Climate change increases carbon allocation to leaves in early leaf green‐up. (23rd March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meng, Fandong; Hong, Songbai; Wang, Jiawei; Chen, Anping; Zhang, Yao; Zhang, Yichen; Janssens, Ivan A.; Mao, Jiafu; Myneni, Ranga B.; Peñuelas, Josep; Piao, Shilong
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 26:Number 5(2023)
• Page Start: 816
• Page End: 826
• Publication Date: 2023-03-23
• Subjects: allocation ratio -- foliar carbon allocation -- northern ecosystem -- optimal partitioning theory -- terrestrial biosphere models; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.14205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

Abstract: Global greening, characterized by an increase in leaf area index (LAI), implies an increase in foliar carbon (C). Whether this increase in foliar C under climate change is due to higher photosynthesis or to higher allocation of C to leaves remains unknown. Here, we explored the trends in foliar C accumulation and allocation during leaf green‐up from 2000 to 2017 using satellite‐derived LAI and solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) across the Northern Hemisphere. The accumulation of foliar C accelerated in the early green‐up period due to both increased photosynthesis and higher foliar C allocation driven by climate change. In the late stage of green‐up, however, we detected decreasing trends in foliar C accumulation and foliar C allocation. Such stage‐dependent trends in the accumulation and allocation of foliar C are not represented in current terrestrial biosphere models. Our results highlight that a better representation of C allocation should be incorporated into models. Abstract : It is often unclear how climate change alter foliar carbon allocation and accumulation. Satellite observations showed a decreased trend in foliar carbon accumulation attributing to decreased foliar carbon allocation in the late green‐up period, but modeled data failed to capture this phenomenon. Our findings suggest that a refined representation of carbon allocation in models is needed.