Divergent species-specific impacts of whole ecosystem warming and elevated CO2 on vegetation water relations in an ombrotrophic peatlandShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Global Change Biology, ISSN 1354-1013, E-ISSN 1365-2486, Vol. 27, p. 1820-1835Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Boreal peatland forests have relatively low species diversity and thus impacts of climate change on one or more dominant species could shift ecosystem function. Despite abundant soil water availability, shallowly rooted vascular plants within peatlands may not be able to meet foliar demand for water under drought or heat events that increase vapor pressure deficits while reducing near surface water availability, although concurrent increases in atmospheric CO2 could buffer resultant hydraulic stress. We assessed plant water relations of co-occurring shrub (primarily Rhododendron groenlandicum and Chamaedaphne calyculata) and tree (Picea mariana and Larix laricina) species prior to, and in response to whole ecosystem warming (0 to +9 degrees C) and elevated CO2 using 12.8-m diameter open-top enclosures installed within an ombrotrophic bog. Water relations (water potential [psi], turgor loss point, foliar and root hydraulic conductivity) were assessed prior to treatment initiation, then psi and peak sap flow (trees only) assessed after 1 or 2 years of treatments. Under the higher temperature treatments, L. laricina psi exceeded its turgor loss point, increased its peak sap flow, and was not able to recover psi overnight. In contrast, P. mariana operated below its turgor loss point and maintained constant psi and sap flow across warming treatments. Similarly, C. calyculata psi stress increased with temperature while R. groenlandicum psi remained at pretreatment levels. The more anisohydric behavior of L. laricina and C. calyculata may provide greater net C uptake with warming, while the more conservative P. mariana and R. groenlandicum maintained greater hydraulic safety. These latter species also responded to elevated CO2 by reduced psi stress, which may also help limit hydraulic failure during periods of extreme drought or heat in the future. Along with Sphagnum moss, the species-specific responses of peatland vascular communities to drier or hotter conditions will shape boreal peatland composition and function in the future.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2021. Vol. 27, p. 1820-1835
Keywords [en]
black spruce, boreal forest, climate change, hydraulic stress, sap flow, water potential
National Category
Forest Science
Research subject
Technology (byts ev till Engineering), Forestry and Wood Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-101675DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15543ISI: 000620292600001PubMedID: 33528056Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85101222140Local ID: 2021OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-101675DiVA, id: diva2:1540026
2021-03-262021-03-262021-12-07Bibliographically approved