Leaf structural responses to pre-industrial, current and elevated atmospheric [CO2] and temperature affect leaf function in Eucalyptus sideroxylon

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee A. Smith ◽  
James D. Lewis ◽  
Oula Ghannoum ◽  
David T. Tissue

Leaf structure and chemistry both play critical roles in regulating photosynthesis. Yet, a key unresolved issue in climate change research is the role of changes in leaf structure in photosynthetic responses to temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]), ranging from pre-industrial to future levels. We examined the interactive effects of [CO2] (290, 400 and 650 μL L–1) and temperature (ambient, ambient +4°C) on leaf structural and chemical traits that regulate photosynthesis in Eucalyptus sideroxylon A.Cunn. ex Woolls. Rising [CO2] from pre-industrial to elevated levels increased light-saturated net photosynthetic rates (Asat), but reduced photosynthetic capacity (Amax). Changes in leaf N per unit area (Narea) and the number of palisade layers accounted for 56 and 14% of the variation in Amax, respectively, associated with changes in leaf mass per area. Elevated temperature increased stomatal frequency, but did not affect Amax. Further, rising [CO2] and temperature generally did not interactively affect leaf structure or function. These results suggest that leaf Narea and the number of palisade layers are the key chemical and structural factors regulating photosynthetic capacity of E. sideroxylon under rising [CO2], whereas the lack of photosynthetic responses to elevated temperature may reflect the limited effect of temperature on leaf structure and chemistry.

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10958
Author(s):  
Daily Zuñiga-Rios ◽  
Román Manuel Vásquez-Elizondo ◽  
Edgar Caamal ◽  
Daniel Robledo

In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of temperature, pH, and nutrients on photosynthetic performance in the calcareous tropical macroalga Halimeda scabra. A significant interaction among these factors on gross photosynthesis (Pgross) was found. The highest values of Pgross were reached at the highest temperature, pH, and nutrient enrichment tested and similarly in the control treatment (no added nutrients) at 33 °C at the lowest pH. The Q10 Pgross values confirmed the effect of temperature only under nutrient enrichment scenarios. Besides the above, bicarbonate (HCO3−) absorption was assessed by the content of carbon stable isotope (δ13C) in algae tissue and by its incorporation into photosynthetic products, as well as by carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors (Acetazolamide, AZ and Ethoxyzolamide, EZ) assays. The labeling of δ13C revealed this species uses both, CO2 and HCO3− forms of Ci relying on a CO2 Concentration Mechanism (CCM). These results were validated by the EZ-AZ inhibition assays in which photosynthesis inhibition was observed, indicating the action of internal CA, whereas AZ inhibitor did not affect maximum photosynthesis (Pmax). The incorporation of 13C isotope into aspartate in light and dark treatments also confirmed photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic the HCO3−uptake.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald T. Warren ◽  
Jennifer M. Donelson ◽  
Mark I. McCormick

The threat of predation, and the prey’s response, are important drivers of community dynamics. Yet environmental temperature can have a significant effect on predation avoidance techniques such as fast-start performance observed in marine fishes. While it is known that temperature increases can influence performance and behaviour in the short-term, little is known about how species respond to extended exposure during development. We produced a startle response in two species of damselfish, the lemon damselPomacentrus moluccensis,and the Ambon damselfishPomacentrus amboinensis,by the repeated use of a drop stimulus. We show that the length of thermal exposure of juveniles to elevated temperature significantly affects this escape responses.Short-term (4d) exposure to warmer temperature affected directionality and responsiveness for both species. After long-term (90d) exposure, onlyP. moluccensisshowed beneficial plasticity, with directionality returning to control levels. Responsiveness also decreased in both species, possibly to compensate for higher temperatures. There was no effect of temperature or length of exposure on latency to react, maximum swimming speed, or escape distance suggesting that the physical ability to escape was maintained. Evidence suggests that elevated temperature may impact some fish species through its effect on the behavioural responses while under threat rather than having a direct influence on their physical ability to perform an effective escape response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 6087-6106
Author(s):  
Veronika Forstner ◽  
Jannis Groh ◽  
Matevz Vremec ◽  
Markus Herndl ◽  
Harry Vereecken ◽  
...  

Abstract. Effects of climate change on the ecosystem productivity and water fluxes have been studied in various types of experiments. However, it is still largely unknown whether and how the experimental approach itself affects the results of such studies. We employed two contrasting experimental approaches, using high-precision weighable monolithic lysimeters, over a period of 4 years to identify and compare the responses of water fluxes and aboveground biomass to climate change in permanent grassland. The first, manipulative, approach is based on controlled increases of atmospheric CO2 concentration and surface temperature. The second, observational, approach uses data from a space-for-time substitution along a gradient of climatic conditions. The Budyko framework was used to identify if the soil ecosystem is energy limited or water limited. Elevated temperature reduced the amount of non-rainfall water, particularly during the growing season in both approaches. In energy-limited grassland ecosystems, elevated temperature increased the actual evapotranspiration and decreased aboveground biomass. As a consequence, elevated temperature led to decreasing seepage rates in energy-limited systems. Under water-limited conditions in dry periods, elevated temperature aggravated water stress and, thus, resulted in reduced actual evapotranspiration. The already small seepage rates of the drier soils remained almost unaffected under these conditions compared to soils under wetter conditions. Elevated atmospheric CO2 reduced both actual evapotranspiration and aboveground biomass in the manipulative experiment and, therefore, led to a clear increase and change in seasonality of seepage. As expected, the aboveground biomass productivity and ecosystem efficiency indicators of the water-limited ecosystems were negatively correlated with an increase in aridity, while the trend was unclear for the energy-limited ecosystems. In both experimental approaches, the responses of soil water fluxes and biomass production mainly depend on the ecosystems' status with respect to energy or water limitation. To thoroughly understand the ecosystem response to climate change and be able to identify tipping points, experiments need to embrace sufficiently extreme boundary conditions and explore responses to individual and multiple drivers, such as temperature, CO2 concentration, and precipitation, including non-rainfall water. In this regard, manipulative and observational climate change experiments complement one another and, thus, should be combined in the investigation of climate change effects on grassland.


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