Life Sciences Commons^™

Acclimation Of Photosynthetic Temperature Optima Of Temperate And Boreal Tree Species In Response To Experimental Forest Warming, Kerrie M. Sendall, Peter B. Reich, Changming Zhao, Hou Jihua, Xia Orong Wei, Artur Stefanski, Karen Rice, Roy L. Rich, Rebecca A. Montgomery

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Rising temperatures caused by climate change could negatively alter plant ecosystems if temperatures exceed optimal

temperatures for carbon gain. Such changes may threaten temperature-sensitive species, causing local extinctions and

range migrations. This study examined the optimal temperature of net photosynthesis (Topt) of two boreal and four

temperate deciduous tree species grown in the field in northern Minnesota, United States under two contrasting temperature

regimes. We hypothesized that Topt would be higher in temperate than co-occurring boreal species, with

temperate species exhibiting greater plasticity in Topt, resulting in better acclimation to elevated temperatures. The

chamberless experiment, located at two sites in …