Article
Plant Sciences
Artur Stefanski, Ethan E. Butler, Raimundo Bermudez, Rebecca A. Montgomery, Peter B. Reich
Summary: The linkage between stomatal behavior and photosynthesis is crucial for understanding the water and carbon cycles under global change. The study found that both warming and reduced rainfall lead to more conservative stomatal behavior in plants, resulting in less water loss per unit carbon gain.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yajun Lin, Yingying Chen, Jing Zhang, Huiliang Liu, Hao Guo, Lan Peng, Benfeng Yin, Yuanming Zhang, Chunhong Yang
Summary: This study investigated the response of photosynthesis in E. oxyrhinchum to progressive drought conditions and found that it can sustain photosynthesis under severe drought conditions with a stable maximum photochemical efficiency. The study also revealed the significant contribution of antioxidant activities and nonphotochemical quenching in maintaining photosynthesis.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaomei Kang, Yanan Li, Jieyang Zhou, Shiting Zhang, Chenxi Li, Juhong Wang, Wei Liu, Wei Qi
Summary: The research found that temperature is the strongest factor influencing leaf traits, affecting leaf size, shape, stomatal structure, and chemical composition, indicating the important role of local heat quantity in determining variations in leaf morphology and biochemical properties. Additionally, the effects of precipitation and humidity on leaf growth were mainly through their impact on leaf traits related to plant water-use physiological processes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peipei Jiao, Yuanlin Liang, Shaoping Chen, Yang Yuan, Yongqiang Chen, Honghong Hu
Summary: Manipulation of the Bna.EPF2 gene in Brassica napus reduces stomatal density and size, leading to lower transpiration and improved water-use efficiency and drought tolerance without affecting photosynthesis or yield-related traits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Harshita Singh, Pallavi Singh, Shashi Bhushan Agrawal, Madhoolika Agrawal
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of foliar particulate matter on the physiology, nutrient stoichiometry, allocation pattern, and re-translocation rates of different tree species. Significant differences were observed in nutrient concentrations and re-translocation rates between evergreen and deciduous species. The photosynthetic rate declined with increased foliar deposition of particulate matter. The nutrient stoichiometry revealed that deciduous species were more tolerant, while re-translocation efficiency was highest for semi-evergreen species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cecilia Elizabeth Heuvel, Yingming Zhao, Aaron Thomas Fisk
Summary: Establishing a baseline for stable isotope studies is crucial for interpreting trophic relationships. Freshwater ecosystems face challenges in quantifying baseline stable isotopes due to difficulties in collecting representative samples. This study assessed temporal and spatial variation in stable isotopes in Lake Erie to understand the mechanism behind baseline stable isotope dynamics. The findings suggest that seasonal changes in system processes and plankton community dynamics influence stable isotopes in Lake Erie.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Qijuan Hu, Maoyin Sheng, Yixin Bai, Yin Jie, Hailong Xiao
Summary: The study found that in the karst rocky desertification ecosystem of Southwest China, plant species have different nutrient requirements, with higher altitude Broussonetia papyrifera plants being more restricted by phosphorus. B. papyrifera showed significant responses of C, N, and P stoichiometric characteristics to altitudinal gradients.
Article
Biophysics
Emad Farahat, Paolo Cherubini, Matthias Saurer, Holger Gaertner
Summary: The study found that Moringa peregrina trees in the Egyptian desert have shown characteristics such as decreased tree-ring widths, increased VLA% in dry years, and changes in δC-13 and δO-18 isotope values over the past decade. The intrinsic water-use efficiency of the trees has gradually declined, while the intercellular carbon concentration and Ci/Ca ratio have increased.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan O. Hernandez, Byung Bae Park
Summary: This study investigated the effects of water-deficit stress on leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content in two oak tree species. The results showed that both species experienced changes in leaf characteristics and physiological traits under water-deficit stress, with Quercus serrata showing higher adaptability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Peng Zhang, Xin Yang, Yiting Chen, Zhenhua Wei, Fulai Liu
Summary: This study investigated the interactive effects of soil drying and elevated VPD on growth and physiology of barley seedlings. The results showed that soil water deficits limited leaf gas exchange rates and shoot dry biomass, while increased VPD levels increased water-use efficiency in plants.
JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Stephen C. Sillett, Marie E. Antoine, Allyson L. Carroll, Mark E. Graham, Alana R. O. Chin, Robert Van Pelt
Summary: Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest conifer in the US, is heavily exploited for its decay-resistant heartwood. Primary Sequoia forests are now limited to less than 5% of their original distribution. Sequoia trees in the north have higher resistance to drought compared to those in the south. Prolonged drought in the southern region has led to a decline in growth efficiency, which cannot be recovered even with ample precipitation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
David J. Bonfil, Shahal Abbo, Doron Degen, Yasmin Simchon, Roi Ben-David
Summary: Global wheat production is facing challenges from climate change, including warming and water scarcity. A study in the Eastern Mediterranean region focused on the effects of genotypes and environmental factors on grain yield and quality of current wheat cultivars. The research found that high humidity and mild temperature positively influenced production and flour quality, while high precipitation negatively affected protein and gluten content. Stability of certain quality parameters under different growth conditions can help guide commercial cultivar selection for millers and bakers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huiguang Li, Yanli Yang, Houling Wang, Sha Liu, Fuli Jia, Yanyan Su, Shuang Li, Fang He, Conghua Feng, Mengxue Niu, Jie Wang, Chao Liu, Weilun Yin, Xinli Xia
Summary: The overexpression of the PdERECTA gene in poplar has been shown to improve water use efficiency and enhance drought tolerance by reducing stomatal density and increasing stomatal size, leading to reduced water consumption and better growth under drought conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Forough Soheili, Mehdi Heydari, Stephen Woodward, Hamid Reza Naji
Summary: Leaf traits vary across different climatic conditions and can reveal evolutionary changes within a species made to adapt to the environment. In this study, leaf morphology and anatomical structures were analyzed in Quercus brantii in Western Iran to examine the adaptive strategies of plants in different climates. The plants showed increased dry matter content in a Mediterranean climate and increased leaf length, specific leaf area, stomata dimensions, trichome dimensions, and trichome density in different climatic conditions. Strong correlations were found between stomatal pore index and stomata dimensions. These findings provide insights into the adaptive strategies of plants to environmental changes at the morphological and anatomical levels.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Caroline Leland, Laia Andreu-Hayles, Edward R. Cook, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, Nicole Davi, Amy Hessl, Dario Martin-Benito, Baatarbileg Nachin, Neil Pederson
Summary: Recent climate extremes in Mongolia have sparked interest in studying past climate variability in north-central Asia. Tree-ring width records in Mongolia have been extensively studied as proxies for climate reconstruction, but the climate and environmental signals of tree-ring stable isotopes in this region still need further exploration.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mercedes Molina-Morales, Alexandro B. Leverkus, Gonzalo Albaladejo-Robles, Loreto Martinez-Baroja, Lorenzo Perez-Camacho, Pedro Villar-Salvador, Salvador Rebollo, Jose Maria Rey-Benayas, Jorge Castro
Summary: The decision-making process of scatter-hoarder corvids in caching seeds in specific locations greatly influences seed fate. Seeds buried in soft soil and soil with dense herbaceous cover have higher chances of germination and emergence, whereas seeds buried in compacted soil have lower chances of success.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Lisa M. Markovchick, Vanessa Carrasco-Denney, Jyotsna Sharma, Jose Ignacio Querejeta, Kara Skye Gibson, Randy Swaty, Derek A. Uhey, Abril Belgara-Andrew, Zsuzsi I. Kovacs, Nancy C. Johnson, Thomas G. Whitham, Catherine A. Gehring
Summary: During the United Nation's Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the scarcity of planting materials and the impact of climate change hinder restoration efforts. Research indicates that restoring native mycorrhizal fungi can accelerate restoration, provide ecosystem services, and contribute to climate solutions. However, existing management plans in the United States show limited consideration for mycorrhizal restoration, primarily viewing fungi as pathogens. Insufficient funding, limited expertise, and difficulty in research contribute to the gap between scientific knowledge and implementation.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ivan Prieto, Lupe Leon-Sanchez, Emilio Nicolas, Pedro Nortes, Jose Ignacio Querejeta
Summary: The study investigates the effects of warming and rainfall reduction on the photosynthetic nutrient use efficiency (PNutUE) and water use efficiency (WUEi) in semiarid shrubs. The results show that warming significantly reduced PNutUE, while rainfall reduction did not have a significant effect. The reductions in PNutUE with warming were mainly due to non-nutritional decreases in net photosynthetic rates. The findings suggest that warming can negatively impact the ability of native plants to cope with warmer conditions, which has implications for dryland vegetation productivity and survival under climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaoxiang Zhao, Qiuxiang Tian, Anders Michelsen, Qiaoling Lin, Rudong Zhao, Xudong Yuan, Long Chen, Juan Zuo, Feng Liu
Summary: This study investigates the factors affecting the fine-root decomposition rate of tree species with different mycorrhizal associations and finds that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees have faster decomposition rates than ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees in temperate forests, while there is no significant difference in (sub)tropical forests. Additionally, root chemistry and climate play important roles in determining the fine-root decomposition rate.
Article
Agronomy
Marianne Koranda, Riikka Rinnan, Anders Michelsen
Summary: This study aims to understand the divergent effects of dwarf shrubs and mosses on soil microbial processes and soil carbon and nutrient availability in tundra heath. By analyzing soil samples from different plant species, the study found that shrub soils have high microbial biomass and phosphorus activity, while moss soils have high soil nitrogen availability and enzyme activity associated with a bacterial-dominated microbial community.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Dolores Hidalgo-Galvez, Luis Matias, Jesus Cambrolle, Eduardo Gutierrez, Ignacio Manuel Perez-Ramos
Summary: This study explores the impacts of climate change and overgrazing on the sustainability of dehesas, highlighting the role of scattered trees in maintaining pasture quality. The findings highlight the importance of moderate grazing and the potential mitigation effects of tree canopy in agroforestry ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raquel Martins-Noguerol, Luis Matias, Ignacio M. Perez-Ramos, Xoaquin Moreira, Marta Francisco, Justo Pedroche, Cristina DeAndres-Gil, Eduardo Gutierrez, Joaquin J. Salas, Antonio J. Moreno-Perez, Anthony J. Davy, Sara Munoz-Valles, Manuel Enrique Figueroa, Jesus Cambrolle
Summary: There is increasing interest in consumption of halophytes due to their nutritional value and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of growing conditions on the properties of these plants are not well understood. This study investigated the influence of soil properties on the growth, reproductive performance, and nutritional traits of C. maritimum.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Wenyi Xu, Laura Lonstrup Frendrup, Anders Michelsen, Bo Elberling, Per Lennart Ambus
Summary: The impacts of increased winter snowfall and warmer summer air temperatures on nitrous oxide (N2O) dynamics in arctic tundra are uncertain. The study evaluated surface N2O dynamics in wet and dry tundra in West Greenland, and found that summer warming and deepened snow significantly increased N2O emissions in dry tundra, but not in wet tundra. The findings suggest that projected increases in winter precipitation and summer air temperatures may increase N2O emissions, particularly in the dry tundra dominant region.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Pablo Homet, Jean-Marc Ourcival, Eduardo Gutierrez, Jara Dominguez-Begines, Luis Matias, Oscar Godoy, Lorena Gomez-Aparicio
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, but little is known about its effects on soil communities, particularly their resistance to changes in temperature and precipitation. This study examined the impact of predicted reductions in rainfall on soil food webs using nematodes as bioindicators, and found that rainfall reduction had negative effects on nematode abundance, community composition, and indicators of soil food web structure. These results suggest a low resistance of soil food webs to climate change-induced rainfall reductions.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Louise C. Andresen, Per Ambus, Claus Beier, Anders Michelsen
Summary: Nitrogen dynamic is a crucial factor in N-limited terrestrial ecosystems' response to climate change. In this study, the partitioning of N in a grassland heath was studied, along with the impact of multiple climate change factors on long-term N retention. After 6 years, it was observed that the majority of the applied N-15 was stabilized in the soil, while the plant compartment and microbial biomass retained a small proportion. The results suggest that N retention in this ecosystem is moderate compared to similar studies in forest ecosystems.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Mille Bolander, Julie Elmegaard Andersen, Benjamin H. Conlon, Xavier Arnan, Anders Michelsen, Jonathan Zvi Shik
Summary: In this study, the provision challenges of leafcutter ants in cultivating fungal symbionts using foraged plant fragments were investigated. The precision and specificity of nutritional regulation in leafcutter ant farming systems were assessed through three experiments. The results shed light on the integrated behaviors that contribute to resilient leafcutter farming productivity and can help understand reciprocal provisioning dynamics in symbiotic relationships.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lourdes Morillas, Maria Jose Leiva, Ignacio M. Perez-Ramos, Jesus Cambrolle, Luis Matias
Summary: Current global climate change is causing increasingly severe drought conditions, posing a threat to many plant species. This study assessed the effects of different drought intensities on the survival and morphological traits of cork oak seedlings. The results showed that seedlings from southern latitudes had larger drought-resistant traits but lower survival under extreme drought conditions. Root development played a crucial role in the functioning of cork oak after damage caused by reduced water availability. These findings can guide restoration actions under a warmer climate.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengyuan Huang, Yihe Zhang, Jie Wu, Yuxin Wang, Yuxin Xie, Yajun Geng, Nan Zhang, Anders Michelsen, Shuqing Li, Ruifu Zhang, Qirong Shen, Jianwen Zou
Summary: Tropical and subtropical acidic soils are major contributors to global nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, primarily through denitrification. Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) have the potential to mitigate N2O emissions from acidic soils by affecting bacterial and fungal denitrification differently. This study found that the PGPM Bacillus velezensis strain SQR9 significantly reduced N2O emissions from acidic soils by 22.6-33.5%, depending on the inoculation dose. The reduction was achieved by increasing bacterial denitrification genes abundance and inhibiting fungal denitrification, indicating the important role of fungi in N2O emissions from these soils.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxiang Zhao, Qiuxiang Tian, Anders Michelsen, Mengzhen Lu, Boshen Ren, Lin Huang, Rudong Zhao
Summary: The study examined the effects of climate warming on the fine root traits of woody plants. It was found that warming increased the nitrogen concentration, root mortality, and respiration of fine roots, but decreased the phosphorus concentration, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and nonstructural carbohydrates concentration. Additionally, the study found that the effects of warming on different fine root traits were influenced by the duration and magnitude of warming, as well as the mean annual temperature and precipitation. These findings have important implications for soil nutrient cycling and carbon stocks in shrub and tree-dominated ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)