The Pressure Is On – Epiphyte Water-Relations Altered Under Elevated CO2

Abstract

Vascular epiphytes are a major biomass component of forests across the globe and they contribute to 9% of global vascular plant diversity. To improve our understanding of the whole-plant response of epiphytes to future climate change, we investigated for the first time both individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 (560 ppm) and light on the physiology and growth of two epiphyte species [Tillandsia brachycaulos (CAM) and Phlebodium aureum (C3)] grown for 272 days under controlled conditions. We found that under elevated CO2 the difference in water loss between the light (650 μmol m-2s-1) and shade (130 μmol m-2s-1) treatment was strongly reduced. Stomatal conductance (gs) decreased under elevated CO2, resulting in an approximate 40–45% reduction in water loss over a 24 h day/night period under high light and high CO2 conditions. Under lower light conditions water loss was reduced by approximately 20% for the CAM bromeliad under elevated CO2 and increased by approximately 126% for the C3 fern. Diurnal changes in leaf turgor and water loss rates correlated strong positively under ambient CO2 (400 ppm) and high light conditions. Future predicted increases in atmospheric CO2 are likely to alter plant water-relations in epiphytes, thus reducing the canopy cooling potential of epiphytes to future increases in temperature.

Phenotypic Variation from Waterlogging in Multiple Perennial Ryegrass Varieties under Climate Change Conditions

“…This study used four atmospherically controlled CONVIRON BDW40 walk-in growth chambers located in the PÈAC (Programme for Experimental Atmospheres and Climate) facility in Rosemount Environmental Research Station belonging to the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. This facility has been used in previous studies to investigate plant responses to elevated CO 2 (Batke et al, 2018; Yiotis et al, 2021), atmospheric paleoclimatic reconstruction (Evans-Fitz.Gerald et al, 2016; Porter et al, 2017; Yiotis et al, 2017). Two chambers were chosen to represent typical North-western European climatological conditions (CO 2 -levels at 415 ppm) while two chambers were chosen to represent predicted 2050 climate change climatological conditions with elevated CO 2 -levels (550 ppm) and a 2°C increase in temperature (IPCC, 2014).…”

Phenotypic variation from waterlogging in multiple perennial ryegrass varieties under climate change conditions

“…This study used four atmospherically controlled CONVIRON BDW40 walk-in growth chambers located in the PÈAC (Programme for Experimental Atmospheres and Climate) facility in Rosemount Environmental Research Station belonging to the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. This facility has been used in previous studies to investigate plant responses to elevated CO 2 ( Batke et al, 2018 ; Yiotis et al, 2021 ) and atmospheric paleoclimatic reconstruction ( Evans-Fitz. Gerald et al, 2016 ; Porter et al, 2017 ; Yiotis et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Frisk et al 10.3389/fpls.2022.954478 belonging to the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. This facility has been used in previous studies to investigate plant responses to elevated CO 2 (Batke et al, 2018;Yiotis et al, 2021) and atmospheric paleoclimatic reconstruction (Evans-Fitz.Gerald et al, 2016;Porter et al, 2017;Yiotis et al, 2017). Two chambers were chosen to represent typical North-western European climatological conditions (CO 2levels at 415 ppm and ambient temperature conditions) while two chambers were chosen to represent the predicted 2050 combined climate change climatological conditions according to the RCP8.5 scenario [elevated CO 2 -levels (550 ppm) and a 2 • C increase in temperature (IPCC, 2014)].…”