Global variability in leaf respiration in relation to climate, plant functional types and leaf traits

Atkin, Owen K.;Bloomfield, Keith J.;Reich, Peter B.;Tjoelke, Mark G.;Asner, Gregory P.;Bonal, Damien;Bönisch, Gehard;Bradford, Matt G.;Cernusak, Lucas A.;Cosio, Eric G.;Creek, Danielle;Crous, Kristine Y.;Domingues, Tomas F.;Dukes, Jeffrey S.;Egerton, John J.G.;Evans, John R.;Farquhar, Graham D.;Fyllas, Nikolaos M.;Gauthier, Paul P.G.;Gloor, Emanuel;Gimeno, Teresa E.;Griffin, Kevin L.;Guerrieri, Rossella;Heskel , Mary A.;Huntingford, Chris;Ishida, François Yoko;Kattage, Jens;Lambers, Hans;Liddell, Michael J.;Lloyd, Jon;Lusk, Christopher H.;Martin, Roberta E.;Maskimov, Ayal P.;Maximov, Trofim C.;Malhi, Yadvinder;Medlyn, Belinda E.;Meir, Patrick;Mercado, Lina;Mirotchnick, Nicholas;Ng, Desmond;Niinemets, Ulo;O'Sullivan, Odhran S.;Phillips, Oliver L.;Poorter, Lourens;Poot, Pieter;Prentice, I. Colin;Salinas, Norma;Rowland, Lucy M.;Ryan, Michael G.;Sitch, Stephen;Slot, Martijn;Smith, Nicholas G.;Turnbull, Matthew H.;VanderWel, Mark C.;Valldares, Fernando;Veneklaas, Erik J.;Weerasinghe, Lasantha K.;Wirth, Christian;Wright, Ian J.;Wythers, Kirk R.;Xiang, Jen;Xiang, Shuang;Zaragoza-Castells, Joana

Lucas Cernusak Michael Liddell

Abstract

-Leaf dark respiration (Rdark) is an important yet poorly quantified component of the global carbon cycle. Given this, we analyzed a new global database of Rdark and associated leaf traits. -Data for 899 species were compiled from 100 sites (from the Arctic to the tropics). Several woody and nonwoody plant functional types (PFTs) were represented. Mixed-effects models were used to disentangle sources of variation in Rdark. -Area-based Rdark at the prevailing average daily growth temperature (T) of each site increased only twofold from the Arctic to the tropics, despite a 20°C increase in growing T (8–28°C). By contrast, Rdark at a standard T (25°C, Rdark25) was threefold higher in the Arctic than in the tropics, and twofold higher at arid than at mesic sites. Species and PFTs at cold sites exhibited higher Rdark25 at a given photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax25) or leaf nitrogen concentration ([N]) than species at warmer sites. Rdark25 values at any given Vcmax25 or [N] were higher in herbs than in woody plants. -The results highlight variation in Rdark among species and across global gradients in T and aridity. In addition to their ecological significance, the results provide a framework for improving representation of Rdark in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) and associated land-surface components of Earth system models (ESMs).

Journal

New Phytologist

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206

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1469-8137

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Cambridge University Press

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DOI

10.1111/nph.13253