ID:
publications-1789
Type:
Peer reviewed articles
Year:
2020
Authors:
Yunke Peng, Keith J. Bloomfield, Iain Colin Prentice
Title:
A theory of plant function helps to explain leafâtrait and productivity responses to elevation
Venue/Journal:
New Phytologist
DOI:
10.1111/nph.16447
Research type:
Uncategorized
Water System:
Uncategorized
Technical Focus:
Abstract:
Summary Several publications have examined leafâtrait and carbonâcycling shifts along an AmazonâAndes transect spanning 3.5 km in elevation and 16°C in mean annual temperature. Photosynthetic capacity was previously shown to increase as temperature declines with increasing elevation, counteracting enzymeâkinetic effects. Primary production declines, nonetheless, due to decreasing light availability. We aimed to predict leafâtrait and production gradients from first principles, using published data to test an emerging theory whereby photosynthetic traits and primary production depend on optimal acclimation and/or adaptation to environment. We reâanalysed published data for 210 species at 25 sites, fitting linear relationships to elevation for both predicted and observed photosynthetic traits and primary production. Declining leafâinternal/ambient CO2 ratio (Ï) and increasing carboxylation (Vcmax) and electronâtransport (Jmax) capacities with increasing elevation were predicted. Increases in leaf nitrogen content with elevation were explained by increasing Vcmax and leaf massâperâarea. Leaf and soil phosphorus covaried, but after controlling for elevation, no nutrient metric accounted for any additional variance in photosynthetic traits. Primary production was predicted to decline with elevation. This analysis unifies leaf and ecosystem observations in a common theoretical framework. The insensitivity of primary production to temperature is shown to emerge as a consequence of the optimisation of photosynthetic traits.
Link with Projects:
787203
Link with Tools:
Related policies:
ID:
