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Responses of photosynthetic rates to temperature in two conifers dominating at different elevations

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Abstract

The elevational changes in vegetation are related to the changes in environmental factors, such as temperature. Evergreen conifers Abies veitchii and A. mariesii dominate the subalpine zone between 1600 and 2000 m and between 2000 and 2500 m above sea level (a.s.l.), respectively, in central Japan. This study examined why their dominating elevations are separated by investigating the temperature–photosynthesis relationship at high and low elevations (1600 m and 2300 m a.s.l.). This study tested two hypotheses: (1) the optimal temperature (Topt) for the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax) is lower in individuals grown at high elevation than at low elevation, and A. mariesii has lower Topt than A. veitchii at each elevation; and (2) Pmax of individuals grown at low elevation is greater in A. veitchii than in A. mariesii, while that of individuals grown at high elevation is greater in A. mariesii than in A. veitchii. Saplings of the two conifers were sampled at high and low elevations. The photosynthetic rate was measured at the laboratory. Contrary to the hypotheses, both species had the same Topt at two elevations, and Pmax was greater in A. veitchii than in A. mariesii, irrespective of the elevation where the individuals grew. The elevational distribution of the two species could not be explained by the temperature–photosynthesis relationship. Therefore, factors other than the temperature–photosynthesis relationship are important to understand the elevational separation of the two species.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (21K06331).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Rina Suzuki

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Koichi Takahashi

  3. Institute of Mountain Science, Shinshu University, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Koichi Takahashi

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  1. Rina Suzuki
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  2. Koichi Takahashi
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Correspondence to Koichi Takahashi.

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Suzuki, R., Takahashi, K. Responses of photosynthetic rates to temperature in two conifers dominating at different elevations. Landscape Ecol Eng 18, 389–395 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-022-00500-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-022-00500-2

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