Leaf Anatomy, Morphology and Photosynthesis of Three Tundra Shrubs after 7-Year Experimental Warming on Changbai Mountain.

ABSTRACT: Tundra is one of the most sensitive biomes to climate warming. Understanding plant eco-physiological responses to warming is critical because these traits can give feedback on the effects of climate-warming on tundra ecosystem. We used open-top chambers following the criteria of the International Tundra Experiment to passively warm air and soil temperatures year round in alpine tundra. Leaf size, photosynthesis and anatomy of three dominant species were investigated during the growing seasons after 7 years of continuous warming. Warming increased the maximal light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax) by 43.6% for Dryas. octopetala var. asiatica and by 26.7% for Rhododendron confertissimum across the whole growing season, while warming did not significantly affect the Pmax of V. uliginosum.

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6724111 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature