Surprising lack of sensitivity of biochemical limitation of photosynthesis of nine tree species to open‐air experimental warming and reduced rainfall in a southern boreal forest

Stefanski, Artur; Bermudez, Raimundo; Sendall, Kerrie M.; Montgomery, Rebecca A.; Reich, Peter B.

doi:10.1111/gcb.14805

Surprising lack of sensitivity of biochemical limitation of photosynthesis of nine tree species to open‐air experimental warming and reduced rainfall in a southern boreal forest

Journal Article · Wed Sep 18 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Global Change Biology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14805· OSTI ID:1562576

^[1]; Bermudez, Raimundo ^[1]; Sendall, Kerrie M. ^[2]; Montgomery, Rebecca A. ^[1]; Reich, Peter B. ^[3]

Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
Department of Biology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Health Sciences Rider University Lawrenceville NJ USA
Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith NSW Australia

Abstract

Photosynthetic biochemical limitation parameters (i.e., V _cmax , J _max and J _max : V _cmax ratio) are sensitive to temperature and water availability, but whether these parameters in cold climate species at biome ecotones are positively or negatively influenced by projected changes in global temperature and water availability remains uncertain. Prior exploration of this question has largely involved greenhouse based short‐term manipulative studies with mixed results in terms of direction and magnitude of responses. To address this question in a more realistic context, we examined the effects of increased temperature and rainfall reduction on the biochemical limitations of photosynthesis using a long‐term chamber‐less manipulative experiment located in northern Minnesota, USA. Nine tree species from the boreal‐temperate ecotone were grown in natural neighborhoods under ambient and elevated (+3.4°C) growing season temperatures and ambient or reduced (≈40% of rainfall removed) summer rainfall. Apparent rubisco carboxylation and RuBP regeneration standardized to 25°C ( V _cmax25°C and J _max25°C , respectively) were estimated based on A C _i curves measured in situ over three growing seasons. Our primary objective was to test whether species would downregulate V _cmax25°C and J _max25°C in response to warming and reduced rainfall, with such responses expected to be greatest in species with the coldest and most humid native ranges, respectively. These hypotheses were not supported, as there were no overall main treatment effects on V _cmax25°C or J _max25°C ( p > .14). However, J _max : V _cmax ratio decreased significantly with warming ( p = .0178), whereas interactions between warming and rainfall reduction on the J _max25°C to V _cmax25°C ratio were not significant. The insensitivity of photosynthetic parameters to warming contrasts with many prior studies done under larger temperature differentials and often fixed daytime temperatures. In sum, plants growing in relatively realistic conditions under naturally varying temperatures and soil moisture levels were remarkably insensitive in terms of their J _max25°C and V _cmax25°C when grown at elevated temperatures, reduced rainfall, or both combined.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-07ER64456

OSTI ID:: 1562576

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1800545

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology, Journal Name: Global Change Biology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 26; ISSN 1354-1013

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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