NGEE Arctic
Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments
Advancing the predictive power of Earth system models through understanding
of the structure and function of Arctic terrestrial ecosystems
Photosynthesis by Tundra Plants Sensitive to Low Temperatures
Photosynthesis by Tundra Plants Sensitive to Low Temperatures
November 27th, 2019
Light-harvesting processes involved in photosynthesis by tundra plants are unexpectedly sensitive to growth at low temperatures.
The Objective:
- Quantify the sensitivity of leaf photosynthesis to temperature and improve the representation of component processes in models of the Arctic carbon cycle.
New Science:
- Understanding the response of photosynthesis to irradiance must account for light-harvesting processes that are unique to Arctic plants at low temperatures.
- Terrestrial biosphere models lack these mechanistic insights, but our studies suggest how those deficiencies can be corrected.
The Impact:
- Can now better understand and more realistically simulate photosynthesis in tundra ecosystems, and provide new data and insights that will advance the representation of photosynthesis in high-latitude ecosystems.
Tukey box plots showing the quantum yield of CO2 fixation on an absorbed light basis for all measurements made at 5°C, 15°C, and 25°C. The colored lines behind the box plots show the quantum yield for terrestrial biosphere models.