Acclimation of leaf respiration temperature responses across thermally contrasting biomes
Date
2021
Authors
Zhu, Lingling
Bloomfield, Keith
Asao, Shinichi
Tjoelker, Mark G
Egerton, Jack
Hayes, Lucy
Weerasinghe, Lasantha
Creek, Danielle
Griffin, Kevin
Hurry, Vaughan Martin
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Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Short-term temperature response curves of leaf dark respiration (R-T) provide insights into a critical process that influences plant net carbon exchange. This includes how respiratory traits acclimate to sustained changes in the environment.
Our study analysed 860 high-resolution R-T (10-70°C range) curves for: (a) 62 evergreen species measured in two contrasting seasons across several field sites/biomes; and (b) 21 species (subset of those sampled in the field) grown in glasshouses at 20°C : 15°C, 25°C : 20°C and 30°C : 25°C, day : night.
In the field, across all sites/seasons, variations in R25 (measured at 25°C) and the leaf T where R reached its maximum (Tmax) were explained by growth T (mean air-T of 30-d before measurement), solar irradiance and vapour pressure deficit, with growth T having the strongest influence. R25 decreased and Tmax increased with rising growth T across all sites and seasons with the single exception of winter at the cool-temperate rainforest site where irradiance was low. The glasshouse study confirmed that R25 and Tmax thermally acclimated.
Collectively, the results suggest: (1) thermal acclimation of leaf R is common in most biomes; and (2) the high T threshold of respiration dynamically adjusts upward when plants are challenged with warmer and hotter climates.
Description
Keywords
climate change, metabolism, phenotypic plasticity, respiration modelling, thermal acclimation, thermal tolerance
Citation
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Source
New Phytologist
Type
Journal article
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Restricted until
2099-12-31