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Photosynthetic temperature adaptation of Pinus cembra within the timberline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps

Adaptation photosynthétique à la température de Pinus cembra dans l’écotone de la limite supérieure de la forêt dans les Alpes centrales autrichiennes

Annals of Forest Science volume 67, page 201 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • Temperature is suggested to determine the upper limit of tree life. Therefore, future climate warming may be of importance for tree distribution within the European Alps, where low temperatures limit carbon metabolism.

  • • We focused on the effects of air and soil temperature on net photosynthesis (P n) of Pinus cembra an evergreen climax species of the timberline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps. Light response and temperature response curves were estimated along an altitudinal gradient ranging from the forest limit up to the krummholz limit in both summer and fall.

  • • In general, P n was significantly lower in fall as compared to summer. Nevertheless, independent from season mean P n values tended to increase with elevation and were positively correlated with root zone temperatures. The specific leaf area by contrast declined with increasing elevation. Furthermore, the temperature optimum of net photosynthesis declined with increasing elevation and was positively correlated with the mean maximum air temperature of the 10 days prior the date of measurement.

  • • Thus, our findings appear to reflect a long-term adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of Pinus cembra to the general temperature conditions with respect to elevation combined with a short term acclimation to the prevailing temperature regime.

Résumé

  • • La température est supposée déterminer la limite supérieure de la vie de des arbres. Par conséquent, le réchauffement climatique futur, peut avoir de l’importance pour la distribution des arbres dans les Alpes européennes, où les basses températures limitent le métabolisme du carbone.

  • • Nous nous sommes concentrés sur les effets de la température de l’air et du sol, sur la photosynthèse nette (P n) de Pinus cembra une espèce sempervirente climaxique de l’écotone de la limite supérieure de la forêt des Alpes centrales autrichiennes. Les courbes de réponse à la lumière et à la température ont été déterminées, en été et en automne, le long d’un gradient d’altitude allant de la limite de la forêt jusqu’à la limite des arbres rabougris (krummholz).

  • • En général, P n a été significativement plus faible en l’automne qu’en été. Néanmoins, indépendamment de la saison, les valeurs moyennes de P n ont eu tendance à augmenter avec l’altitude et ont été positivement corrélées avec les températures de la zone racinaire. En revanche, la surface foliaire spécifique a diminué avec l’augmentation de l’altitude. En outre, la température optimale de la photosynthèse nette a diminué avec l’augmentation de l’altitude et a été positivement corrélée avec la température maximale moyenne de l’air des 10 jours précédant la date de mesure.

  • • Ainsi, nos résultats semblent refléter une adaptation à long terme de l’appareil photosynthétique de Pinus cembra aux conditions générales de température à l’égard de l’altiude, combinée avec une courte durée d’acclimatation au régime thermique courant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Alpine Timberline Ecophysiology, Federal Office and Research Centre for Forests, Rennweg 1, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Gerhard Wieser

  2. Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Walter Oberhuber, Lisa Walder, Daniela Spieler & Andreas Gruber

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  1. Gerhard Wieser
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  2. Walter Oberhuber
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  3. Lisa Walder
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  4. Daniela Spieler
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  5. Andreas Gruber
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Correspondence to Gerhard Wieser.

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Wieser, G., Oberhuber, W., Walder, L. et al. Photosynthetic temperature adaptation of Pinus cembra within the timberline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps. Ann. For. Sci. 67, 201 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009094

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X