Wintertime photosynthesis and water uptake in a boreal forest

Tree Physiology
Sanna SevantoTimo Vesala

Abstract

Warm air in combination with frozen soil is a major cause of wintertime drought damage in evergreen plants in subalpine and boreal environments. We analyzed diurnal tree stem diameter variation (SDV), which reflects soil water uptake, canopy-level water vapor flux (Fw), stand photosynthesis (Ps), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil and air temperatures (Ts and T air, respectively) and soil liquid water content (theta) to determine under what conditions photosynthesis is possible in wintertime and how crucial water uptake from soil is for photosynthesis. Measurements were made under field conditions in a Scots pine forest in southern Finland during winter 2002-2003. We found four wintertime periods when there was measurable Ps and SDV, the latter always starting 2-7 days after photosynthesis and both usually ending on the same day. Stand photosynthesis began when T air reached 3-4 degrees C and ended when T air dropped below -7 degrees C. The trees appeared to rely on stored stem water first and started taking up water from the soil a few days later, when the transpirational demand became strong enough. The more difficult it was to access soil water because of low Ts or low theta, the longer the trees used water stor...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 12, 2013·PloS One·Jiabing WuChangjie Jin
Nov 21, 2015·Journal of Experimental Botany·Katline Charra-VaskouThierry Améglio
Jun 4, 2014·Global Change Biology·Ville KasurinenFrank Berninger
Jan 30, 2016·American Journal of Botany·Jonathan G MoserPaulo C Olivas
Jan 13, 2018·Ecology and Evolution·Anna LintunenTeemu Hölttä
May 13, 2020·Global Change Biology·Emmanuelle FréchetteIngo Ensminger
Nov 5, 2019·Nature Communications·Katerina MachacovaMari Pihlatie

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