Photosynthetic responses to altitude: an explanation based on optimality principles

Wang, Han; Prentice, I. Colin; Davis, Tyler W.; Keenan, Trevor F.; Wright, Ian J.; Peng, Changhui

doi:10.1111/nph.14332

Title: Photosynthetic responses to altitude: an explanation based on optimality principles

Journal Article · Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 EST 2016 · New Phytologist

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14332· OSTI ID:1379706

Wang, Han ^[1]; Prentice, I. Colin ^[2]; Davis, Tyler W. ^[3]; Keenan, Trevor F. ^[4]; Wright, Ian J. ^[5]; Peng, Changhui ^[6]

Northwest A&F Univ., Yangling (China); Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia)
Northwest A&F Univ., Yangling (China); Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia); Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)
Imperial College, London (United Kingdom); US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia)
Northwest A&F Univ., Yangling (China); Univ. of Quebec (Canada)

Ecophysiologists have long been fascinated by the photosynthetic behaviour of alpine plants, which often have to withstand extreme environmental pressures (Gale, 1972; Friend&Woodward, 1990; Korner, 2003, 2007; Shi et al., 2006). About 8%of the world’s land surface is above 1500 maltitude (Korner, 2007). High altitudes can be climatically unusual, often with (for example) low temperatures, strong winds, and now high rates of warming (Korner, 2003; Pepin &Lundquist, 2008; Rangwala&Miller, 2012). Moreover, the low atmospheric pressure provides a set of environmental conditions unique on Earth (Table 1). There has been extensive speculation about altitudinal effects on photosynthesis and, in particular, how to account for the puzzling – but consistently observed – tendencies towards higher carbon dioxide (CO₂) drawdown (low ratio of leafinternal to ambient CO₂ partial pressures (c_i:c_a; hereafter, v), resulting in low carbon isotope discrimination) and higher carboxylation capacity (V_cmax) with increasing altitude (Gale, 1972; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Friend et al., 1989; Terashima et al., 1995; Bresson et al., 2009; Zhu et al., 2010). At first glance, it might be expected that CO₂ assimilation rates would be reduced at high altitudes due to the low partial pressure of CO₂ (Friend & Woodward, 1990). But, actual measured photosynthetic rates are usually as high as, or even higher than, those at low altitudes (Machler & Nosberger, 1977; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Cordell et al., 1999; Shi et al., 2006).

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; DE‐AC02‐05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1379706

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1400592

Journal Information:: New Phytologist, Vol. 213, Issue 3; ISSN 0028-646X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 61 works

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