Effects of climate warming on photosynthesis in boreal tree species depend on soil moisture

Reich, Peter B.; Sendall, Kerrie M.; Stefański, Artur; Rich, Roy L.; Hobbie, Sarah E.; Montgomery, Rebecca

doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0582-4

Cited by 323 publications

(272 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The results show a clear dependence on the background climate of the observed responses of ecosystems to water anomalies, consistent with some observations by Madani et al (2017) and Reich et al (2018). The results show a clear dependence on the background climate of the observed responses of ecosystems to water anomalies, consistent with some observations by Madani et al (2017) and Reich et al (2018).…”

Section: The Roles Of Light Climate and Tree Density In Determiningsupporting

confidence: 89%

Satellite Observations of the Contrasting Response of Trees and Grasses to Variations in Water Availability

Walther

Duveiller

Jung

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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Interannual variations in ecosystem primary productivity are dominated by water availability. Until recently, characterizing the photosynthetic response of different ecosystems to soil moisture anomalies was hampered by observational limitations. Here, we use a number of satellite‐based proxies for productivity, including spectral indices, sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence, and data‐driven estimates of gross primary production, to reevaluate the relationship between terrestrial photosynthesis and water. In contrast to nonwoody vegetation, we find a resilience of forested ecosystems to reduced soil moisture. Sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence and data‐driven gross primary production indicate an increase in photosynthesis as a result of the accompanying higher amounts of light and temperature despite lowered light‐use‐efficiency. Conversely, remote sensing indicators of greenness reach their detection limit and largely remain stable. Our study thus highlights the differential responses of ecosystems along a tree cover gradient and illustrates the importance of differentiating photosynthesis indicators from those of greenness for the monitoring and understanding of ecosystems.

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Section: The Roles Of Light Climate and Tree Density In Determiningsupporting

confidence: 89%

Satellite Observations of the Contrasting Response of Trees and Grasses to Variations in Water Availability

Walther

Duveiller

Jung

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…In rainy periods, warming had a negligible effect on Sphagnum medium photosynthetic capacity ( A max ), whereas A max of S. fallax increased by 40%. These findings indicate that the response of Sphagnum photosynthesis to temperature increase is not as straightforward as for other genus, like for example boreal trees (Reich et al, ). Previous findings showed contrasting effects of temperature on Sphagnum ecophysiology (Breeuwer, Heijmans, Gleichman, Robroek, & Berendse, ; Dorrepaal, Aerts, Cornelissen, Callaghan, & Van Logtestijn, ; Gerdol, ; Gunnarsson, Granberg, & Nilsson, ; Robroek et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Effects of climate warming on Sphagnum photosynthesis in peatlands depend on peat moisture and species‐specific anatomical traits

Jassey

Signarbieux

2019

Global Change Biology

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Climate change will influence plant photosynthesis by altering patterns of temperature and precipitation, including their variability and seasonality. Both effects may be important for peatlands as the carbon (C) sink potential of these ecosystems depends on the balance between plant C uptake through photosynthesis and microbial decomposition. Here, we show that the effect of climate warming on Sphagnum community photosynthesis toggles from positive to negative as the peatland goes from rainy to dry periods during summer. More particularly, we show that mechanisms of compensation among the dominant Sphagnum species (Sphagnum fallax and Sphagnum medium) stabilize the average photosynthesis and productivity of the Sphagnum community during summer despite rising temperatures and frequent droughts. While warming had a negligible effect on S. medium photosynthetic capacity (Amax) during rainy periods, Amax of S. fallax increased by 40%. On the opposite, warming exacerbated the negative effects of droughts on S. fallax with an even sharper decrease of its Amax while S. medium Amax remained unchanged. S. medium showed a remarkable resistance to droughts due to anatomical traits favouring its water holding capacity. Our results show that different phenotypic plasticity among dominant Sphagnum species allow the community to cope with rising temperatures and repeated droughts, maintaining similar photosynthesis and productivity over summer in warmed and control conditions. These results are important because they provide information on how soil water content may modulate the effects of climate warming on Sphagnum productivity in boreal peatlands. It further confirms the transitory nature of warming‐induced photosynthesis benefits in boreal systems and highlights the vulnerability of the ecosystem to excess warming and drying.

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“…Our new findings of drought influence on xylem structure of black spruce are consistent with recent studies that highlight the detrimental effects of temperature‐induced drought on tree growth in the boreal ecosystem. Reich et al () indicated that low soil water availability might reduce, or even reverse, the benefits of climate warming on net photosynthesis in mesic, seasonally cold environments, even with moderate droughts during the growing season. Buermann et al () showed that northernmost ecosystem productivity is reduced by seasonal water deficits, countering the positive influence of lengthening growing season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood anatomical traits in black spruce reveal latent water constraints on the boreal forest

Puchi

Rossi

Carrer

2019

Global Change Biology

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The effects of climate change on high‐latitude forest ecosystems are complex, making forecasts of future scenarios uncertain. The predicted lengthening of the growing season under warming conditions is expected to increase tree growth rates. However, there is evidence of an increasing sensitivity of the boreal forest to drought stress. To assess the influence of temperature and precipitation on the growth of black spruce (Picea mariana), we investigated long‐term series of wood anatomical traits on 20 trees from four sites along 600 km, the latitudinal range of the closed boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. We correlated the anatomical traits resolved at intraring level with daily temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and precipitation during the 1943–2010 period. Tree‐ring width, number of cells per ring and cell wall thickness were positively affected by spring and summer daily mean and maximum temperature at the northern sites. These results agree with the well‐known positive effect of high temperatures on tree ring formation at high latitudes. However, we captured, for the first time in this region, the latent impact of water availability on xylem traits. Indeed, in all the four sites, cell lumen area showed positive correlations with daily precipitation (mostly at low latitude), and/or negative correlations with daily mean and maximum temperature and VPD (mostly at high latitude). We inferred that drought, due to high temperatures, low precipitations, or both, negatively affects cell enlargement across the closed boreal forest, including the northernmost sites. The production of tracheids with narrower lumen, potentially more resistant to cavitation, could increase xylem hydraulic safety under a warmer and drier climate. However, this would result in lower xylem conductivity, with consequent long‐term hydraulic deterioration, growth decline, and possibly lead to tree dieback, as observed in other forest ecosystems at lower latitudes.

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Effects of climate warming on photosynthesis in boreal tree species depend on soil moisture

Cited by 323 publications

References 29 publications

Satellite Observations of the Contrasting Response of Trees and Grasses to Variations in Water Availability

Satellite Observations of the Contrasting Response of Trees and Grasses to Variations in Water Availability

Effects of climate warming on Sphagnum photosynthesis in peatlands depend on peat moisture and species‐specific anatomical traits

Wood anatomical traits in black spruce reveal latent water constraints on the boreal forest

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