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Leaf‐level photosynthetic capacity in lowland Amazonian and high‐elevation Andean tropical moist forests of Peru
Author(s) -
Bahar Nur H. A.,
Ishida F. Yoko,
Weerasinghe Lasantha K.,
Guerrieri Rossella,
O'Sullivan Odhran S.,
Bloomfield Keith J.,
Asner Gregory P.,
Martin Roberta E.,
Lloyd Jon,
Malhi Yadvinder,
Phillips Oliver L.,
Meir Patrick,
Salinas Norma,
Cosio Eric G.,
Domingues Tomas F.,
Quesada Carlos A.,
Sinca Felipe,
Escudero Vega Alberto,
Zuloaga Ccorimanya Paola P.,
AguilaPasquel Jhon,
Quispe Huaypar Katherine,
Cuba Torres Israel,
Butrón Loayza Rosalbina,
Pelaez Tapia Yulina,
Huaman Ovalle Judit,
Long Benedict M.,
Evans John R.,
Atkin Owen K.
Publication year - 2017
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.14079
Subject(s) - rubisco , photosynthesis , photosynthetic capacity , biology , botany , agronomy
Summary We examined whether variations in photosynthetic capacity are linked to variations in the environment and/or associated leaf traits for tropical moist forests ( TMF s) in the Andes/western Amazon regions of Peru. We compared photosynthetic capacity (maximal rate of carboxylation of Rubisco ( V cmax ), and the maximum rate of electron transport ( J max )), leaf mass, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) per unit leaf area ( M a , N a and P a , respectively), and chlorophyll from 210 species at 18 field sites along a 3300‐m elevation gradient. Western blots were used to quantify the abundance of the CO 2 ‐fixing enzyme Rubisco. Area‐ and N‐based rates of photosynthetic capacity at 25°C were higher in upland than lowland TMF s, underpinned by greater investment of N in photosynthesis in high‐elevation trees. Soil [P] and leaf P a were key explanatory factors for models of area‐based V cmax and J max but did not account for variations in photosynthetic N‐use efficiency. At any given N a and P a , the fraction of N allocated to photosynthesis was higher in upland than lowland species. For a small subset of lowland TMF trees examined, a substantial fraction of Rubisco was inactive. These results highlight the importance of soil‐ and leaf‐P in defining the photosynthetic capacity of TMF s, with variations in N allocation and Rubisco activation state further influencing photosynthetic rates and N‐use efficiency of these critically important forests.