Water Availability and Hydraulic Strategies Control Leaf Thermoregulation and Damage During Heat Stress and Recovery in Temperate Tree Species.
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Temperate tree species' heat tolerance hinges on water availability and hydraulic strategy, with Acer platanoides showing severe damage and Quercus robur recovering rapidly.
- Why it matters: Understanding how trees cope with combined heat and drought stress is crucial as climate change intensifies heatwaves, threatening forest health and ecosystem stability.
- What they did: Researchers used gas-exchange chambers to expose three broadleaved species to increasing temperatures (25°C-45°C) and VPD (2.5-7.9 kPa) under well-watered and drought conditions, then observed recovery over two days.
- The result: Findings reveal that water availability and hydraulic traits determine leaf cooling, damage, and recovery, emphasizing species-specific strategies' importance for future heatwave resilience.