Eco‐physiological potential of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) for assisted northward migration: interactions among photoperiod, [CO₂] and moisture stress

Abstract

Climate change will cause northward shifts of climate envelopes for boreal plants, however, the different photoperiod and soil moisture regimes at higher latitudes will likely influence the success of species migrations (natural and assisted). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of photoperiod regime and its interactions with soil moisture and carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2 ]) on the morpho-physiological processes in jack pine Pinus banksiana. One-year old seedlings were exposed to two [CO 2 ] (400 and 950 mmol mol -1 ), two soil moistures (60-70% and 30-40% of field water capacity) and three photoperiod regimes (photoperiods at seed origin, 5° and 10° north of the seed origin) in environment controlled greenhouses. The impacts of photoperiod, soil moisture and elevated [CO 2 ] on growth and physiological processes in the seedlings were examined. The results suggest that the response of jack pine to climate change will be complex under the interactive effects of northward migration associated longer photoperiod, soil moisture stress and elevated [CO 2 ]. The longer photoperiod associated with higher latitudes under elevated [CO 2 ] significantly advanced the budburst at both high and low soil moisture regimes, which may likely increase the risk of late spring frosts damage prior to and during budburst. The interactive effects of longer photoperiod and low soil moisture significantly increased the water use efficiency under elevated [CO 2 ]. However, the significant 2-and 3-way interactions suggest that drought and longer photoperiods with northward migration will limit the positive effects of elevated [CO 2 ] on growth and physiological processes in the species. These results might have important implications in assisted migration/seed transfer of the species following climate change.

High nutrient supply and interspecific belowground competition enhance the relative performance of Picea mariana (Mill). B.S.P seedlings over Picea glauca [Moench] Voss. under elevated CO2

“…Dang-supervisor of Marfo, initiated the research, advised Marfo in the entire process of the research, adapted this manuscript from Marfo's dissertation, re-wrote substantial amount of the text, revised figures, and made some new figures Du: contributed to the development of the manuscript Newaz: re-analyzed some of the results, updated the literature and some part of the introduction and discussions photosynthesis (Dang et al 2020), at least in the short term. However, the responses and interactions may be modified by other environmental factors such as nutrient availability (Danyagri and Dang 2013, Li et al 2013, Li et al 2015, Danyagri and Dang, 2014a, b, c, Newaz et al 2016, Newaz et al 2017, Tedla et al 2020); e.g., low nutrient supply reduces the stimulation of photosynthesis by elevated CO 2 (Zhang et al 2006;Cao et al 2007;Ambebe et al 2010;Danyagri and Dang 2014b).…”

Assisted migration in a warmer and drier climate: less climate buffering capacity, less facilitation and more fires at temperate latitudes?

“…Gustafson et al (2023) showed that under slight changes in climate, assisted migration may indeed increase biomass production through longer growing seasons and CO 2 fertilization. However, they also showed that under more severe climatic scenarios, assisted migration strategies fail to mitigate the deleterious effects of moisture stress and increase respiration to the detriment of productivity (Newaz et al 2017). They concluded that assisted migration was increasingly unable to maintain ecosystem goods and services with the increasing severity of climate change.…”