Research Articles

Ecophysiological adaptability of four tree species in the southern subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest to warming

Expand
  • Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China

Received date: 2020-09-21

  Accepted date: 2020-11-04

  Online published: 2020-12-17

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(41977287);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41991285);Special Forestry Project of Guangdong Province (Monitoring and Research on the Impact of Environmental Change on wild Plant Diversity)

Abstract

Aims The subject of this study was to investigate warming effects on leaf stomatal traits, anatomical structure and photosynthetic traits of four common tree species in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest of southern China, and to compare their physiological adaptability to warming. Our study aims to provide a theoretical basis for better predicting the tree growth of native forests in a warming climate.
Methods One-year-old seedlings of Syzygium rehderianum, Ormosia pinnata, Castanopsis hystrix and Schima superba were selected and exposed to two levels of temperature (ambient temperature and infrared heater warming). Leaf stomatal traits, anatomical structure and photosynthetic characteristics were measured to represent the abilities of stomatal regulation, leaf tissue regulation and nutrient maintenance, respectively.
Important findings For Syzygium rehderianum, warming decreased its leaf sponge tissue thickness, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE) and photosynthetic phosphorous-use efficiency (PPUE). Seedling of O. pinnata exposed to warming showed increased stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, PNUE and PPUE, but decreased stomatal density, leaf thickness and palisade tissue thickness. For C. hystrix, warming decreased the stomata size, but did not affect its photosynthetic rate. Seedling of Schima superba exposed to warming showed lower stomata density, leaf palisade tissue thickness, photosynthetic rate, PNUE and PPUE, but higher stomata size. These results suggested that O. pinnata, Syzygium rehderianum and Schima superba could reduce their leaf thickness to acclimate to warming conditions. The abilities of stomatal regulation, nutrient maintenance, photosynthetic rate and PNUE varied among these tree species. Warming would be beneficial for the growth of O. pinnata due to increased photosynthetic rate, PNUE and PPUE, while not for Syzygium rehderianum and Schima superba, the two dominant tree species of native forests. This study indicated that, with projected climate change, O. pinnata may replace Syzygium rehderianum and Schima superba as a new dominant tree species in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest for its stronger adaptability to warming.

Cite this article

LI Xu, WU Ting, CHENG Yan, TAN Na-Dan, JIANG Fen, LIU Shi-Zhong, CHU Guo-Wei, MENG Ze, LIU Ju-Xiu . Ecophysiological adaptability of four tree species in the southern subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest to warming[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2020 , 44(12) : 1203 -1214 . DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2020.0318

References

[1] Bremner J, Mulvaney C (1982). Nitrogen-total//Page AL. Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties. 2nd ed. American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison.
[2] Cavaleri MA, Reed SC, Smith WK, Wood TE (2015). Urgent need for warming experiments in tropical forests. Global Change Biology, 21, 2111-2121.
[3] Chen L, Wen YG, Zeng J, Wang H, Wang JX, Dell B, Liu SR (2019). Differential responses of net N mineralization and nitrification to throughfall reduction in a Castanopsis hystrix plantation in Southern China. Forest Ecosystems, 6, 1-11.
[4] Ding YH, Wang HJ (2016). Newly acquired knowledge on the scientific issues related to climate change over the recent 100 years in China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 61, 1029-1041.
[4] [ 丁一汇, 王会军 (2016). 近百年中国气候变化科学问题的新认识. 科学通报, 61, 1029-1041.]
[5] Dusenge ME, Way DA (2017). Warming puts the squeeze on photosynthesis—Lessons from tropical trees. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68, 2073-2077.
[6] Ellsworth DS, Reich PB (1996). Photosynthesis and leaf nitrogen in five Amazonian tree species during early secondary succession. Ecology, 77, 581-594.
[7] Escudero A, Mediavilla S (2003). Decline in photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency with leaf age and nitrogen resorption as determinants of leaf life span. Journal of Ecology, 91, 880-889.
[8] Feng YL, Fu GL, Zheng YL (2008). Specific leaf area relates to the differences in leaf construction cost, photosynthesis, nitrogen allocation, and use efficiencies between invasive and noninvasive alien congeners. Planta, 228, 383-390.
[9] Franks PJ, Beerling DJ (2009). Maximum leaf conductance driven by CO2 effects on stomatal size and density over geologic time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, 10343-10347.
[10] Franks PJ, Farquhar GD (2007). The mechanical diversity of stomata and its significance in gas-exchange control. Plant Physiology, 143, 78-87.
[11] Hepworth C, Doheny-Adams T, Hunt L, Cameron DD, Gray JE (2015). Manipulating stomatal density enhances drought tolerance without deleterious effect on nutrient uptake. New Phytologist, 208, 336-341.
[12] Hetherington AM, Woodward FI (2003). The role of stomata in sensing and driving environmental change. Nature, 424, 901-908.
[13] Hu JY, Guo K, Dong M (2008). Variation of leaf structure of two dominant species in alpine grassland and the relationship between leaf structure and ecological factors. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 32, 370-378.
[13] [ 胡建莹, 郭柯, 董鸣 (2008). 高寒草原优势种叶片结构变化与生态因子的关系. 植物生态学报, 32, 370-378.]
[14] Huang J, Chen C, Zhang WX, Ding CJ, Su XH, Huang QJ (2017). Effects of drought stress on anatomical structure and photosynthetic characteristics of transgenic JERF36 Populus alba × P. berolinensis seedling leaves. Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 53(5), 8-15.
[14] [ 黄绢, 陈存, 张伟溪, 丁昌俊, 苏晓华, 黄秦军 (2017). 干旱胁迫对转JERF36银中杨苗木叶片解剖结构及光合特性的影响. 林业科学, 53(5), 8-15.]
[15] IPCC (2018). Summary for Policymakers. [2020-09-21]. https:// www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/SR15_SPM_version_report_HR.pdf.
[16] James SA, Bell DT (2000). Influence of light availability on leaf structure and growth of two Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus provenances. Tree Physiology, 20, 1007-1018.
[17] Li DJ, Zhou XH, Wu LY, Zhou JZ, Luo YQ (2013). Contrasting responses of heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration to experimental warming in a winter annual-dominated prairie. Global Change Biology, 19, 3553-3564.
[18] Li W, Fu Z, Hao XZ, Li QY, Zhang CP (2020). Leaf anatomical structure and photosynthetic characteristics of Megaskepasma erythrochlamys and Pachystachys lutea in greenhouse. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 36, 58-61.
[18] [ 李伟, 符喆, 郝晓哲, 李秋雨, 张翠萍 (2020). 温室内赤苞花和黄虾花叶片解剖结构及光合特性研究. 中国农学通报, 36, 58-61.]
[19] Liu L (2016). Study on the Photosynthetic Characteristics of Liangshan Introduced Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars. Master degree dissertation, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, Sichuan.
[19] [ 刘露 (2016). 凉山引进油橄榄品种的光合特性研究. 硕士学位论文, 四川农业大学, 四川雅安.]
[20] Liu JX, Huang WJ, Zhou GY, Zhang DQ, Liu SZ, Li YY (2013). Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios of tree species in response to elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen addition in subtropical forests. Global Change Biology, 19, 208-216.
[21] Liu JX, Li YL, Liu SZ, Li YY, Chu GW, Meng Z, Zhang DQ (2013). An introduction to an experimental design for studying effects of air temperature rise on model forest ecosystems. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 37, 558-565.
[21] [ 刘菊秀, 李跃林, 刘世忠, 李义勇, 褚国伟, 孟泽, 张德强 (2013). 气温上升对模拟森林生态系统影响实验的介绍. 植物生态学报, 37, 558-565.]
[22] Méndez-Alonzo R, Ewers FW, Jacobsen AL, Pratt RB, Scoffoni C, Bartlett MK, Sack L (2019). Covariation between leaf hydraulics and biomechanics is driven by leaf density in Mediterranean shrubs. Trees, 33, 507-519.
[23] Niu SL, Han XG, Ma KP, Wan SQ (2007). Field facilities in global warming and terrestrial ecosystem research. Journal of Plant Ecology (Chinese Version), 31, 262-271.
[23] [ 牛书丽, 韩兴国, 马克平, 万师强 (2007). 全球变暖与陆地生态系统研究中的野外增温装置. 植物生态学报, 31, 262-271.]
[24] Onoda Y, Wright IJ, Evans JR, Hikosaka K, Kitajima K, Niinemets ü, Poorter H, Tosens T, Westoby M (2017). Physiological and structural tradeoffs underlying the leaf economics spectrum. New Phytologist, 214, 1447-1463.
[25] Parkhurst DF (1994). Diffusion of CO2 and other gases inside leaves. New Phytologist, 126, 449-479.
[26] Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS, Uhl C (1994). Photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in Amazonian tree species. Oecologia, 97, 62-72.
[27] Robinson DE, Wagner RG, Bell FW, Swanton CJ (2001). Photosynthesis, nitrogen-use efficiency, and water-use efficiency of jack pine seedlings in competition with four boreal forest plant species. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 31, 2014-2025.
[28] Royer DL, Miller IM, Peppe DJ, Hickey LJ (2010). Leaf economic traits from fossils support a weedy habit for early angiosperms. American Journal of Botany, 97, 438-445.
[29] Sack L, Cowan PD, Jaikumar N, Holbrook NM (2003). The ‘hydrology’ of leaves: co-ordination of structure and function in temperate woody species. Plant, Cell & Environment, 26, 1343-1356.
[30] Scoffoni C, Rawls M, McKown A, Cochard H, Sack L (2011). Decline of leaf hydraulic conductance with dehydration: relationship to leaf size and venation architecture. Plant Physiology, 156, 832-843.
[31] Sigurdsson BD, Medhurst JL, Wallin G, Eggertsson O, Linder S (2013). Growth of mature boreal Norway spruce was not affected by elevated [CO2] and/or air temperature unless nutrient availability was improved. Tree Physiology, 33, 1192-1205.
[32] Slot M, Winter K (2017). Photosynthetic acclimation to warming in tropical forest tree seedlings. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68, 2275-2284.
[33] Stinziano JR, Hüner NPA, Way DA (2015). Warming delays autumn declines in photosynthetic capacity in a boreal conifer, Norway spruce (Picea abies). Tree Physiology, 35, 1303-1313.
[34] Su J, Sun B, Wang DZ (1995). The biological characteristics and ornamental value of Ormosia pinnata. Forest Research, 8, 677-681.
[34] [ 栗娟, 孙冰, 王德祯 (1995). 海南红豆生物学特性和观赏价值. 林业科学研究, 8, 677-681.]
[35] Tanaka Y, Sugano SS, Shimada T, Hara-Nishimura I (2013). Enhancement of leaf photosynthetic capacity through increased stomatal density in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist, 198, 757-764.
[36] Tang B, Yin CY, Wang YJ, Sun YY, Liu Q (2016). Positive effects of night warming on physiology of coniferous trees in late growing season: leaf and root. Acta Oecologica, 73, 21-30.
[37] Upadhyay RK, Soni DK, Singh R, Dwivedi UN, Pathre UV, Nath P, Sane AP (2013). SIERF36, an EAR-motif-containing ERF gene from tomato, alters stomatal density and modulates photosynthesis and growth. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64, 3237-3247.
[38] van Ommen Kloeke AEE, Douma JC, Ordo?ez JC, Reich PB, van Bodegom PM (2012). Global quantification of contrasting leaf life span strategies for deciduous and evergreen species in response to environmental conditions. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 21, 224-235.
[39] Wu GL, Liu H, Hua L, Luo Q, Lin YX, He PC, Feng SW, Liu JX, Ye Q (2018). Differential responses of stomata and photosynthesis to elevated temperature in two co-occurring subtropical forest tree species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 467. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00467.
[40] Ye WM, Xiong DC, Yang ZJ, Zhu YG, Zhang QF, Liu XF, Lin WS, Xu C, Zhang J, Yang YS (2019). Effect of soil warming on growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 39, 2501-2509.
[40] [ 叶旺敏, 熊德成, 杨智杰, 朱益广, 张秋芳, 刘小飞, 林伟盛, 胥超, 张景, 杨玉盛 (2019). 模拟增温对杉木幼树生长和光合特性的影响. 生态学报, 39, 2501-2509.]
[41] Ye WM (2019). Effects of Simulated Warming on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Product Distribution of Cunninghamia lanceolata. Master degree dissertation, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou.
[41] [ 叶旺敏 (2019). 模拟增温对杉木光合特性及产物分配的影响. 硕士学位论文, 福建师范大学, 福州.]
[42] Zheng YP, Xu M, Hou RX, Shen RC, Qiu S, Ouyang Z (2013). Effects of experimental warming on stomatal traits in leaves of maize (Zea may L.). Ecology and Evolution, 3, 3095-3111.
[43] Zhou GY, Peng CH, Li YL, Liu SZ, Zhang QM, Tang XL, Liu JX, Yan JH, Zhang DQ, Chu GW (2013). A climate change-induced threat to the ecological resilience of a subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest in Southern China. Global Change Biology, 19, 1197-1210.
[44] Zhou GY, Wei XH, Wu YP, Liu SG, Huang YH, Yan JH, Zhang DQ, Zhang QM, Liu JX, Meng Z, Wang CL, Chu GW, Liu SZ, Tang XL, Liu XD (2011). Quantifying the hydrological responses to climate change in an intact forested small watershed in Southern China. Global Change Biology, 17, 3736-3746.
Outlines

/