Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Uddling, Johan

Publications and source records attributed to Uddling, Johan.

Optimal stomatal theory predicts CO 2 responses of stomatal conductance in both gymnosperm and angiosperm trees

Optimal stomatal theory predicts that stomata operate to maximise photosynthesis (A net ) and minimise transpirational water loss to achieve optimal intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). We tested whether this theory can predict stomatal responses to elevated atmospheric CO 2 (eCO 2 ), and whether it can capture differences in responsiveness among woody plant functional types (PFTs). We conducted a meta-analysis of tree studies of the effect of eCO 2 on iWUE and its components A net and stomatal conductance (g s ). We compared three PFTs, using the unified stomatal optimisation (USO) model to account for confounding effects of leaf–air vapour pressure difference (D). We expected smaller g s , but greater A net , responses to eCO 2 in gymnosperms compared with angiosperm PFTs. We found that iWUE increased in proportion to increasing eCO 2 in all PFTs, and that increases in A net had stronger effects than reductions in g s . The USO model correctly captured stomatal behaviour with eCO 2 across most datasets. The chief difference among PFTs was a lower stomatal slope parameter (g 1 ) for the gymnosperm, compared with angiosperm, species. Land surface models can use the USO model to describe stomatal behaviour under changing atmospheric CO 2 conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Convergence in phosphorus constraints to photosynthesis in forests around the world

Tropical forests take up more carbon (C) from the atmosphere per annum by photosynthesis than any other type of vegetation. Phosphorus (P) limitations to C uptake are paramount for tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. Yet the generality of photosynthesis-P relationships underlying these limitations are in question, and hence are not represented well in terrestrial biosphere models. Here we demonstrate the dependence of photosynthesis and underlying processes on both leaf N and P concentrations. The regulation of photosynthetic capacity by P was similar across four continents. Implementing P constraints in the ORCHIDEE-CNP model, gross photosynthesis was reduced by 36% across the tropics and subtropics relative to traditional N constraints and unlimiting leaf P. Our results provide a quantitative relationship for the P dependence for photosynthesis for the front-end of global terrestrial C models that is consistent with canopy leaf measurements.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Limited thermal acclimation of photosynthesis in tropical montane tree species

Abstract The temperature sensitivity of physiological processes and growth of tropical trees remains a key uncertainty in predicting how tropical forests will adjust to future climates. In particular, our knowledge regarding warming responses of photosynthesis, and its underlying biochemical mechanisms, is very limited. We grew seedlings of two tropical montane rainforest tree species, the early‐successional species Harungana montana and the late‐successional species Syzygium guineense , at three different sites along an elevation gradient, differing by 6.8℃ in daytime ambient air temperature. Their physiological and growth performance was investigated at each site. The optimum temperature of net photosynthesis ( T optA ) did not significantly increase in warm‐grown trees in either species. Similarly, the thermal optima ( T optV and T optJ ) and activation energies ( E aV and E aJ ) of maximum Rubisco carboxylation capacity ( V cmax ) and maximum electron transport rate ( J max ) were largely unaffected by warming. However, V cmax , J max and foliar dark respiration ( R d ) at 25℃ were significantly reduced by warming in both species, and this decline was partly associated with concomitant reduction in total leaf nitrogen content. The ratio of J max / V cmax decreased with increasing leaf temperature for both species, but the ratio at 25℃ was constant across sites. Furthermore, in H . montana , stomatal conductance at 25℃ remained constant across the different temperature treatments, while in S . guineense it increased with warming. Total dry biomass increased with warming in H . montana but remained constant in S . guineense . The biomass allocated to roots, stem and leaves was not affected by warming in H . montana , whereas the biomass allocated to roots significantly increased in S . guineense . Overall, our findings show that in these two tropical montane rainforest tree species, the capacity to acclimate the thermal optimum of photosynthesis is limited while warming‐induced reductions in respiration and photosynthetic capacity rates are tightly coupled and linked to responses of leaf nitrogen.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗