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Impact of warmer and drier conditions on tree photosynthetic properties and the role of species interactions
Author(s) -
DidionGency Margaux,
Gessler Arthur,
Buchmann Nina,
Gisler Jonas,
Schaub Marcus,
Grossiord Charlotte
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.18384
Subject(s) - beech , photosynthesis , environmental science , global warming , moisture , water content , agronomy , climate change , ecology , biology , botany , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary Increased temperature and prolonged soil moisture reduction have distinct impacts on tree photosynthetic properties. Yet, our knowledge of their combined effect is limited. Moreover, how species interactions alter photosynthetic responses to warming and drought remains unclear. Using mesocosms, we studied how photosynthetic properties of European beech and downy oak were impacted by multi‐year warming and soil moisture reduction alone or combined, and how species interactions (intra‐ vs inter‐specific interactions) modulated these effects. Warming of +5°C enhanced photosynthetic properties in oak but not beech, while moisture reduction decreased them in both species. Combined warming and moisture reduction reduced photosynthetic properties for both species, but no exacerbated effects were observed. Oak was less impacted by combined warming and limited moisture when interacting with beech than in intra‐specific stands. For beech, species interactions had no impact on the photosynthetic responses to warming and moisture reduction, alone or combined. Warming had either no or beneficial effects on the photosynthetic properties, while moisture reduction and their combined effects strongly reduced photosynthetic responses. However, inter‐specific interactions mitigated the adverse impacts of combined warming and drought in oak, thereby highlighting the need to deepen our understanding of the role of species interactions under climate change.