Abstract
Leaf respiration (R L) of evergreen species co-occurring in the Mediterranean maquis developing along the Latium coast was analyzed. The results on the whole showed that the considered evergreen species had the same R L trend during the year, with the lowest rates [0.83 ± 0.43 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1, mean value of the considered species] in winter, in response to low air temperatures. Higher R L were reached in spring [2.44 ± 1.00 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1, mean value] during the favorable period, and in summer [3.17 ± 0.89 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1] during drought. The results of the regression analysis showed that 42% of R L variations depended on mean air temperature and 13% on total monthly rainfall. Among the considered species, C. incanus, was characterized by the highest R L in drought [4.93 ± 0.27 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1], low leaf water potential at predawn (Ψpd= −1.08 ± 0.18 MPa) and midday (Ψmd = −2.75 ± 0.11 MPa) and low relative water content at predawn (RWCpd = 80.5 ± 3.4%) and midday (RWCmd = 67.1 ± 4.6%). Compared to C. incanus, the sclerophyllous species (Q. ilex, P. latifolia, P. lentiscus, A. unedo) and the liana (S. aspera), had lower R L [2.72 ± 0.66 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1, mean value of the considered species], higher RWCpd (91.8 ± 1.8%), RWCmd (82.4 ± 3.2%), Ψpd (−0.65 ± 0.28 MPa) and Ψmd (−2.85 ± 1.20 MPa) in drought. The narrow-leaved species (E. multiflora, R. officinalis, and E. arborea) were in the middle. The coefficients, proportional to the respiration increase for each 10°C rise (Q10), ranging from 1.49 (E. arborea) to 1.98 (A. unedo) were indicative of the different sensitivities of the considered species to air temperature variation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- Q10 :
-
the coefficient proportional to the respiration increase for each 10°C rise
- R:
-
total monthly rainfall
- R L :
-
leaf respiration
- RWCpd :
-
relative water content at predawn
- RWCmd :
-
relative water content at midday
- SWC:
-
soil water content
- T :
-
air temperature
- Ψpd :
-
predawn leaf water potential
- Ψmd :
-
midday leaf water potential
References
Alessio, G.A., De Lillis, M., Brugnoli, E., Lauteri, M.: Water sources and water-use efficiency in Mediterranean coastal dune vegetation. — Plant Biol. 6: 350–357, 2004.
Amthor, J.S.: The role of maintenance respiration in plant growth. — Plant Cell Environ. 7: 561–569, 1984.
Amthor, J.S.: Evolution and applicability of a whole plant respiration model. — J. Theor. Biol. 122: 473–490, 1986.
Amthor, J.S.: Respiration and Crop Productivity. — Springer, New York 1989.
Archontoulis, S.V., Yin, X., Vos, J. et al.: Leaf photosynthesis and respiration of three bioenergy crops in relation to temperature and leaf nitrogen: how conserved are biochemical model parameters among crop species? — J. Exp. Bot. 63: 895–911, 2012.
Armstrong, A.F., Logan, D.C., Atkin, O.K.: On the development dependence of leaf respiration: responses to short- and long-term changes in growth temperature. — Amer. J. Bot. 93: 1633–1639, 2006.
Atkin, O.K., Bruhn, D., Hurry, V.M., Tjoelker, M.G.: The hot and the cold: unraveling the variable response of plant respiration to temperature. — Funct. Plant Biol. 32: 87–105, 2005.
Atkin, O.K., Evans, J.R., Ball, M.C., Siebke, K.: Relationships between the inhibition of leaf respiration by light and enhancement of leaf dark respiration following light treatment. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 25: 437–443, 1998a.
Atkin, O.K., Evans, J.R., Ball, M.C., et al.: Light inhibition of leaf respiration: the role of irradiance and temperature. — In: Moller, I.M., Gardestrom, P., Gliminius, K., Glaser, E. (ed.): Plant Mitocondria: from Gene to Function. Pp. 567–574. Backhuys Publishers., Leiden 1998b.
Atkin, O.K., Evans, J.E., Ball, M.C. et al.: Leaf Respiration of Snow Gum in the Light and Dark. Interactions between Temperature and Irradiance. — Plant Physiol. 122: 915–923, 2000a.
Atkin, O.K., Holly, C., Ball, M.C.: Acclimation of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) leaf respiration to seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature: the importance of changes in the canopy and temperature sensitivity of respiration. — Plant Cell Environ. 23: 15–26, 2000b.
Atkin, O.K. Macherel, D.: The crucial role of plant mitocondrial in orchestrating drought tolerance. — Ann. Bot. 103: 581–597, 2009.
Atkin, O.K., Scheurwater, I., Pons, T.L.: High thermal acclimation potential of both photosynthesis and respiration in two lowland Plantago species in contrast to an alpine congeneric. — Glob. Change Biol. 12: 500–515, 2006.
Atkin, O.K., Tjoelker, M.G.: Thermal acclimation and the dynamic response of plant respiration to temperature. — Trends Plant Sci. 8: 343–351, 2003.
Ayub, G., Smith, R.A., Tissue, D.T., Atkin, O.K.: Impacts of drought on leaf respiration in darkness and light in Eucalyptus saligna exposed to industrial-age atmospheric CO2 and growth temperature. — New Phytol. 190: 1003–1018, 2011.
Bacelar, E., A., Santos, D.L., Moutinho-Pereira, J.M. et al.: Physiological behaviour, oxidative damage and antioxidative protection of olive trees grown under different irrigation regimes. — Plant Soil 292:1–12, 2007.
Bolstad, P.V., Mitchell, K., Vose, J.M.: Foliar temperature—respiration response functions for broadleaved tree species in the southern Appalachians. — Tree Physiol. 19: 871–878, 1999.
Box, E.O.A., Choi, J.N.: Estimating species-based community integrity under global warming, with special reference to the western Mediterranean region. — Phytocoenologia 30: 335–356, 2000.
Cai, Z.-Q., Slot, M., Fan, Z.-X.: Leaf development and photosynthetic properties of three tropical tree species with delayed greening. — Photosynthetica 43: 91–98, 2005.
Carla, A., Gunderson, R.J.N., Wullschleger, S.D.: Acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration to simulated climatic warming in northern and southern population of Acer saccharum: laboratory and field evidence. — Tree Physiol. 20: 87–96, 2000.
Cavaleri, M.A., Oberbauer, S.F., Ryan, M.G.: Foliar and ecosystem respiration in an old-growth tropical rain forest. — Plant Cell Environ. 31: 473–483, 2008.
Centritto, M., Brilli, F., Fodale, R., Loreto, F., Abrams, M.: Different sensitivity of isoprene emission, respiration and photosynthesis to high growth temperature coupled with drought stress in black poplar (Populus nigra) saplings. — Tree Physiol. 31: 275–286, 2011.
Chu, Z., Lu, Y., Chang, J. et al.: Leaf respiration/photosynthesis relationship and variation: an investigation of 39 woody and herbaceous species in east subtropical China. — Trees 25: 301–310, 2011.
Cias, P., Reichstein, M., Viovy, N. et al.: Europe-wide reduction in primary productivity caused by the heat and drought in 2003. — Nature 437: 529–533, 2005.
Crous, K.Y., Zaragosa-Castells, J., Low, M. et al.: Seasonal acclimation of leaf respiration in Eucalyptus saligna trees: impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 and summer drought. — Glob. Change Biol. 17: 1560–1576, 2011.
Cox, P.: Description of the “TRIFFID” Dynamic Global Vegetation Model. — Hadley Centre, Met Office, Bracknell, Berkshire 2001.
Filella, I., Peñuelas, J.: Partitioning of water and nitrogen in co-occurring Mediterranean woody shrub species of different evolutionary history. — Oecologia 137: 51–61, 2003.
Field, C.B., Raupach, M.R.: The Global Carbon Cycle: Integrating Humans, Climate, and the Natural World. SCOPE 62. — Island Press, Washington 2004.
Flexas, J., Bota, J., Galmés, J. et al.: Keeping a positive carbon balance under adverse conditions: responses of photosynthesis and respiration to water stress. — Physiol. Plant. 127: 343–352, 2006.
Galmés, J., Ribas-Carbó, M., Medrano, H., Flexas, J.: Response of leaf respiration to water stress in Mediterranean species with different growth forms. — J. Arid Environ. 68: 206–222, 2007.
Gifford, R.M.: Plant respiration in productivity models: conceptualisation, representation and issues for global terrestrial carboncycle research. — Funct. Plant Biol. 30: 171–186, 2003.
Gimeno, T.E., Camarero, J.J., Granda, E. et al.: Enhanced growth of Juniperus thurifera under a warmer climate is explained by a positive carbon gain under cold and drought. — Tree Physiol. 32: 326–336, 2012.
Giorgi, F.: Climate change hot-spots. — Geophys. Res. Lett. 33: L08707, doi:10.1029/2006GL025734, 2006.
Giorgi, F., Lionello, P.: Climate change projections for the Mediterranean region. — Glob. Planet. Change 63: 90–104, 2008
Gratani, L.: Canopy structure, vertical radiation profile and photosynthetic function in a Quercus ilex evergreen forest. — Photosynthetica 33:139–149, 1997.
Gratani, L., Bombelli, A.: Differences in leaf traits among Mediterranean broad-leaved evergreen shrubs. — Ann. Bot. Fenn. 38: 15–24, 2001.
Gratani, L., Catoni, R., Varone, L.: Photosynthetic and leaf respiration activity of Malcolmia littorea (L.) R. Br. in response to air temperature. — Photosynthetica 49: 65–74, 2011.
Gratani, L., Crescente, M.F.: Phenology and leaf adaptive strategies of Mediterranean maquis plants. — Ecol. Med. 23: 11–19, 1997.
Gratani, L., Ghia, E.: Changes in morphological and physiological traits during leaf expansion of Arbutus unedo. — Environ. Exp. Bot. 48: 51–60, 2002.
Gratani, L., Pesoli, P., Crescente, M.F. et al.: Photosynthesis as a temperature indicator in Quercus ilex L. — Global Planet. Change 24: 153–163, 2000.
Gratani, L., Varone, L.: Adaptive photosynthetic strategies of the Mediterranean maquis species according to their origin. — Photosynthetica 42: 551–558, 2004a.
Gratani, L., Varone, L.: Leaf key of Erica arborea L., Erica multiflora L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. co-occurring in the Mediterranean maquis. — Flora 199: 58–69, 2004b.
Gratani, L., Varone, L.: Long-time variations in leaf mass and area of Mediterranean evergreen broad-leaf and narrow-leaf maquis species. — Photosynthetica 44: 161–168, 2006.
Gratani, L., Varone, L., Bonito, A.: Environmental induced variations in leaf dark respiration and net photosynthesis of Quercus ilex L. — Photosynthetica 45: 633–636, 2007.
Gratani, L., Varone, L., Catoni, R.: Relationships between net photosynthesis and leaf respiration in Mediterranean evergreen species. — Photosynthetica 46: 567–573, 2008.
Gulías, J., Flexas, J., Abadía, A., Medrano, H.: Photosynthetic response to water deficit in six Mediterranean sclerophyll species: possible factors explaining the declining distribution of Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris, an endemic Balearic species. — Tree Physiol. 22: 687–697, 2002.
Houghton, R.A.: Balancing the global carbon budget. Annu. Rev. Earth. Planet. Sci. 35: 313–347, 2007.
Keith, H., van Gorsel, E., Jacobsen, K.L., Cleugh, H.A.: Dynamics of carbon exchange in a Eucalyptus forest in response to interacting disturbance factors. — Agr. Forest Meteorol. 153: 67–81, 2012.
King, A.W., Gunderson, C.A., Post, W.M. et al.: Plant respiration in a warmer world. — Science 312: 536–537, 2006.
Lambers, H., Chapin, F.S. III, Pons, T.L.: Plant Physiological Ecology. — Springer, New York 1998.
Larcher, W.: Physiological Plant Ecology. — Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1983.
Laureano, R.G., Lazo, Y.O., Linares, J.C., et al.: The cost of stress resistance: construction and maintenance costs of leaves and roots in two populations of Quercus ilex. — Tree Physiol. 28: 1721–1728, 2008.
Lawlor, D.W., Cornic, G.: Photosynthetic carbon assimilation and associated metabolism in relation to water deficits in higher plants. — Plant Cell Environ. 25: 275–294, 2002.
Lawlor, D.W., Tezara, W.: Causes of decreased photosynthetic rate and metabolic capacity in water-deficient leaf cells: a critical evaluation of mechanisms and integration of processes. — Ann. Bot. 103: 561–579, 2009.
Lelieveld, J., Hadjinicolaou, P., Kostopoulou, E. et al.: Climate change and impacts in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. — Clim. Change 114: 667–687, 2012.
Llorens, L., Peñuelas, J., Estiarte, M.: Ecophysiological responses of two Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum, to experimentally drier and warmer conditions. — Physiol. Plant. 119: 231–243, 2003.
Lloret, F., Peñuelas, J., Ogaya, R.: Establishment of co-existing Mediterranean tree species under a varying soil moisture regime. — J. Veg. Sci. 15: 237–244, 2004.
Loveys, B.R., Atkinson, L.J., Sherlock, D.J. et al.: Thermal acclimation of leaf and root respiration: an investigation comparing inherently fast- and slow-growing plant species. — Glob. Change Biol. 9: 895–910, 2003.
Lusk, C.H., Reich, P.B.: Relationships of leaf dark respiration with light environment and tissue nitrogen content in juveniles of 11 cold-temperate tree species. — Oecologia 123: 318–329, 2000.
Lusk, C.H., Pèrez-Millaqueo, M.M., Piper, F.I., Saldaña, A.: Ontogeny, understorey light interception and simulated carbon gain of juvenile rainforest evergreens differing in shade tolerance. — Ann. Bot. 108: 419–428, 2011.
Ogaya, R., Peñuelas, J., Asensio, D., Llusià, J.: Chlorophyll fluorescence responses to temperature and water availability in two co-dominant Mediterranean shrub and tree species in a long-term field experiment simulating climate change. — Environ. Exp. Bot. 73: 89–93, 2011.
Ow, L.F., Griffin, K.L., Whitehead, D. et al.: Thermal acclimation and leaf respiration but not photosynthesis in Populus deltoids × nigra. — New Phytol. 178: 123–134, 2008a.
Ow, L.F., Whitehead, D., Walcroft, A.S, Turnbull, M.H.: Thermal acclimation of respiration but not photosynthesis in Pinus radiata. — Func. Plant Biol. 35: 448–461, 2008b.
Ow, L.F., Whitehead, D., Walcroft, A., Turnbull, M.H.: Seasonal variation in foliar carbon exchange in Pinus radiata and Populus deltoides: respiration acclimates fully to changes in temperature but photosynthesis does not. — Glob. Change Biol. 16: 288–302, 2010.
Peñuelas, J., Boada, M.: A global change-induced biome shift in the Montseny mountains (NE Spain). — Glob. Change Biol. 9: 131–140, 2003.
Pèrez-Camacho, L., Rebollo, S., Hernández-Santana, V. et al.: Plant functional trait responses to interannual rainfall variability, summer drought and seasonal grazing in Mediterranean herbaceous communities. — Funct. Ecol. 26: 740–749, 2012.
Pinheiro, C., Chaves, M.M.: Photosynthesis and drought: can we make metabolic connections from available data? — J. Exp. Bot. 62: 869–882, 2011.
Rennenberg, H., Loreto, A., Polle, A. et al.: Physiological response of forest trees to heat and drought. — Plant Biol. 8: 1–16, 2006.
Rowel, D.P., Jones, R.G.: Causes and uncertainty of future summer drying over Europe. — Clim. Dynam. 27: 281–299, 2006.
Rundel, P. W., Jarrel, W.M.: Water in the environment. — In: Pearcy, R. W., Ehleringer, J.H., Mooney, A., Rundel, P.W. (ed.): Plant Physiological Ecology: Field Methods and Instrumentation. Pp. 29–56. Chapman & Hall, London 1989.
Sack, L., Grubb, P.J., Marañón, T.: The functional morphology of juvenile plants tolerant of strong summer drought in shaded forest understories in southern Spain. — Plant Ecol. 168: 139–163, 2003.
Searle, S.Y., Turnbull, M.H.: Seasonal variation of leaf respiration and the alternative pathway in field-grown Populus × Canadensis. — Physiol. Plant. 141: 332–342, 2011.
Searle, S.Y., Thomas, S., Griffin, K.L. et al.: Leaf respiration and alternative oxidase in field-grown alpine grasses respond to natural changes in temperature and light. — New Phytol. 189: 1027–1039, 2011.
Siddique, M.R.B., Hamid, A., Islam, M.S.: Drought stress effects on water relations of wheat. — Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 41: 35–39, 2000.
Slot, M., Zaragoza-Castells, J., Atkin, O.K.: Transient shade and drought have divergent impacts on the temperature sensitivity of dark respiration in leaves of Geum urbanum. — Funct. Plant Biol. 35: 1135–1146, 2008.
Tjoelker, M.G., Oleksyn, J., Reich, P.B.: Modeling respiration of vegetation: evidence for a general temperature-dependent Q10. — Glob. Chang. Biol. 7: 223–230, 2001.
Tsanis, I.K., Koutroulis, A.G., Daliakopoulos, I.N., Jacob, D.: Severe climate-induced water shortage and extremes in Crete. A letter. — Clim. Change 106: 667–677, 2011.
Turnbull, M.H., Whitehead, D., Tissue, D.T. et al.: Responses of leaf respiration to temperature and leaf characteristics in three deciduous tree species vary with site water availability. — Tree Physiol. 21: 571–578, 2001.
Valladares, F., Pearcy, R.W.: Interactions between water stress, sun-shade acclimation, heat tolerance and photoinhibition in the sclerophyll Heteromeles arbutifolia. — Plant Cell Environ. 20: 25–36, 1997.
Vilagrosa, A.: [Strategies of resistance to water stress of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Quercus coccifera L. Implications for reforestation] — PhD Dissertation, Univ. Alicante, Alicante 2002. [In Spanish.]
Vilagrosa, A., Seva, J.P., Valdecantos, A., et al.: [Plantations for the forest restoration in the Valencian Community]. — In: Vallejo, V.R. (ed.): [The cover restoration in the Valencian Community]. Pp. 435–548. CEAM, Valencia 1997. [In Spanish.]
Warren, J.M., Norby, R.J., Wullschleger, S.D.: Elevated CO2 enhances leaf senescence during extreme drought in a temperate forest. — Tree Physiol. 31: 117–130, 2011.
Way, D.A., Oren, R.: Differential response to changes in growth temperature between trees from different functional groups and biomes: a review and synthesis of data. — Tree Physiol. 30: 669–688, 2010.
Wright, I.J., Reich, P.B., Atkin, O.K. et al.: Irradiance, temperature and rainfall influence leaf dark respiration in woody plants: evidence from comparisons across 20 sites. — New Phytol. 169: 309–319, 2006.
Zaragoza-Castells, J., Sánchez-Gómez, D., Hartley, I.P. et al.: Climate-dependent variations in leaf respiration in a dry-land, low productivity Mediterranean forest: the importance of acclimation in both high-light and shaded habitats. — Funct. Ecol. 22: 172–184, 2008.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catoni, R., Varone, L. & Gratani, L. Variations in leaf respiration across different seasons for Mediterranean evergreen species. Photosynthetica 51, 295–304 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0026-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0026-1