Contrasting Seasonal Variation of Photosynthesis in Evergreen and Deciduous Tree Species From a Tropical Forest.

ABSTRACT: Microclimate differences in water availability can drive seasonal water use and photosynthetic variation among co-occurring tropical tree species, especially in forests with strongly seasonal climates. We studied a tropical forest site in the Western Ghats, India, and characterised seasonal differences in photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation rates (A_net) among nine tree species with contrasting leaf habit and topographic affinities: deciduous species in dry hilltops, dry-affinity evergreens on slopes and wet-affinity evergreens in valleys. Surface soil moisture was lowest in hilltops, intermediate on slopes and highest in valleys, with higher levels during the wet period compared to the dry period. As expected, deciduous species on dry hilltops showed higher photosynthetic

SUBMITTER: Tiwari R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12257110 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature