Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer
Abstract We use a quantitative model of photosynthesis to explore leaf‐level limitations to plant growth in an alpine tundra ecosystem that is expected to have longer, warmer, and drier growing seasons. The model is parameterized with abiotic and leaf trait data that is characteristic of two dominan...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/article/34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 2023-05-15T18:40:02+02:00 Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer Katherine F. Wentz Jason C. Neff Katharine N. Suding 2019-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/article/34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/article/34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 9, Iss 3, Pp 1227-1243 (2019) alpine tundra dry and wet meadows climate change limitations photosynthesis model Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 2022-12-31T15:32:06Z Abstract We use a quantitative model of photosynthesis to explore leaf‐level limitations to plant growth in an alpine tundra ecosystem that is expected to have longer, warmer, and drier growing seasons. The model is parameterized with abiotic and leaf trait data that is characteristic of two dominant plant communities in the alpine tundra and specifically at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Site: the dry and wet meadows. Model results produce realistic estimates of photosynthesis, nitrogen‐use efficiency, water‐use efficiency, and other gas exchange processes in the alpine tundra. Model simulations suggest that dry and wet meadow plant species do not significantly respond to changes in the volumetric soil moisture content but are sensitive to variation in foliar nitrogen content. In addition, model simulations indicate that dry and wet meadow species have different maximum rates of assimilation (normalized for leaf nitrogen content) because of differences in leaf temperature. These differences arise from the interaction of plant height and the abiotic environment characteristic of each plant community. The leaf temperature of dry meadow species is higher than wet meadow species and close to the optimal temperature for photosynthesis under current conditions. As a result, 2°C higher air temperatures in the future will likely lead to declines in dry meadow species’ carbon assimilation. On the other hand, a longer and warmer growing season could increase nitrogen availability and assimilation rates in both plant communities. Nonetheless, a temperature increase of 4°C may lower rates of assimilation in both dry and wet meadow plant communities because of higher, and suboptimal, leaf temperatures. Article in Journal/Newspaper Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecology and Evolution 9 3 1227 1243 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
alpine tundra dry and wet meadows climate change limitations photosynthesis model Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
alpine tundra dry and wet meadows climate change limitations photosynthesis model Ecology QH540-549.5 Katherine F. Wentz Jason C. Neff Katharine N. Suding Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
topic_facet |
alpine tundra dry and wet meadows climate change limitations photosynthesis model Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract We use a quantitative model of photosynthesis to explore leaf‐level limitations to plant growth in an alpine tundra ecosystem that is expected to have longer, warmer, and drier growing seasons. The model is parameterized with abiotic and leaf trait data that is characteristic of two dominant plant communities in the alpine tundra and specifically at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Site: the dry and wet meadows. Model results produce realistic estimates of photosynthesis, nitrogen‐use efficiency, water‐use efficiency, and other gas exchange processes in the alpine tundra. Model simulations suggest that dry and wet meadow plant species do not significantly respond to changes in the volumetric soil moisture content but are sensitive to variation in foliar nitrogen content. In addition, model simulations indicate that dry and wet meadow species have different maximum rates of assimilation (normalized for leaf nitrogen content) because of differences in leaf temperature. These differences arise from the interaction of plant height and the abiotic environment characteristic of each plant community. The leaf temperature of dry meadow species is higher than wet meadow species and close to the optimal temperature for photosynthesis under current conditions. As a result, 2°C higher air temperatures in the future will likely lead to declines in dry meadow species’ carbon assimilation. On the other hand, a longer and warmer growing season could increase nitrogen availability and assimilation rates in both plant communities. Nonetheless, a temperature increase of 4°C may lower rates of assimilation in both dry and wet meadow plant communities because of higher, and suboptimal, leaf temperatures. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Katherine F. Wentz Jason C. Neff Katharine N. Suding |
author_facet |
Katherine F. Wentz Jason C. Neff Katharine N. Suding |
author_sort |
Katherine F. Wentz |
title |
Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
title_short |
Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
title_full |
Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
title_fullStr |
Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
title_full_unstemmed |
Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
title_sort |
leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities’ response to a simulated extended summer |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/article/34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 |
genre |
Tundra |
genre_facet |
Tundra |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 9, Iss 3, Pp 1227-1243 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.4816 https://doaj.org/article/34742c52d4cf46848d1c2937b47d2978 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4816 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
1227 |
op_container_end_page |
1243 |
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1766229157978570752 |