Abstract
A number of recent studies suggest that in light of anthropogenic climate change, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) may not be adapted to persist over much of its current range. We consider variation in the species’ photosynthetic properties across its range. Seeds from Tennessee, Illinois, and Michigan were grown under laboratory conditions and in two experimental plots in Illinois and Michigan forests. In the Michigan forest, seedlings derived from Michigan seeds had significantly higher rates of carbon assimilation than those from Illinois. In the Illinois forest, seedlings from Tennessee had significantly greater carbon assimilation rates and light saturation points than seedlings derived from Illinois or Michigan seeds. Under laboratory conditions, Tennessee seedlings had significantly greater maximum photosynthesis rates and light saturation points than Illinois or Michigan seedlings. There was no geographic variation in water use efficiency (WUE) for seedlings growing in Michigan, but the Tennessee and Michigan seedlings had greater WUE at the Illinois field site than did Illinois seedlings. In the laboratory, Tennessee seedlings had significantly lower WUE than the two other seed sources. Understanding the degree of variability in species’ physiological responses to environmental conditions is important if future climate change compels humans to actively relocate species under threat.
Recommended Citation
Goldblum, David; Kennett, Christa; and Lisowski, Alicia
(2012)
"Geographical Variation in the Photosynthesis Characteristics of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) Lab- and Field-grown Seedlings,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 53:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol53/iss2/1