Carboxylation capacity is the main limitation of carbon assimilation in High Arctic shrubs

Paillassa, J., Pepin, S., Ethier, G., Lamarque, L. J. et Maire, V. (2024). Carboxylation capacity is the main limitation of carbon assimilation in High Arctic shrubs. Plant, Cell & Environment . ISSN 0140-7791 1365-3040 DOI 10.1111/pce.15097

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Résumé

Abstract

Increases in shrub height, biomass and canopy cover are key whole-plant features of warming-induced vegetation change in tundra. We investigated leaf functional traits underlying photosynthetic capacity of Arctic shrub species, particularly its main limiting processes such as mesophyll conductance. In this nutrient-limited ecosystem, we expect leaf nitrogen concentration to be the main limiting factor for photosynthesis. We measured the net photosynthetic rate at saturated light (Asat) in three Salix species throughout a glacial valley in High-Arctic tundra and used a causal approach to test relationships between leaf stomatal and mesophyll conductances (gsc, gm), carboxylation capacity (Vcmax), nitrogen and phosphorus concentration (Narea, Parea) and leaf mass ratio (LMA). Arctic Salix species showed no difference in Asat compared to a global data set, while being characterized by higher Narea, Parea and LMA. Vcmax, gsc and gm independently increased Asat, with Vcmax as its main limitation. We highlighted a nitrogen-influenced pathway for increasing photosynthesis in the two prostrate mesic habitat species. In contrast, the erect wetland habitat Salix richardsonii mainly increased Asat with increasing gsc. Overall, our study revealed high photosynthetic capacities of Arctic Salix species but contrasting regulatory pathways that may influence shrub ability to respond to environmental changes in High Arctic tundra.

Type de document:	Article
Date de dépôt:	30 sept. 2024 15:05
Dernière modification:	30 sept. 2024 17:38
Version du document déposé:	Post-print (version corrigée et acceptée)
URI:	https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/11491

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