Does growth irradiance affect temperature dependence and thermal acclimation of leaf respiration? Insights from a Mediterranean tree with long‐lived leaves

Understanding the response of leaf respiration (R) to changes in irradiance and temperature is a prerequisite for predicting the impacts of climate change on plant function and future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Little is known, however, about the interactive effects of irradiance and temperature on leaf R. We investigated whether growth irradiance affects the temperature response of leaf R in darkness (Rdark) and in light (Rlight) in seedlings of a broad-leaved evergreen species, Quercus ilex. Two hypotheses concerning Rdark were tested: (1) the Q10 (i.e. the proportional increase in R per 10 degrees C rise in temperature) of leaf Rdark is lower in shaded plants than in high-light-grown plants, and (2) shade-grown plants exhibit a lower degree of thermal acclimation of Rdark than plants exposed to higher growth irradiance. We also assessed whether light inhibition of Rlight differs between leaves exposed to contrasting temperatures and growth irradiances, and whether the degree of thermal acclimation of Rlight is dependent on growth irradiance. We showed that while growth irradiance did impact on photosynthesis, it had no effect on the Q10 of leaf Rdark. Growth irradiance had little impact on thermal acclimation when fully expanded, pre-existing leaves were exposed to contrasting temperatures for several weeks. When Rlight was measured at a common irradiance, Rlight/Rdark ratios were higher in shaded plants due to homeostasis of Rlight between growth irradiance treatments and to the lower Rdark in shaded leaves. We also showed that Rlight does not acclimate to the same degree as Rdark, and that Rlight/Rdark decreases with increasing measuring and growth temperatures, irrespective of the growth irradiance. Collectively, we raised the possibility that predictive carbon cycle models can assume that growth irradiance and photosynthesis do not affect the temperature sensitivity of leaf Rdark of long-lived evergreen leaves, thus simplifying incorporation of leaf R into such models.     

Acclimation of respiratory temperature responses in northern and southern populations of Pinus banksiana

Temperature acclimation of respiration may contribute to climatic adaptation and thus differ among populations from contrasting climates. Short-term temperature responses of foliar dark respiration were measured in 33-yr-old trees of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) in eight populations of wide-ranging origin (44-55 degrees N) grown in a common garden at 46.7 degrees N. It was tested whether seasonal adjustments in respiration and population differences in this regard resulted from changes in base respiration rate at 5 degrees C (R(5)) or Q(10) (temperature sensitivity) and covaried with nitrogen and soluble sugars. In all populations, acclimation was manifest primarily through shifts in R(5) rather than altered Q(10). R(5) was higher in cooler periods in late autumn and winter and lower in spring and summer, inversely tracking variation in ambient air temperature. Overall, R(5) covaried with sugars and not with nitrogen. Although acclimation was comparable among all populations, the observed seasonal ranges in R(5) and Q(10) were greater in populations originating from warmer than from colder sites. Population differences in respiratory traits appeared associated with autumnal cold hardening. Common patterns of respiratory temperature acclimation among biogeographically diverse populations provide a basis for predicting respiratory carbon fluxes in a wide-ranging species.     

Seasonal variation in foliar carbon exchange in Pinus radiata and Populus deltoides: respiration acclimates fully to changes in temperature but photosynthesis does not

We investigated seasonal variation in dark respiration and photosynthesis by measuring gas exchange characteristics on Pinus radiata and Populus deltoides under field conditions each month for 1 year. The field site in the South Island of New Zealand is characterized by large day-to-day and seasonal changes in air temperature. The rate of foliar respiration at a base temperature of 10 °C ( R ₁₀) in both pine and poplar was found to be greater during autumn and winter and displayed a strong downward adjustment in warmer months. The sensitivity of instantaneous leaf respiration to a 10 °C increase in temperature ( Q ₁₀) was also greater during the winter period. The net effect of this strong acclimation was that the long-term temperature response of respiration was essentially flat over a wide range of ambient temperatures. Seasonal changes in photosynthesis were sensitive to temperature but largely independent of leaf nitrogen concentration or stomatal conductance. Over the range of day time growth temperatures (5–32 °C), we did not observe strong evidence of photosynthetic acclimation to temperature, and the long-term responses of photosynthetic parameters to ambient temperature were similar to previously published instantaneous responses. The ratio of foliar respiration to photosynthetic capacity ( R _d/ A _sat) was significantly greater in winter than in spring/summer. This indicates that there is little likelihood that respiration would be stimulated significantly in either of these species with moderate increases in temperature – in fact net carbon uptake was favoured at moderately higher temperatures. Model calculations demonstrate that failing to account for strong thermal acclimation of leaf respiration influences determinations of leaf carbon exchange significantly, especially for the evergreen conifer.     

Changes in leaf nitrogen and carbohydrates underlie temperature and CO2 acclimation of dark respiration in five boreal tree species

We tested the hypothesis that acclimation of foliar dark respiration to CO₂ concentration and temperature is associated with adjustments in leaf structure and chemistry. Populus tremuloides Michx. , Betula papyrifera Marsh. , Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch , Pinus banksiana Lamb., and Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. were grown from seed in combined CO₂ (370 or 580 μ mol mol^–1) and temperature treatments (18/12, 24/18, or 30/24 °C). Temperature and CO₂ effects were predominately independent. Specific respiration rates partially acclimated to warmer thermal environments through downward adjustment in the intercept, but not Q ₁₀ of the temperature–response functions. Temperature acclimation of respiration was larger for conifers than broad-leaved species and was associated with pronounced reductions in leaf nitrogen concentrations in conifers at higher growth temperatures. Short-term increases in CO₂ concentration did not inhibit respiration. Growth in the elevated CO₂ concentration reduced leaf nitrogen and increased non-structural carbohydrate concentrations. However, for a given nitrogen concentration, respiration was higher in leaves grown in the elevated CO₂ concentration, as rates increased with increasing carbohydrates. Across species and treatments, respiration rates were a function of both leaf nitrogen and carbohydrate concentrations ( R ² = 0·71, P < 0·0001). Long-term acclimation of foliar dark respiration to temperature and CO₂ concentration is largely associated with changes in nitrogen and carbohydrate concentrations.     

Night temperature has a minimal effect on respiration and growth in rapidly growing plants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Carbon gain depends on efficient photosynthesis and adequate respiration. The effect of temperature on photosynthetic efficiency is well understood. In contrast, the temperature response of respiration is based almost entirely on short-term (hours) measurements in mature organisms to develop Q(10) values for maintenance and whole-plant respiration. These Q(10) values are then used to extrapolate across whole life cycles to predict the influence of temperature on plant growth. METHODS: In this study, night temperature in young, rapidly growing plant communities was altered from 17 to 34 degrees C for up to 20 d. Day temperature was maintained at 25 degrees C. CO(2) gas-exchange was continuously monitored in ten separate chambers to quantify the effect of night-temperature on respiration, photosynthesis and the efficiency of carbon gain (carbon use efficiency). KEY RESULTS: Respiration increased only 20-46 % for each 10 degrees C rise in temperature (total respiratory Q(10) of between 1.2 to about 1.5). This change resulted in only a 2-12 % change in carbon use efficiency, and there was no effect on cumulative carbon gain or dry mass. No acclimation of respiration was observed after 20 d of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that whole-plant respiration of rapidly growing plants has a small sensitivity to temperature, and that the sensitivity does not change among the species tested, even after 20 d of treatment. Finally, the results support respiration models that separate respiration into growth and maintenance components.     

Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis: on the importance of adjusting our definitions and accounting for thermal acclimation of respiration

While interest in photosynthetic thermal acclimation has been stimulated by climate warming, comparing results across studies requires consistent terminology. We identify five types of photosynthetic adjustments in warming experiments: photosynthesis as measured at the high growth temperature, the growth temperature, and the thermal optimum; the photosynthetic thermal optimum; and leaf-level photosynthetic capacity. Adjustments of any one of these variables need not mean a concurrent adjustment in others, which may resolve apparently contradictory results in papers using different indicators of photosynthetic acclimation. We argue that photosynthetic thermal acclimation (i.e., that benefits a plant in its new growth environment) should include adjustments of both the photosynthetic thermal optimum (T _opt) and photosynthetic rates at the growth temperature (A _growth), a combination termed constructive adjustment. However, many species show reduced photosynthesis when grown at elevated temperatures, despite adjustment of some photosynthetic variables, a phenomenon we term detractive adjustment. An analysis of 70 studies on 103 species shows that adjustment of T _opt and A _growth are more common than adjustment of other photosynthetic variables, but only half of the data demonstrate constructive adjustment. No systematic differences in these patterns were found between different plant functional groups. We also discuss the importance of thermal acclimation of respiration for net photosynthesis measurements, as respiratory temperature acclimation can generate apparent acclimation of photosynthetic processes, even if photosynthesis is unaltered. We show that while dark respiration is often used to estimate light respiration, the ratio of light to dark respiration shifts in a non-predictable manner with a change in leaf temperature.     

A common thermal niche among geographically diverse populations of the widely distributed tree species Eucalyptus tereticornis: No evidence for adaptation to climate‐of‐origin

Impacts of climate warming depend on the degree to which plants are constrained by adaptation to their climate‐of‐origin or exhibit broad climatic suitability. We grew cool‐origin, central and warm‐origin provenances of Eucalyptus tereticornis in an array of common temperature environments from 18 to 35.5°C to determine if this widely distributed tree species consists of geographically contrasting provenances with differentiated and narrow thermal niches, or if provenances share a common thermal niche. The temperature responses of photosynthesis, respiration, and growth were equivalent across the three provenances, reflecting a common thermal niche despite a 2,200 km geographic distance and 13°C difference in mean annual temperature at seed origin. The temperature dependence of growth was primarily mediated by changes in leaf area per unit plant mass, photosynthesis, and whole‐plant respiration. Thermal acclimation of leaf, stem, and root respiration moderated the increase in respiration with temperature, but acclimation was constrained at high temperatures. We conclude that this species consists of provenances that are not differentiated in their thermal responses, thus rejecting our hypothesis of adaptation to climate‐of‐origin and suggesting a shared thermal niche. In addition, growth declines with warming above the temperature optima were driven by reductions in whole‐plant leaf area and increased respiratory carbon losses. The impacts of climate warming will nonetheless vary across the geographic range of this and other such species, depending primarily on each provenance's climate position on the temperature response curves for photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.     

Lack of metabolic thermal compensation during the early life stages of ocean pout Zoarces americanus (Bloch & Schneider) : a benthic, cold-water marine species

The present study investigated the metabolic response of young ocean pout Zoarces americanus to temperature acclimation (3 v. 11° C), and to acute changes in water temperature from 3 to 17° C. The Q ₁₀ value for standard metabolic rate between acclimation temperatures was 5·3, warm-acclimated fish displayed higher rates of oxygen uptake at all temperatures during the acute thermal challenge, and changes in whole-body citrate synthase activity were qualitatively similar to those seen for metabolism. These results indicate that, in contrast to temperate species, young ocean pout from Newfoundland do not show thermal compensation in response to long-term temperature changes.     

Impact of temperature on the relationship between respiration and nitrogen concentration in roots: an analysis of scaling relationships, Q10 values and thermal acclimation ratios

* The impact of nitrogen (N) supply on the temperature response of root respiratory O(2) uptake (R) was assessed in several herbaceous species grown in solution culture. Warm-grown (25 : 20 degrees C, day:night) plants differing in root N concentration were shifted to 13 : 8 degrees C for 7 d to cold-acclimate. * Log-log plots of root R vs root N concentration both showed that R increased with increasing tissue N concentration, irrespective of the growth temperature. Although the regression slopes of the log-log plots did not differ between the warm-grown and cold-acclimated plants, cold-acclimated plants did exhibit a higher y-axis intercept than their warm-grown counterparts. This suggests that cold acclimation of root R is not entirely dependent on cold-induced increases in tissue N concentration and that scaling relationships (i.e. regression equations fitted to the log-log plots) between root R and N concentration are not fixed. * No systematic differences were found in the short-term Q(10) (proportional change in R per 10 degrees C change in temperature), or degree of cold acclimation (as measured by the proportional difference between warm- and cold-acclimated roots) among roots differing in root N concentration. The temperature response of root R is therefore insensitive to tissue N concentration. * The insensitivity of Q(10) values and acclimation to tissue N concentration raises the possibility that root R and its temperature sensitivity can be predicted for a range of N supply scenarios.     

On the developmental dependence of leaf respiration: responses to short- and long-term changes in growth temperature

Using measurements of leaf respiratory O(2) uptake (R), we investigated whether immature and mature Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia) leaves differed in their response to temperature. Confocal microscopy (using plants with mitochondrially targeted green fluorescent protein [GFP]) was used to determine whether ontogenetic changes in R are associated with concomitant changes in mitochondrial morphology/abundance. Comparisons were made of warm-grown (25/20°C) leaves, warm-grown leaves shifted to cold (5°C) for 10 days, and cold-developed leaves. Short-term Q(10) values and the ability to cold-acclimate were determined. In warm-grown plants, rates of R per mass were highest in immature leaves, decreasing as leaves developed. Moreover, although mitochondrial size (5.6-6.5 μm(3)) remained constant during development, mitochondrial number per μm(3) declined from 0.01 to 0.003 as leaves expanded (i.e., mitochondrial density decreased). Immature and mature leaves did not differ in Q(10) values but did differ in their ability to cold-acclimate. Whereas mature leaves had clear evidence of cold acclimation (e.g., when measured at 25°C, R was highest in cold-developed leaves), young leaves had none. Collectively, the results highlight the changes in rates of R, mitochondrial density, and biomass allocation associated with leaf development and that changes in respiratory flux associated with acclimation only take place within mature tissues.     

Thermal acclimation of leaf respiration but not photosynthesis in Populus deltoides x nigra

Dark respiration and photosynthesis were measured in leaves of poplar Populus deltoides x nigra ('Veronese') saplings to investigate the extent of respiratory and photosynthetic acclimation in pre-existing and newly emerged leaves to abrupt changes in air temperature. The saplings were grown at three temperature regimes and at high and low nitrogen availabilities. Rates of photosynthesis and dark respiration (R(d)) were measured at the initial temperature and the saplings were then transferred to a different temperature regime, where the plants remained for a second and third round of measurements on pre-existing and newly emerged leaves. Acclimation of photosynthesis was limited following transfer to warmer or cooler growing conditions. There was strong evidence of cold and warm acclimation of R(d) to growth temperature, but this was limited in pre-existing leaves. Full acclimation of R(d )was restricted to newly emerged leaves grown at the new growth temperature. These findings indicate that the extent of thermal acclimation differs significantly between photosynthesis and respiration. Importantly, pre-existing leaves in poplar were capable of some respiratory acclimation, but full acclimation was observed only in newly emerged leaves. The R(d)/A(max) ratio declined at higher growth temperatures, and nitrogen status of leaves had little impact on the degree of acclimation.     

Disentangling respiratory acclimation and adaptation to growth temperature by Eucalyptus

? Respiratory acclimation to growth temperature differs between species, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that respiratory acclimation of CO(2) release is a consequence of growth regulation such that growth rates of young foliage of Eucalyptus spp. are similar at contrasting growth temperatures. Further, we tested whether such a response is affected by adaptation of Eucalyptus to different thermal environments via growth at different altitudes in the Australian Alps. ? We employed calorimetric methods to relate rates of CO(2) release (mainly from substrate oxidation) and rates of O(2) reduction to conservation of energy. Temperature responses of these processes provided insight into mechanisms that control energy conservation and expenditure, and helped define 'instantaneous enthalpic growth capacity' (CapG). ? CapG increased with altitude, but was counteracted by other factors in species adapted to highland habitats. The acclimation response was partly driven by changes in respiratory capacity (CapR(CO2)), and partly by more pronounced dynamic responses of CO(2) release (δ(R(CO2))) to measurement temperature. We observed enhanced temperature sensitivity of O(2) reduction (E(o)(R(O2))) at higher altitudes. ? Adaptation to growth temperature included differences in respiration and growth capacities, but there was little evidence that Eucalyptus species vary in metabolic flexibility.     

Leaf respiration and alternative oxidase in field-grown alpine grasses respond to natural changes in temperature and light

? We report the first investigation of changes in electron partitioning via the alternative respiratory pathway (AP) and alternative oxidase (AOX) protein abundance in field-grown plants and their role in seasonal acclimation of respiration. ? We sampled two alpine grasses native to New Zealand, Chionochloa rubra and Chionochloa pallens, from field sites of different altitudes, over 1 yr and also intensively over a 2-wk period. ? In both species, respiration acclimated to seasonal changes in temperature through changes in basal capacity (R??) but not temperature sensitivity (E?). In C. pallens, acclimation of respiration may be associated with a higher AOX : cytochrome c oxidase (COX) protein abundance ratio. Oxygen isotope discrimination (D), which reflects relative changes in AP electron partitioning, correlated positively with daily integrated photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in both species over seasonal timescales. Respiratory parameters, the AOX : COX protein ratio and D were stable over a 2-wk period, during which significant temperature changes were experienced in the field. ? We conclude that respiration in Chionochloa spp. acclimates strongly to seasonal, but not to short-term, temperature variation. Alternative oxidase appears to be involved in the plant response to both seasonal changes in temperature and daily changes in light, highlighting the complexity of the function of AOX in the field.     

秦岭细鳞鲑代谢及低氧耐受能力对温度驯化的响应

为考察秦岭细鳞鲑（Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis）代谢及低氧耐受能力对温度驯化的响应,将实验鱼于6℃、12℃和18℃下驯化4周后,采用密闭式呼吸代谢测定仪对其静止代谢率（Resting metabolic rate,RMR）和临界氧压（Critical oxygen press,P_crit）等参数进行测定。结果发现,RMR随驯化温度升高而升高,在6-12℃、12-18℃温度内,RMR的Q₁₀值分别为2.59和2.77,表明该物种对温度的敏感性较高;P_crit值随驯化温度升高而升高且与RMR显著正相关,在驯化温度范围内（6-18℃）,P_crit提升了76.2%。研究结果提示:秦岭细鳞鲑应对低氧环境的生理可塑性较差,在高温下RMR增加可能是导致其低氧耐受能力降低的内在机制之一。     

Interactive effects of soil temperature and moisture on Concord grape root respiration

Root respiration has important implications for understanding plant growth as well as terrestrial carbon flux with a changing climate. Although soil temperature and soil moisture often interact, rarely have these interactions on root respiration been studied. This report is on the individual and combined effects of soil moisture and temperature on respiratory responses of single branch roots of 1-year-old Concord grape (Vitis labruscana Bailey) vines grown in a greenhouse. Under moist soil conditions, root respiration increased exponentially to short-term (1 h) increases in temperature between 10 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Negligible increases in root respiration occurred between 33 degrees C and 38 degrees C. By contrast to a slowly decreasing Q10 from short-term temperature increases, when roots were exposed to constant temperatures for 3 d, the respiratory Q10 between 10 degrees C and 30 degrees C diminished steeply with an increase in temperature. Above 30 degrees C, respiration declined with an increase in temperature. Membrane leakage was 89-98% higher and nitrogen concentration was about 18% lower for roots exposed to 35 degrees C for 3 d than for those exposed to 25 degrees C and 15 degrees C. There was a strong interaction of respiration with a combination of elevated temperature and soil drying. At low soil temperatures (10 degrees C), respiration was little influenced by soil drying, while at moderate to high temperatures (20 degrees C and 30 degrees C), respiration exhibited rapid declines with decreases in soil moisture. Roots exposed to drying soil also exhibited increased membrane leakage and reduced N. These findings of acclimation of root respiration are important to modelling respiration under different moisture and temperature regimes.     

Contrasting thermal acclimation of leaf dark respiration and photosynthesis of Antarctic vascular plant species exposed to nocturnal warming

Leaf respiration and photosynthesis will respond differently to an increase in temperature during night, which can be more relevant in sensitive ecosystems such as Antarctica. We postulate that the plant species able to colonize the Antarctic Peninsula – Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. and Deschampsia antarctica Desv. – are able to acclimate their foliar respiration and to maintain photosynthesis under nocturnal warming to sustain a positive foliar carbon balance. We conducted a laboratory experiment to evaluate the effect of time of day (day and night) and nocturnal warming on dark respiration. Short (E₀ and Q₁₀) and long‐term acclimation of respiration, leaf carbohydrates, photosynthesis (A_sat) and foliar carbon balance (R/A) were evaluated. The results suggest that the two species have differential thermal acclimation respiration, where D. antarctica showed more thermosensitivity to short‐term changes in temperature than C. quitensis. Experimental nocturnal warming affected respiration at daytime differentially between the two species, with a significant increase of R₁₀ and A_sat in D. antarctica, while no changes on respiration were observed in C. quitensis. Long thermal treatments of the plants indicated that nocturnal but not diurnal respiration could acclimate in both species, and to a greater extent in C. quitensis. Non‐structural carbohydrates were related with respiration in C. quitensis but not in D. antarctica, suggesting that respiration in the former species is likely controlled by total soluble sugars and starch during day and night, respectively. Finally, foliar carbon balance was differentially improved under warming conditions in Antarctic plants by different mechanisms, with C. quitensis deploying respiratory acclimation, while D. antarctica increased its A_sat.     

Water temperature instead of acclimation stage and oxygen concentration determines responses to winter floods

Field observations suggest that flooding events in the growing season are more detrimental than in winter. To clarify mechanisms producing these seasonal differences we analysed the role of plant acclimation, water temperature and oxygen concentration. We first tested the relative effects of seasonal acclimation and water temperature with three grassland species that differed in tolerance to summer floods (i.e. Rumex crispus, Rumex acetosa and Daucus carota). Our second experiment addressed the role of oxygen level relative to water temperature on biomass decay rate on a moderately intolerant species (i.e. R. acetosa).Irrespective of acclimation, biomass loss in warm water was considerably faster than in cold water. Given the concomitant decline in total non-structural carbohydrates, this was ascribed to the impact of water temperature on respiration rate. However, we only found a significant decline in carbohydrates for R. crispus and R. acetosa. D. carota seemed unable to access stored carbohydrates, which may explain its sensitivity for winter- and summer floods. Our second experiment provided no indication that the higher oxygen concentration may mitigate effects of flooding in cold water since a lower oxygen level of the water did not accelerate the rate of biomass loss.These findings indicate that temperature-driven respiration of carbohydrate reserves determines a species’ response to winter flooding, whereas oxygen level or plant acclimation are unimportant.     

Does declining carbon‐use efficiency explain thermal acclimation of soil respiration with warming?

Enhanced soil respiration in response to global warming may substantially increase atmospheric CO₂ concentrations above the anthropogenic contribution, depending on the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Here, we compared short‐term and seasonal responses of soil respiration to a shifting thermal environment and variable substrate availability via laboratory incubations. To analyze the data from incubations, we implemented a novel process‐based model of soil respiration in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Our process model combined a Michaelis–Menten‐type equation of substrate availability and microbial biomass with an Arrhenius‐type nonlinear temperature response function. We tested the competing hypotheses that apparent thermal acclimation of soil respiration can be explained by depletion of labile substrates in warmed soils, or that physiological acclimation reduces respiration rates. We demonstrated that short‐term apparent acclimation can be induced by substrate depletion, but that decreasing microbial biomass carbon (MBC) is also important, and lower MBC at warmer temperatures is likely due to decreased carbon‐use efficiency (CUE). Observed seasonal acclimation of soil respiration was associated with higher CUE and lower basal respiration for summer‐ vs. winter‐collected soils. Whether the observed short‐term decrease in CUE or the seasonal acclimation of CUE with increased temperatures dominates the response to long‐term warming will have important consequences for soil organic carbon storage.     

High thermal acclimation potential of both photosynthesis and respiration in two lowland Plantago species in contrast to an alpine congeneric

Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration can enable plants to maintain near constant rates of net CO₂ exchange, despite experiencing sustained changes in daily average temperature. In this study, we investigated whether the degree of acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration of mature leaves differs among three congeneric Plantago species from contrasting habitats [two fast‐growing lowland species (Plantago major and P. lanceolata), and one slow‐growing alpine species (P. euryphylla)]. In addition to investigating some mechanisms underpinning variability in photosynthetic acclimation, we also determined whether leaf respiration in the light acclimates to the same extent as leaf respiration in darkness, and whether acclimation reestablishes the balance between leaf respiration and photosynthesis. Three growth temperatures were provided: constant 13, 20, or 27°C. Measurements were made at five temperatures (6–34°C). Little acclimation of photosynthesis and leaf respiration to growth temperature was exhibited by P. euryphylla. Moreover, leaf masses per area (LMA) were similar in 13°C‐grown and 20°C‐grown plants of the alpine species. In contrast, growth at 13°C increased LMA in the two lowland species; this was associated with increased photosynthetic capacity and rates of leaf respiration (both in darkness and in the light). Alleviation of triose phosphate limitation and increased capacity of electron transport capacity relative to carboxylation were also observed. Such changes demonstrate that the lowland species cold‐acclimated. Light reduced the short‐term temperature dependence (i.e. Q₁₀) of leaf respiration in all three species, irrespective of growth temperature. Collectively, our results highlight the tight coupling that exists between thermal acclimation of photosynthetic and leaf respiratory metabolism (both in darkness and in the light) in Plantago. If widespread among contrasting species, such coupling may enable modellers to assume levels of acclimation in one parameter (e.g. leaf respiration) where details are only known for the other (e.g. photosynthesis).     

Thermal Acclimation of Respiration and Photosynthesis in the Marine Macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta)

The responses of respiration and photosynthesis to temperature fluctuations in marine macroalgae have the potential to significantly affect coastal carbon fluxes and sequestration. In this study, the marine red macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis was cultured at three different temperatures (12, 19, and 26°C) and at high‐ and low‐nitrogen (N) availability, to investigate the acclimation potential of respiration and photosynthesis to temperature change. Measurements of respiratory and photosynthetic rates were made at five temperatures (7°C–33°C). An instantaneous change in temperature resulted in a change in the rates of respiration and photosynthesis, and the temperature sensitivities (i.e., the Q₁₀ value) for both the metabolic processes were lower in 26°C‐grown algae than 12°C‐ or 19°C‐grown algae. Both respiration and photosynthesis acclimated to long‐term changes in temperature, irrespective of the N availability under which the algae were grown; respiration displayed strong acclimation, whereas photosynthesis only exhibited a partial acclimation response to changing growth temperatures. The ratio of respiration to gross photosynthesis was higher in 12°C‐grown algae, but displayed little difference between the algae grown at 19°C and 26°C. We propose that it is unlikely that respiration in G. lemaneiformis would increase significantly with global warming, although photosynthesis would increase at moderately elevated temperatures.