Global photosynthetic capacity is optimized to the environment
Copyright policy )Global photosynthetic capacity is optimized to the environment
Earth system models (ESMs) use photosynthetic capacity, indexed by the maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate (Vcmax ), to simulate carbon assimilation and typically rely on empirical estimates, including an assumed dependence on leaf nitrogen determined from soil fertility. In contrast, new theory, based on biochemical coordination and co-optimization of carboxylation and water costs for photosynthesis, suggests that optimal Vcmax can be predicted from climate alone, irrespective of soil fertility. Here, we develop this theory and find it captures 64% of observed variability in a global, field-measured Vcmax dataset for C3 plants. Soil fertility indices explained substantially less variation (32%). These results indicate that environmentally regulated biophysical constraints and light availability are the first-order drivers of global photosynthetic capacity. Through acclimation and adaptation, plants efficiently utilize resources at the leaf level, thus maximizing potential resource use for growth and reproduction. Our theory offers a robust strategy for dynamically predicting photosynthetic capacity in ESMs.
- Deparment of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science Macquarie University Australia
- Departamento de Zoologia Portugal
- "UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA Spain
- Texas Tech University United States
- University of Edinburgh, UK United Kingdom
Carbon cycle; Carboxylation; coordination; ecophysiology; electron transport; Jmax; light availability; nitrogen availability; temperature; V ; cmax; Adaptation, Physiological; Nitrogen; Plant Leaves; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; Acclimatization; Carbon Dioxide; Photosynthesis, V-cmax, coordination, Ecophysiology, Acclimatization, Plant Biology, nitrogen availability, Nitrogen availability, Ecological applications, Vcmax, WATER, electron transport, light availability, Photosynthesis, CO2 ASSIMILATION, Ecology, TEMPERATURE RESPONSE, Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, Temperature, Plant leaf, Carbon cycle, Biological Sciences, Adaptation, Physiological, LEAF NITROGEN, acclimatization, V-CMAX, 0501 Ecological Applications, leaf water balance, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, TRAITS, 570, Environmental management, ecophysiology, Nitrogen, Physiological, Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, climatic changes, THERMAL-ACCLIMATION, Carboxylation, XXXXXX - Unknown, Jmax, carbon cycle (biogeochemistry), Letters, Adaptation, 580, Evolutionary Biology, photosynthesis, Science & Technology, QUANTUM YIELD, CONDUCTANCE, 0602 Ecology, Contraception/Reproduction, Electron transport, carbon dioxide, temperature, BIOCHEMICAL-MODEL, Carbon Dioxide, Climate Action, Plant Leaves, Carbon dioxide, Ecological Applications, Coordination, Light availability, V cmax
Carbon cycle; Carboxylation; coordination; ecophysiology; electron transport; Jmax; light availability; nitrogen availability; temperature; V ; cmax; Adaptation, Physiological; Nitrogen; Plant Leaves; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; Acclimatization; Carbon Dioxide; Photosynthesis, V-cmax, coordination, Ecophysiology, Acclimatization, Plant Biology, nitrogen availability, Nitrogen availability, Ecological applications, Vcmax, WATER, electron transport, light availability, Photosynthesis, CO2 ASSIMILATION, Ecology, TEMPERATURE RESPONSE, Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, Temperature, Plant leaf, Carbon cycle, Biological Sciences, Adaptation, Physiological, LEAF NITROGEN, acclimatization, V-CMAX, 0501 Ecological Applications, leaf water balance, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, TRAITS, 570, Environmental management, ecophysiology, Nitrogen, Physiological, Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, climatic changes, THERMAL-ACCLIMATION, Carboxylation, XXXXXX - Unknown, Jmax, carbon cycle (biogeochemistry), Letters, Adaptation, 580, Evolutionary Biology, photosynthesis, Science & Technology, QUANTUM YIELD, CONDUCTANCE, 0602 Ecology, Contraception/Reproduction, Electron transport, carbon dioxide, temperature, BIOCHEMICAL-MODEL, Carbon Dioxide, Climate Action, Plant Leaves, Carbon dioxide, Ecological Applications, Coordination, Light availability, V cmax
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