Paludification reduces black spruce growth rate but does not alter tree water use efficiency in Canadian boreal forested peatlands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP)-forested peatlands are widespread ecosystems in boreal North America in which peat accumulation, known as the paludification process, has been shown to induce forest growth decline. The continuously evolving environmental conditions (e.g., water table rise, increasing peat thickness) in paludified forests may require tree growth mechanism adjustments over time. In this study, we investigate tree ecophysiological mechanisms along a paludification gradient in a boreal forested peatland of eastern Canada by combining peat-based and tree-ring analyses. Carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in tree rings are used to document changes in carbon assimilation rates, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency. In addition, paleohydro

SUBMITTER: Beaulne J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8550502 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature