September 2017
The relationship of leaf photosynthetic traits - V cmax and J max - to leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, and specific leaf area: a meta-analysis and modeling study journal July 2014
Gas exchange in a 20-year-old stand of Scots pine. I. Net photosynthesis of current and one-year-old shoots within and between seasons journal January 1982
Biochemical photosynthetic responses to temperature: how do interspecific differences compare with seasonal shifts? journal July 2013
An Improved Canopy Integration Scheme for a Land Surface Model with Prognostic Canopy Structure journal August 2007
Leaf age affects the seasonal pattern of photosynthetic capacityand net ecosystem exchange of carbon in a deciduous forest journal June 2001
Ecosystem warming extends vegetation activity but heightens vulnerability to cold temperatures journal August 2018
Plant carbon metabolism and climate change: elevated CO 2 and temperature impacts on photosynthesis, photorespiration and respiration journal July 2018
Physiological and environmental regulation of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration: a model that includes a laminar boundary layer journal April 1991
Leaf chlorophyll content as a proxy for leaf photosynthetic capacity journal January 2017
Differential responses to changes in growth temperature between trees from different functional groups and biomes: a review and synthesis of data journal April 2010
A Revised Land Surface Parameterization (SiB2) for Atmospheric GCMS. Part I: Model Formulation journal April 1996
Comparisons of seasonal changes in photosynthetic capacity, pigments, and carbohydrates of healthy sapling and mature red spruce and of declining and healthy red spruce journal November 1992
Seasonal variations in photosynthesis of Picea morrisonicola growing in the subalpine region of subtropical Taiwan journal August 2005
Photoperiodic regulation of the seasonal pattern of photosynthetic capacity and the implications for carbon cycling journal May 2012
Needle age and season influence photosynthetic temperature response and total annual carbon uptake in mature Picea mariana trees journal July 2015
Enhanced seasonal CO2 exchange caused by amplified plant productivity in northern ecosystems journal January 2016
Ecosystem model spin-up: Estimating steady state conditions in a coupled terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycle model journal November 2005
Spatial and seasonal variability of photosynthetic parameters and their relationship to leaf nitrogen in a deciduous forest journal May 2000
Interspecific difference in the photosynthesis?nitrogen relationship: patterns, physiological causes, and ecological importance journal October 2004
The effect of vertically resolved soil biogeochemistry and alternate soil C and N models on C dynamics of CLM4 journal January 2013
Moderately High Temperatures Inhibit Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (Rubisco) Activase-Mediated Activation of Rubisco journal February 1998
Role of CO 2 , climate and land use in regulating the seasonal amplitude increase of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems: a multimodel analysis journal January 2016
The Unified North American Soil Map and its implication on the soil organic carbon stock in North America journal January 2013
Leaf age and seasonal effects on light, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in a California shrub journal February 1983
Temperature Response of Mesophyll Conductance. Implications for the Determination of Rubisco Enzyme Kinetics and for Limitations to Photosynthesis in Vivo journal November 2002
Adjustment of leaf photosynthesis to shade in a natural canopy: reallocation of nitrogen journal March 2005
Terrestrial biosphere models underestimate photosynthetic capacity and CO 2 assimilation in the Arctic journal September 2017
A biochemical model of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in leaves of C3 species journal June 1980
Photosynthesis patterns during the establishment year within two Populus clones with contrasting morphology and phenology journal March 1990
High-light acclimation in Quercus robur L. seedlings upon over-topping a shaded environment journal May 2012
Dynamics of global forest area: Results from the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 journal September 2015
Plant functional types in Earth system models: past experiences and future directions for application of dynamic vegetation models in high-latitude ecosystems journal May 2014