Boreal conifers maintain carbon uptake with warming despite failure to track optimal temperatures

11Citations
Citations of this article
20Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Warming shifts the thermal optimum of net photosynthesis (T optA) to higher temperatures. However, our knowledge of this shift is mainly derived from seedlings grown in greenhouses under ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) conditions. It is unclear whether shifts in T optA of field-grown trees will keep pace with the temperatures predicted for the 21st century under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Here, using a whole-ecosystem warming controlled experiment under either ambient or elevated CO2 levels, we show that T optA of mature boreal conifers increased with warming. However, shifts in T optA did not keep pace with warming as T optA only increased by 0.26–0.35 °C per 1 °C of warming. Net photosynthetic rates estimated at the mean growth temperature increased with warming in elevated CO2 spruce, while remaining constant in ambient CO2 spruce and in both ambient CO2 and elevated CO2 tamarack with warming. Although shifts in T optA of these two species are insufficient to keep pace with warming, these boreal conifers can thermally acclimate photosynthesis to maintain carbon uptake in future air temperatures.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Dusenge, M. E., Warren, J. M., Reich, P. B., Ward, E. J., Murphy, B. K., Stefanski, A., … Way, D. A. (2023). Boreal conifers maintain carbon uptake with warming despite failure to track optimal temperatures. Nature Communications, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40248-3

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free