Boreal conifers maintain carbon uptake with warming despite failure to track optimal temperatures.

ABSTRACT: Warming shifts the thermal optimum of net photosynthesis (T_optA) to higher temperatures. However, our knowledge of this shift is mainly derived from seedlings grown in greenhouses under ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) conditions. It is unclear whether shifts in T_optA of field-grown trees will keep pace with the temperatures predicted for the 21^st century under elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Here, using a whole-ecosystem warming controlled experiment under either ambient or elevated CO₂ levels, we show that T_optA of mature boreal conifers increased with warming. However, shifts in T_optA did not keep pace with warming as T_optA only increased by 0.26-0.35 °C per 1 °C of warmin

SUBMITTER: Dusenge ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10400668 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature