Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-16-2019
Abstract
‐Most ecosystems experience frequent cloud cover resulting in light that is predominantly diffuse rather than direct. Moreover, these cloudy conditions are often accompanied by rain that results in wet leaf surfaces. Despite this, our understanding of photosynthesis is built upon measurements made on dry leaves experiencing direct light.
‐Using a modified gas exchange setup, we measured the effects of diffuse light and leaf wetting on photosynthesis in canopy species from a tropical montane cloud forest.
‐We demonstrate significant variation in species‐level response to light quality independent of light intensity. Some species demonstrated 100% higher rates of photosynthesis in diffuse light while others had 15% greater photosynthesis in direct light. Even at lower light intensities, diffuse light photosynthesis was equal to that under direct light conditions. Leaf wetting generally led to decreased photosynthesis, particularly when the leaf surface with stomata became wet, however, there was significant variation across species.
‐Ultimately, we demonstrate that ecosystem photosynthesis is significant altered in response to environmental conditions that are ubiquitous. Our results help explain the observation that net ecosystem exchange can increase in cloudy conditions and can improve the representation of these processes in earth systems models under projected scenarios of global climate change.
Recommended Citation
Berry, Z.C. and Goldsmith, G.R. (2020), Diffuse light and wetting differentially affect tropical tree leaf photosynthesis. New Phytol, 225: 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16121
Supplementary Information
Copyright
New Phytologist Trust
Included in
Botany Commons, Forest Biology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Other Plant Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons
Comments
This is the accepted version of the following article:
Berry, Z.C. and Goldsmith, G.R. (2020), Diffuse light and wetting differentially affect tropical tree leaf photosynthesis. New Phytol, 225: 143-153.which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1111/nph.16121. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.