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Late growing season carbon subsidy in native gymnosperms in a northern temperate forest
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posted on 2020-04-27, 00:00 authored by X Li, Chengyuan XuChengyuan Xu, Z Li, J Feng, DT Tissue, KL GriffinEvergreen tree species that maintain positive carbon balance during the late growing season may subsidize extra carbon in a mixed forest. To test this concept of 'carbon subsidy', leaf gas exchange characteristics and related leaf traits were measured for three gymnosperm evergreen species (Chamaecyparis thyoides, Tsuga canadensis and Pinus strobus) native to the oak-hickory deciduous forest in northeast USA from March (early Spring) to October (late Autumn) in a single year. All three species were photosynthetically active in Autumn. During the Summer-Autumn transition, photosynthetic capacity (Amax) of T. canadensis and P. strobus increased (T-test, P < 0.001) and was maintained in C. thyoides (T-test, P = 0.49), while dark respiration at 20 °C (Rn) and its thermal sensitivity were generally unchanged for all species (one-way ANOVA, P > 0.05). In Autumn, reductions in mitochondrial respiration rate in the daylight (RL) and the ratio of RL to Rn (RL/Rn) were observed in P. strobus (46.3% and 44.0% compared to Summer, respectively). Collectively, these physiological adjustments resulted in higher ratios of photosynthesis to respiration (A/Rnand A/RL) in Autumn for all species. Across season, photosynthetic biochemistry and respiratory variables were not correlated with prevailing growth temperature. Physiological adjustments allowed all three gymnosperm species to maintain positive carbon balance into late Autumn, suggesting that gymnosperm evergreens may benefit from Autumn warming trends relative to deciduous trees that have already lost their leaves. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Volume
39Issue
6Start Page
971End Page
982Number of Pages
12eISSN
1758-4469ISSN
0829-318XPublisher
Oxford University PressPublisher DOI
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Peer Reviewed
- Yes
Open Access
- No
Acceptance Date
2019-02-24External Author Affiliations
Minzu University of China; Western Sydney University; Columbia University, USAEra Eligible
- Yes
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