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Acclimation and adaptation components of the temperature dependence of plant photosynthesis at the global scale
Author(s) -
Kumarathunge Dushan P.,
Medlyn Belinda E.,
Drake John E.,
Tjoelker Mark G.,
Aspinwall Michael J.,
Battaglia Michael,
Cano Francisco J.,
Carter Kelsey R.,
Cavaleri Molly A.,
Cernusak Lucas A.,
Chambers Jeffrey Q.,
Crous Kristine Y.,
De Kauwe Martin G.,
Dillaway Dylan N.,
Dreyer Erwin,
Ellsworth David S.,
Ghannoum Oula,
Han Qingmin,
Hikosaka Kouki,
Jensen Anna M.,
Kelly Jeff W. G.,
Kruger Eric L.,
Mercado Lina M.,
Onoda Yusuke,
Reich Peter B.,
Rogers Alistair,
Slot Martijn,
Smith Nicholas G.,
Tarvainen Lasse,
Tissue David T.,
Togashi Henrique F.,
Tribuzy Edgard S.,
Uddling Johan,
Vårhammar Angelica,
Wallin Göran,
Warren Jeffrey M.,
Way Danielle A.
Publication year - 2019
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.15668
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , acclimatization , tundra , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , stomatal conductance , adaptation (eye) , ecosystem , global warming , climate change , biology , ecology , climatology , botany , physics , neuroscience , geology
Summary The temperature response of photosynthesis is one of the key factors determining predicted responses to warming in global vegetation models ( GVM s). The response may vary geographically, owing to genetic adaptation to climate, and temporally, as a result of acclimation to changes in ambient temperature. Our goal was to develop a robust quantitative global model representing acclimation and adaptation of photosynthetic temperature responses. We quantified and modelled key mechanisms responsible for photosynthetic temperature acclimation and adaptation using a global dataset of photosynthetic CO 2 response curves, including data from 141 C 3 species from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra. We separated temperature acclimation and adaptation processes by considering seasonal and common‐garden datasets, respectively. The observed global variation in the temperature optimum of photosynthesis was primarily explained by biochemical limitations to photosynthesis, rather than stomatal conductance or respiration. We found acclimation to growth temperature to be a stronger driver of this variation than adaptation to temperature at climate of origin. We developed a summary model to represent photosynthetic temperature responses and showed that it predicted the observed global variation in optimal temperatures with high accuracy. This novel algorithm should enable improved prediction of the function of global ecosystems in a warming climate.