The effect of photosynthetic parameters on species acclimation in an arid mountainous region of China

Understanding the mechanisms of how environmental factors limit species distribution along environmental gradients is a central question in ecology. This study aimed to understand species acclimation in view of photosynthetic parameters in an arid mountainous region. We measured some photosynthetic parameters and light and CO 2 photosynthesis response curves for all plant communities with seven dominant species in 13 sites along an elevation gradient in the Qilian Mountains in arid northwestern China. The results showed that species in xerothermic environments had low maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) (14.5 μmol m -2 s -1 ) and maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) (22.7 μmol m -2 s -1 ), high light compensation points (60.0 μmol m -2 s -1 ) and light saturation points (1150.7 μmol m -2 s -1 ), high dark respiration rates (5.3 μmol m -2 s -1 ), and high maximum photosynthetic rates (Amax) (18.1 μmol m -2 s -1 ) compared with species in mesic environments. Photosynthesis parameters did not vary with temperature, precipitation, and altitude in different communities dominated by the same species, Picea crassifolia. However, some photosynthesis parameters varied with temperature, precipitation, and altitude in communities dominated by species other than spruce at different elevations. Selected photosynthesis parameters could be used to measure species adaptation to environmental gradients in arid mountain regions.