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Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities

Author Spotlight: Leaf Trait Analysis for Climate and Ecology Reconstruction in Modern and Ancient Plant Communities

Published on: October 25, 2024

Intensive leaf cooling promotes tree survival during a record heatwave.

Bradley C Posch^1,2, Susan E Bush¹, Dan F Koepke¹

¹Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|October 14, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Extreme heatwaves harm forests. Even brief soil water loss disrupts tree leaf cooling, causing leaf damage and mortality, especially for genotypes from cooler climates.

Keywords:

climate change heat tolerance plant hydraulics stomatal conductance thermal regulation

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Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method EFM

Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method EFM

Published on: December 31, 2012

Area of Science:

Plant physiology
Ecology
Climate change biology

Background:

Forest ecosystems face increasing threats from global heatwaves.
Leaf thermal regulation and tolerance are crucial for plant survival during extreme heat.
The interplay between leaf thermal regulation and water availability during heatwaves remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of soil water availability on leaf thermal regulation and survival of *Populus fremontii* genotypes during a heatwave.
To understand the physiological trade-offs between thermal and hydraulic safety under water stress.
To compare the responses of genotypes from different climatic origins to heat and water stress.

Main Methods:

Controlled common garden experiment with *Populus fremontii* genotypes during a record heatwave (>48 °C).
Manipulation of soil water availability (non-limiting vs. 72-h reduction).
Measurement of leaf temperature, leaf water potential, and leaf mortality.

Main Results:

Non-water-limiting conditions allowed genotypes to cool leaves 2–5 °C below air temperature.
A 72-h soil water reduction disrupted leaf cooling, leading to leaf temperatures exceeding air temperature and physiological damage thresholds.
All genotypes experienced significant leaf mortality after water stress, with genotypes from warmer climates showing better thermal regulation and less mortality.

Conclusions:

Brief soil water limitation critically disrupts leaf thermal regulation in *Populus fremontii*, compromising survival during extreme heat.
Trade-offs between leaf thermal and hydraulic safety emerge under water stress.
Genotypic variation in response to heat and water stress highlights the importance of climate of origin for predicting forest resilience.